A Brief History Of Wooden Sash Windows

In recent years there has been a surge in the popularity of original architectural features, such as sash windows. In past decades, the quest to improve our homes has led to the loss of so many of these features, but now people are realizing their historical and aesthetical value.

The SASH in sash windows is derived for the French for frame, CHASSIS. It is thought that this type of window was introduced in the sixteenth century, either in Holland or England. Now, they epitomize English design of the Victorian and Georgian periods, featuring on everything from palaces to town houses.

Most commonly, sash windows are two panels, each consisting of six panes of glass. Each sash slides open, using a weight and pulley, although there are variations on this design. Usually the frames are oak, and set back from the brickwork, as it was considered a fire risk to have them flush with the building. Again, this is not always the case, as it was difficult to enforce this law.

The reason why these windows became so popular is simply that people could see through them much better than their predecessors with their tiny individual leaded panes. When Sir Christopher Wren (architect of St. Paul's Cathedral) began using them, they were here to stay.

A window tax some two hundred and fifty years ago, led many people to take out their windows and block them in, thus reducing their taxes. This raised the status of sash windows as hey were seen as a luxury that only the upper classes could afford.

Technological advancements meant that larger, individual panes of glass could be made. People no longer wanted lots of panels, and so many were ripped out to be replaced by the new design. At this stage sash windows were considered to be out of fashion.

Nowadays, we recognize the historical worth of original features, and many new build developments incorporate modern equivalents. Authentic windows are expensive to buy reclaimed, which means that keeping yours in good condition is a real long term investment. Sometimes people feel that their windows let in draughts, but there are options for upgrading them.

Renovators and homeowners now go to great lengths to restore their buildings to their former glory. Restrictions upon listed buildings means we have a responsibility to protect the appearance of historical buildings, so ripping them out is no longer acceptable. It is recognized that period houses simply do not look right with modern designs, and windows are one of the main features of a home.

Get inside info on the history of Sash Windows now in our guide to sash window refurbishment and everything you need to know about sash window refurbishment London .

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March 22 2012 | Carpentry | No Comments »

Latest Information About Guide To Sash Window Refurbishment Replace Or Refurbish

Having sash window refurbishment can be expensive but it is something you cannot neglect if you want your windows working properly. If you are selling your property, you will also have to have them fixed. Even minor defects such as broken sash can turn off a buyer or give the buyer leverage to ask for a lower selling price.

Having window sash fixed is costly and the amount you will spend will vary depending on your location. In some states, labor and materials may cost more than others. Find out how much labor costs around your parts and canvass some materials at the local hardware store.

Add miscellaneous costs aside from labor and materials. Your carpenter may charge you a fee to collect the necessary materials and the cost of getting rid of the waste. Your expenses will not be concentrated on materials and labor only.

Just to repair windows one side of the house may already take one to five days to finish. Think of the labor costs for that, not counting materials. And that is just for one side of a room, and one wall. Multiply the estimated cost of labor by how many windows you need fixed all over the house.

You may also have to replace broken glass, reinstall new glass and replace casements. If parts of the windows are damaged in the refurbishing, you should also have those fixed. It would be funny to have these types of screens fixed and end up with scratched paint and other damage.

If you are refurbishing old window designs then it is likely that the glass and other parts of the screen will become damaged. When one or two panes of glass are replaced, it will also look strange next to other windows with old glass. Quality of old and new glass differ and the difference is obvious.

Refurbishing these types of screens is labor intensive and costly. More expenses may be incurred if you run into glazing problems from old Victorian homes with 2mm glass panes. It is not legal to use 2mm panes anymore and if you replace one pane with modern and safer glass, then your windows will end up with glass that looks different.

The glass will most likely break during refurbishment making it impossible not to replace at least some of them. When you replace some glass and not all, the windows may look different from each others. Since you are already spending money to have these windows fixed, you might as well make all the glass match.

Looking for more information on sash window refurbishment savings ? Get the low down instantly in our guide to all you need to know about sash window refurbishment London .

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March 14 2012 | Carpentry | No Comments »

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