The typical Victorian home's eyes were constructed of naturally-seasoned wood and primarily took the shape of sliding sashes. This brilliant engineering feat enables highly efficient ventilation in a certain area. Cool, fresh air may enter through the sash's elevated bottom half, while warmer, stagnant air can exit through its open top half. Since kitchens often had large open burners for cooking, the windows were frequently raised to their highest setting for the best ventilation.
Sash windows function as follows: weights counterbalance the windows so that the two sashes cannot slide down when the windows are intended to be opened.
Repairing a sash window
Most of the time, repairing old sash windows is preferable to replacing them. Many issues are merely the result of paint build-up, and deformed box frames that lead to damaged sash cords. If these are disassembled, they may be repaired, and the windows can be painted and decorated.
Here are a few tips on how to do it:
- Start by removing beading from both sides of the frame using a chisel.
- to stop paint layers from peeling off during beading removal, and slice through the paint with a knife.
- Cut the sash cords (if still there), make sure you lower the weights to the bottom and tack the cords to the frame.
- When the bottom sash is removed, the next you wanted to do it’s to remove the parting beading that separates the sashes on both sides of the frame.
- Now it’s time to cut the top sash cords and lower the weights and lift out the sash.
- Remove weights behind the “pockets cover” It’s a thick wooden piece at the bottom of the frame that needs to be pulled out using a flat screwdriver and mark them accordingly.
- Excess paint should be removed from the sides of the frame and edges sanded smooth, any opened joint filled and sanded and ready for painting and decorating.
- Draught seals may be attached to the bottom and top sashes by cutting the grooves, this is not the easiest task and requires tools like a router.
- The next step would be balancing the weights, this is important especially when you added drought seals or changed for heavier glass, add lead pieces to the iron weight for small corrections.
- Pulleys – the roller that the cord is sliding on needs to be checked, sometimes oil or grease on them does the job or replacing.
- Fit new cords and measure the length need it for both sashes.
- Replace or refit the central parting bead on the left and right side once the top sash is in place, nail them in and use decorative caulk to fill the gaps along the wood strip.
- Re-hang the bottom sash and check for alignment at the centre rails.
- Once both sashes are closed refix the beading on both sides, nail them and check for the sashes to run smoothly, adjusting may be necessary.
- Lightly sand the window frame on the outside, fill nail holes and paint using adhesion primer followed by two topcoats.
This way you can get the best of both – improved sash windows whilst retaining original period windows. It certainly works for Listed buildings and those in Conservation Areas.