The Origins Of The Sash Window, An Evergreen Product

The origins of the sash window are not easy to fathom. There are a variety of theories but no absolute proof for any of them. In the late 1600′s, an English inventor, Robert Hooke used them in Ham House and a painting by Vermeer called ‘The Milkmaid’ shows a sash frame behind the girl. It is believed that they might have come from France, via Holland to Britain around this time but the British certainly made them their own.

The name ‘Yorkshire light’ refers to windows with glazed panels that opened vertically or horizontally. Opening was manual originally but a system was developed whereby the weight of the glass panes was balanced by a lead sash weight. This was connected to the window by a sash cord running inside the frame over a pulley placed at the top.

In the late 1600′s, the famous architect Sir Christopher Wrens used these windows for Whitehall Palace. They were also used for Kensington and Hampton Court Palace. Wrens’ reputation and the royal patronage gave wooden sash windows a cachet that soon saw them used right across the British empire. Until the early 1900′s, the windows were used almost exclusively in all new constructions both private and public. Whether open or closed they do not detract from the aesthetics of a building unlike other windows.

By Georgian times, they were everywhere. An additional feature was added which allowed the windows to open at both the top and bottom. Called a double hung sash, these windows allowed rising hot air to leave through the top and sucked in colder air from the bottom. In a rainy European climate, less rain and more ventilation was possible.

The Victorians, were obsessed with decorating their homes with carvings, leaded lights, lattices and complicated mouldings. Placed in a facade as a group, each bay was framed by carved stone pillars. It also became common to enhancing the perspective of a building by making windows on the ground floor longer than those on the upper floors.

The First World War brought a different ethos and method to the production of goods and expensive labour intensive handicrafts were the losers. It was simply too expensive to continue to create intricate craft when producing for the masses.

It must be agreed that without the sash window, defects and all, the most interesting urban areas of older European cities would be bleak and characterless.

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Ideas for Home Improvement

Spring has arrived and one of the things that dominates the minds of many homeowners is home improvement. Unfortunately the gears are turning so fast it’s hard to decide where to start, what to do and where to put the priorities. If you know you’re due for some updates to your home but you’re not sure where to start then here are some great ways to avoid idle hands. Start with these popular home improvement ideas for the changing seasons:

1. Check out the roof – The winter can be harsh on your roofing materials including the gutters, flashing, vents and chimney. You should inspect all of these for some kind of damage that can lead to damage of the internal structure of your home.

2. Inspect your Windows – Windows tend to be overlooked, but they are important for the beauty and integrity of your home. The freezing and thawing through the winter could damage the window in even minor ways. Start by checking your windows for proper caulking and any cracks or improper operation. You may also want to check for mold and mildew that may being to grow as a result of failing weather proofing.

3. Replace Windows – Even if your windows have served you well for years it’s a good time to upgrade. Newer windows provide a better barrier against the outside world, new models of glass improve energy efficient and reduce heat transfer and better windows will eventually pay for themselves where energy cost is concerned.

4. Examine the Siding – If you’ve got vinyl siding and you live in the colder climate regions then you need to inspect your siding. Vinyl becomes brittle when temperatures drop and can easily be damaged. For other more durable types of siding, check for flaking or peeling paint, missing or loose pieces, etc.

5. Check your Foundation – As the snow piles on it can compress the ground around your home. This is made worse by overflowing gutters that drain against the home when the ice melts leading to saturation of the ground around your house. This causes the ground to erode and settle more, creating areas for water to collect. Make sure the ground still slopes away from the home to allow for proper drainage.

6. Check your Ceiling – Look for water spots in remote areas of the house such as in closets. Sometimes ice dams on the roof at the gutter line can cause water to back up and seep into your attic. If you find water damage, look for the source and correct the issue then repair the damage structure and ceiling.

