Need to replace/restore sash windows, London

cosies27

Hi there,

I live in a 2-bed victorian flat in east london and need my sash windows restoring / replacing. Some of the frames are soft and rotten, where they've soaked up water because of a guttering problem, and they are all very draughty.

I am looking to make the flat a lot warmer and less draughty (my son's room in particular is like a crypt) but also to keep the character of the windows. I am looking for something that will last 5-10 years, but that is also cost effective - is that to get a carpenter?

I have 2 sash bay windows (3 windows each)
3 single sash windows.

I'd like an idea of how much it would be for the bays, and for all of the windows at once (it might be that I have to just do the bays at the moment). Also, any advice on what the best option is for keeping heat in, keeping the period look and being cost-effective would be appreciated.

I'm hoping I might be able to find some people on this site that might be interested in doing the work (depending on whether I can afford the quote!), so please let me know if you're interested.

Thanks.

theGrinch

I have been getting quotes for my own windows and the one thing Ive noticed is the wide variation in prices. I had one quote of £25,000 for 8 windows! But I have accepted one for £5000 for frames and sash windows. Out of a dozen and more quotes it was the best I had but took me 12-months to find. The average quote I recieved was 10k for 8 windows.

I went with new windows as the glass could be double glazed. I guess you could repair and draught proof your existing windows but the glass will still emit alot of heat.

Alan_M_2

The following firm are on the same business park as my business (in Gatwick). They cover London so might be worth a shot:-

http://www.slidingsashsolutions.co.uk/

Ionkontrol

I recently had my 3 sash window bay completely replaced.
Double glazed, engineered hardwood, noise reduction units, fitted for £4700.
The quality is amazing. I now cant hear the road outside and have to turn the radiators all the way down, otherwise we would melt.

http://www.thewoodenwindowcompany.co.uk/

Sutil_2

cosies27 wrote: »

Hi there,

I live in a 2-bed victorian flat in east london and need my sash windows restoring / replacing. Some of the frames are soft and rotten, where they've soaked up water because of a guttering problem, and they are all very draughty.

I am looking to make the flat a lot warmer and less draughty (my son's room in particular is like a crypt) but also to keep the character of the windows. I am looking for something that will last 5-10 years, but that is also cost effective - is that to get a carpenter?

I have 2 sash bay windows (3 windows each)
3 single sash windows.

I'd like an idea of how much it would be for the bays, and for all of the windows at once (it might be that I have to just do the bays at the moment). Also, any advice on what the best option is for keeping heat in, keeping the period look and being cost-effective would be appreciated.

I'm hoping I might be able to find some people on this site that might be interested in doing the work (depending on whether I can afford the quote!), so please let me know if you're interested.

Thanks.

[FONT=&quot]You have taken a very good decision, replacement of windows is necessary after a period of time. You have made a good choice to get sash windows installed. I would suggest you to search online for good sash windows; you will find lot of options to choose from.


[/FONT]

gmgmgm

Full repair or replace would be thousands I expect.

Alternatively, repairing the wood can be done by any good carpenter.
Then draught-proof the windows e.g. stuffing insulation (try bunched-up clingfilm) into the cracks around the window.

leveller2911

I've just priced up hardwood Boxframe windows for a Late Victorian house in London.

There are 2 bay windows( 6 boxes in total), one double boxframe and five single boxframes all with curved top rails.

Supply only in Sapele hardwood, double glazed units(4-12-4 Planitherm,Argon gas filled toughend ),20mm wide glazing bars,traditional Ovolo mouldings to the sashes, fully weather stripped, traditional brass Pulleys,"Fitch" fasteners,sash pulls and lifts, lead weights and primed for decorating by the clients.

The Quote came in at £13k + VAT..........

Anything bespoke is expensive but the more you have done at the same time the cheaper they are each .For example If I were to make a single Boxframe (sashes devided into 6 panes) I would be charging about £1,600 + VAT (supply only).


OP you need a Joiner/Joinery to make your boxframes and find a good Carpenter to fit them.Some guys/Girls will make and fit and IMO thats the best way , for instance if someone makes the windows ,fits them and something goes wrong then theres no "Blame game" whereas the more people involved ,if something did go wrong no one would accept resposability.

If your going to spend thousands then do your homework and look at the companies previous work and remember you get what you pay for so get a few quotes.

Idonex

We've actually literally just had our sash windows replaced with draft proofed, double glazed (Argon toughened) hand made hardwood ones (in East London too) As far as prices, for 7 windows and 3 sills completely replaced (again in hardwood) has come to around £7000. This included everything (locks, restrictors, new weights, ropes pulleys etc - basically everything is new). They were also primered.

We had several quotes from other companies to renovate and draft proof the existing windows, but once you'd factored in everything it still came to 4k or so, so we went with double glazing. Plus the single glazed 3mm (probably pre-war) glass is the main killer for the heat loss..

Only things to take into account. Of the half a dozen or so window companies we contacted, NONE would decorate the windows. So you will have to arrange for whatever you get done to your windows, to repaint them afterwards, as well as all the internal bits (architraves, bullnoses and internal frames etc). We got the company to primer everything inside facing and arranged for one of their decorators to paint the outside of the windows once they'd built them in their workshop.

Also, our sills were pretty rotten and the internal wall got damaged when they replaced it so will need to replaster those bits.

If you want any more info give me a shout.

Lleucu

we repaired the existing ones problem with new ones is quality of wood and thickness of safety glass and then had secondary glazing throughout this is probably a cheaper solution. Sec glazing has disadvantages and it not as thermally efficient as double glazing but def better than before.

Ionkontrol

Idonex wrote: »

NONE would decorate the windows.

Mine came with 3 coats of microporous paint applied. No painting for me.

leveller2911

Ionkontrol wrote: »

Mine came with 3 coats of microporous paint applied. No painting for me.

As the paint regulations change in a few months many companies are now gearing themselves up to do in-house finishing.

We are looking into a waterbased microporous system which is applied by a paint pump(spray).The downside is you also need heat to cure the waterbased system which mean spending more on investment..

My only gripe is water based primers don't soak into the timbers like spirit based primers do which IMO is a backward step..