I'm looking to replace my single-glazed sash windows. I'm hoping to replace these with timber double-glazed sash windows as UPVC just wouldn't look right on my flat. Does anyone know where I can find out how much these will cost? Some of the companies out there charge just to provide a quote.
Replacing sash windows
- Thread starter lmsava
- Start date
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hope you've got deep pockets, traditional replacement timber sash windows cost a ton of money.
i'm not surprised with the quote charge either, as the words 'flat' and 'timber sash windows' are in the same sentence.
i'm not surprised with the quote charge either, as the words 'flat' and 'timber sash windows' are in the same sentence.
I have looked into replacing one myself - my house is all original wooden sash bar one window which is wooden double glazed. And the 117 year old sashes are fine, the replacement bust and horrible - lesson in there somewhere.
Cheapest price I found for a 3ft wide by 6ft deep was £1,100, other prices were up to £2,000. FOR ONE WINDOW !!
My father in law is going to build one for us now.
You really ought to restore yours, I have done some of mine and they come up great if you invest a little time into it. I assume the noise and draft factor worries you, in which case you could find a company who will restore and maybe fit better glass. Although to be honest, it really is something you could do yourself.
I am a very very novice DIY'er, I just googled and did research and got tips off here. And the results have been good. And saved me thousands of pounds and kept all the character in my house too.
Honestly, think about it - I consider myself a sash restoration fanatic now, they are part of our history!!
Cheapest price I found for a 3ft wide by 6ft deep was £1,100, other prices were up to £2,000. FOR ONE WINDOW !!
My father in law is going to build one for us now.
You really ought to restore yours, I have done some of mine and they come up great if you invest a little time into it. I assume the noise and draft factor worries you, in which case you could find a company who will restore and maybe fit better glass. Although to be honest, it really is something you could do yourself.
I am a very very novice DIY'er, I just googled and did research and got tips off here. And the results have been good. And saved me thousands of pounds and kept all the character in my house too.
Honestly, think about it - I consider myself a sash restoration fanatic now, they are part of our history!!
The windows themselves are actually in pretty good nick. I have three in total and only one has any damage - one of the ropes has come away from the sash in the front room. I can fix that fairly easily. I was hoping really hoping just to replace the sashes themselves as the boxes are still good. Noise isn't an issue but double-glazed windows would just help with energy efficiency.
I still don't see why any company should charge for providing a quote. I haven't come across any trade charging for a quote in years now.
I still don't see why any company should charge for providing a quote. I haven't come across any trade charging for a quote in years now.
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Search these forums mate, you will find links to sash window specialists easily.
I spoke to a few and they gave me free quotes, no question.
In fact here are some links:
http://www.sashwindowspecialist.com/price.html
http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/sashwindows/sashwindows.htm
http://www.sash-style.co.uk/directory.php
http://www.timberwindows.com/index.htm
And google 'Ventrolla' who are another company
Honestly - I reckon putting in some better glass would be dead easy. You don't need to go down the route of brand new boxes IMO.
And the draft from your windows is as likely from around the boxes etc than actually through the panes....
The companies will renovate a window for yuo which would include draft sealing etc I believe.
I spoke to a few and they gave me free quotes, no question.
In fact here are some links:
http://www.sashwindowspecialist.com/price.html
http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/sashwindows/sashwindows.htm
http://www.sash-style.co.uk/directory.php
http://www.timberwindows.com/index.htm
And google 'Ventrolla' who are another company
Honestly - I reckon putting in some better glass would be dead easy. You don't need to go down the route of brand new boxes IMO.
And the draft from your windows is as likely from around the boxes etc than actually through the panes....
The companies will renovate a window for yuo which would include draft sealing etc I believe.
Thanks trotter, that's been a lot of help. Maybe I don't need to go for the double glazing after all as long as I get proper draught-proofing. I'm pretty handy and reading some of the webpages, it doesnt' look overly difficult. They culd probably do with a new coat of paint as well. One of my biggest problems has been actually drilling to things so that I can fit good window locks - they're made of stern stuff!
Cheers again, you've probably saved me a fair amount of money.
Cheers again, you've probably saved me a fair amount of money.
http://www.reddiseals.com/
You can get your beading, cords, draft seals, furniture etc here....(or screwfix)
Like I say, I'm new to DIY, but the improvement I've made to my house by sprucing up my tired old sashes is amazing. A sash window is really a simple thing when you look into it. If you are handy then you'll do it no problem at all.
