We at Barnet Window Company have been installing Sash Windows in Hertfordshire for over 35 years.
Sash windows were first used in the 17th Century and have proven to be hugely popular ever since, for their practicality and pleasing aesthetic.
Sash windows have influenced the architecture of buildings for more than two centuries and the whole design of buildings was constructed around the grace and proportions of the sash window.
Whether you have a period home, with original timber sash windows, or a more contemporary property that has embraced the charm of traditional sash style glazing, we have a range of sash windows that can be custom designed to suit your unique requirements, and meet the security and thermal efficiency standards that modern life demands.
We’re here to help guide you through the process of specifying new bespoke sash windows for your home in Hertfordshire. But we also appreciate that your home is likely to be your single biggest investment and for this reason we really don’t mind you obsessing over the finer details, in fact we encourage it!
Our sash windows can be manufactured in a variety of styles and shapes, allowing you to match your existing window design. Our Bygone and Authentic range sash windows can offer most Georgian bar designs and even some less traditional ones.
Whilst single sliding sash windows are common place, coupled or multi-lights are regularly requested and can be easily accommodated using our slim mullions, which replicate the size and proportion of traditional sash window ‘boxes’
We are often asked to make windows with arched heads of varying degrees. Whilst a ‘true arch’ will have a full semi-circular head, a shallow arch or ‘swept head’ will have a much shallower radius.
Occasionally, we are asked to design windows that are square on the inside, with a swept head on the frame outside. Even these are possible and they’re simply known as ‘The London sash’. We are proud to be the only timber alternative sash window providers to be able to provide bespoke London Arch sashes which will replicate the originals perfectly.
All our ranges are designed to satisfy the requirements of modern windows and to comply with current building regulations. However, the first requirement is still for the windows to blend seamlessly into their surroundings and to retain the character, charm and period feel of your home.
Although we’re specialists in the supply and installation of new timber alternative sash windows we also appreciate that repair and restoration of your original sash windows is something that you might be considering.
Repairing sash windows is an intricate task. With the balance mechanism built into the frame itself, remedying the likes of snapped sash cords, broken panes and decaying frames means dismantling the frame. This would then require redecoration.
If you have original sash windows, this is unlikely to be your only concern. Traditionally single-glazed, restoration of sash windows to meet modern standards will require reconditioning of the frames and potentially secondary glazing to improve their U-values and avoid your home leaking heat from the windows.
Using our traditional timber alternative sash windows will achieve top spec thermal insulation, as well as Police recommended levels of security, without the costly and time-consuming maintenance associated with original or replacement wooden sash windows.
The cost of a restoration can be very different from the cost of a replacement. This is because the materials, labour and time involved in each process is very different. But it really depends on what you are comparing. Replacement sash windows in timber or an alternative material like timber alternative UPVC can range hugely in their approach to quality and traditional looks, and the costs associated will also vary accordingly.
The cost of new replacement timber sash windows can vary massively, from softwood examples for a more short-term solution at around £1000 each, to top quality seasoned durable hardwoods at as much as £5000 per sash window. There are then mid-range products, often using engineered softwoods such as Accoya, which will likely be between those figures, typically around £3000 per window.
In the timber alternative market, there is again a large range, but it would usually be possible to specify a sash window to suit your aesthetic and practical requirements, as well as your budget. Timber alternative sash windows typically range in cost between around £1500 for a more simple product, up to around £2.5-3k per window for top quality premium products such as the Bygone sash range.
If your home is in one of Hertfordshire’s many Conservation Areas you will need to take this into consideration when planning your sash window project. Depending on the type of Conservation area you may need to apply for planning permission. However, this is not always the case, and will be determined by whether or not there is an Article 4 Direction on your property.
Most Conservation areas do not have Article 4 Directions, so you will be able to replace your traditional sash windows without the need for planning, as long as you are replacing on a like-for-like basis.
With over 35 years of experience in this field we are here to help you guide you through the process, whether you need to apply for planning or not. Our experience in working in conservation areas in Hertfordshire means that you don’t need to worry about making the wrong step, you can relax knowing that we will help to specify the right product for you and your property.
St. Albans, Welwyn, Hatfield, Brookmans Park, Potters Bar, Cuffley, Hertford, Letchworth Garden City, Stevenage, Watford, Hitchin, Elstree, Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead, Harpenden, Broxbourne, Cheshunt, Rickmansworth, Borehamwood, Essendon, Radlett, Shenley, Bushey, London Colney.
When it comes to choosing the right windows and doors for your home, the Ultimate Contemporary Range offers the perfect balance of modern aesthetics, high performance, and robust security features.
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An extremely smart and sophisticated installation of nine Ultimate Contemporary Windows has been completed in Hertfordshire.
Here are answers to our most frequently asked questions
A vertical opening window associated with Victorian and Georgian architecture
The cost of a restoration can be very different from the cost of a replacement. This is because the materials, labour and time involved in each process is very different. But it really depends on what you are comparing. Replacement sash windows in timber or an alternative material like timber alternative UPVC can range hugely in their approach to quality and traditional looks, and the costs associated will also vary accordingly.
The cost of new replacement timber sash windows can vary massively, from softwood examples for a more short-term solution at around £1000 each, to top quality seasoned durable hardwoods at as much as £5000 per sash window. There are then mid-range products, often using engineered softwoods such as Accoya, which will likely be between those figures, typically around £3000 per window.
In the timber alternative market, there is again a large range, but it would usually be possible to specify a sash window to suit your aesthetic and practical requirements, as well as your budget. Timber alternative sash windows typically range in cost between around £1500 for a more simple product, up to around £2.5-3k per window for top quality premium products such as the Bygone sash range.
Painting timber sash windows can be done in the conventional way, but modern timber-alternative sash products can now be factory sprayed in hard wearing acrylic coatings.
Cleaning techniques for sash windows depend on the material. For timber-alternative and PVC-u products a non-abrasive alcohol based cleaner like isopropanol works great on the frames and the glass.
Sash windows slide up and down and are held open or closed by a mechanism. On original windows this was a pully and a lead weight, but on modern window this is often a spring, called a ‘balance’.
If you are fortunate enough to live in a listed building you must comply with English Heritage (EH) recommendations when making modifications to your home. EH “preserve” important structural elements from destruction, on behalf of the country, for future generations to come.
Local conservation officers, however, often apply the same draconian rules to unlisted properties that happen to be a in a conservation area. Authorities have a duty to “conserve” the general appearance in these areas, but they should be far less stringent.
We urge you to take your time, if you make a poor decision now, the odds are you will always notice it while you remain at your property. Worse still, it might cost you dearly should you feel the need to change the windows again!
In contrast, the best replacement sash windows will go unnoticed, blending seamlessly with the existing facade, being well balanced and correctly proportioned and harmonising with their surroundings.
It’s about so much more than just the material the window is made from!
Although the Bygone sash window is our most popular sash product we also offer other sash windows in our range.
Ask us about our Authentic sash windows, we can usually custom design a window spec to suit all tastes and budgets.
Call us on 020 8449 4747
Email: info@barnetwindowcompany.co.uk