Sash Window Refurbishment Vital To Preserve Historical Facades
Sash windows have a charm all of their own. They have an ageless quality makes them suitable for use in modern and historical buildings of any form of architecture with equal success and add an elegance to any style. Unfortunately too often people are replacing these unique windows instead of considering sash window refurbishment and upgrading.
They have graced many homes for centuries and are suitably commemorated by the Dutch painter Vermeer in his painting of The Milkmaid. The theory behind the workings of sashes is ingenious in that it allows for partial opening at top and bottom of each sash which causes cooling breezes to move through a room continually. This cooling process was brought about in a time long before air-conditioning and electricity. The most common style is a six by six pane configuration and many of these are still in use in homes built in the Georgian and Victorian eras.
At the time when these sashes were first made window pane glass was still very heavy and thick. The system of counterweights and pulleys are worked with cords and allow for easy opening. The manner of being opened also enables trouble free access for cleaning.
The carpenters of yesteryear would be truly proud of their work that has lasted the test of time. However it is just this continual use and wood’s vulnerability that is its own worst enemy. Wood on wood wears down and rain and changing climates cause it to swell and shrink. This leads to lose fitting windows.
Windows start to rattle in their frames and gaps left by the wearing away allow draughts to enter rooms. These draughts are inclined to cool down a room and lead to extra heating having to done resulting in extra costs when the weather turns cold. At the time of refurbishment latches to secure these windows can be installed that are easily removed from the inside in emergencies. Double glazed panes and draught proofing is also advised to insulate windows.
All refurbishing is normally carried out on site and even broken and chipped frames can be repaired without removing the frame from the wall. Companies seldom remove entire frames for repair in their workshops and only do so when it is badly damaged. Counterweights, cords and pulleys are either restored or replaced with new materials.
There are products available that closely resemble old fashioned sashes and are used to replace irreparable frames. These replicas are of such a high quality that they have been given the nod of approval by National Heritage Councils for use in listed buildings.
In North America sashes are available in two forms and are called hung windows. Singles open only one window and doubles work in the same manner as the original design with both opening and moving past one another.
These are unique windows and serious thought should be given when planning to restore a home or building. To remove existing historical windows would change the facade and style irrevocably. A person may want to go the route of sash window refurbishment before changing to another style of window.
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