Monday, 27 May 2013
Sunday, 19 May 2013
Preventing Costly Sash Window Repairs
Old houses may frequently need sash window repairs if you had not maintained them properly in the past. If you are up to date with maintenance, you would not have to do too much home improvement work on your home. Keeping your wall openings frequently conserved will prevent expensive and major renovations in the coming years.
It is easy to keep your wall openings looking great and even add some pizzazz to their appearance. This kind of frame style has been in existence for a long time. You can find them in many houses in various nations around the world. Many of them can be found in England though especially in places like Chatsworth House and Kensington Palace.
If you have these wall openings installed in your home, you must make sure to keep them in pristine condition. By making sure that these fixtures are properly maintained there will be less heating loss in the winter. Another good thing about keeping the framework well preserved is that you can also keep noise out. The homes that have these decorative features are known to look very charming and cozy.
There are different versions of this window style that you can see in many traditional European residences. When you are renovating your home, it is best to choose something that matches the architecture and structure of the building. You can opt to add these dressings as a way to perk up the overall look and bring added value to it.
A simple pane of glass is used and then a wooden frame is added onto it to make the sash. You have three options to choose from when deciding which dressing you think would match your house more. There is the single-hung, the double hung and lastly, the horizontal sliding frames. The frames are created in a way that they can move either up, down or side to side.
The oldest design is the single-hung version which only allows the lower part of the frame to move. The original frames had a pulley and weight system that allowed you to be able to open and close them. The doubled hung style has the flexibility to open both upper and lower panels. This will allow the hot air to leave through the upper opening and the cool air to come in through the lower one.
There are a number of advantages to using this kind of wall opening. It adds quaint curb appeal to your house and even enables you to open the panels to get some fresh air in the house despite rain or snow. This improves ventilation during cold months when you would otherwise keep all the openings in the house closed.
Before deciding on your home renovation design, seek advice from an expert. This minimizes the chances of sash window repairs and redesigning in case the type of frame you get is not suitable. You should also get qualified contractors to fix any damages on your old frames to preserve the look of your classic frame design.
For More information on repairing sash windows why not visit London Sash Services here today?
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
How Can Double Glazed Wooden Sash Windows Increase The Value Of Your Home?
It is becoming increasingly common for people to replace
their double glazed wooden sash windows with industrially manufactured plastic
windows in the mistaken belief that the latter is a more economical option.
Rare and little knows problems such as rotten timber, uneven window frames,
accumulating rust and dust on window sills and fastenings and other such
problems due to poor maintenance. Learn the reasons why double glazed wooden
sash windows can increase the value of your home and property. A double glazed
wood window in particular the traditional box sash window consists of two glass
panes that have a space in between them which is compressed with air or gas
like Argon, Krypton or Xenon. This acts like insulation. It is a sort of leak
proof material that has thermal properties to insulate the room from the
exterior temperatures.
By having period looking traditional box sash windows in
your house makes the house an architectural wonder and will ensure that your
home, especially if in a historic area such as London fits in with the local architecture.
The house becomes a model of the 18th century period. Many people install
timber windows (hardwood windows and doors) in their houses. This uniquely
identifies the house. Your house becomes one of a kind. After the installation
of timber sliding sash windows, the overall worth of the property increases. As
the times pass, the value of the house increases. Soft furnishings and window
dressings can be used with the windows that further add to the uniqueness,
style and appeal of the windows. This create beautiful, if not the main, focus
points internally and externally. The windows do not break or damage easily.
There are many myths associated with the maintenance of
timber screens. The fact that they are easy to maintain is little known.
Specialist skills and knowledge is not required for general restoration or
repair, but where the job is a bit more complicated it is cheap and easy to
find professionals and materials. In actual fact, there is no better tip than
to revamp and restore old wooden windows rather than replacing them with
plastic ones. Timber windows if cared for will last for a very long time; in fact
it has been proven that wooden windows can last over one hundred and fifty
years! It may stay still centuries with good maintenance. Window Repair, restoration and renovation must be done on a semi regular basis for long lasting results
this should preferably be done every 5 to 10 years. With proper care they can
be a beauty of your house for a long period.
Wood does not require processing like plastics do, thus
significantly reducing the amount of harmful and toxic chemicals used during
manufacture. Couple this with the fact that wood is a material that makes
wooden sash windows eco-friendly, having a compounded effect in reducing ones
carbon footprint. They also protect your inner area from heat and cold effects.
It is hard to understand why one would voluntarily replace a natural,
beautiful, unique and genuine interior fixture with a more polluted, mass
produced substitute. Therefore it is a wiser option to get them installed in
your house.
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Sash Window repair advice - Prior to re-painting
Old sash windows are still considered strong to date and there is no any compelling reasons of replacing them with something that will not even last for a decade before needing replacement again. The scenario of sash window repairs can save you a lot of money, time as well as energy in most instances. The wood used to construct this type of window is naturally seasoned aged timber that was painted with lead based paints over a hundred years ago to create a strong window that is still as resistant to damage today as it was when first installed as compared to the ones we have today that may well end up rotting in as little as five years.
Old houses which still have original hand-blown glass is an indication of how old the windows may be. The glass used in older windows might look to be rippled, scattered and bubbled and, therefore can be quite an attractive quality as it shows the age of the house and indeed the uniqueness of your "antique" windows. Despite the fact that windows are unique in design and style, replacement contractors will often try to sell you the idea that replacement sash windows is the way to go, but this is not actually necessary as most old windows can be restored to look as good as new for similar of not less money than replacement windows.
For this reason, if you are in search of glass for your old unit, start by checking it with the salvaged contractors as they will be more than glad to release it. Alternatively, you can also consider checking it with traditional glass companies, there are a few still left that can create hand blown glass to recreate the vintage look. This is to say that, the pane materials are available and accessible from anywhere.
The main structures of the pane often are do not need repair unless severely affected by moisture. This is because they are usually strong and solid, and that is why you will find most manufactures nowadays constructing a ready to fit frames. As a result, you will always find that frames get damaged at the grains, but the good thing is that they can be cleaned and repaired easily by craftsmen.
If severe damage has occurred, it is most likely going to involve the sashes especially the lower ones. If the rot is minor or localized, a fix is required, and if the rot is at the bottom rail or broken a replacement is recommended. Note that only when both the bottom and both sides are missing do you consider it beyond fix. it is true to say that there is a company called London Sash services that carry out sash window repairs in west London at very affordable prices.
When disassembling the interior design a lot of care should be observed. Removing old glass without breaking it is a tiresome process most of the time, therefore, needs cautions. If you find the old putty is loose then use a suitable nudge with a paint scraper to get it off, and in case the putty is dry and hard you may need technical tools to remove.
After the glass is out of the frame and safely kept, the next thing is to remove the old lead paint. Often are the times old windowpanes will have at least a single layer of lead paint. If there are numerous panes that require repair and removal of lead paint then consider taking them to professional paint scrapers where they can be safely removed.
After completing all the necessary things for repair, you can now reassemble the panes. The pane is then treated with a generous coating preservative, usually homemade. Therefore, spend a little time and spend less money by using the services of a reputable sash window repairs company, who understand the technicality and the role played in window repairs.
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