Lime
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Nemesis said:
Some of mine do. I love it!
IMO that is the most significant reason why so much old soft wood remains today.bournonite said:
- Thread starter BMcD
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Some of mine do. I love it!
Nemesis
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Came across this:
http://www.gov.je/PlanningEnvironment/Planning/Historic+Buildings/Policies+For+Replacing+Windows+and+External+Doors/
which is interesting.
In defence of using Ventrolla:
Yes expensive, but the work will allow for removal of the sashes more easily to repaint, and to clean from the inside I gather.
While many of us would rather buy a house with simply repaired original windows, it's surprising that many others wouldn't. To be able to say to a prospective purchaser that the windows had been draughtproofed and soundproofed by Ventrolla, and I assume that has some sort of warranty, may mean that the house can retain its timber windows and not be removed and uPVC fitted.
That's what happened to our previous house - the sash windows were lovingly repaired, the buyer then replaced with nasty uPVC, spoiling the house, of which the large sashes were an important part of the front elevation.
http://www.gov.je/PlanningEnvironment/Planning/Historic+Buildings/Policies+For+Replacing+Windows+and+External+Doors/
which is interesting.
In defence of using Ventrolla:
Yes expensive, but the work will allow for removal of the sashes more easily to repaint, and to clean from the inside I gather.
While many of us would rather buy a house with simply repaired original windows, it's surprising that many others wouldn't. To be able to say to a prospective purchaser that the windows had been draughtproofed and soundproofed by Ventrolla, and I assume that has some sort of warranty, may mean that the house can retain its timber windows and not be removed and uPVC fitted.
That's what happened to our previous house - the sash windows were lovingly repaired, the buyer then replaced with nasty uPVC, spoiling the house, of which the large sashes were an important part of the front elevation.
Lime
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That's an interesting link Nemesis.
From the link
My experience of modern wooden windows supports that comment.
Many houses and bungalows built in the 70s and 80s required their wooden windows to be replaced because of severe wet rot.
Design has something to do with it but I blame the rubbish paint that we have to use these days.
Lead may be bad for pollution but it protects wood well.
From the link
My experience of modern wooden windows supports that comment.
Many houses and bungalows built in the 70s and 80s required their wooden windows to be replaced because of severe wet rot.
Design has something to do with it but I blame the rubbish paint that we have to use these days.
Lead may be bad for pollution but it protects wood well.
thiambal
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The can install a swing system that allows this - but it is an expensive optional extra on top of the basic package.
The basic package includes a bit of plastic attached to the sash cord making it easier to remove (but not that much easier than a nail just below the pulley). Here are the isntruction for their 'painting made easy option'
http://www.ventrolla.co.uk/sashwindowrenovation/paintinginstructions
Does not look a lot different to a conventional sash removal.
They do give a 5 year guarentee which admittedly might give a buyer peice of mind - but only to their work.
Been overseas and just got back when our carpenter started work. Much as we would love to live in Crystal Palace, sadly we don't
It's a Georgian country house with 56 windows in total....the largest sashes run floor to ceiling in some rooms (13ft 6in) and are hung on chains rather than ropes.
Most of the windows are actually in reasonable condition....unfortunately, the previous owners (whose family built the place), have undertaken many ill considered repairs.
What they seem to have done to almost all of the cills is to nail a thin sliver of softwood (!) over the top of the rotting hardwood cill...trapping moisture underneath in the process.
Still...work has commenced and we should have the windows finished in 4-6 weeks time
It's a Georgian country house with 56 windows in total....the largest sashes run floor to ceiling in some rooms (13ft 6in) and are hung on chains rather than ropes.
Most of the windows are actually in reasonable condition....unfortunately, the previous owners (whose family built the place), have undertaken many ill considered repairs.
What they seem to have done to almost all of the cills is to nail a thin sliver of softwood (!) over the top of the rotting hardwood cill...trapping moisture underneath in the process.
Still...work has commenced and we should have the windows finished in 4-6 weeks time
Nemesis
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It all sounds very interesting!
