Sash windows conjure up the past as they were used widely in Georgian and Victorian homes in the last centuries. Modern manufacturing processes for wooden sash windows have made them popular again as the problem with the hand-crafted versions were to do with permeability to weather and noise.
Sliding vertically, this window is designed to allow you to open them slightly without the upper window falling down. The older versions use a rope and sash weights inside the frame to keep the window open. Modern houses tend to have thinner walls which are not thick enough to house the old fashioned apparatus and the modern system of friction tracks are used.
When the window was made by hand, the final quality was determined by the skill of the craftsmen. What would have been slightly out of true, would over time become a large gap between the frame and the window. In the manufacturing process now, architects design detailed drawings on CAD and these are used to program the machinery. The windows are produced perfectly in this process.
Modern building standards have forced manufacturers to greater accuracy as durability, insulation and security requirements are part of the building codes. There are also many more constructions happening simultaneously and the old methods would never provide this standard. Machines just do the job better.
The client chooses the basic design and items such as locks, hinges, handles and glass type are made accordingly to his or her recommendations. The colours and varnishes used can also be changed as needed. Windows that allow sunlight in, keep heat in and sound out are preferred.
The wood is finished with a micro-porous sealant that is water-based. Three coats of this will reduce maintenance as will the preservative that is applied to protect the wood against fungi and wood-boring insects. Paints that are water-based are used for the primer to fill the wood microscopically which prevents water seeping into nooks and crannies. Finally a top coat of paint or stain is added for a durable finish.
A gasket will be placed between the frame and its window to seal the window further from the effects of noise and weather. The gasket is manufactured out of a substance that does not warp in high temperatures or due to the opening and closing of the window.
Each manufacturer uses different machines such as hydraulic cramps, computerized morticing systems, quickset moulders and the like. CAD technology runs the modern manufacturing processes for wooden sash windows through production management software that is specific to that firm to turn the jobs in perfectly every time, on time.
Find the right sash windows London to help with your needs. Go online to find those sash Window companies that you can choose to do your work. Go online today to find out more.
August 30, 2010 by Craig Beck