Being invited into people’s homes is an honour. If we really think about it, it’s a humbling experience. For ourselves, it’s an hour or so of our time, surveying Britain’s invaluable and usually beautiful sash windows or casement windows in need of restoration, replacement, or both.

Requests for surveys range from owner’s of the established Victorian terrace, to the grand Listed Building, which from the outside, all have their individual beauty – the Victorian with its large sash windows and Georgian with its sash windows made up of many lights – their internal substance, quite rightly, hides their owner’s private belongings, shared only with the ones they trust.

For the home-owner, our survey is an hour or more of their time, plus an immense level of their trust and faith, which in many cases requires some levels of personal strength. The home-owner, after all, reveals to us those private belongings! This can have a high emotional cost. I know this myself, as my wife and I have invited people into our own home on many occasions to mixed results. We are all people here after all and we work hard to “do unto others as you would have others do unto you”.

Although we visit your home, the customer journey begins on our website, and even though we don’t say it, we all thank you for inviting us into your home. Now, our survey days are limited to twice a week in each area – i.e. Leeds, Manchester, London and Bristol each have two days a week. So, if you live in Harrogate, Didsbury, Highgate or Widdecombe Hill for instance, on two days a week, our joiners from each of these branches travel to meet you.

Apart from our reassuringly high level of referrals, most inquiries emerge from online sources, so on many instances, we are strangers from the Internet, but we promise you that our intentions are towards providing you with a polite, and level of service.

So for the record, we explicitly only send joiners to survey your property. To us this is highly important. Our joiners are highly trained in joinery and customer service, all your questions are best answered by joiners on the spot, as opposed to salesmen providing you with onerous information to grab the sale, which is sadly often the case. Feel free to ask us any questions. Our joiners always assume that our shoes come off, or that foot protection goes on, it’s your call. We call you if we’re going to be a little late, conversely we’ll call you if we’re going to be a little early.

We’re a young British successful company, and we work extremely hard to build high standards of customer service, we try hard to avoid glitches. We really do value your feedback, please feel free to call with it or click here to arrange your own free survey

Customer Services. Surveying Britain’s sash windows. - joineryworkshop.com

Constance called from Wimbledon, London, and was asking for a survey to be carried out on several original sash windows. She described her sash windows as draughty with 1970′s single glaze, and with cills – pointed out by a handy man – to be incorrectly positioned, laying horizontal and letting in water.

After a lengthy and enjoyable conversation, she suddenly pointed out her fears with a straight forward question.

“What will happen about you blocking up the hole in the wall as you mend my sash windows, how long will it be cold and insecure for”?

Of course, I explained that should she choose joineryworkshop.com to go ahead with the work on her home, then we’d come back to take the very precise measurements that are needed to make her new sashes by scratch, and that we don’t have sash windows as shelf products and no hole would be left for any time at all.

In fact, for restorations only, we do the work on site, by day.

Her next comments, other than those expressing relief and delight were, “you needed to explain this on your website” and that “many people would equally have the very same concerns”.

She was right, of course, and we were wrong. We were wrong to assume that customers would know off-hand our process of sash window restoration. I guess you take some things as a given when you’re close to them?

Constance, lovely to speak to you, and thank-you for the advising us to pass on your thoughts in our communications to others and, for all who are reading, let this article please provide warmth and assurance to you that the process of our sash window restoration, whether double glazed or refurbishments, what we remove in a day we replace in a day - finished.

So, for clarity, here are our stages in point form.

Point 1. All our sash windows are made from scratch, no off the shelf product exists.

Point 2. Our windows are designed to mirror exactly your existing windows, or with our advise, are designed to restore the building’s true heritage and fenestration by build date.

Point 3. New sash windows are made from the highly accurate measurements taken in your home.

Point 4. Joinery orders are taken from these measurements and the craftsmanship begins.

Point 5. All our sash windows come with new cords, weights, new glazing – as per the customer’s requirements – and prime-painted.

Point 6. When the new sashes are near completion, we provide you with a provisional fitting date, to be later firmed-up at your convenience.

Point 7. Your home around the work place is fully protected. As was the case during our survey, shoe protectors are worn – by the very person who did your survey – and work begins removing the old and replacing with the new.

Point 8. Your new sash windows are tested, checked over and signed off.

Point 9. Your new sash windows look beautiful.

In short, no hole is left in your wall for longer than (the same day) it takes us to replace your old with a beautiful, new, draught proofed, double glazed sash window.

