Sash Window - weather strips

[grahamwookie]

Hi All,
I would like to restrict the weather (draughts) coming in through them tiny gaps in my windows. I have considered this product and would like to know if anyone has used these and if they were of a good quality?

Reddiseals: http://www.reddiseals.com/acatalog/sash_window_timber_staff_beads.html

I think at the same time I have the beads off, I'll paint the sashs too.

Thanking you,
Graham

 

[Stephen]

Don't know about that product in particular, but the principle the system follows is sound and is much the same as that used by Ventrolla, etc.

On the matter of painting it was traditionally the case that certain parts of a sash window were not painted as paint on some of the sliding surfaces made the sliding of the sashes more difficult. There are differing views on this and the general rule nowadays is to paint all surfaces. I mention this simply to alert you to the possibility that once painted you may find over time that the sashes have some resistance to sliding.

Stephen

 

[Feltwell]

Yep - I've used that exact product, it works fine, and the sash is sooooo much easier to slide now!

Recommended, will post some more detail up later.

 

[JoceAndChris]

How timely! That's excellent, I've been meaning to order this stuff for ages.

 

[Ian Bond]

Don't know about that product in particular, but the principle the system follows is sound and is much the same as that used by Ventrolla, etc.

On the matter of painting it was traditionally the case that certain parts of a sash window were not painted as paint on some of the sliding surfaces made the sliding of the sashes more difficult. There are differing views on this and the general rule nowadays is to paint all surfaces. I mention this simply to alert you to the possibility that once painted you may find over time that the sashes have some resistance to sliding.

Stephen

As a rule I would never paint the hidden edges of the sash stiles (the sides that you nail the cords to). Is this the bit that you mean is painted nowadays?

I've used the Reddiseals staff beads and parting beads with success. I just bought the parting bead, staff bead and a roll of the 8.5mm Weatherpile with fin.

One thing I like about the Reddiseals stuff is that the weatherpile slides into the carrier without needing to be pinned in place or glued, so can be replaced more easily.

I don't bother fitting weatherpile to the underside of the bottom sash rail, or to the meeting rails:

* Saves bother of routing the sashes, and avoids damaging original joinery
* Makes painting easier, particularly to underside of bottom sash rail
* The staff bead weatherpile is sufficient without the extra stuff on the sash rail
* Ensures adequate ventilation - helps to reduce condensation and important in rooms with stove / open fire

With double hung windows, the parting bead has to be fitted in 2 pieces to each side: upper piece with the weatherpile facing out, lower piece the other way round.

I've recently overhauled an early 1800s single-hung sashed window. The upper sash is fixed and a snug fit so I used ordinary, non-weatherstripped parting bead. The weatherpiles on the staff bead alone made a noticeable improvement, reducing draughts around the lower sash and helping the window to slide smoothly.

A couple of other things that come to mind.

* Parting beads should be a friction fit, not pinned or glued in. Makes removal for maintenance a bit easier / less likely to cause damage.
* I fix at least one side of the staff bead with brass screws - makes removal easier for future maintenance.

Just my way of doing it!

Ian

 

[biffvernon]

On the matter of painting it was traditionally the case that certain parts of a sash window were not painted as paint on some of the sliding surfaces made the sliding of the sashes more difficult. There are differing views on this and the general rule nowadays

The general rule nowadays is to paint all possible surfaces, thickly, with an alkyd resin paint, and to leave the window shut whilst the paint dries. This has the effect of permanently sealing the window. When the paint cracks water will get into the wood and, being unable to escape through the impermeable paint layer, the moisture content of the wood will be raised to the level favoured by moulds. After a short interval the stuck shut window will be so rotten that it gets replaced with nice shiny plastic windows.
[/rant]

 

[Stephen]

I agree with not painting the hidden sliding edges, but merely pointed out that this practice no longer seems to be followed. When I had sliding sashes in the past not only were the hidden edges of the sliding sashes not painted but also the corresponding surfaces of the frame. The sashes worked well and there was no rot to the frame.

