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Property/DIY

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Renovate sash windows or get UPVC?

31 replies

FlyMeToDunoon · 18/11/2009 16:34

I know which I prefer but am thinking of costs and the cold.
Have had a leaflet offering a special offer from Everest.
And can anyone recommend a sash window restorer in Kent?

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Orangesarenottheonlyfruit · 18/11/2009 16:55

I have just paid a fortune to have all our sash windows renovated. It was quite an outlay but they hadn't been touched for nearly 200 years and guess what they are pretty ok considering that. Hopefully, they won't need anythink more than a touch up for another decade or so. Plastic simply doesn't last very long, is not environmentally friendly and may well impact on the value of the house.

But I may be a bit biased, I think UPVC is the work of the devil.

Littlefish · 18/11/2009 16:57

I agree with Oranges. UPVC is just horrible.

I have just had quotes in from 4 different companies about renovating our vertical sash shutters. I just picked 4 out of the yellow pages and arranged for them to come round. The quotes vary greatly though!

FlyMeToDunoon · 18/11/2009 19:13

Can either of you give me a hint of what amounts we are talking here?
I hate UPVC too.

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WhatDidISayRoy · 18/11/2009 19:16

renovate renovate renovate. do not even consider placky windows.

WouldYouCouldYouWithaGoat · 18/11/2009 19:16

restore. upvc will go all mouldy and weird.

FlyMeToDunoon · 18/11/2009 19:23

Is it thousands?

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WouldYouCouldYouWithaGoat · 18/11/2009 19:28

ok - don't go with a chain like everest they will fuck you over.

yes renovation will be expensive but get lots of quotes and yes you will be fucked over but less so than if you went with a chain.

stuffitllllama · 18/11/2009 19:29

renovate, definitely

will also affect house value when you sell

yomellamoHelly · 18/11/2009 19:45

We renovated. Cost about a third of cost of new windows and was disruptive and messy (but assume new ones would have been too). They'll now be fine for at least another 15 years. Plus they look fab and as a consequence the house looks better than most of the neighbouring houses because of the authentic windows. Now they've been renovated they don't rattle any more, don't leak cold air, are easily openable ...... Have decent blinds and curtains for the nights.
Had quite a few people asking who we were using when we were having them done. Some also saying they had gone down UPVC route because they couldn't find anyone to renovate theirs.

yomellamoHelly · 18/11/2009 19:54

£-wise it cost us £2,392 (summer before last) - Victorian 2.5 bed (3 window bay + 1 double + 3 single) including 1 new window entirely (frame and sashes), 2 new sashes, new cords, new beads (partition and the ones that hold them in), seals, stop guards and locks on every window. All windows huge (rooms 3.5 m high) and all different sizes.

Taramuddle · 18/11/2009 20:01

Renovate, I have not bought several old houses because their windows had been replaced with upvc ones. If you have an old house it's integrity will be lost by replacing them with plastic ones.

jkklpu · 18/11/2009 20:07

Talk to The Sash Window Workshop www.sashwindow.com/company - they'll do surveys anywhere. They have real craftsmen and offer great customer service. They did our 4th window recently, after a gap of about 8 years since the first one. It seems expensive at the time but, as others have said, they'll look great and help to protect the value of the house.

FlyMeToDunoon · 18/11/2009 20:07

yomellamoHelly Thank you for the info. What area of the country are you?
And thank you everyone else. I am definitly swayed towards the restoration route. i will need to get some quotes I guess. Hate that bit.

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FlyMeToDunoon · 18/11/2009 20:14

jkkipu Thanks I have emailed that company.

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starmucks · 18/11/2009 20:15

Marlis Carpentry in Dartfort is excellent. It's a one man outfit, so he really cares about his work and is a perfectionist. Also the tidiest workman I've ever come across, he bought his own hoover AND used it. We used him about 5 years ago when doing up an Edwardian flat in central london and it was about £320 a window. For that he takes out the window, re-does all the beading, insulates with some brush type thing and re-calibrates the weights.

FlyMeToDunoon · 18/11/2009 20:17

Oooh excellent. Thanks starmucks.

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treedelivery · 18/11/2009 20:17

We did our own Step father helped [ex joiner] and then we just cracked on. It's quite easy actually, all the stuff is easy to buy in a hardware shop. You need strength to hold the sash when recording but honestly- it's very doo-able.

We recorded only, the weights were still in there. The cords had been cut. We replaced the wheels and generally tidied them up a bit.

Lovely Must paint them

starmucks · 18/11/2009 20:19

You're most welcome

FlyMeToDunoon · 18/11/2009 20:19

Wow treedelivery, very impressed. I would not want to tackle ours as they are actually coming apart at the joints in some places.

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LynetteScavo · 18/11/2009 20:21

Avoid Upvc, unless you live in a new build.

If the worst comes to the worst, (and I can't belive I'm goin to say this!) Restore at the front and Upvc at the back. But not Upvc doors, what ever you do!

Actually I think they do make Upvc sash windows now.

FlyMeToDunoon · 18/11/2009 20:23

The Everest leaflet did mention UPVC sash windows but I am firm now.

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treedelivery · 18/11/2009 20:30

Ah - well those are even easier! Take that sash out, board up the window, have it copied by a joiner for, in our case, £60, glazed for £15, and whip it back in. That took day and a half so was a bit chilly but no biggie really.
If it's the actual frame that is coming apart then you probably do need an onsite joiner. Frames rarely do fall to bits though, it tends to be the beading and then then frames - all very replacable. In fact designed to be replenished and added to.

Parting bead and all the odds and bobs can be bought at a good hardware shop. The rope is there too.

Have a go at one, a little one to start with. We enjoyed it!! Took about 2-4 hours a window [to take them from painted shut to opening] and obviously longer to sand back and paint [still waiting....] Have 13 individual sashes so you can see why me and my glossing brush are stalling.....have a stern eye on 2 UPVc replacements that will be ripped out and replaced one of these days.

Replacing the paint-scraped, stripped back and polished till gleaming original brass fitings felt realy goooooood. Try not to buy/allow to be bought new brass fittings. They are in no way as good, as big, the right colour and so on They are so much weaker too. Refurbish the ones on the old windows or ring around salvage yards/ebay etc. It really is mega worth it.

FlyMeToDunoon · 18/11/2009 20:45

Don't persuade me treedelivery. My DIY attempts are all disasters.

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treedelivery · 18/11/2009 21:04

www.diynot.com forum is marvellous.

fanjolina · 19/11/2009 13:13

my DH replaced all our original sashes with uPVC sashes when I was on holiday - "as a surprise for you darling"
18K spent to destroy how my house looks.

now, where is the 'I wan a divorce' emoticon?