Constance, look out for a page coming soon dedicated to our conversation with each other, and thank you for calling joineryworkshop.com – regardless of whether we get to restore your London home.

Sash window restoration. A customer inquires. - joineryworkshop.com

The house, going through a huge renovation project, is set to become one of the region’s architectural flag flyers.

Outside of being one of twenty three conservation areas, Llandudno also sits within the Article 4 Direction covering Conwy,  Llandudno, Llanrwst  and the Penmaenmawr Conservation Areas.

The Article 4 Direction – serves to restrict permitted development rights, where a lot of the things people do without planning permission is taken for granted. This direction has been put in place by Conwy County Borough Council when it was clear that the character and the appearance of these particular town centres were being affected by inappropriate and unsympathetic alterations, along with the use of unsuitable materials.

The Authority has been working hard to establish a clear long-term strategy to tackle erosion of the special character of its conservation areas. Llandudno and Conwy in particular, are widely recognised as being two of the finest historic areas in Wales.

If you have yet to visit, it’s certainly worth a stay. With a stroll along the parade and the town, you’ll be enjoying many of the buildings that have preserved their appearance of Italianate style that have made it comparable with Palermo and Menton. Llandudno stands as a model of Victorian and Edwardian eclecticism.

So, for our own part in preserving the national heritage, we get to restore another fine building, returning it back to its heyday as we look to save it from the unsuitable building material currently in place – in this case uPVC – and replacing it with twenty of the finest wooden sash windows that one can buy!

Llandudno Conservation Areas. Our work in the town. - joineryworkshop.com

Nor will it come as any great surprise that protecting one’s wooden windows is of the highest importance when you consider them as a financial asset; and they are a financial asset!

Nor will it be a revelation to say that, unlike our very distant relation, the plastic window, wooden windows can last and remain beautiful for a great many decades.

Although they require periodic care, wooden windows can be maintained quite easily in the right hands and look as good as the day they were installed.

Those who do have our windows installed, either as window restorations or replacements, may well have chosen our painting service and will know that with it, we supplied a seamless warranty on painting, which means that between the painter and joineryworkshop.com we guaranteed a hassle free, professional service from a painter who knows exactly what to do, in which order and, with which materials.

Timber is, after all, an organic product. It breathes, moves, absorbs and discharges humidity. The right materials and treatments are crucial, and choosing our painter means you choose our knowledge of the right products to care for your wood.

We sleep tight (on behalf of you, our customers) in the knowledge that our painters don’t stick your wooden windows together, or paint over your new draft proofing or your glass.

We rest easy on your behalf that our painters apply your window furniture exactly where you wanted it – straight – and that your house will be left in the same perfect condition as it was when we entered it.

The choice of course is yours, but either way, we invite you to relax in the knowledge that joineryworkshop.com provide you with the maximum protection for your investment without the hassle and uncertainty of you personally looking in the trade press for an unknown quantity.

So, guaranteed in build and guaranteed in finish, your wooden windows will be stunning in build, stunning in finish and resilient in protection, and we’ll all sleep well.

Wooden windows. Protection by paint. - joineryworkshop.com

In fact, if we sit back for a moment and really think about the areas where we feel emotionally content and happy, it’s highly likely that somewhere in our thoughts will reside the many areas of built beauty, in which wooden windows will play a subtle, but significant role.

Financially speaking, I’d say that wooden sash windows (and wooden casement windows for that matter) have an almost equal footing with emotional value. In a recent survey by English Heritage, 80% of estate agents surveyed felt that original features, such as sash windows, added financial value to the price of homes. Not only that, but 78% of the those surveyed felt that retaining original features – such as sash windows – helped to sell a property more quickly. So there we are. Good emotionally, and good financially.

Great news for all, then? Well, not quite.

Those living outside of conservation areas or not in listed buildings are open to choose for themselves what materials they choose for new windows, meaning an inevitable rise of cheaper (emotionally and financially) man-made materials got to deprive the many once beautiful but unprotected swathes outside of the 3000 or so conservation areas within the United Kingdom.

Plastic windows perhaps have their place in some buildings, but their position in maintaining the visual history and financial security of much of the United Kingdom’s housing stock cannot be given.

It’s not just housing stock, of course. Many high streets have greatly suffered as a result of replacing original shop frontage with this generic and unmatched building. Could this material be accelerating the demise of many high streets?

