Sash windows restoration N1

[monmaison2009]

Hi all
I am looking at restoring and drought proofing the sash windows in my property. Could you recommend an efficient, caring trustworthy individual/ company that you might have used?
The previous owner got someone to paint and drought proof them but did a totally appalling job so the windows need real work now to bring them back to their glory

Thank you for your help and advise.

 

[Nigel Watts]

I havn't used these people but they sound like the right kind of firm:

http://www.london-boxsashwindows.co.uk/

There is a friendly glazier I use to buy glass in Liverpool Road (between the intersection with Richmond Ave and Barnsbury Rd). They may have some suggestions. There is also a sash window maker in Caledonian Road (near the intersection with Offord Rd) but I dont know good or reliable they are.

MattC (I think he is the right Matt) recently did an extensive restoration job on his Georgian house near Angel/Saddlers' Wells and may be able to recommend someone he used.

Finding reliable craftsmen is always a headache. Good Luck!

 

[monmaison2009]

Hi Nigel

Thanks very much for your help I have seen some of the places you have suggested I will give them a try.
Do you know how I can contact MattC?

thanks again

 

[Nigel Watts]

You can try sending a private message via this board. I don't have any other contact details I'm afraid.

 

[MattW]

I think you might mean me Nigel - being Matt W? My windows were restored by one of the guys working for my general builder though the ones that were too far gone were replaced (curiously none of these were the original windows but later replacements I imagine looking at the glazing bars). I don't think I would recommend the guys I used though - the weighting / balance in a number of the sashes that they repaired wasn't done properly so that that they are slightly lopsided when they are closed (though the window locks of course correct that when they are secured).

You'll see from another post that I put up by co-incidence just now that I am also in the search for a competent joiner, so I would echo Nigel's sentiment on finding reliable craftsmen.

 

[childrenanddogs]

The guy we used was absolutely amazing, he has worked for The Sash Window Workshop for 14 years and did a fantastic job. We had 11 big sashes to be refurbished and even the ones I thought were beyond repair he managed to rescue. He charged £250 a window (Sash Window Workshop's quote for all of them was £30k!!) and did it at weekends, from my understanding he's not supposed to do private work though so I won't put his name or contact details on the open forum!

We're in Berkshire, so I'm not sure if he'd travel to you, but it might be worth asking? If you're interested, I'll send you his info in a message.

 

[monmaison2009]

@ childrenanddogs

Thank you very much for your suggestion, this is my email address monmaison2009@googlemail.com if you could send me his details that will be very much appreciated
I have had 5 different companies / individuals coming to see my windows with a huge variance in price estimates and pretty much the 5 of them telling me something totally different :shock: plus I do not have any references for any of them ......, makes me freak out :?

 

[JoceAndChris]

Just out of interest monmaison - what are your reasons for not doing this work yourself?

With care, advice from here, and a number of hours, or over months, you can make tremendous improvement to your windows at minimal cost. I suppose it depends specifically on what needs doing to the windows and how quickly.

Here are some things I've picked up - though I welcome correction from more experienced members!!

Rot can be gouged out gently with a chisel. Pieces of wood to splice holes left behind can be made by a joiner - you can screw them in yourself and build up the gaps around the spliced piece with wood filler. Smaller areas of rot can be filled with wood filler. You can use "Wet Rot Wood Hardener" on the wood, painting it down into the holes after chiselling out and before splicing in order to preserve its life.

Beading that has perished can also be made up to match by a good joiner and screwed and glued in by you - it would not need to be a specialist window company.

Windows that have been painted shut can often be freed by sliding a knife repeatedly into the sides where they should run up and down, wiggling and wiggling gently, and pushing and pulling. If they're really stuck, they'll need to have Nitromors painted on that bit to free them, and sanding, and scraping, where the paint prevents movement.

Old putty can be gently chipped out and new putty carefully put in with a putty knife or your finger.

I can't talk about draught proofing yet but I know there are products and step by step instrcutions on the web. I never thought I'd be able to take a big sash window out of its frame but now I can - removing the beading, bringing it down, bringing it out towards you, gently and carefully. Once it's out - away you go with repairs and sticking on of draught-proofing.

This just seems like one of those areas where tradesmen want to take an awful lot of your money for a not particularly skilled job.

 

[monmaison2009]

@ JoceAndChris

The main reason is time, I dont get much spare time these days, if I was to do this work it will take an awful long time, probably I will spend more time taking the sashes in and out than doing the work.

I agree, it does not look like a skilled job hence why I have asked so many people to come around and why the estimates are so disparate, I will still want to get someone to do a good job

 

[JoceAndChris]

I know what you mean - I don't work and in three years I stillhaven't found time to do all the windows here - have done 5 though.

And every winter you leave it the rot creeps further and further in. :x

Good luck with finding someone, sorry I can't help you there.