Frequently Asked Questions About Sash Window Specialist
WHY ARE YOU SO MUCH CHEAPER THAN OTHER SASH WINDOW RESTORATION COMPANIES?
We only advertise on the internet. We have no sales people taking commissions. We do not produce expensive glossy literature. We run our offices from our homes. All of these savings are passed directly onto you, without any compromise on the quality of workmanship.
WHAT AREA DO YOU COVER?
We generally undertake work within a 1 hour drive of our offices. Occasionally we undertake work outside of this area, but we must charge a supplement to cover additional costs.
WILL MY SASH WINDOWS APPEAR ANY DIFFERENT?
We strongly believe in preservation and so our weather sealing system is designed to be unobtrusive. The appearance of the window is virtually unaltered yet the functionality is greatly improved. Replacement joinery is designed to match the originals as close as possible.
HOW LONG DO WEATHER SEALS LAST?
The manufacturers of our weather seals offer the reassurance of a ten year performance guarantee, provided that paints and stains are kept off the sealing area. The seals are not glued into place and so can be replaced in the future should the need arise.
HOW LONG WILL THE WORK TAKE?
The requirements for each window varies, but it is usual for two complete windows to be reconditioned per day.
WILL THERE BE A SCAFFOLD?
No, our work is carried out from the inside of your home (we have plenty of dust sheets and a vacuum cleaner) avoiding the need for scaffolding or ladders.
DO I REALLY NEED DOUBLE GLAZING?
Don’t forget that the greatest energy saving comes from eliminating draughts. Many of our customers have been surprised with both the increased warmth and the reduced noise that our weather seals have achieved. Double glazing does of course improve energy efficiency & noise intrusion further, but it is also much more expensive.
WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT THE PAINT WORK?
Unless you choose our full painting service we restrict paint work to the running areas of the box frame only. You may prefer to paint the windows yourself or arrange for a local painter to carry out this work. For larger contracts we can arrange to split our work into two or more visits. On the first visit we dismantle the windows and undertake any servicing and repair work. We then show you of a temporary procedure for replacing the sashes at night. This enables the sashes to be completely removable to facilitate painting, inside and out. When the painting is complete we will return to reassemble your windows and complete our work.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH UPVC WINDOWS?
We agree that in modern homes plastic windows are an acceptable choice, what we disagree with is the use of these new materials in older property. Most often the replacements look out of character and detract from the overall charm of the building, in many cases upvc windows actually depreciate the market value of the property . Many of the benefits that plastic windows offer such as double glazing and weather seals can be integrated into your existing wooden windows.
It is now becoming apparent that many plastic windows have a working life of approx. 20 years or less whilst wooden windows last much longer. Due to this short life span plastic windows are becoming an increasing problem with regards to recycling!
ARE THERE ANY MORE REASONS TO AVOID PLASTIC WINDOWS?
Fully functioning wooden sash windows have advantages that maybe you had not considered :
- Large easy exit fire egress windows / fire escapes
- Removable sashes allow large furniture such as beds and sofas to be moved. There are many instances of people replacing period windows only to find that when moving homes large furniture must be left behind.
- Often old property has settled, with the strength of the existing wooden windows offering some structural support.
FENSA, DOCUMENT L & UK PLANNING REGULATIONS
The new regulations only apply to ‘new or replacement windows’ and therefore replacement sashes are not subject to these new requirements. Replacement sashes are simply a repair to an existing window and so can be supplied either single or double glazed. Authentic replica sashes do not require any local authority planning permissions or FENSA certification.
Replacement Windows
Complete window replacements do however require compliance, with some exceptions for conservation areas and listed properties.
All new windows must now meet minimum thermal standards, expressed as a ‘U’ Value. To achieve the required U value in the case of new sash windows then they must be double glazed, incorporating a low ‘E’ glass with an Argon gas filled void. The size of the void between the panes must also be increased, likewise several changes must also be made to the window construction. Inevitably these additional requirements have significantly increased the cost of replacing whole windows, making repair work the preferred option when possible.
We are not a FENSA registered company as the majority of our work is restoration and not replacement. Currently building permissions must be obtained by the home owner, from the local authority, for any complete replacement window required.