Just glad we don't have so many - I think 19 at the last count. Some just needed a little repair, the couple of modern ones - probably late seventies... total replacement. Not only is the wood rotten, they are a pale imitation of the real thing.
Just glad we don't have so many - I think 19 at the last count. Some just needed a little repair, the couple of modern ones - probably late seventies... total replacement. Not only is the wood rotten, they are a pale imitation of the real thing.
sarahj
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We are currently stripping back to the bare wood, filling and repainting our windows - the sash ones are a joy, and so easy to take apart. My partner enjoys the fact that he can remove just about all of the window and strip and paint at leisure under cover from the elements. I, however, am renovating the back extension windows which are 1980s and in far worse condition than the sash windows - correction: the sash windows are in very good condition! Apart from the poor wood and paint, I think it is also to do with the extremely shallow recess making them much more exposed to the elements than the sash ones with their six inch recess.
biffvernon
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It's not the lead pigment as much as the oil binder. Use real linseed oil paint such as that supplied by Holkham Paints and you get similar wood protecting performance to the paints of yore.Lime said:
I have to correct my earlier post - it was south-eastern bo sash windows who didn't turn up (three times!) not sash windw specialists as I said earlier - we've contacted so many I've go all confused! I am going to make an appointment for sash window specialist to come now.... mayb 15th time lucky!
Lime
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I hope you are right as I have just spent 7 hours painting our new wooden sash windows for the new extension with it!biffvernon said:
I hate painting but it is so nice when it is done.
We are now well into the window repairs.
Positives
- Our repairer really does want to retain as much as possible of the original windows, rather than just replace everything
- He was able to remove one of our 2nd floor sashes externally (meaning we didn;t have to touch the internal panelling (removing this single window took him a whole day)
- The resin appears easy to work and he has managed to match the profiles exactly
Negatives
- Some over enthusiastic chiselling resulted in 2 broken panes of crown glass
- 6 weeks has already become 8 weeks.
Positives
- Our repairer really does want to retain as much as possible of the original windows, rather than just replace everything
- He was able to remove one of our 2nd floor sashes externally (meaning we didn;t have to touch the internal panelling (removing this single window took him a whole day)
- The resin appears easy to work and he has managed to match the profiles exactly
Negatives
- Some over enthusiastic chiselling resulted in 2 broken panes of crown glass
- 6 weeks has already become 8 weeks.
Nemesis
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Re the glass - oh, weep!
Matey Plumber
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I was Ventrolla'd before Xmas and my thoughts on the job follow.
They were very good and the job looks/seems excellent - I was sat on New Year's Eve during the gales staring at the curtains trying to see if they moved - but they didn't. I couldn't sleep because I could hear the wind howling yet there was no rattle from the windows.
There was the very occassional susseration of sound from the draught excluder strips but I think that if the tv or radio had been on louder and if I hadn't be trying to hear noises from the windows, I wouldn't have noticed it.
All the bits that were sanded down to get a good fit etc were primed - which is the problem as they need painting PDQ - however, it's been too cold and I know I won't be able to lift the sashes out on my own. I have to be realistic - 20 years ago I took a load of windows the same sizes to the allotment and built a greenhouse, but I couldn't do it now and must start to admit that to myself.
The windows do look better from the outside - not so twisted and collapsed - though one is still dropped a little due to the land beneath - I had a skewed box don't you know!
The plastic strips (which some of you thought would be offensive) are indistinguisable at first second even third sight from the other three beading strips around each window.
Only one side has this plastic and it must be made of plastic because it has built-in "press studs" so you can take it off without damaging it.
The cills at the back of the house (5 of them) have been replaced with mahogany.
The only "damage" done by the workmen has only just become apparent and was probably my oversight. The telephone cable from the junction box ran through or under the cill in the kitchen - this cill has been replaced and one of the phone wires look a bit bare - the phone connects but doesn't ring.
In all it was a traumatic experience - I didn't take into account how I would feel before the job was started. Every room and I mean every room had everything pushed to one side and dust sheeted - but the muck still got through gaps - I hid in the spare little room except for the day they did that room when I hid in my son's room.
