Vertically sliding sash shutters

[Cassie]

In my house, there are 3 under the bay window and one under the adjacent (joined by an arch) room in the main “posh” room. The other less posh rooms seem to have had ordinary folding shutters. I’ve found some of them in the loft (used as makeshift boarding) and some are still in situ but painted over. Maybe I’ll find some sliding ones in the loft . Next time I’m up there I’ll look a bit harder, among the junk (none of which is ours!) and several redundant water tanks

 

[CliffordPope]

"how to tackle the porch window as part of the whole restoration. Not a sash, but wooden and knackered. It’s been a total saga so far- people looking and not quoting, some teeth sucking, and one bloke that took a deposit and disappeared! Maybe the only way I’ll get it done is by myself!"

That doesn't look too bad to me - I've mended worse. At least it doesn't have to hold itself together while you slide it - it's static.

I think the first thing is to provide some sort of temporary support so that you can cut out the rotten bits at the bottom without the weight of the glass causing the structure above to slump. The lowest rectangular pieces of glass appear to be missing or hopefully removed to safety. You could put in some front to back support through the holes - 2 thin steel rods perhaps, supported well back from the structure so that you have room to slide in a new lower piece. Then you can carefully clean out the paint and dried putty from the lowest bit of the outer frame. Is the wood there actually rotten? If necessary you could cut/chisel it out, and either glue in replacement sections of missing moulding or replace the whole section.
Remove the short slim verticals, and if necessary the lowest slim glazing bar. Cut replacement pieces if necessary.
Then carefully reassemble, making the bar in two sections if necessary in order to leave one of the temporary supports in position.

You may need to have the joints open on one side, like a cut-away drawing, so that you can slide them together from one side. Then glue in repair pieces to fill the missing access slots.
Remember with good modern glues you can build up any shape you like. If necessary you can cut sections from old salvaged frames to get bits of fiddly moulding - it's easier than carving or planing complete new entire sections. Use foaming wood glue to fill joints.
There is some brilliant stuff called Tourette or something like that - its a wood powder that you mix with water to make a stiff paste and it sets hard. It then behaves just like wood - can be cut, drilled, screwed, even nailed I think. It sticks to wood. Totally water-resistant once set.

I always keep any usable sections of old windows, like the ones illustrated in the undergrowth. You can cut shorter ones out of longer, or even let-in sections to replace rotten bits of frames.

 

[Cubist]

There is some brilliant stuff called Tourette or something like that - its a wood powder that you mix with water to make a stiff paste and it sets hard. It then behaves just like wood - can be cut, drilled, screwed, even nailed I think. It sticks to wood. Totally water-resistant once set.

Its called Toupret and costs about a £10 for a kilo at Toolstation. I used it to repair some garden furniture earlier this year and it did indeed work very well.

 

[Cassie]

"how to tackle the porch window as part of the whole restoration. Not a sash, but wooden and knackered. It’s been a total saga so far- people looking and not quoting, some teeth sucking, and one bloke that took a deposit and disappeared! Maybe the only way I’ll get it done is by myself!"

That doesn't look too bad to me - I've mended worse. At least it doesn't have to hold itself together while you slide it - it's static.

I think the first thing is to provide some sort of temporary support so that you can cut out the rotten bits at the bottom without the weight of the glass causing the structure above to slump. The lowest rectangular pieces of glass appear to be missing or hopefully removed to safety. You could put in some front to back support through the holes - 2 thin steel rods perhaps, supported well back from the structure so that you have room to slide in a new lower piece. Then you can carefully clean out the paint and dried putty from the lowest bit of the outer frame. Is the wood there actually rotten? If necessary you could cut/chisel it out, and either glue in replacement sections of missing moulding or replace the whole section.
Remove the short slim verticals, and if necessary the lowest slim glazing bar. Cut replacement pieces if necessary.
Then carefully reassemble, making the bar in two sections if necessary in order to leave one of the temporary supports in position.

You may need to have the joints open on one side, like a cut-away drawing, so that you can slide them together from one side. Then glue in repair pieces to fill the missing access slots.
Remember with good modern glues you can build up any shape you like. If necessary you can cut sections from old salvaged frames to get bits of fiddly moulding - it's easier than carving or planing complete new entire sections. Use foaming wood glue to fill joints.
There is some brilliant stuff called Tourette or something like that - its a wood powder that you mix with water to make a stiff paste and it sets hard. It then behaves just like wood - can be cut, drilled, screwed, even nailed I think. It sticks to wood. Totally water-resistant once set.

I always keep any usable sections of old windows, like the ones illustrated in the undergrowth. You can cut shorter ones out of longer, or even let-in sections to replace rotten bits of frames.

Clifford, this is a revelation! I thought the only way would be to remove the window entirely and repair/replace. But your idea of holding it up while I work on the lower part makes it sound way more manageable. The missing glass is removed to safety it just fell out and sat there. I think I can do this. Do you reckon it could all be done from inside? Or do I need to put the tower outside and support off that? Not a bother but will have to wait until front door back in action! I’ll need to get it out anyway at some point to remove crappy paint and repair cracks in render. The bottom is definitely rotten, but the next glazing bar up may well be salvageable with something like the touprett stuff and a bit of ingenuity. Luckily the exterior cill is masonry so all sound and won’t need work. The interior cill appears sound as surprisingly are the wooden reveals and even most of the plaster arch despite having been covered in plastic and plasterboard! It was all a bit soft and soggy when first uncovered, has dried out well. Thank you for taking the time to respond so comprehensively

 

[dpmstevens]

We've got these shutters. And we're in Devon (Totnes). Or rather we had them as they were all removed when the house was turned into a care home. Our neighbours have them. The house is 1878, vaguely Neo-Italianate, fairly plain but well built from high-quality materials.
Maybe there was a regional trend for vertical shutters...

 

[Cassie]

Hi there! Good to hear from you do you have the shutter boxes still in place? With the big architrave boxing around-looks like sash window box on the inside poshed up where I live is around 1870, Devon has always been a bit behind the rest of the country

 

[88v8]

My question is, would it be possible to reinstate shutters without having to take the window frame apart ?

Yes.
Prise out the parting beads.
Then you can rotate the new shutters into place. Probably leave the staff bead in place.
The parting beads, like those in a sash window, will likely just be a tight fit in their slots, no glue no nails, so it needs some suitable pliers or perhaps a Mole wrench with some padding to get hold of the bead and rock and wiggle it until it starts to come loose. Go gently so as not to snap the beads.
With the parting beads removed you should have access to the weight boxes.
Each pair of new weights must weigh one pound more than their shutter.

Great feature, never seen them before.

The sashes in the garden, at least now you know they had horns.

Ivor

 

[Cassie]

Thanks Ivor. I don’t have any suitable timber currently to try and recreate something along the lines of Feltwell’s pictures of the shutters, but doubtless at some point something will come along. I suspect one evening after a glass of pop while looking at the vile plastic windows, I’ll have a bash at the parting beads and investigate the weight boxes. Should be concentrating on rebuilding the porch really, but a bit of light relief is necessary!

 

[Erica C]

I know this post is quite old but we’ve just had our sliding sash shutters restored and thought you might like to see them! I was searching for a way to close them as they are so tall i have to stand on a chair. I think they maybe need handles attaching

 

[Erica C]