Lastly you can work with a contractor do some home improvement in the attic. The break in the weather is a good time to get into the attic and install a radiant barrier. This type of foil insulation works to support your typical insulation by blocking over 90% of the heat that normally passes through your roof and attic space. There’s no shortage of updates and maintenance on your home – if you’re looking for a good home improvement project start by covering needs and necessity then move on to luxury remodeling.

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Suggestions On How To Replace A Sash Cord On Double Hung Windows Without Too Much Difficulty

How to replace a sash cord is a lot easier when you understand the mechanics of a double hung window. Every double hung window has two sashes, the top and the bottom. The frame that secures the glass is a sash. The sides of that frame are the jambs. Sash weights sit in back of the jambs. They are connected to a cord pulley system. The weights keep the windows balanced and easy to open.

There are a series of moldings along the jambs creating channels for the sashes to slide. The piece of wood that separates the upper and lower sashes and the one that holds the bottom sash in place can be easily loosened and removed. They need to come out to remove the sash.

Before you start this project, make sure you have the correct tools and material readily available. You will need new sash cord, a putty knife, a hammer, a utility knife, putty, finishing nails, paintbrushes and in case you chip away the paint, enough paint to touch it up.

Take the stops on each side of the lower sash off. Using your putty knife, place it close to each nail that is securing the stops and pry it gently away from the frame. The wood splits easily so take extra care to work patiently.

With the stops removed, the frame should come out easily. Remove the damaged sash cord from its slot. Most sash windows have an access panel to get to the weight. The access panel will need to be removed; if there no access panel then the side window casing has to be taken out to get to the weight.

Painted over access panels will mean chipping the paint to determine where the screws are that hold the panel in place. You may need to score painted edges with the utility knife in order to lift the panel out. Once the panel is removed, any remaining cord should be cut off. Thread the new sash cord over the pulley until it appears in the access panel. Tie the new cord to the weight making sure the knot is sturdy but not bulky as it can get stuck in the window frame. Place the weight back into the cavity. Tie a knot to the other end of the cord to make the weight suspend three inches above the bottom of the sill when the sash is in an open position.

Replace the framework and insert the moldings using finishing nails to secure them. Fill any gaps in the moldings with the putty. Paint any chips in the wood. The project is complete and your double hung window should work like new. Do-it-yourself homeowners can learn how to replace a sash cord by following steps found on the Internet or talking with professionals at our local hardware store.

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Historic Wooden Window Repairs And Making The Task Easy

When the paint on your old wooden windows is peeling, and the glass is broken, along with the elements having gotten the best of your home, wooden window restoration is a solution to bringing back the life of the windows and your house.

For a modest investment in the supplies needed for this job, and a few hours work, you can restore each window successfully.

When older houses are left vacant for long periods of time, the owners sometimes neglect them or just forget. Your windows suffer, but this can be taken care of with a little bit of care.

If your wood still looks like it is in good shape, perhaps it just needs cleaning. This can be done with scrapers of different types. Just scrape at the old putty and remove it. If there is broken glass, this will need to be carefully removed, as well. Sometimes sanding is needed. It will make for a much smoother surface for your paint later. The new putty will stick better to fresh, clean wood, so you will need to prepare the bare wood for that with primer. It can be water or oil based.

Measure the glass, and add 1/8 of an inch to the length and to the width for clearance. Your glass can be ordered from any home and building center.

The glass is ready to install after the primer is dry. Putty and glazing points are your primary concern at this stage of the game. The putty should be put on in thin beads, and the glazing points will need to be a couple or inches or so on all the sides of the window and near the corners. After the putty is placed on it as well, press gently but firmly to set the glass in place. Scrape off the excess putty, and let your window sit for a few days to let the putty dry. When you are ready to paint, tape off the edges to protect the glass from excess paint, and paint the wood of your window.

So, if you are going to put forth your efforts into wooden window restoration, give thought to maintaining them from then on, as well. In this way, your future repairs will be less costly and time consuming.

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