Sash Windows: Quotes

[zeebop]

Hi,

I've just bought my first place and am starting to line up some jobs that need doing.

One task is to look at restoring my sash windows. I have got one quote from a large UK company specialising in Sash Windows and was wondering if you guys had an idea if the figures are reasonable.

Fitting perimeter sealing system (draught proof) Service Pulleys Replace sash cords Adjust alignment of window as required Removing double glazing sheets.

£310 per sash window (I have 6)

Each sash window (6 over 9 panes) is approx 41" wide by 101" long. There are 6 panes on the top window, 9 on the bottom

Also: To rub down and repaint with 1 coat undercoat, 1 coat gloss £400 per window

Appreciate any input

==== Large solid oak Kitchen for sale.

[meow2222]

Why not do them yourself? Once you know what to do its within a days work each, and most new buyers could do with a few quid.

kinell, a tenth that would be closer. No primer either.

NT

[Stuart Noble]

It all sounds ridiculously expensive. Sash windows are draughty but you can usually improve that a lot by repositioning beads etc. "Service the pulleys" is a nice touch. What the hell can you do to a pully other than replace it? Replacing sash cords is unnecessary and realignment of sashes sounds like bullshit to me. If the box is out of square, there ain't a lot you can do about it. I reckon I can paint a sash window in an hour. Call it 2 with the prep and undercoat

[meow2222]

??? broken sash cords are probably the most common problem

You can plane the sashes to fit the out of true frame. Results from structural movement. Standard solution. But not many buildings will need this doing.

NT

[Stuart Noble]

So, if one breaks, you replace it. It looks like the quote was to replace them regardless

Rhomboid sashes still travel vertically. Try it some time if you think it's a solution. I found this out the hard way many moons ago.

But not many buildings will

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Well one thing that springs to mind is why ask on a DIY group? It's possible overhauling sash windows is beyond you - but painting them?

FWIW 400 quid for painting should pay for two days work. And it's not 2 days work to paint each of 6 windows - far from it.

[Phil L]

You could have them replaced in uPVC for less than that and they look almost identical to the real thing, plus they slide up and down, and also tilt, lock securely, are completely draugt proofed and never need painting.

[Owain]

Possibly.

No they don't, the frames are too thick

so do proper timber sashes

Why do you need them to tilt? Proper timber sashes can be cleaned from the inside by swinging the lower sash in

so do proper timber sashes

Possibly. But well-fitting timber sashes needn't be draughty.

Granted. But can also never be repaired and usually use proprietary components so in the event of failure of one part the whole window may have to be replaced.

And they can knock thousands off the value of the house.

Owain

[Dave Plowman (News)]

UPVC sash windows look nothing like 'real' ones. They're all out of proportion.

[meow2222]

ok if you dont mind perpetual ugliness, and factor in failures of sealed units, handles and plastic parts. .

NT

[meow2222]

yes, its what most seem to want these days. Throw out that one thats lasted 110 yrs just fine, and put in a new one that will fail in 10 years.

But this isnt as bad as those spring conversions, theyre awful.

I have tried it, and it was a solution. The sashes may still travel vertically, but part of the frame may not be quite as wide as it once was. It only takes a few mm to make life difficult.

But your point stands that such work is not very likely to be needed. Or carried out.

NT

[meow2222]

yes, its what most seem to want these days. Throw out that one thats lasted 110 yrs just fine, and put in a new one that will fail in 10 years.

But this isnt as bad as those spring conversions, theyre awful.

And rip out those cast metal pulleys and fit light plastic ones, yeah they'll last well.

I have tried it, and it was a solution. The sashes may still travel vertically, but part of the frame may not be quite as wide as it once was. It only takes a few mm to make life difficult.

But your point stands that such work is not very likely to be needed. Or carried out.

NT

[Christian McArdle]

They look nothing like it. We examined some in detail when doing our loft conversion and came to the conclusion that they looked appalling, especially from the inside, where they just look like tatty plastic. They are also considerably deeper than wooden profiles. Indeed, the wall wall insufficiently thick to contain the window without sticking out by a few centimetres. The width of the bars were also unacceptable aesthetically.

As do wood.

If that is important to you, you can fit such a system to wooden windows, although it will look less authentic.

No problem with wood.

No problem with wood.

Just wholesale replacement instead.

Christian.

[Stuart Noble]

The arguments for upvc are pretty irrefutable, especially in south or west facing locations. I've seen wooden windows shot to pieces after a couple of years. Sure, plastic looks bloody awful at the front of a Victorian house, but not so out of place in 30s or later properties.

[Clive George]

Now there's bollocks. If those wooden windows were shot to pieces after a couple of years, then they weren't done right.

Plastic would have looked dreadful in the big windows of my parent's 30's house. Fortunately the original wooden windows were still there.

cheers, clive

[Christian McArdle]

Certainly not. Most of my windows are 100 years old. Show me a 100 year old uPVC window (you'll have to wait 50 years...) and I'll show you a manked up yellowed, stained heap of eyesore.

Even the cheapest pine windows should last 25 years, or more. The top end hardwood stuff should last hundreds of years, if not thousands.

Christian.

[Stuart Noble]

All depends on the type of window and the aspect. If they're sitting flush with the wall (unlike a sliding sash) and south facing, you'll be lucky to get 5 years out of softwood. North facing, even pine could last forever. Walk round any neighbourhhod with a compass and you'll see what I mean.

[Huge]

Meanwhile, on Planet Windswepthilltop we got 15 years out of the last set of west facing wooden windows, despite rigorous & time consuming maintenance.

The replacements are uPVC. And I get my summer weekends back.

[Huge]

The North facing softwood windows, tucked under the eaves, out of the sun, on my house (the downstairs loo and utility room) are as good as the day they were installed & I've never painted them in 13 years living here. The SW facing ones lasted 15 years of continuous bloody maintenance, and have been replaced with uPVC this year. I shall never buy wooden windows ever again.

[meow2222]

I doubt this will convince many. I've got garden stuff made out of any old cheap softwood thats still there after 20 years. Its fully exposed, some sits on the ground, and has not been well maintained, but its still going.

NT