Sash windows- are they worth the hassle?

[fruitbar]

Hi,

We are thinking about buying a house, which has original sash windows.  They aren't in the best condition, and will probably all need replacing over the next year or so.  they look pretty, but are they actually worth the hassle and expense?  How much would it cost to replace 5 sash windows (and can you double glaze them?), and how much cheaper would 5 UPVC ones be?  We live in London...

Thanks!

[Webmaster]

Hi fruitbar. I've had a quick check on our database and it looks like it will cost about £200 to 'restore' sash windows. This usually involves stripping the wood down, sorting out any problems with the seal around the glass and also ensure that they open and close properly. So maybe 1K to do the lot?

You can double glaze them, but it is a little expensive. You can also replace them completely with UPVC double glazed 'sash style' units. Again quite expensive, maybe £500-£700 per window?

I'm getting 4 double glazed non sash windows installed, that is costing me £500 per window (600 x 800mm), but that is at the same time as getting a conservatory installed, so i'm getting a bit of a discount :-)

If you get some quotes it would be great if you could share them with us, we get quite a lot of queries about sash windows.

[Welsh Decorator]

From a 'looks' point of view, YES! keep them.  from a replacement angle, there would be quite some 'making good' to the interior surface's, also, a point to bear in mind, if? they are large, i.e. 5 or 6ft wide and on the ground floor, some served in a slight structural way, they provided some suport to the internal timber lintol, which a uPVC replacement will not be able to do.

There are a few comps out there that specialise in the total referbishment of shash windows, they can draft proof them, some might be able to install 'stepped' double glazed units.

Just in case you are still unsure, there are people out there that are starting to replace uPVC windows with ...... timber original pattern ones!
The worm is starting to turn. 

[Webmaster]

good point about replacing uPVC windows. I've herad that uPVC only really last for about 10 yeras before needing replacing. Makes me a little worried about my double glazing units. Have I made the right choice?? hmmm well I can always go back to the fact that I really need new windows as mine could be broken into with a small hammer and a toothpick to undo the lock!

[fruitbar]

Thanks for your help with this- that's really interesting about upvc!  I had no idea... is ten years considered to be industry standard for replacing?

[HiHo]

well despite the BS standard saying that upvc windows should last 40 years this BBC article says the many windows are replaced after 10 years

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3384137.stm

and yet one of the selling points of upvc windows is their long life - according to window replacement companies.

who to believe??

[house21]

Have them changed to double glazing units if you are OK with plastic frames. Very easy to maintain, requiers cleaning from time to time.
The down side of it is the fact that looks cheap. Yep, plastic looks and feels cheap.
If you don't want your house to look cheap, get double glazing units-glass only, fitted on wooden frames.
Be ready to pay for maintenance and pay less on heating.

[Webmaster]

I'm halfway through getting my old wooden frames replaced with plastic double glazing. I was a bit worried at first but they actually look pretty good! Certainly a lot brighter than the old units, i dont think they look too cheap theirm and hopefully will be a lot easier to maintain?

[MILLS126]

We had our kitchen and lean to extention done last xmas, it took 18 weeks,lol
three builders one of witch had some sort of break downand took our island sink.

We were recomended a national company through a friend they diddent hard sell us anything, they were affordable after the three monkeys we had before we were on a budget belive me.

they even hooked up our HOB & oven so we could cook xmas morn.

They recomended some sash windows, we have eot victorian and they look fantastic, the cost wasent much more as they manufactured them. they look just fantasic! everytime i see them it just says it was worth it.

 Do shop around dont go for the cheapest.

Make shure if you buy them and get someone else to fit it, you get to see the fitters work or a testimonial,

Trust me anything that could happen ive been through my fault for having work done comming up to xmas.