Replacing sash windows with no regrets.

One of the reasons I bought our house was because I fell in love with the sash windows. I’m a sucker for an old house with period features. And there’s no better feature for me than beautiful wooden sash windows. 

The downside of course is the draughts, condensation, poor insulation, knackered opening mechanisms, fragile glass and slowly rotting wood. Most of ours didn’t open properly and some of them didn’t even close. We had massive gaps at the top which made perfect doorways for ginormous spiders to come and go as they pleased. But this was a small price to pay for all that beauty and history. Right?

THE PROBLEM

But after living through 6 winters I had had enough of not being able to sit on this sofa without wearing a scarf and coat. I was bored of looking like a bag lady wearing all my clothes at once.

But I adored our house. I felt like a criminal for even considering taking out those beautifully crafted windows that had stood proudly for over 100 years. So, if we were going to really consider replacing the windows, we had to do it right. We had to do our home and all it’s history justice. So we started looking at the options. 

THE SEARCH 

Plastic UPVC was an absolute NO. Sure it was cheap and efficient but this wasn’t about finding the cheapest and easiest solution. This was about balancing modern efficiency with historic integrity. So we ruled out any company that advertised during day-time-telly repeatedly shouting a “buy-one-get-one-free” catchphrase.

For us it had to be wood.  Many of the uPVC manufacturers also offer real wood now so we saw a couple of local and national companies. 

THE DISAPPOINTMENT

The first that struck me was how plastic-like their wooden sample windows looked. I was really confused. The factory finish of the wood was so shiny perfect and flawless that it covered up all the texture of the wood. Why would they do this? The joy of wood is the grain and texture. Who would pay the premium for wood disguised as plastic? 

The second thing that really (really) annoyed me. Is that every uPVC company we saw tried to ‘sell’ me on the idea of going uPVC? How many times did I have to tell them I wanted the new windows to look like the original windows? I want them to be wooden. I don’t want uPVC!!!! 

They just didn’t listen or didn’t care. 

THE SOLUTION

So when Rikki from Sash Window Preservation offered to come and talk through potential solutions I was relieved. He totally got me. He appreciated our pain of removing the old windows and I could see how passionate he was about his company. It felt like someone finally understood what we wanted to achieve. 

It took a few visits and six months of phone calls, emails and long discussions between Ed and me before we reached a final decision. This was a big call for us financially. It’s scary spending so much money so we had to be sure.

Image via Sash Window Preservation

THE INSTALLATION

A team of two arrived on site on day one.  I moved out for a few days using the excuse that it wasn’t practical with a toddler and an idiot dog being in the house. But actually it was because I thought I would burst into tears. I couldn’t bear the thought of seeing the windows being ripped out and thrown onto a skip. I was emotionally attached and still a bit scared so I hid at my parents.

It was Ed who came home after day one and first witnessed the transformation. He sent me pictures and videos. And oh my. They looked amazing. They looked so good I was gutted I wasn’t there to see for myself. It took just a week to complete the first floor. As well as fitting the windows they also repaired all the sills and frames inside and out. And they are the first tradies I’ve ever known to hoover my patio. I mean, there’s being considerate and then there’s being perfect!

And a few months later we had the painters in to finish the job. Needless to say, they were also perfect. 

THE RESULT 

The best thing about this transformation is that visually you would never know there had been a transformation. The difference between the before and after photos is pretty much zero. Just a lick of paint. I had spent a small fortune on new windows that looked exactly the same as my old windows. And to me that was perfect!!!  

The real transformation is in how we live. I can now feel the benefit of our central heating. All the windows actually open and close. I can dress like a normal person and wander around the house in jeans and a t-shirt, rather than thermals and hoodies.  Our blinds and curtains no longer billow in the draught. And it’s wonderful. 

Most people thought I was mad to care so much about our old windows but my house feels like part of our family. It’s such a happy home for us I felt I owed it to be kind and respectful. And I’m so glad I did. 

Do you love your home? What feature would you take great lengths to protect?

If you would like help improving the look and style of your home then why not get in touch? 

Disclaimer: I do not affiliate with Sash Window Preservation, this is not a paid advert, I have not received any financial incentive to produce this content. This is one hundred percent my own opinion of the company and their product.