Often the removal of sash windows or casement windows occurs because of unfamiliarity with renovation costs, and an incorrect belief that the costs of doing so are too high. Many people believe that tired wooden windows simply can’t be renovated, and that wood as a substance is bad for the environment, or even that the rising costs of heating our homes makes it impossible to retain our wooden windows.

Of course wooden windows are more expensive than plastic ones, but home-owners are often truly left in the dark on sound information of wooden sash window costs, and other facts that surround their use in our home, offices and shops and, importantly, the life expectancy of a plastic window!

To shed a bit of light on costs, the starting price for a restoration of a sash window with ourselves is £245.00. Our sash window and restoration double glazing costs start at £585.00. In all cases, our customers are left with fully restored and/or beautiful brand new and guaranteed windows; fully draft proofed, environmentally sound, conservation standard and professionally painted (with a seamless guarantee) by our own painters.

So, retaining sash windows is good for the financial value of our houses, but less selfishly, we perhaps aught to remember that our unique and historic environment is a shared resource and some things are just worth striving for.

Sash windows. Why they need saving. - joineryworkshop.com

Chester Railway Station was designed by the railway architect Francis Thompson, C.H Wild and, of course, some commanding involvement by the great civil engineer, Robert Stephenson.

The station was built in 1847/8 using Staffordshire blue brick and pale grey Storeton sandstone. Like many buildings of the period, it was Italianate in its style – recognisable by its shallow pitched roofs with eaves, supported on brackets with pairs of round-headed windows.

This is a truly remarkable building, and on 31 July 1970, Chester Railway Station  was rewarded with the rare [there are only 22 listed railway stations in England] status as an English Heritage Grade II listed building.

165 years after construction, Chester Railway Station is now enjoying £10M of regeneration work that will secure its history and beauty for many more generations to come, and with our team proudly refurbishing many original round headed sash windows, manufacturing replica box sash windows, door frames and doors we played our own little part in the history and heritage of this beautiful railway station building.

For today’s passengers alighting and departing, it will be almost the same pleasure as it was in 1847, with the only exception of having no steam train of the day catch!

Sash window restorations at Chester Railway Station - joineryworkshop.com

The exact timing of the sash window isn’t precise, but one with a counter balance is easier to date and considered by some historians as actually English in its invention!

It was during this restoration period that followers of Charles II and, later on William III, brought us a taste for Dutch style, Incidentally, it was William who also brought us Gin by way of advocating the mass distilling of English spirits.

Sash windows comprised of two frames – two sashes – divided by glazing bars and created nine, twelve or sixteen lights in each. These were set in a wooden box. At this stage, only one sash moved, but each were glazed with small squares measuring 250mm square. These new vertical sliding windows were employed in buildings toward the end of the Seventeenth Century, the earliest specification perhaps recorded was that of Sir Christopher Wren’s master joiner, Thomas Kinward, whose specification of a fully developed sash window was produced whilst working at Whitehall Palace.

Examples of sash windows toward the close of the seventeenth century include the notable locations of Chatsworth House (1687) in Derbyshire and Ham House, South West London in (1672).

From the 1680′s, the growth of the sash window would largely replace the familiar cross window – the cross window being a single mullion window with a transom set above the centre line forming a cross.

Rectangular lights replaced the diamond shaped lights of the finest houses, and the growth of the sash window would continue as it made its way into the terrace house, erected during the reign of Queen Anne 1701-1714.

The sash window would flourish during the Georgian Period of 1714-1790, but the consequence of The Great Fire of London would alter the position of the sash window via the building act of 1774  in so much as it was recessed behind the brickwork, acting as a fire retardant.

In fact, life itself flourished during this period. Medieval life began to meet modern standards head on. Although the majority of the people still lived on the land, improvements in industry and agriculture led to an explosion of wealth and construction and gave rise to resorts like Bath.  Bath would provide beautiful examples of the sash window that live on today, which thankfully remain protected in conservation areas.

After the Georgian period, the notable change here in building style would be with the introduction of stucco during the Regency Period of 1790-1830 – Stucco – think  Brighton – was an applied render, then coloured beige and grey to imitate stone. It also disguised poor building, hence the first introduction of the term, Jerry Building. Sash windows were far from Jerry built, but the the common twelve pane sash windows were glazed so thin that metal was often inserted for strength.

Many changes effected the sash window during the period of the Victorians 1830-1900. Despite the disease and uncertainty of employment, the lot of the working classes were to greatly improve. Many could expect to live in a house, and although the finest houses were shaped by revival styles, many were sprawling asymmetrical houses.