Stephen

 

[Ian Bond]

Sad, but true. (edit- in reply to Biff)

Painting the windows properly, with linseed paint takes a lot of patience. I struggled to get a decent break in the weather to paint mine - just managed it this year.

I've found Aglaia's Weather Protection Lacquer to be pleasant to use (smells like oranges), and quicker to dry between coats. Used it on my exterior doors and it looks great,

Still reckon that you can't beat Holkham Linseed for windows - but I'd wait 'til next spring - too cold to have the windows open for days on end now.

 

[Feltwell]

Graham, here's some pictures of the Reddiseal beads in-situ:-

Pretty subtle I reckon. The window works much, much better since I fitted these, it slides a lot easier (although I did do a lot of other repairs at the same time).

I did rout the mid rail to fit the weatherpile carrier. I also glued the weatherpile into the carrier, although only with a tiny spot of glue at each end - otherwise with the staff and parting beads I had problems with it moving.

I fitted the product below to the top of the top sash, but only because the window is arched and the gap was too much for the brush seal - but, I think it should work better than the brush weatherpile in a non-sliding, "compression" situation.

http://www.reddiseals.com/acatalog/draught_proofing_silplex_bubble_seal_5mm.html

I painted the whole window with Holkham linseed paint, after stripping back to bare wood. The sides of the sashes were left bare (but were oiled), everything else was painted.

The Holkham paint is lovely stuff but very very slow to dry - I boarded the window up and painted the sashes out of the frame. Worth the hassle though, it's so much nicer than your "normal" paints, and it should keep the window in better condition for longer. The process was slowed even further as I had to do everything from the inside, this particular window being at the top of a very tall house - out of reach of my ladders.

Hope this helps.

 

[wobs]

The Holkham paint is lovely stuff but very very slow to dry - I boarded the window up and painted the sashes out of the frame. Worth the hassle though, it's so much nicer than your "normal" paints, and it should keep the window in better condition for longer. The process was slowed even further as I had to do everything from the inside, this particular window being at the top of a very tall house - out of reach of my ladders.

Hope this helps.

I also boarded up the window, as one can paint indoors, and there is then only one edge that you need to paint outdoors. Both my sashes are upstairs, and never needed ladderes to access any bit when working on them.

Unfortunately, my other windows are not sashes (sulk), and will have to borrow ladders from somewhere in the spring. Not looking forward to it, as I need to strip the paint, and repaint all outside.

 

[grahamwookie]

Thanking you all for the replies. As you'd expect I'm waiting till spring to paint! This weather is not right at all ;-)

Feltwell, them windows do look nice, and the new brass pulley even better! I'll take your advice and do all my 15 windows!

 

[Feltwell]

Hope you've got plenty of time then! It's worth doing but don't expect it to be a quick job.

Pulleys came from Mightons, the original ones being totally seized and worn out. New pulleys, new cords, brush seal weatherstrips and the badly worn sash edges replaced - it's not surprising it works better than it did before really!

 

[grahamwookie]

Hey Mr. Feltwell,

Has there been a noticeable difference in the 'warmth' of the rooms since installing the weather strips? Looking at my windows, all being wooden, and hoping to rent in the near future... renters are going to hate them and how wet they become in winter.

 

[Feltwell]

Hey Mr. Feltwell,

Has there been a noticeable difference in the 'warmth' of the rooms since installing the weather strips? Looking at my windows, all being wooden, and hoping to rent in the near future... renters are going to hate them and how wet they become in winter.

It's all rather subjective really - I did them during the summer of course, so I've not had a recent before and after! Plus I insulated the roof during the same period.

However - the windows work 10 times better and the draughts, which were very noticeable before, have at very least vastly reduced if not stopped altogether - so yes, the rooms must feel warmer as a result at least!