They did two windows per day and took 5 days.
By the Thursday I was so depressed I felt like telling them to just get out and leave everything alone!
I had some idea of painting the ones they did first as they did others but the muck was horrendous - not only from the work but equally from the years of soot and general muck that had collected.
I have asked Ventrolla if they can supply DVD or CD showing someone taking out and replacing sashes of a completed window - I was too traumatised to really take the demonstartion in at the time and the leaflet is really only a back-up to the demo.
Over Xmas I was very gloomy cos I can't see me painting thembecause although it is easy to take the sashes out I wouldn't want to risk it on my own - by back went"ping" again just picking some wrapping paper up off the floor so I'm getting wary of doing anything which could be dodgy if my back went during the work.
However, a chap in the street who does his own building work on his own houses and who is fussy about these things has said that my "new windows" look good, so that cheered me up. (This chap got our modern street name signs replaced with enamelled ones)
It is noticeably warmer, quieter now the rattles have stopped and feels more secure with good sound windows again.
They were expensive but hopefully they will not be ripped out by whoever takes over the stewardship of my poor old house when I sell up.
So on balance I am very pleased with the result.
They were very good and the job looks/seems excellent - I was sat on New Year's Eve during the gales staring at the curtains trying to see if they moved - but they didn't. I couldn't sleep because I could hear the wind howling yet there was no rattle from the windows.
There was the very occassional susseration of sound from the draught excluder strips but I think that if the tv or radio had been on louder and if I hadn't be trying to hear noises from the windows, I wouldn't have noticed it.
All the bits that were sanded down to get a good fit etc were primed - which is the problem as they need painting PDQ - however, it's been too cold and I know I won't be able to lift the sashes out on my own. I have to be realistic - 20 years ago I took a load of windows the same sizes to the allotment and built a greenhouse, but I couldn't do it now and must start to admit that to myself.
The windows do look better from the outside - not so twisted and collapsed - though one is still dropped a little due to the land beneath - I had a skewed box don't you know!
The plastic strips (which some of you thought would be offensive) are indistinguisable at first second even third sight from the other three beading strips around each window.
Only one side has this plastic and it must be made of plastic because it has built-in "press studs" so you can take it off without damaging it.
The cills at the back of the house (5 of them) have been replaced with mahogany.
The only "damage" done by the workmen has only just become apparent and was probably my oversight. The telephone cable from the junction box ran through or under the cill in the kitchen - this cill has been replaced and one of the phone wires look a bit bare - the phone connects but doesn't ring.
In all it was a traumatic experience - I didn't take into account how I would feel before the job was started. Every room and I mean every room had everything pushed to one side and dust sheeted - but the muck still got through gaps - I hid in the spare little room except for the day they did that room when I hid in my son's room.
They did two windows per day and took 5 days.
By the Thursday I was so depressed I felt like telling them to just get out and leave everything alone!
I had some idea of painting the ones they did first as they did others but the muck was horrendous - not only from the work but equally from the years of soot and general muck that had collected.
I have asked Ventrolla if they can supply DVD or CD showing someone taking out and replacing sashes of a completed window - I was too traumatised to really take the demonstartion in at the time and the leaflet is really only a back-up to the demo.
Over Xmas I was very gloomy cos I can't see me painting thembecause although it is easy to take the sashes out I wouldn't want to risk it on my own - by back went"ping" again just picking some wrapping paper up off the floor so I'm getting wary of doing anything which could be dodgy if my back went during the work.
However, a chap in the street who does his own building work on his own houses and who is fussy about these things has said that my "new windows" look good, so that cheered me up. (This chap got our modern street name signs replaced with enamelled ones)
It is noticeably warmer, quieter now the rattles have stopped and feels more secure with good sound windows again.
They were expensive but hopefully they will not be ripped out by whoever takes over the stewardship of my poor old house when I sell up.
So on balance I am very pleased with the result.
Congratulations on your new windows!
