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Sash window restoration is not such a commonplace art any more. With everyone scaling up, making room for more, and replacing the old with the new even before considering its value, the sash window has suddenly become an iconic piece of art work.

The sash window has been seen by most of us at one time or another. We often recognize it by sight rather by name. It is a window created generally of six small panes that are stacked in two rows of three. These squares of glass are held tightly together by small, thin pieces of wood that we call muntin. These muntin are part of the window’s structure and often require small restorative efforts as well.

Sash window restoration can involve replacing a single pane of glass or it might quantify something more complex. A single pane of glass can often be replaced provided that it is cut to size and can be measured directly into the muntin bar supports.

Despite this arrangement the sash window is not drafty the way one would think. A good restoration should also remain tight from the wind. There are some customary replacements rather than restorations that have become commonplace. The restoration of a sash window that requires more than have of its panes replaced is often eliminated and replaced with a casement window.

These are not drafty windows nor are they particularly poor at insulating, even when they are in their original condition. You can always tell a high quality sash window restoration by the look and feel of the seal. If there is no seal, air comes in through the window.

Sash window restoration has become an art form as there are fewer skilled crafts people that can truly handle the job. Fortunately, the sash window is still iconic enough that more people are looking toward restoration over replacement.

Learn more about sash window draught proofing Stop by www.sashwindowrepairs-london.co.uk where you can find out all about sash window repairs in London

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Sliding windows have existed throughout Europe for Many years, dating back to the thirteenth century as very simple timber sliding shutters.

It was not until roughly the end of the sixteenth century that glazed versions started to appear that where horizontally sliding windows, and during the mid seventeenth century vertical sliding sash windows arrived, mainly in France.

Fearing the guillotine French nobility came to England and brought with them advances in sash window designs from across the channel.

One of the first glazed sliding sash windows was created and fitted for Henrietta Maria, the Queen Mother, who returning from France with French joiners, encouraged the renovation of Somerset House in London.

The exact history of how the weighted and balanced glazed sash window came about is not clear, although some say that the invention was a British one, many could say it was a french one.

A vertical sash window with glass and heavy thick glazing bars also known as Georgian bars to accommodate the very thin and delicate glass of the time, would have been a heavy beast of a window for the operator.

Doors of past had been counter balanced in a similar way of today’s sash windows, exactly who and when the system was applied to the sash window is unknown.

The sash window has never been patented nor has anybody throughout history has ever claimed to be its inventor.

The number of panes slowly reduced as glass manufacture began to produce higher quality stronger glazing, but it wasn’t until the Government of the day stopped demanding window Tax duty in 1845, when the price of the glass dropped, that the panes became larger, with only two panes per sash.

During a period of British history the Crown cleverly started to tax citizens based on how many glass windows they had in their home and thus it was considered a sign of wealth to have one large pane of glass per window.

Want to find out more about sash windows in London , then visit Robert Wood’s site on sash window restoration in the UK at www.sashwindowrepairs-london.co.uk.

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