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Sash Window Locks To Suit Your House

October 30, 2010 By admin

There are lots of homes that are still around that were built in the early 1900′s that still have some beautiful wooden sash windows. When these windows where first started to be used in houses burglary was never really an issue. In fact, most people would leave their houses and leave the doors unlocked because  they generally trusted everyone living in or around their town. Now that burglary has become some what of an issue, making sure that you have some secure sash window locks installed is very important. Sometimes the problem with being able to choose a set of locks that you like is that you don’t want to take away from the antique look that a lot of these sash windows have.

The good thing about the locks that have been made for sash windows are very cheap to buy. I would suggest browsing some popular online stores like amazon to find a pair that you like. The cost will vary from around $4 up to $10 – $15.

Below are some vary popular sash window locks that I think still have a good antique feel to them.

The above 3 window locks are the best I found on Amazon. The great thing about it is they can be used for normal sliding window locks too. If you are in the process of sash window renovation and you want to keep the great antique look and feel of your house the art deco window lock above (2nd across) would be a great choice. It is available off amazon (just click on the picture) for $24.99.

When some people start renovating their homes they feel like they need replacement sash windows. Rather than replacing the windows a great idea would be to remove the wooden timber frame and renovate it. A great way to do this would be to strip the paint off the wood, sand down the wood to make it smooth again and buy a filler to cover any holes or cracks that have come through over the year. This is a great way to keep the same feel of the house and it is definitely the cheapest way to go about it.

If you renovate or repair your own windows, it would be a great time to install new sash window locks. This way when the window frame is removed it will make it much easier for you to install the new sash window locks. If you are after safety more than looks for your window locks, you would be best off purchasing keyed locks. This way, the only way the windows can be opened is with a key. This will provide much greater safety for those who live in higher crime rate ares.

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Buying Wooden Sash Windows & Locks

November 7, 2010 By admin

Having a set of wooden sash windows installed into your home can add such an elegant touch to the look of your house. With their being so many different designs and colors to choose from it can make it hard to decide which one will best suit your home. If you aren’t too great dealing with the handy work around the house it may be a good idea to speak with a professional to see what style would suit your home and what type of wood would also be suitable. Below are some popular designs that you can purchase from www.bygonecollection.co.uk.

There are many other designs that you can find on their site. When you are looking to purchase new wooden sash windows their are other factors that you will want to take into consideration aside from design and color. With so many discussions about global warming and talk about buying products that are more energy efficient, you will want to make sure that the windows you purchase are energy efficient. It isn’t common knowledge, but the draughts that come through the cracks of your windows cause your electronic devices to use up more energy. That means more green house emissions and also high electricity bills. By getting sash windows that are energy efficient you can feel confident that you are doing something to help reduce your carbon footprint.

The other main factor that you want to take into consideration is making sure that your new windows have some form of security. It is easier to have sash window locks installed when you put your order through for new windows rather than having them installed and then installing the locks. You can purchase keyed window locks for added safety, if you live in an area where crime isn’t such a major concern you can buy locks that don’t need to be installed. The way these locks work is they clip onto the window and the frame, you then simply tighten the thumb screw. These locks can be removed at any time and placed on a different window.

If you want added security for you wooden sash windows you can also install window stoppers. These stoppers are installed above the bottom sliding panel around 4 or 5 inches above it. Once the window is opened to stoppers will jam the window and they won’t allow it to open any further. This means you can leave the windows open all day or night without having to worry about someone being able to get in through the window.

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High Security Sliding Window Locks

November 7, 2010 By admin

A lot of homes with sliding windows or sash windows are left with the standard locks installed. This can cause a danger because these locks are generally very easy for a burglar to break open. Getting a separate set of high security sliding window locks would be highly recommended. The great thing about getting your own set of locks is that they are easy to find, easy to install and most importantly, they are very cheap to buy. The cost for these locks will range from around $3USD to around $20USD. More expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better. Below are a few different window locks that you can easily purchase online.

Some of the sliding window locks require tools and certain types of labor to install. For example, the second and 3rd lock above don’t require any form of installation. They can be installed on one window, removed and then moved over to another window. With these locks you need to make sure that they space between the teeth will fit around the window frame and the wall frame. Once you slide the lock into place all you need to do is either slide the lever or turn the screw so it locks into place.

Because those locks aren’t installed onto the window it is recommended that you place a lock at the bottom of the window and also another lock at the top of the window. This will ensure that if someone was to figure out how to remove the bottom lock, the lock at the top would still be in place to help provide security.

For those who don’t want to change the look of your sash windows by installing sliding window locks, you have the option to install sash stoppers.  They are also known as sash jammers and are used to only allow the sliding window to open around 4 or 5 inches. This means that none will be able to climb through the window.

The way these jammers/stoppers work is quite simple. When you purchase them you will receive to bullet looking screws. These are screwed into the side of the window frame around 4 inches above the lower window panel. Once they are screwed in, the end of jammer sticks out and blocks the window from being able to slide any further up.

