Don’t let your timber sash windows rot away

Sash windows are a beautiful addition to any home, but just like everything else, their integrity wears away with time. Once they begin to deteriorate, this stand-out feature becomes a major eyesore. There’s no need to fret though; we specialise in sash window restoration in Northumberland. We aim to bring your windows back to their prime state with very little fuss.

Timber sash windows offer many benefits. Firstly they have undoubtable character and enhance the aesthetics of a property. Secondly timbers are much better for the environment, being natural and completely recyclable.

The downside with timber is it is softer and more prone to wear than material like uPVC and metals. Surprisingly though, there are countless examples of wooden sash windows that have existed for more than 100 years. The key to this longevity is good quality hardwood and proper maintenance.

Traditionally all sash windows were made from hardwood. Sadly the need to drive costs down sent people looking for alternatives. The end results were softer woods that were more prone to rot and wear. This had a bad impact on the popularity.

It can be very tough to tell whether your sash windows are made from good or poor quality timber. You can explore for signs of wear and rot though. For the latter use a knife or screwdriver to prod at the material. If you encounter a soft spot where the tool sinks in there may be rot. Fortunately it is possible to replace sections of rotten timber to preserve the window rather than replacing the whole thing.

At David Humble we will do everything we can to try and get as close to the original style as possible when repairing a window. That means we will use the correct timbers, try to use recycled glass where possible, and even get the paint colour correct. If we can be of assistance to you, please get in touch with us.