The chill factor

[Penners]

Any ideas where to go for the actual plastic window panes?

I think that your best bet is going to be clear polystyrene sheet. Acrylic (like Perspex) is much stronger, but a great deal more expensive. The only disadvantage of polystyrene is that it's quite easy to break and difficult to cut without it cracking.

If I remember correctly there's a place called Mr Plastic, in Oak Street, just off the A147 St Crispins Road. You might find that they'll cut a sheet of polystyrene to size for you. You might even find that they sell the Easyfix edging and clips, but I don't know.

 

[Penners]

Sorry - I didn't read AMc's post properly, and repeated his suggestion virtually word-for-word. :roll:

However, with two major intellects making the same recommendation, how can you go wrong, Moo?

 

[Moo]

with two major intellects making the same recommendation, how can you go wrong, Moo?

Indeed.

I have dim memories of Mr Plastic, and it's within walking distance, so I'll trot along there tomorrow morning and see what they've got to offer. With any luck I'll be able to have a go at some enthusiastic bodging the same day, and if so will report back immediately.

If it works, perhaps someone will point poor frozen Joce in the direction of a supplier in her neighbourhood.

xxx M

ps Thanks for the reminder about measuring the diagonals. I'd clean forgotten all about it.

 

[Flyfisher]

Sorry - I didn't read AMc's post properly, and repeated his suggestion virtually word-for-word. :roll:

Glad it's not just me that does that . . . :lol:

 

[Penners]

Ah, but I have age as an excuse, FF. :wink:

 

[biffvernon]

What you get with single glazing.

 

[robgil]

I sympathise Moo! Ours are icy, on the inside!


Brrr!

Please keep us posted with what you do, and whether it makes any difference. There are a number of windows here I'd just like to blu tack cardboard over until Spring - especially rooflights.

We'd like to get ours draught proofed eventually, on a hill top the draughts are dreadful.

What a pity it is that most effective solutions are so unaffordable.

Have you thought about glueing felt between each window part that lets draughts through? Felt will let the windows open and close but should help to seal against draughts.
Some other strip solutions here, foam , rubber etc.
http://www.rhnuttall.co.uk/Our_Products/Strips.html

So long as its fixed to the frame and not the moving or closing bit its pretty good at removing draughts.

 

[JoceAndChris]

It's a great suggestion Rob, I have thought we should do something, but I don't see how I can do this on my own (I'd need to take the sash out of the frame altogether?), and Chris is now busy learning another computer language for his new job, and will only do the absolute bare minimum of DIY.

The most draughty bit of the sashes are at the sides where they slide up and down.

 

[Moo]

The most draughty bit of the sashes are at the sides where they slide up and down.

Two thoughts:

How often will you be sliding them up and down during the next month or so?

Have you any cardboard that could be cut into strips and wedged in the gaps? (Not elegant, but reversible)

 

[Lime]

Although the problem discussed in the link below probably will not effect many people, it is always well to remember that extraction fans of any sort rely on an external source of air to operate.
When sealing every nook and cranny to prevent draughts often the flues of heating appliances are overlooked.
http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/makeup-air-range-hoods

 

[philmac1944]

Hi Moo
I`m sending you a PM -I have some of thsi stuff that you`re welcome to.
rgds
Phil

 

[Penners]

Some other strip solutions here

Do be careful, Rob. Just remember what happened the last time someone suggested a strip idea to Joce.

:wink:

 

[Feltwell]

What you get with single glazing.

We get hardly any condensation and are SG almost throughout. The house is (by many standards on here) quite well heated, the windows mostly SG sashes that have seen better days - "background ventilation" is not much of a problem! With 5 people breathing away, plus all the moisture-producing effects of living, I'm surprised we don't get more condensation really.

 

[Moo]

Hi Moo
I`m sending you a PM -I have some of thsi stuff that you`re welcome to.
rgds
Phil

Thanks for that, Phil. I'll try to find my long tape-measure and translate those metric measurements into ones that I can understand, which will enable me to work out whether or not what you have will fit my window (which is about 6ft x 3'6"")

 

[Penners]

If it's any help:-

6ft ≈ 183cm
3ft 6in ≈ 107cm

 

[Moo]

Yes - that's a great help. Many thanks.

 

[Moo]

Well, I left my paper templates with Mr Plastics on Saturday morning and they told me that the cutting would be done in their other branch hidden away on the Drayton Road (near Wickes, should any locals want to know).
Today I received the phone call and learned that (a) the cost would be in the region of £65, and (b) their cutting machine isn't capable of cutting on the slant; it can only do right-angled corners.

After some discussion (as usual, they were very patient, bless'em) it was decided that I should visit them and collect my templates, together with cardboard rectangles that they would have cut to (more or less) fit. Then I should take them home, offer them up, and fiddle about a bit until I'd got them to a workable size.

Which I did, but too late to get them cut today, so the deed will be done tomorrow, and I'll post the results as soon as the deed has been done.

 

[Penners]

I'll post the results as soon as the deed has been done.

Yes, please.

Given that your window is only 3cm (?) out of square on the diagonals, and that you have a reasonable amount of framing around the window, I would guess (and it IS only a guess!) that you would just about be able to get away with having the sheets cut square. Remember that, as you're doing the job in two halves, one half can be very slightly offset from the other half, which will help this situation.

 

[Moo]

An absolutely correct answer, young Penrose. Go to the top of the class.

The two pieces of foamboard were offered up and it was eventually established that the verticals are parallel - It's the top and bottom of the window opening that are on the Huh, and it's possible to achieve a sort of compromise there. So I'm now the proud owner of two plastic rectangles, a cats-cradle of plastic edging strip, two packets of clips, and a plastic thingy that will join the two together across the middle.

All the paintwork is now spotless, John is busy up the ladder with a bottle of proper pink Windolene (he actually volunteered, because he loves the smell), and then it'll be all hands to the pump, and the proof of the pudding will be in the heating.

 

[Penners]

It's the top and bottom of the window opening that are on the Huh

I didn't know you spoke Suffolk. In your native tongue, of course, they would be slantendicular.

the proof of the pudding will be in the heating.

By the power vested in me, I hereby judge that The Pun Of The Year.