First Job of 2011 - Sash Windows

[citizensmith]

Started today - 11 sashes to be refurbished. Its the last "big" job here as all else becomes decorating/tinkering and general maintainance. I thought I would post this as we are using a national Franchise company to do it and so far (1 day in out of an estimated 7 - 10 ) I am very happy with what I am seeing done.
I have seen a few threads on here on this subject and many have given opinions about using a "local" joiner vs using a "specialist company". The only catch here is the two guys doing it are very local to me and so is the firm doing it.
Looking forward to fewer drafts, no haunted window rattles and smooth sliding sashes where both sashes work!

 

[Penners]

Looking forward to fewer drafts

So you've done rough sketches of your needs several times, have you?

:wink:

 

[citizensmith]

I realised i had done that gaffe just as i sent it! Could have bet on Penners picking it up first.
Lucky I am not an English teacher!

 

[Penners]

No, it's lucky that I'm not an English teacher! :wink:

 

[citizensmith]

Indeed

 

[divebubble]

Citizensmith,

Just out of interest, who are you getting to 'overhaul' your sash windows? Looking to do ours in the spring/summer and could do with a contact or two.

Divebubble

 

[citizensmith]

Here's where I open the floodgates. Its Ventrolla.
However, they have a local base to me (Ross on Wye), and the Boss lives in our village and the two guys working here went to the school I work at and seem delighted to have a job that is on the doorstep for a change. (I am working along the assumed principle that they wont c**p on their own doorstep!) I think they are glad to be working at all after being stood down for 2 weeks during the cold snap.

 

[citizensmith]

All Finished midweek. I am very pleased indeed.
Its blowing a gale out this morning (as usual) and instead off the symphony of rattling, ghostly swooshing and howling, there is just still, calm serenity indoors. All windows work as they were designed to and it should take the strain off the boiler a bit. Just the painting to do in spring now!

Better start saving for PV's - Are they falling in price much yet?

 

[CatherineB]

How lovely, I'm glad it went well!

 

[Flyfisher]

Yes, congratulations. Glad to hear about a job done well.

May I be a little rude and ask about the cost per window? I have four sash windows to refurbish in the near future, although they are reasonable airtight at present and they certainly don't rattle in the wind - but that's only because they are stuck fast with mutliple layers of paint! :roll:

 

[citizensmith]

No I dont mind telling you. It was £6.5K inc vat to do 11 sashes. Comprising 8 Big sashes (6ftx4ft?) which almost all needed new sills, One big sash that was almost completely replaced to match the others (that was £1200 on its own) and 2 small sashes on the top floor that are much less grand. I guess it could have been cheaper, but frankly i am delighted with what has been done and could not have done it myself or found the time to do it - I'll stick to painting! I guess it averages out at about £600/window.
On that note my favourite mega durable external paint is International satin microporous ranch paint - any opinions out there?

 

[Flyfisher]

Thanks for that. I'm glad I only have four to deal with!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Thanks for sharing all the info citizensmith- very useful indeed. I'm very jealous, we'd like to get ours done too though they don't make quite so many ghostly noises as yours, I think.

You might find this thread interesting.

http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11169&p=139483&hilit=linseed+oil+paint+on+windows#p139483

I still haven't got round to rubbing all my windows down and repainting with linseed oil- it's a job I find soul-destroying!