I look around my neighbourhood now, letting out a sigh of disappointment when I see sashes in a bad way, when it's so easy to get them looking right
I could've spent a stack on new windows and they wouldn't have had the character I've retained - at a cost of probably £20 per window and a bit of care and attention.
There are threads here (started by myself!!!) about painting and puttying them too, I'm no expert but if you want any advice on what I've done to reputty and repaint, just ask
You can get your beading, cords, draft seals, furniture etc here....(or screwfix)
Like I say, I'm new to DIY, but the improvement I've made to my house by sprucing up my tired old sashes is amazing. A sash window is really a simple thing when you look into it. If you are handy then you'll do it no problem at all.
I look around my neighbourhood now, letting out a sigh of disappointment when I see sashes in a bad way, when it's so easy to get them looking right
I could've spent a stack on new windows and they wouldn't have had the character I've retained - at a cost of probably £20 per window and a bit of care and attention.
There are threads here (started by myself!!!) about painting and puttying them too, I'm no expert but if you want any advice on what I've done to reputty and repaint, just ask
Trotter - were any of yours painted shut? We have all original sashes and a few are painted shut.
If so can you recommend a technique for opening them? My attempts with a thin screwdriver are proving fruitless and I don't want to put the window through!!!
Cheers
If so can you recommend a technique for opening them? My attempts with a thin screwdriver are proving fruitless and I don't want to put the window through!!!
Cheers
No. None of mine were painted shut, they HAD been in the past but someone previous had opened them.
Search the forum, I've read many a question about it...
I think basically you are looking at getting a blade or screwdriver through the painted bits and using a bit of old brute force...
Search the forum, I've read many a question about it...
I think basically you are looking at getting a blade or screwdriver through the painted bits and using a bit of old brute force...
there might be some nails or screws holding them shut. Look and feel for any signs of painted-over heads. If you strip the paint off one of them in place you will see how it has been fixed shut and can look for a similar method in the others.
Soo said:
The top sash is likely to be screwed in, mine are screwed sideways on the ornamental part underneath the meeting rail, into the frame. The hole and screw head had been filled so you couldn't see them. Sand this bit down and look for them.
Layers of paint WILL hold them shut though, somehow or other break the paint seal between sashes and frame etc then try to open them...
A bit of patience (OK, a lot!!!) and you'll get there
I'd say that your house loses a lot more heat through the walls, roof and doors than through the sashes. If your aim is sound-proofing then double glazing will work for you it's just that double glazed sashes look thick and ungainly in comparison to single-glazed ones.lmsava said:
As for charging for a quote I'm not surprised that some firms do, nowadays, as you may be demanding 2 or 3 hours of someone's time to measure-up and produce the quote. Are you willing to work for nothing? A quote is fixed and you're not supposed to vary much from it if you get the job, whereas an estimate isn't anywhere near as binding. Any reputable firm will provide a reasonably accurate estimate FOC and should offer to refund the cost of the fixed quotation if they get the job IMHO. Sorry if that puts me at odds with some here, but I feel that it's realistic to state my point of view on this (i.e. from a trades perspective).
I think that you'll start to see more of it. Sadly every tradesman has stories of people with deep pockets and short arms........ I'm not saying I do this, but I do like a customer to indicate a budget to me so that I don't waste half a day to come up with a price they won't pay - nobody benefits from that.lmsava said:
Isn't that the horn?trotter said:
What you also need to take into account is that all new double-glazed windows have to be fitted with trickle vents to overcome the problems of condensation and black mould so prevalent in modern homes. Properly hung sashes don't need this as they allow ventilation naturally, but if you make your sashes air tight by addidng pile kits you'll probably just be storing up other problems. Take a look at my good friend Jacob's site to see what I meanlmsava said:
Scrit
Scrit has a good point about the heat losses. If you want to save fuel/energy, put sheeps wool insulation in the loft. The benefits of changing to double glazing will not be worth the cost.
There is a lot of talk about continental houses being better insulated and less draughty, but they have a continental climate which is drier than our maritime climate and don't need so much ventilation. Our climate is not as cold in winter as the continent.
There is a lot of talk about continental houses being better insulated and less draughty, but they have a continental climate which is drier than our maritime climate and don't need so much ventilation. Our climate is not as cold in winter as the continent.
Soo said:
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Fein-MultiMaster-Top-22787.htm one of these will allow you to cut through between the sashes and other parts.
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