Sash windows are beautifully decorative windows that are made from movable panels or frames that have glass insets and can be opened horizontally or vertically. The weights used for moving the panels are concealed in a box called a Yorkshire light and the first dateable reference of this type of window can be found in the 1658 painting of The Milkmaid, by the Dutch artist Vermeer.
Ham House in England, which was built in 1670, is the earliest existing example of sash windows. The traditional style for any sash window in those days consisted of two horizontal panes of glass and three vertical panes of glass set into a soft wood frame, depicting a rather classic rectangular shape. Different variations have been used over the centuries.
In early Victorian and Georgian homes the standard size for a sash window measured four feet across. These windows opened vertically, with a runner inset into the wooden frame, which concealed a set of weights and springs to make the opening and closing of this window easier.
A set of springs and balances and metal weatherstripping ensure that the window remains in position no matter the weather. A lead or steel weight is set into the frame to balance the weight of each window frame and to ensure that it is easy to open. In the case of a double hung sash window both frames are moveable.
The single hung versions consist of one panel that is fixed into the frame and one frame that is able to open and close, usually the bottom one. This is a great design for encouraging ventilation in the room.
These windows are constructed with traditional materials, mostly soft woods and single or double glazed glass panes. Beautiful and stylish, they nevertheless require regular maintenance to ensure smooth operation and the integrity of the frames are maintained. Poor paintwork can result in the frames either shrinking, causing them to rattle in the wind or in the wood warping. This can lead to a poor seal and with difficulty in opening the window.
If you are committed to installing them and are prepared to regularly maintain them, you are ensured of having beautiful functional windows that will last many years. Due to their design they are very effective at encouraging air circulation in a room. When both panels are opened equidistant from the frames, air flow is encouraged, drawing cool air in through the bottom of the frame and expelling hot air out of the top.
Sash windows are windows that are beautifully decorated. If you’re wondering, you need to look into the sash window company. Sash window restoration London will help you with your window fixed.
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