Refurbishing Your Windows and Adding Value to your Home

It is an exciting decision to improve your windows and to add value to your home. Ireland has a wonderful heritage in Georgian and Victorian sash and casement windows. But there have been huge advances in window technology since their original design. A specialist joiner will be able to match the beauty of the original windows with modern draught sealing and security techniques and products to give you the best of both worlds. This will doubtless add value to your property as it maintains 18^th-19^th century glory in the modern world. At Timeless Sash Windows, we have the expertise to restore old windows or manufacture new windows to the most exacting standards. We have a long family history to draw from and pride ourselves on our Irish roots and focus on craftmanship.

Here we will give you advice on how to go about upgrading and refurbishing your windows to get the best value from any improvements.

Planning

Start by looking at houses in your area or houses from a similar era. If your neighbours have recently improved their windows, it is a great idea to chat with them to find out where they got quotes from and any pitfalls that they have discovered. They will also be able to recommend the company that they have chosen and why.

Before making any plans, check the local area conservation and heritage regulations to see what you will be able to do. Some alterations will require planning permission. Start by looking at your local county council website. It may be necessary to get advice from your local conservation officer.

Survey

A good place to start is with a complete window survey.  We will be able to advise you on the possibilities for your specific windows regarding refurbishment of rotten sashes versus ordering new sashes, upgrading the glazing and draughtproofing, or secondary glazing. The surveyor will bear in mind building regulations for fire safety, ventilation and the requirement for toughened safety glass within 800mm of the floor level.

“The best possible solution is not always the most obvious one. We understand that for most people the decision to change or upgrade their windows is both a huge financial and personal one” says Barry Callaghan CEO at Timeless Sash Windows.

Repairing Sash Windows

Rotten sashes will be removed for conservation and splicing of new like-for-like timber repairs. They can also be re-routed to allow for double glazing if it is allowed / required. Within the glazing there are several options to choose from.

Read more: Window Glazing

If there is a great deal of rot, we will replace the sashes. The frames themselves can be refurbished in-situ. When we replace the sashes, we can exactly match any details of horn, mouldings and section sizes.

Timber or uPVC

The windows in a property have a dramatic impact on the overall look of the building. You should choose according to how they will look and how long they will last before reflecting on the price. If the costs are above budget, it can be the best solution to do them in stages and get a superior result overall, rather than cutting corners and being disappointed.

Timber windows will last longer when made from a good sustainable hardwood such as utile mahogany or Accoya. Many windows in period properties are 100-200 years old and still going strong. uPVC can be a cheaper option in the short term but suffers in longevity with repairs impossible, bulky aesthetics, prefabricated sections that cannot be custom made for unusual openings, not to mention the environmental impact.

Read More: Timber versus uPVC windows

Read more: Timber Choices for Windows and Doors

Of course, we are biased, but timber gives great flexibility with design and bespoke products can be manufactured to any design. It is also less bulky with thinner timber sections being naturally stronger and intricate details possible. Timber benefits from a much longer lifespan but will need to be correctly maintained. “Bear in mind that the first years, however, will be low maintenance as the paint on our windows comes with a 7-year guarantee” says Pearse Callaghan from Timeless Sash Windows. Our timber is all reliably FSC sourced to ensure the sustainability of our forests. We take great care during the manufacture of our products to minimise waste and the by-product of the joinery (sawdust) is compacted into pellets which are re-used as fuel.

Timber also allows for a wider choice with glazing options, fine moulding details, extensive ironmongery and paint colours. For an exciting design choice timber windows can be painted a different colour on the inside and the exterior which give you great flexibility for your property.

Upgrading your windows

Upgrading the windows in your home should be a once in a lifetime purchase so choose wisely and get lots of advice before you start. Once you have decided, keep in mind that there will be an 8-10 week lead time from contract signing. If you are doing further upgrades to your property, the various contractors will need to be co-ordinated so that the overall project is correctly managed.

Adding Value to your Home

The quality of the windows will also add to the value of your property as they will improve (or detract from) the look and thermal efficiency overall. Done well, upgraded windows will last a long time, look beautiful allowing light to come in and the view to be enjoyed, and perform efficiently – both thermally and safely.

We hope that this helps with your decision making. Call us on 046-9023323 for further advice or to book a free, no obligation survey. We also advise you to visit our showroom and joinery in Trim, Co. Meath to get impressive insight into the manufacture of your future products.

Published 8th March 2019