Films that refurbish Jane Austens novels are produced regularly and watched eagerly by millions of people. Sash windows play their parts in the settings of these films outlining the elegance of the period. Pretty girls peep through them at a carriage and eight horses sweeping up to a house. The window slides down perfectly, closing the scene.
Most people of the baby boomer generation have different experiences with sash windows. A mother walks into a room and sees through a window that her child is in the garden pulling with both hands at the hair of the neighbour's child. She rushes to the window and tries to lift it. It jams. She gesticulates and mouths words, with raised eyebrows and frantic expressions. On the other side of the panes the mayhem continues.
At the height of the industrial era impressive public buildings were erected. Government offices, schools and hospitals had massive facades interspersed with rows of sash windows to let in the light and decorate what would otherwise be blank walls.
On closer inspection, after years of service, wear and tear has wrought its ravages. Cords that are supposed to link frames to weights hang loosely, having assumed a distinctive pale grey colour. Successive layers of paint and dirt clog the runners. The windows rattle in the wind and let in draughts. In many cases they obstinately refuse to budge, either up or down. In classrooms a ruler may be used to prop them up six inches to allow for air. In government offices a now unused ash tray may serve the same purpose.
In the light of such difficulties owners must consider whether to replace or refurbish windows when renovating a building. On the one hand, new windows work smoothly and come in may new designs. On the other hand the old ones have character.
However, older buildings were designed with sash windows as part of their character. They can still work well, circulating air through bottom and top apertures and providing opportunities for attractive curtaining.
The good news is that there are firms specializing in the restoration of windows to the elegant and effective frames that they were when first installed. After supplying a quote these firms will plane and grout the surrounds of windows, make them draught proof and scrape old paint away. Beading will be replaced. The windows will no longer rattle or jam. Instead they will fly open as easily as they appear to do in period films. The restored sash windows will retain the elegance and historic integrity of a building whilst working just as elegantly as they did when first installed.
Most people of the baby boomer generation have different experiences with sash windows. A mother walks into a room and sees through a window that her child is in the garden pulling with both hands at the hair of the neighbour's child. She rushes to the window and tries to lift it. It jams. She gesticulates and mouths words, with raised eyebrows and frantic expressions. On the other side of the panes the mayhem continues.
At the height of the industrial era impressive public buildings were erected. Government offices, schools and hospitals had massive facades interspersed with rows of sash windows to let in the light and decorate what would otherwise be blank walls.
On closer inspection, after years of service, wear and tear has wrought its ravages. Cords that are supposed to link frames to weights hang loosely, having assumed a distinctive pale grey colour. Successive layers of paint and dirt clog the runners. The windows rattle in the wind and let in draughts. In many cases they obstinately refuse to budge, either up or down. In classrooms a ruler may be used to prop them up six inches to allow for air. In government offices a now unused ash tray may serve the same purpose.
In the light of such difficulties owners must consider whether to replace or refurbish windows when renovating a building. On the one hand, new windows work smoothly and come in may new designs. On the other hand the old ones have character.
However, older buildings were designed with sash windows as part of their character. They can still work well, circulating air through bottom and top apertures and providing opportunities for attractive curtaining.
The good news is that there are firms specializing in the restoration of windows to the elegant and effective frames that they were when first installed. After supplying a quote these firms will plane and grout the surrounds of windows, make them draught proof and scrape old paint away. Beading will be replaced. The windows will no longer rattle or jam. Instead they will fly open as easily as they appear to do in period films. The restored sash windows will retain the elegance and historic integrity of a building whilst working just as elegantly as they did when first installed.
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Wondering about sash window refurbishment or replacement which option is the best? All you need to know now in our complete review of sash windows london and where to find the best sash window company .
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