wooden sash and case windows refurbishment

2 years ago

Does anyone have experience of original, wooden sash and case windows.
I have moved into a flat which have lovely, original sash and case wooden windows. In my first winter in the flat last year there was ice on the inside of the windows! I have had quotes to refurbish the windows ie replace the weights and any rotten cills and generally improve the draught problem and also quotes for replacing the windows with wooden, sash and case double glazed units. The quote for new windows is double the quote for refurbishing existing windows.
Does anybody have experience of refurbished wooden windows - for example is it worth doing? Or better to bite the bullet and get new wooden windows. We are in a conservation area in Scotland and cannot use PVC.

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robrory1
Original Author

2 years ago

123
Are you saying you had the original wooden frames etc refurbished and new double glazed glass fitted into the refurbished frames? How did the cost of that compare to complete new double glazed wooden sash windows if you don’t mind me asking?

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PRO
Kingfisher Designs
2 years ago
Refurbishment should be fine, its mostly done with a type of epoxy resin I think, I've done that with one of my windows and it looks fine.
robrory1 thanked Kingfisher Designs
robrory1
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks. but can you tell me if it solved your draught problem? i really am wondering if refurbishment - which is £4,500 for 6 large windows would be worth it as opposed to new double glazed units at more than double that.
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Hi Ross, the beauty of the original wooden box sash was their ability to keep the house breathing, not choosing to be air tight they allowed rooms to be of a better air quality due to wood burning fires or stoves. In modern houses with gas boilers etc they can be sealed from cold draughts much better, I was apprenticed in a company where I spent a long time repairing old box's and building new ones also, today the choices have become wider , but I do believe that we can design them to be perfect for their surroundings. Reddiseals supply lots of items that can be fitted (draught proofing and security etc) and if we desire double glazing other companies like slimlite (there are more out there) also make double glazed slim units to keep insulation levels low. Though there are many other ideas to keep rooms warm that can look fantastic and costs adjusted. In every design idea discussion is key, options need to be chatted about , it should always be about the right finish.
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Glad to hear you are also considering timber. I am probably going to start a riot now from the UPVC advocates, but I am talking from personal experience here. If you are going to install UPVC, please please please make sure there is adequate ventilation. I have just bought a cottage in Cornwall which the previous owner (in his infinite wisdom) fitted with UPVC windows. This combined with the slate floors means the house is sealed up tighter than a drum and it can't breathe, there are condensation problems I am going to have to address with a ventilation system. Aside from the aesthetics (wood always more beautiful) I urge you to consider the airflow through your home as well as the noise. If you take the UPVC route please ask the supplier about this to make sure you get the right spec and avoid the issues above.
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Be careful - replacing original windows may devalue your house. If you are in a conservation area or your house is listed, changing windows would require permission that would may not be granted. If however your house is in an area where everyone has changed to modern alternatives then you will likely be assured there would be no problem. If the building is historically interesting I say renovate your existing windows, replace rotten wood, repair sash cords and have the work done off site where they can remove the glass, strip all the paint, make the repairs, prime all the wood and then replace glass. Expect a window to be repaired every other day and then a few days for final coat painting at the end.
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Angie
2 years ago
We recently had new wooden sashes installed, replacing upvc. The firm that did ours also do refurbishments and I guess firms in Scotland will do similarly. Worth asking them about new vs refurbs. If they are reputable they should give you helpful advice. The following is from the website of the firm we used, wrong location for you, but the information might help you decide which way to go.

https://www.sashwindow.com/draught-proofing-specialists/
Angie
123
2 years ago
We had ours refurbished by a specialist sash window refurb company (in London). We are delighted, they are brilliant and much more eco friendly than all new ones. Old wood is much better quality, I like to save it when we can. We had new double glazed sashes fitted and they are so much warmer and much better at sound proofing.
123
2 years ago
That may not be clear. The frames, weights etc were restored and new double glazed sashes fitted.
Daisy England
2 years ago
How is old wood better quality?
123
2 years ago
Hi Daisy, maybe that was a bit of a sweeping statement. Our house is Victorian with first growth old pine, it’s very durable when properly maintained and I prefer it to modern softwood. Of course modern hardwood may offer the same quality but we prefer to retain the original where we can.
123
2 years ago
Don’t mind you asking at all but unfortunately I can’t tell you because we never had a quote for all new replacements! The bit that was new was the moving element ie the double glazed unit and the wood around it. The fixed bit was the original wood etc patched where necessary and repainted. Some of the windows at the back had original Victorian glass so we just had them repaired and draft proofed. When the firm came round to quote they told us what they could do. Our house has shifted quite a lot over time so some were really not square and they made them all fit properly.
123
2 years ago
*draught
123
2 years ago
Here is a detail of one of ours. The sliding slash is new, the surrounding woodwork is original 1880s.
robrory1 thanked 123
robrory1
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks so much 123. That’s very helpful. I had no idea you could have this combination of old and new.

wooden sash and case windows refurbishment

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