This month we’re taking a look at sash windows, what are they? How do they work? And the benefits.
A sash window is made of several moveable panels which hold the glass within its frame. They have been used in houses as far back as the 17th century. Some of the earliest examples can be found in Ham House in Richmond, London.
The original sashes (and some houses still have them today) worked on a pully system, you simply pulled the rope to raise the window. But during the 20th century they began to fall out of favour because, despite their elegant looks, they were draughty, required a large amount of maintenance, and were often difficult to manoeuvre.
For some years, the old sash windows were replaced with modern UPVC casement windows which were draught-free and easy maintenance. But unfortunately, they didn’t always suit older period properties which often lost their period look with the new installations.
In the last few years, however, technology has moved on and UPVC ‘mock timber’ sash windows have come onto the market. Not only do they combine the durability and ease of use of the old UPVC windows, but also manage to maintain the period aesthetic that was so lacking in the original UPVC casement windows.
The new sash window has become as popular as its old counterparts, and homeowners whose houses did not originally have sash windows are now considering using them as a replacement for the old casements. The benefits are that they come in a variety of finishes, mock timber as mentioned above, and original white to name just two. They also have the ability to improve the aesthetic of most homes, plus of course, they are much cheaper than real wood, more durable, and almost maintenance free.
A shout-out for the sash window, we think they look great on most homes.
