Sash window repair/replacement

GMM · 2013-07-16T20:35:03+00:00

I have 17 (at a rough count) sash windows in various conditions from good to buggered. Clearly, what best to do with them is a bit of an individual decision but, if possible, I'd like to keep them broadly as they are, only with fewer draughts and leaks. The relatively good ones are easy (-ish) to draught-proof etc, but the knackered ones are my current concern: The worst ones have rotted through the cill and other parts of the frame, and the sashes are looking pretty dismal too, with some frame rot and cracks and holes in the panes. These might be a good place to start, as there's little to lose. It seems to me the options (for the worst ones) are: To get new timber ones made and fitted (pretty pricey by the look of it). Buy some plastic ones (possibly OK but not really in character with the house). Or - DIY. Although I have done plenty of things, I've never done this, hence this post. There's plenty of info around the web on the components of a box sash window but I'm wondering if anyone here has experience of building the whole thing from scratch. And, particularly, what the gotchas are: The sashes look on the simple side, but I suspect the box frame is more complex to get right. Of course, these were originally knocked up by Victorian carpenters without the benefit of modern power tools etc, so it should be easier these days. And the cash saved might justify some new toys. On the other hand, I wouldn't underestimate the skill of the Victorian chippy. The fact that all the windows in the house are original after 150 years shows they did a pretty good job. The degradation is, of course, the result of neglect/lack of maintenance since then. One thing they may have had was decent timber to work with, but I would get something half decent from the local timber yard/mill - it doesn't cost much more than the sheds' basic rubbish to get good stuff. Undoubtedly, someone will tell me there should be building regs involved, but we'll worry about that...

Jul 16, 2013 44 Replies

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Nightjar 13 years ago

...

Why should I trust a company that breaks the law?

Colin Bignell

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Jim K 13 years ago

snip

strewth getting thin now!! & you've never broken the speed limit?

Jim K

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Nightjar 13 years ago

Not intentionally and certainly not this century, having driven cars with programmable speed limiters since the end of the last.

In any case, I don't see what speeding has to do with a retailer that engages in illegal and misleading trading practices. If they deliberately mislead customers as to their prices, what other dodgy practices do they get up to?

Colin Bignell

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GMM 13 years ago

No I haven't - it's the bloke next door's problem and he could get no sense out of them so there's little point in me arguing about someone else's case is there?

If I'm going to replace one at the front, I'll need PP but done in an application with a range of other jobs, I don't see them having any mechanism for checking.

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Jim K 13 years ago

On Saturday, July 20, 2013 5:51:17 PM UTC+1, GMM wrote: snip

er.. you started this thread about *your* windows, I presume your neighbours experiences are somewhat relevant in establishing what the boundaries are and more importantly how "firm" they are?

checking what?

Jim K

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