Sash windows in Surrey

About sash windows

How a sash window works

A sash window has two glazed sashes that slide up and down past each other in the frame, rather than swinging open on hinges. In older timber windows the sashes are counterbalanced by weights on cords hidden in a box frame. Modern sash windows use spring balances, which do the same job in a slimmer frame. Because neither sash swings out, they suit windows that open onto a path or a street, and opening the top and the bottom a little at the same time lets warm air out above while fresher air comes in below.

Sash windows in period homes

Sash windows are the traditional window of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian homes, and getting the proportions right matters more than the material. Run through horns, astragal and Georgian bars and a deep bottom rail are the details that make a replacement read as a sash from the street. In a conservation area, replacing windows with ones of a similar appearance is usually permitted development unless an Article 4 Direction applies, while a listed building always needs listed building consent. There is more on matching a window to the house in what style of window suits a period property.

uPVC or timber?

uPVC sash windows, such as the Roseview Ultimate Rose range we fit in white woodgrain, give the look of a traditional sash with very little maintenance. Timber windows suit listed buildings and homes where the original material matters, and need repainting every few years. Both can be draught proofed and double glazed to today's standards.

How long does fitting take?

Usually less time than people expect. One customer had seven sash windows fitted and registered with FENSA in half a day. How long your job takes depends on how many windows there are and the condition of the openings, which we check when we measure.