Rotten, draughty, hard to operate sliding windows?
We can help
If you love the period charm and heritage innate in your wooden sliding sash windows but hate the draughts, rattles, rot and heat loss that can also be part and parcel with an older property then you need help from the experts. You can trust RD sash and case.
Some History
Dating back over 300 years sash windows as we recognise them today have steadily evolved as technology and fashion have changed. At one time, due to a punitive window tax, the size of your panes was seen as an indicator of your wealth and interestingly the design was influenced by the Great Fire of London when post fire legislation required the windows to be recessed in to the brick work.
How do Sash & Case windows work?
Sash and case windows consist of two glazed timber-framed components, the ‘sashes’, which slide up and down in channels in the surrounding ‘case’. The channels are formed by the case and two strips of timber called the ‘baton rod’ and ‘parting bead’. Sashes are usually hung on ropes called ‘sash cords’, or occasionally on brass chains, which pass over pulleys in the top of the case. The sash cords are connected to lead or iron counter weights hidden within the surrounding case. These weights counter-balance the heavy sashes, making it easier to open and close them, whilst also enabling the sashes to safely stay open in any position.
Why choose restoration?
Traditional timber sash windows are an essential feature of a period buildings character. Therefore it is vital to retain them, not only because of the aesthetic appeal, but because they add value to your property. Also known as a sliding sash or vertical sliders, they rely on a weighted system that allows the heavy sashes to lift and fall with ease. In order for the sashes to move in the box and operate smoothly there is a 3mm gap between the sash and the frame which is often the cause of draughts, rattles, dust and rain ingress and heat loss