As new arrangements of windows arrived due to Italianate and Gothic styles, so did cheaper glazing – and a repeal of the window tax – so for many, sash windows had only two panes each, and for the few wealthy, just one pane each. Glazing bars were still necessary, and without them the frame became so weak, which as a result, we see the now familiar sight on sash windows – horns. Painting became popular now, which resulted in newer changes altogether in the look and life expectancy of a window. Sadly the expectancy of the sash window would dwindle in other ways, though as the by the early start of the twentieth century, the sash window gradually phased out during the Edwardian House Style of 1900-1918, which will be the focus of another joineryworkshop.com blog.

History of the sash window - joineryworkshop.com

Section 69 of the Civic Amenities Act 1967 gives local councils the power to designate as Conservation Areas, “areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance”. Once designated, the householders normal “permitted development rights” are removed via an article 4 direction.

Most conservation areas contain properties from the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods. Many householders living in these beautiful period properties can face a dilema – how to preserve the original architectural appearance of their property and still have warm, draft-free double glazed windows and doors. Indeed the original architectural appearance of the the front elevation of such properties legally has to be maintained when the property is located within a conservation area. Alterations and improvements can be possible but many householders are often unclear as to what can or can’t be done and whether or not planning permission is required.

In general three scenario’s will apply …

Scenario 1

Planning Permission not required: For Windows and Doors on an elevation facing a highway where repair and maintenance work is to be undertaken which does not change the appearance of the property and the same types of materials are used.

joineryworkshop.com are specialists in this type of work. Click on the appropriate links below for more information.

• Sash Window Restoration, Double Glazing and Replacement
• Casement Window Restoration, Double Glazing and Replacement
• Door Restoration and Replacement
• Request a free survey

Scenario 2

Planning Permission not required: For Windows and Doors not on an elevation facing a highway. Normal “permitted development rights” apply in this scenario – even  the dreaded UPVC is an option.

Even though planning permission is not required, many householders wish to preserve the original features of their property. For example replacing existing Sash Windows with UPVC can both devalue your property and be more expensive. Click here for more information on Sash Window Restoration and Double Glazing

Scenario 3

Planning Permission required: For Windows and Doors on an elevation facing a highway where change is made to the appearance of the property or the same types of materials are not used.

It is usually necessary to submit a full planning application in this scenario. However, we would suggest you contact your local council’s Conservation Officer for guidance and advice first. If you wish, joineryworkshop.com can assist with this process. Please contact the office for more details

How can we help?

joineryworkshop.com have worked in Conservation areas all across the country for over 10 years. If you live in a Conservation Area and are thinking of upgrading your windows and doors, be that restoration, restoration and double glazing or replacement, then please feel free to contact the office for information, help and friendly advice.

Removal, Replacement or Alteration of Windows and Doors in a Conservation Area - joineryworkshop.com

Joineryworkshop.com will be exhibiting at the Institute of Historic Building Conservation Annual School on 16th-18th June 2011 in Llandudno.

This year’s School looks at the challenge of conservation in uncertain times and examines ways in which we can respond positively. The School will provide the opportunity to hear about current initiatives and new approaches, to gain insights from recent projects and to consider ways of adapting and enhancing our historic environment in the future.

The Joineryworkshop.com team will be there throughout the event to provide advice and support to Conservation officers, Architects, Main contractors and Period property specifiers. We’ll also be attending the various seminars and workshops to make sure we’re up to date with the latest conservation thinking.

IHBC Annual School 2011 Llandudno - joineryworkshop.com

The window above (photo on the left)  has had the sash box fully refurbished and new double glazed draft proofed sashes installed. It meets current 2011 building regulations, is registered with FENSA, was approved by the local conservation officer and comes with a 5 year insurance backed warranty.

Achieving the look of single glazing with double glazed sashes is not easy. It is essential to match all the dimensions of the original sash exactly, including the glazing bar and as can be seen on the final picture, where our double glazed Georgian sashes are adjacent to a property with the original single glazed windows, it is exceptionally hard to tell which one has been double glazed.

So how do we achieve this result? Well if you’d like to find out our secrets learn how you can double glaze your Georgian sliding box sashes without compromising your period look, then give us a call and we can come out and do a free survey on your property.

Double Glazed Georgian Sash Windows - joineryworkshop.com