Window decisions

[dalivar]

Since I now realise that nearly all jobs lead on to other jobs, we're now considering replacing the 4 windows at the front of our house.
We started decorating our spare bedroom and have found that we need to patch up the lime plaster and also replace the inside sill (its poor-quality ply and also rotten from previous leaks).

My first question is whether it actually makes sense to replace the window before putting lots of work into finishing the room? I think it does, since the window will need to be recessed further into the wall, at the moment it is almost flush with the external wall.

And the second question is about double-glazed sashes... I know we want timber and I know we want to be warm! Does anyone have experience of double-glazed sash windows? The little research I've done so far suggests they don't last so well because of the weight of glass, one particular company would only fit single glazing in a sash window for this reason. I'm not willing to choose single glazing so should we look at casement instead?

The house is an extended end terace, half stone and half rendered on the extension which I also worry will make it harder to choose which colour would look best on the two backgrounds!
Thanks for any input!

Amy

 

[AMc]

The little research I've done so far suggests they don't last so well because of the weight of glass, one particular company would only fit single glazing in a sash window for this reason. I'm not willing to choose single glazing so should we look at casement instead?

Others are more expert than me, but this doesn't sound right. I would expect a competent joinery company or window specialist to be able to make double glazed sashes that last.
I have a load of reasonably recently manufactured, timber, double glazed sashes. I can't see any reason why they constitute a problem?
I've had some units fail (after >10 years) which I'm attributing to the 6 over 6 formation being made of lots of little units, that increases the amount of vulnerable edge to glass and means its harder to get enough recessing to prevent UV exposure on the seals and also increases the glazing bars. The original windows were 8 over 8 and if I get the time and money I plan on replacing the sashes with single units crossed with spacer bars and planton glazing bars in the correct shape.
Ours are sprung not pulley/weighted. Given the extra weight of the second layer of glass you might struggle to get enough lead in the box to counter balance the sash?

 

[LadyArowana]

We have one double glazed sash ( in the kitchen ). It's only been there for a little bit less than 4 years so can't really comment on the longevity issue, but I think it looks fine. It's not a window that I open, so it doesn't get heavy use, but functions perfectly well, uses "spiral balances" rather than weights I believe. When I next visit from the laptop I will post some pictures. It didn't seem to be any sort of problem for the company that made it, they had replaced others in our building too, wood of course, not the other stuff.

 

[eezageeza]

We have 7 softwood double glazed sash windows (10 sashes in total) now approaching around 12 years old, and showing no significant signs of wear, so I think your fears are unfounded. Ours are modern factory made frames however, with sprung sashes rather than weights and pulleys.

I could imagine that if you are looking to fit double glazed sashes into existing boxes, with weights, it might be a more arduous application - and as AMc says, you might struggle to get enough weight onto the pulley to counter the double glazing.

And the answer your original question - yes, it does make sense to replace the windows before decorating. However carefully it's done, window replacement is messy and disruptive, so better get it out of the way first!

 

[dalivar]

Wonderful! Thanks for your opinions. I admit I also thought a decent company should be able to come up with a solution and there are certainly many in our area offering this. I will give some a call and see where we go from there. I'm glad you all mention the spring balance since this is something I was unclear of but seems more suited to this application. Since I think we will either choose 2 panes over 1, or 1 pane over 1 we won't need to worry so much about failure due to size.
I feel much more decided now about this and I do really want sashes if possible as I don't think casement would look good on our house.
As an aside...I came home today to find my other half has taken the sill off and I can now see the stones and mortar of the house. First time I've seen that!

 

[biffvernon]

Spiral balances from http://www.balanceuk.com/

I think they are one of the smarter inventions of the 20th century. I've fitted loads of them and folk seem to find they work.

 

[88v8]

Had double-glazed sashes made for our previous house, 30 years and going strong. Hardwood sahes, softwood boxes.
Only problem we had was that they were so heavy, the standard iron balance weights were too long, so I had to cast my own lead weights. Used an old pressure cooker base, quite scary with 15lb of molten lead slopping around.
I hung them on chains rather than rope.
Anyway, whoever told you double-glazed sashes no good, is talking out of his backside.

Ivor

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

We had 6 new d.g sash windows delivered last week from Arden windows in Coventry. They use conventional weights and pulleys - lead weights are used to counter the weight of the d.g. units. Some of the detailing is a bit ropey, but the draught-stripping is quite discreet and the overall proportions are good. A couple of years ago I made some sash windows myself in oak, copying details from a neighbouring house, and although they are rather beautiful took me an age to make. Faced with the need to replace all the other windows in the house I had to be a bit pragmatic and get them manufactured. The cost worked out not too bad.

We went round the Homebuilding and Renovating show at the NEC earlier in the year and looked at all the different manufacturers stands. From that we developed a list of possible suppliers, and sent them the schedule of sizes and a technical specification for what we wanted. From the varied responses we were able to produce a shortlist, and then looked in greater detail at their windows. Arden happened to be the cheapest, and their design was one of the 'least worst'.

Now all I have to do is install them before the winter. How hard can that be?

 

[plasticpigeon]

How hard can t be?!!! You sound like my boss!

 

[LadyArowana]

This is our only double glazed sash, other windows were casements already. Not any different looking to what was there previously, not that anyone sees it really as I try and avoid the kitchen as much as possible and it is on an internal lightwell so only one set of neighbours with a view.