Wooden Sash windows - restoration (me again!)

[CuddyMum]

Have had a couple of companies round to quote for wooden sash replacement windows and although their written quotes haven't come in yet, indications are that they are going to cost ££££.

I have Ventrolla booked in to see me soon too and this has made me re-think the restoration option.

Has anyone any recommendations, suggestions etc.

Also, is it possible for a company to replace the sashes with slim double glazing or something equally soundproof/draughtproof, without having to replace the whole thing? My windows are very large!

Lastly, would a restoration company strip the paint off externally and repaint?

Thank you :)

Hi Itscoldoutthere. We have seven windows to do - can you tell me how much yours were with ventrolla please? x

Got a man coming over from Hitchin this morning - from Woodmaster Joinery :)

Bertandmarble - the refurbishment varied on each window but ranged from £350 for a medium sized sash window £600 for a large Georgian sash which needed 4 new panes of glass, new bottom rail and repairs to the right hand side, all windows have new satin chrome centre catches and chrome restrictor locks,
The new double glazed sashes were about £1000 per window.
It's an expensive business but they look so much better even though they still need painting and I can tell the noise/ warmth difference straight away.

Was really impressed with the guy from Woodmaster. He's sending a quote over to me later today and he's quoting for some solid radiator covers for me too. I am definitely going down the refurbishment route.

its I had good looking secondary glazing but it still looked really really awful. Especially when you're airing the room and need to get the damn windows, it was a pain. If someone forced me to get it, I would go with Storm windows who we had quote but didn't actually use. They do work for national trust etc and it the price actually wasn't horrendous, although still pricey of course if that makes any sense at all!

cuddy so glad you've made a decision!
Can I ask, is noise an issue where you live? Do you live on a street/road with any traffic passing?

Thanks it's, I'm probably looking at £600 each then...

Have a look at www.jeld-wen.co.uk/ who make windows for a load of outlets. You can get a rough idea of the price. If you can measure properly and you have a competent builder you can even buy them online.
I've been looking about for a house in east London reasonably big terraced, not huge tho, one quote (Anglian windows) for £17,500 apparently including a discount of 55pc!!!

I do live on a High Street but in a village so traffic is more than bearable and church bells audible. My main reasons for having the windows refurbished is so that they look nice from the outside and inside, are warmer (we haven't done a winter here yet) and so that they function as they should (some windows are sealed shut and some sashes don't pull down!). The noise isn't a big problem for me although having the draught excluders incorporated into the staff beads etc. should reduce noise too. The guy today is also quoting for replacing the glass with the very slimline double glazing which again will help with noise but also heat retention. I almost sound like I know what I'm talking about - I don't :)

Hi, first quote in!

For just renovation it is an average of just over £600 per window and then about the same again to reglaze with the slimline double glazed units (just the glass inserted into the existing frames and new weights etc). Have been quoted £130 per window for painting the prep and painting (outsides only).

I still haven't received my quotes from the companies who supply and fit completely new double glazed wooden sash windows but I am sure this option is going to a hell of a lot cheaper.

Have one more man coming this Friday and then Ventrolla next week.

I should be in a position to make a decision then but works won't start until probably Easter next year (I have told the companies this).

cuddy glad you've had your first quote through!

I live on a back street in the city centre so I have cars intermittently going by, and it's one way. The problem was the house I came from you could hear a pin drop it was so quiet hence me obsessing about noise as when I first moved in I simply wasn't used to it!

I had a very rough quote for timber double glazing earlier in the year and it was going to be approx £1,000 per sash so definitely get some quotes in before you make your final choice.

By the way cuddy as we're gutting the entire cottage I also want the windows to look lovely both inside and out.

My quotes ranged from £16,000 to £5,000. I kid you not.

In the end I paid an average of £500 per window for restoration and around £1000 for new dg windows. The new windows were fitted into existing Victorian frames so look great and work properly.

By the way cuddy that seems a lot for painting.

Cuddy I would highly recommend Mill House Window Workshop who are also based in Hitchin. They renovated a number of windows in my house last year, including replacing original glazing with the super slimline stuff, and they were brilliant. Extremely professional, tidy workers and we are very pleased with the results. Not cheap but worth it IMO for keeping the original windows,

happyon - there's an awful lot of rubbing down painting - lots of windows and huge with it!

Will look into Mill House Windows mycat :)

Hm - wasn't keen on the local man today! Won't be using him. I shall be interested to meet Ventrolla next week.

Have contacted Mill House too - should give a good comparison. Am starting to think (with the recent change in the weather) that we ought to take out a loan any start the works asap and then pay it off next May (when we were going to start the project). Have also contacted three stone companies re the cleaning of the stonework.

Wasn't overly keen on Ventrolla. Seemed like they would rather replace a lot of sashes and sills rather than renovate. I have Mill House coming next week. Still haven't had quotes through from the companies who quoted for complete replacements!

I think some companies just don't have the skill to renovate, or prefer to replace because it's less effort for them. Mill House are proper craftsmen and will be honest with you about whether your existing sashes and sills are salvageable.

I agree mycat. The other proper joiner was also from the same area as Mill House and you could tell he knew what he was talking about. I guess it will be a toss up between them and Mill House.

We're in London, on a residential street/hill that sees a fair bit of through traffic.

Our sash windows are all at the south-facing back of our house and were restored by Sliding Sash Solutions (based near Gatwick). Rotten wood was cut out, ropes and weights replaced, various panes of glass replaced with toughened glass and limiters/locks fitted. We were happy with the work and have had the same company back to restore the original casement windows at the front. So far, the upstairs rooms have been done and there is a noticeable reduction in the amount of traffic noise that can be heard from inside.

Having been impressed by the restoration job done by SSS, I can't imagine ever replacing the original windows with upvc.

Finally had a second quotation - Ventrolla. Way too pricey!!! Got a man coming tomorrow and another next week - both proper joiners so not afraid to renovate and be able to reglaze!

hi there if you still need a help with your sash windows I think I just know a man. His name is John he is very tidy and the he did great job with our windows. we went for double glazing slim units too and it looks fabulous. His number is 07828389773 you can give him a call and see what he would quote you. I think you wont find it cheaper as he works for himself so no addition charges just material and work. hope this helps