Monday 27 May 2013

Double glazed windows to increase the value of your home?


There are a number of things you can do to add value to your home. It may seem strange but by simply adding an extra layer of glass to your window you can get a number of additional benefits. With double glazed windows you can reduce your heating bills, make your home warmer, more secure and reduce noise levels.

If you are wondering why this additional glass can make your home more energy efficient it helps to know how heat travels through the home. In simple terms the heat passes through the house and escapes through gaps. The roof is often where the most heat is lost which is why people often use foam and other materials to insulate the roof.

The same logic applies to the windows as well. The additional glass slows down the heat escaping from the house. As well as reducing the amount of energy used in the home this also makes the house warmer, something that can be particularly reassuring during the colder winter months!

If you are wondering how this works and how you can shut out heavy traffic or rowdy neighbours it is worth knowing how sound travels. In simple terms the sound waves travel through the glass. When the sound waves have to go through an extra pane of glass this then reduces the noise as it is harder for the sound waves to pass through into the house.

Energy efficiency is not the only reason to consider installing an extra pane of glass to a window. Another great reason is noise reduction with some windows capable of reducing noise by as much as 50 per cent. By adding more glass the sound has to travel further in order to get into the house. This means you are less likely to be disturbed by barking dogs or passing traffic!

When you want to get double glazed windows installed you need to make sure you are getting the right company to do the installation work. You want to ensure that they are properly fitted and that once they are installed it is reasonably easy to clean them and keep them properly maintained. This is why it is important to check carefully. The best thing to do is to be proactive and contact companies directly. This will give you the chance to look at their websites and see what is available. Furthermore it means you can get them to come at a time that suits you in order to discuss what options are most appropriate for your home. Make sure all costs are listed including the warranty and liability insurance for the people installing the windows. It is best to contact contractors directly when getting double glazed windows. Comparing three different quotes will make it easier to choose an option appropriate for your business, remembering to take into account costs such as liability insurance and look over details such as the warranty. Look online to compare the various options available in your local area so you can get the best windows for your home.

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.