If you are after extra security, then your best choice for a set of sliding window locks will be window stoppers. They can’t be unlocked and they will only allow the window to open a few inches. This means no one will be able to climb through the window. The great thing about these stoppers is that they can easily be unscrewed at any time. So if it gets real hot during summer, you can take off the stopper and open the window all the way to allow the fresh breeze in.

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Finding Good Replacement Sash Windows

November 3, 2010 By admin

There are still lots and lots of beautiful homes that still have great looking sash windows installed in them. What most people find with these old windows though, is that a lot of them have a lot of damage to them whether it be the paint, the actual wood or the glass. Depending on how bad the damage is, it can sometimes be easy to renovate the window instead of getting replacement sash windows.

If you find that the damage that has occurred to your windows there are still a lot of companies that specialize in sash windows. Before you choose a company to hire, it is important that you see previous work that they have done. This way, you can gauge whether the project will be worth your money.

The above sash window replacements have all been done by www.thesashwindowshop.com. As you can see, finding pictures on different companies websites will make a lot easier in finding the right replacement sash windows. Once you have found the right frame size and also chosen a color that will suite the rest of your house, it will bring a great classic look to your home. It will seem as though it’s never looked any different.

The Process To Getting Replacement Windows

Each company will work different, but as a general rule of thumb the following steps are taken to get new sash windows.

You will first need to get in contact with the business you are interested in to look after the job you need done. They will then normally send someone out to your home to measure the size of the windows that need replacing and they will also take count of how many will need to be replaced.

From there, the company will sit down and figure out how long the job will take and they should be able to give you a quote of what costs you will be looking at. If you are happy with the quote most places will ask for a deposit to get the work started.

Once you have agreed on a contracted price, they will send someone out again to have drawings done to scale for each window and to take precise measurements of each window. Before any production takes place you should ask to approve the final drawings, this will avoid any confusion once the production of the replacement sash windows goes under way.

From your approval, the company should begin making your new windows and they should give you an estimate turnaround time of when the job will be complete. You should expect them to ask for further payment around half way through the job.

When you windows are complete they will send someone around to install your new windows and invoice you any outstanding amounts.

It is not easy to say how long the who process normally takes because every job is different. Your turn around time will depend on how many windows need to be made and how detailed each window is. The other factors you will need to take into consideration is that the company you decide to go with may have other work on at the same time which may end up causing further delays to your project.

So if you find that you windows are beyond repair research some different companies and get various quotes to decide on who to hire for your replacement sash windows project. Don’t be afraid to bargain down a price. Most places will over quote you to begin with, so always try to knock down the price.

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Tips On Sash Window Renovation

November 3, 2010 By admin

If you are lucky enough to still own a house with wooden sash windows you already know by now that they need a lot of taking care of. You may have also just bought a new family home with sash windows but have found that they have a lot of wear and tear on them. This can make them look raggedy and can also make it hard to open and close the window. If you have any of these issues or something else that is bothering you, sash window renovation is your solution.

If you prefer to do undertake your own renovations instead of paying someone to do it for you, below is a quick guide to help you get start on your window restoration project:

Removing The Sash

This can be difficult on some windows because the sash windows can sometimes be stuck together by old layers and layers of paint. You will need to take the most care with this step so as not to damage any part of the window frame.

To remove the bottom sash you will first need to take off or unscrew the window stops. This will allow you take off the bottom sash and you will then need to remove chains (or chords) from both sides of the window frame. Most sash windows will have little pockets on each side, to avoid the chain getting caught in their you may want to knot each end of the chain. Once you have done that you will see parting beads around the seal of the window, remove these and you will be able to take off the top sash.

To avoid any confusion when putting the window back together you should label each part and store it somewhere safe.

Remove The Glass

You will need to have access to a heat gun to be able to remove the putty from the borders of the glass. If you don’t have access to one you may be able to hire it from a local hardware store. When you access the heat gun you will need to heat up and soften the putty from the edge of the glass, this will allow you to scrape it all off. It is then easy to remove the glass from the frame.

Begin The Renovation

Once you have each sash on its own, detached from any glass, it becomes a lot easier to begin your sash window renovation. To make sure you don’t have to go through this process again in the short term you will want to make sure you repair any rotting wood and cracked wood. If you feel that it is beyond repair, you may want to take the frame to a joinery professional to have another frame made up for yo or you can purchase replacement sash windows.

The most common area people forget to pay attention to when renovating is the chains from the window. These can become old and rusty which make it difficult to open and close the window. You will want to check that they are well lubricated and that they aren’t rusting. If you find that they are damaged, you will want to get yourself some new chains to install.

Once you have covered all of this you can start putting your windows back together. For those who don’t like DIY projects, there are plenty of carpenters out there who still specialize in sash window renovation that will be able to do all the work for you, leaving you stress free from any physical labor.

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