Common sash window problems
Most sash window faults come down to a handful of causes. Cords snap with age, so the sash drops or jams. Paint build-up or swollen timber makes a window stick. Perished putty and worn beads let sashes rattle in the wind, and water sitting on the sill can start localised rot in the bottom rail or sill.
These are repair jobs, not reasons to replace the whole window. Keeping original sashes working is usually kinder to the character of an older house and avoids the cost of new windows.
What a repair typically covers
The exact work depends on what the window is doing, but a typical repair visit can include:
Where several windows in the house need attention, they can usually be assessed in one visit and the work planned in a sensible order, starting with the worst.
- Replacing broken sash cords and rebalancing the weights
- Freeing sashes painted or swollen shut
- Easing and adjusting sashes so they slide smoothly
- Fitting new staff and parting beads to stop rattles and draughts
- Cutting out localised rot and splicing in new timber
- Reputtying loose or cracked glazing putty
Rot repairs to sills and bottom rails
Where rot is limited to one section, such as the end of a sill or the bottom rail of a sash, the soft timber can be cut back to sound wood and a new piece spliced in, rather than replacing the whole window. Repairs are shaped to match the original moulding so the window looks right once painted.
If the rot is widespread through the frame, we will say so honestly, since patching badly decayed timber is a false economy.
Draughts and rattles
A sash that rattles in the wind is usually a sash with worn or missing beads and too much play in the frame. New staff and parting beads, fitted snugly, stop the movement, cut the rattle and reduce draughts noticeably, which makes a real difference in bedrooms and front rooms facing the weather.
Painting after repairs
Any new timber or disturbed paintwork needs priming and painting to protect it. We can finish repaired windows through our sash window painting service, so the window is weatherproof and tidy in one project rather than waiting for a decorator.
What we don't do
We repair existing timber sash windows rather than manufacturing or supplying new ones, and we are not a specialist sash window company. For a full replacement window or a complete overhaul of every window in the house, a dedicated sash window firm may be the better fit. For sticking, rattling, broken cords and localised rot, ask for a free quote or call 07735 852901.