Staff Beads

[Haresy77]

Hi,

My sash windows appear to have had the staff beads removed at some stage to accommodate nasty aluminum secondary glazing. The secondary glazing is now gone but I am unsure how to go about replacing the staff beads. Can anybody point me in the direction of some resources for finding the replacement beads and how to fit them i.e. what size pins etc? As none of my windows have staff beads I'm not sure what they are supposed to look like. I'm guessing its an elongated "D" shaped bead (like the parting bead) that lies flat rather than on its end???????

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers.

 

[Ian Bond]

Your local timber merchant should have staff beads with a similar profile to this, which should do the job:

I used 40mm lost head nails to fix the beads.

 

[thiambal]

Not long finished my windows.

There are two general sizes of Parting Bead avaliable at timber merchants both of the design in Ian's post. Which size you use really depends on the scale of your window, the proportions have to look right. If you are really keen and have the equiptment you can by the router cutter to make your own.

My top tips would be......when buying them avoid lengths with big knots in them. You need to cut them to be a tight fit and which generally means a bit of flexing to get the vertical ones in. Certainly they need to have a bit of bend in them if you want to lever the out in one pience in the future. A knot just provides a weak point for the them to irritatingly snap in half.

Prime and undercoat them before you put them in - much eaiser before hand.

Take the opportunity to fit some draft excluding strips. You can but staff bead pre-fitting with draft excluding strip, alternatively with a router and table they are pretty easy to manufacture yourself. They don't turn your windowns into heat efficient double glazing - but who would want that!!

 

[Nemesis]

The OH went on the EWHT 'day' (see other thread) on Friday, and, along with Historic Scotland and other partners, experiments have been carried out re improving energy efficiency using a variety of methods with sash windows.

Although I'm actually quite keen on a small amount of draught to keep air moving and windows free from condenstaion, it certainly seems that using decent draught exclusion has some benefits. (I think Ventrolla actaully installed the stuff in the test tenements).

There area couple of firms who do the DIY stuff - this is one, but there are others:

http://www.diysashwindow.co.uk/

http://www.diysashwindow.co.uk/onlineorder.htm


People who have used these have posted here in the past to say that the kits were good and easy to use.

You can also buy the bits separately with the stuff already fitted I seem to recall. But a google should bring more info.

Here's another firm:

http://www.sashwindowspecialist.com/diyguide.html

Historic Scotland has these online publications:

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/caring-for-your-sash-case.pdf

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/informguides-sashandcase.pdf

 

[thiambal]

You certinaly do not get draft free windows!! Not that I find this a problem. I did not bother with draft strips on the parting beads, just on the staff beads and I must confess to adding one on the upper bar of the lower sash where it meets the upper sash. It cuts done rattling and the worst of the draft. Makes them a bit of a bugger to paint though.

I have mentioned my skepticism about Ventrolla before but I know others have had good experiences. If nothing else they are extremely expensive compared to DIY or you local friendly carpenter. I am personally not keen on the look of the plastic parting beads they use (although they look OK from a distance).

My main concern was when they came to give a quote for my windows the chap went around sticking a spike into the windows and declaring may of them rotten and needing replacing. When our fantastic local carpenter stripped all the windows back to the wood there was not a spot of rot in any of them. Oh, and he only charged about 25% of the Ventrolla quote.

 

[Nemesis]

Ventrolla is a franchise - I think if you have complaints I would pass on the HQ.

 

[thiambal]

In which case I guess the service varies on the franchise and I guess they may be worth a go.

I cannot imagine the HQ being the slightest bit interested and in any case the priced themselves well out of the job.

 

[Nemesis]

I don't know - they might be keen on maintaining a decent standard of work.

 

[Geoff Flegg]

This firm does a particularly comprehensive range of draught proofing bits and sash window repair stuff if you want to have a go yourself, including 6 different sizes of staff bead:-
http://www.reddiseals.com/acatalog/sash_windows.html

Mighton is another firm offering similar products:-
http://www.mightonproducts.com/catalog/weatherstripping-c-6.html


Thiambal, you mentioned problems painting - would this help?
http://www.reddiseals.com/acatalog/weatherstripping_weatherpile_painting_protector.html

 

[thiambal]

Whoever invented the painting protector strips is like the person who put a little sponge in a bottle of tippex to replace the brush - and damn genuis.

Now if only they could invent an effective way of painting your skirting boards without taking the carpets up. (I know if I went truly traditional I would not have fitted carpets)

Btw, I am a particular fan of the Ventlocks from Mighton Products - you do need the tool to get them in though - and a steady hand on the drill bit. But very clever unobtrusive and effective things.

 

[Haresy77]

Thanks for all the responses. I hadn't thought about insullation much. My house gets freezing in the winter but have been sceptical about what difference some furry strips will actually make. Has anyone experienced a drastic difference once insullating strips have been added?

 

[thiambal]

I tend to have the house pretty chilly in winter anyway, don't use the heating all that much. However, the draft strips to cut down on the worst of the drafts.