Sounds like a good job and i'm sure all the pains will be forgotten over the coming cold Winter months!
Sympathise with you over the building work - we've starting going out for dinner just to get away from the mess :-(
Hope you manage to get the windows painted - but like you say, in this weather there's not much you can do
Sounds like a good job and i'm sure all the pains will be forgotten over the coming cold Winter months!
Sympathise with you over the building work - we've starting going out for dinner just to get away from the mess :-(
Hope you manage to get the windows painted - but like you say, in this weather there's not much you can do
Matey Plumber
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Thanks, I think it was worth it.
When I say the job was messy I think I should clarify that statement.
It was fairly windy and threatened rain (in fact poured down one day) - not the best for having no windows in some rooms! The day before they started had seen gales and rain hammering against the windows and I was exceedingly worried at the prospect of getting work done under those conditions. Fortunately it was calmer on the monday.
Because it was bad weather and because I don't have a garage or covered area where the work could be done it had to take place inside so all the planing and drilling and such-liking was done in the living room and kitchen.
Usually they create a mini workshop outside - but not in the conditions they had that week.
So I suspect that in summer or with a covered area the job would have been cleaner.
Incidentally does anyone else have a problem logging in to this site? I re-enrolled because I was having problems but it's taken ages again today to get in - the "login" button doesn't do anything, nor does hitting return.
I've cleared the cache, cookies and history so started with a clean slate and am not sure what else I did that enabled me to get in this time.
When I say the job was messy I think I should clarify that statement.
It was fairly windy and threatened rain (in fact poured down one day) - not the best for having no windows in some rooms! The day before they started had seen gales and rain hammering against the windows and I was exceedingly worried at the prospect of getting work done under those conditions. Fortunately it was calmer on the monday.
Because it was bad weather and because I don't have a garage or covered area where the work could be done it had to take place inside so all the planing and drilling and such-liking was done in the living room and kitchen.
Usually they create a mini workshop outside - but not in the conditions they had that week.
So I suspect that in summer or with a covered area the job would have been cleaner.
Incidentally does anyone else have a problem logging in to this site? I re-enrolled because I was having problems but it's taken ages again today to get in - the "login" button doesn't do anything, nor does hitting return.
I've cleared the cache, cookies and history so started with a clean slate and am not sure what else I did that enabled me to get in this time.
Nemesis
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I wouldn't worry about the primer - we have a couple of windows which have been in primer for - oooh, years, and they are fine.
Ditto lifting out the windows - maybe three old crocks can get together and work something out!
Excuse haste! Good to hear that it's worked out well.
Ditto lifting out the windows - maybe three old crocks can get together and work something out!
Excuse haste! Good to hear that it's worked out well.
Michelle73
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Oh how I wish I had got someone in to restore our Sash windows.
Hubby decided to tackle the job himself and now 8 months on I'm still waiting for him to finish the first window!
Mind you its mainly been down to not having available time off work and poor weather. Give me a full weekend of sunshine and the now treated frames will be painted....one down just 10 more to go!
20 weeks to complete a whole house sounds wonderful, I'd book them now!
Hubby decided to tackle the job himself and now 8 months on I'm still waiting for him to finish the first window!
Mind you its mainly been down to not having available time off work and poor weather. Give me a full weekend of sunshine and the now treated frames will be painted....one down just 10 more to go!
20 weeks to complete a whole house sounds wonderful, I'd book them now!
Matey Plumber
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It was 5 days for 10 windows - not 20 weeks (though it seemed like it at the time!) There was a 12 week wait though as they are busy.
Their firm (the one Ventrolla subcontracted the job to) does replacement wood windows - they also do plastic. The chap in charge of my job said that 10 years ago it was plastic, plastic all the way but now wood is taking over and the boss always advises people to get wood windows.
So there is hope.
Their firm (the one Ventrolla subcontracted the job to) does replacement wood windows - they also do plastic. The chap in charge of my job said that 10 years ago it was plastic, plastic all the way but now wood is taking over and the boss always advises people to get wood windows.
So there is hope.