Since their appearance in Irish architecture in the late 1600s, the benefits of sash windows have ensured their continued use right to the present day.

Indeed, sash windows are so suitable for the Irish climate that they have been in use here for almost 300 years and still going strong.

Let’s have a look at some of the benefits of sash windows

Benefits of Sash Windows

1. Firstly the light that they let in through a large glazed surface area.
2. Also the ventilation, as they can be opened top and bottom to allow for a good flow of air. You can also choose how you much your window is open by using the sliding facility.
3. The windows are extremely easy to open and safe to use.
4. Unlike casement windows they can’t blow open or closed either.
5. Structurally they are strong by design and timber sash windows can efficiently be repaired and maintained.

At Timeless Sash Windows we both restore old sash windows and make new ones.

Old sash windows

In the case of old sashes that we are contracted to repair, we carefully remove the sashes from the frames back to our specialist joinery where craftsmen painstakingly remove old paint back to the bare timber. Then they can assess the condition and splice in new timber sections where there is rot or damage. The repaired sashes are painted, draught sealed and re-fitted on site. Meanwhile, some old windows are damaged beyond repair and we need to make replacement frames that exactly match the original.

New sash windows

In the case of new windows, we design, draw and fabricate from raw timber to the exact specifications of an existing house or new build. Due to the limitless possibilities and capabilities of our team, we can make sash windows with any mouldings or horns details.

History of sash windows

The first sash windows in Ireland were found in Kilkenny Castle and date back to 1680. The design came from Britain to Ireland.

The use of sash windows spread fairly quickly in the 18th century. The early ones were held open by wooden pegs, but once the sashes became heavier, they developed a system of pulleys and weights. Initially these pulleys were wooden, and we found one of them recently in Westport House during the restoration of their windows.

Georgian sash windows are typically 9 / 6 or 6 / 6 panes of glass, separated by glazing bars. The reason for the numerous panes of glass is that glass making at the time had not evolved to produce the larger thinner sheets of plate glass. Glassmakers developed these during the industrial revolution of the Victorian period. Hence, properties of the Victorian era typically have 2 / 2 or 1 / 1 sash windows.

If you would like more information, contact our office on 046-9023323 or [email protected] to arrange a quote for your timber framed windows.