Double Glazing Into wooden sash Windows

[stablegirl]

We are fortunate to have a lovely farm house but it has single pain wooden sash Windows.

It's a big house that takes a lot of heat and is very drafty.

I don't really want to put upvc frames into it or pay for new double glazed wooden sash Windows.

Mine are in really good condition is it possible to fit double glazed glass unto them and is it worthwhile?

 

[A1an]

I know double glazing is the way forward but if its not possible Id be looking in to a modern single pane. They can do some trick things with glass nowadays.

 

[vantage]

You'd have to ask a carpenter.We've just installed sash double glazed windows made of accoya wood,they are quite deep so this may be a problem.

 

[Nearly]

This is @JLTate day jpb.

 

[phillipe]

We are fortunate to have a lovely farm house but it has single pain wooden sash Windows.

It's a big house that takes a lot of heat and is very drafty.

I don't really want to put upvc frames into it or pay for new double glazed wooden sash Windows.

Mine are in really good condition is it possible to fit double glazed glass unto them and is it worthwhile?

A joiner freind of mine have done a lot of these ,made new sashs easier job

 

[Bongodog]

My neighbour showed me his new double glazed units for the sash windows a few months back, the aluminium spacer between the panes was only about 6mm in depth.

 

[JLTate]

The rebates in a single glazed Sash will be to small for a 24mm double glazed unit. (Which is a standard double glazed unit) You can get slimline units (12mm) that people will tell you fit. However we won't fit them due to a high failure rate.

You could get complete new Sashes made to fit the existing frames that will fit double glazed units although for the cost it won't be a huge amount more getting new frames & sashes and it'll be a far better job. I can imagine the frames will be tender in places.

 

[RushesToo]

House I had with old windows needed heat kept in, local double glazier chap made sealed glass that would fit into unaltered frame. You need recommendations or go and see them and chat. They kept the house warmer and kept it looking tidy, Nothing uglier than manufactured double glazing stuck into a house that it doesn't fit.

 

[phillipe]

My neighbour showed me his new double glazed units for the sash windows a few months back, the aluminium spacer between the panes was only about 6mm in depth.

still 14mm ,argon filled to help ,probaly ripped the beads down

 

[stablegirl]

Looking at the widows they have wooden beading on the Inside and putty holding the glass In from the outside.

I assume this is usual?

To change the glass do you leave the wooden inside and remove and re putty the outside?

 

[phillipe]

Looking at the widows they have wooden beading on the Inside and putty holding the glass In from the outside.

I assume this is usual?

To change the glass do you leave the wooden inside and remove and re putty the outside?

To change glass remove putty

 

[stablegirl]

The rebates in a single glazed Sash will be to small for a 24mm double glazed unit. (Which is a standard double glazed unit) You can get slimline units (12mm) that people will tell you fit. However we won't fit them due to a high failure rate.

You could get complete new Sashes made to fit the existing frames that will fit double glazed units although for the cost it won't be a huge amount more getting new frames & sashes and it'll be a far better job. I can imagine the frames will be tender in places.

Hello thanks for your help and tolerating my ignorance!

I've just measured the frames and from the outside of the frame to the glass is 17mm assuming the glass is 3mm does that mean the rebate is 20mm?

So if you fit the slimline units you speak of the putty on the outside would be 8mm ish instead of 17mm.

When you say they fail? In what respect?

The frames are i great condition I always thought it was difficult with modern wood to make things that last as well as old things?

 

[JLTate]

Hello thanks for your help and tolerating my ignorance!

I've just measured the frames and from the outside of the frame to the glass is 17mm assuming the glass is 3mm does that mean the rebate is 20mm?

So if you fit the slimline units you speak of the putty on the outside would be 8mm ish instead of 17mm.

When you say they fail? In what respect?

The frames are i great condition I always thought it was difficult with modern wood to make things that last as well as old things?

No, the rebate is what the glass sits in, if it's single glazed putty pointed the glass will be 4mm. I would expect the rebate to be 12mm.

They fail by the seal failing round the outside failing and misting up.

They give you this sales bulls*it saying some have a 5 / 10 year guarantee but the that only covers the unit (not the labour replacing it)

 

[JLTate]

reference the frames - get a pen knife and go for a prod. You'll be surprised I reckon what you find.

 

[chickens and wheat]

I know someone in a conservation zone who got double glazing made with old 'wobbly' glass on the outside modern glass inside, only way to get permission to double glaze the house.
I had pvc fitted in the house next to his and had to rip them out and re-install wooden single glazed, council said 'tell tenant to get thick curtains' other houses on street have plastic windows- go figure.

St james green Thirsk

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Proper sash windows are fitted from the inside. This renders the visual impact of the frame as virtually nil so you only see the reveal & a little piece of timber which is pretty on an old building.

Yes you can get them made by a good joinery co but you have to be very careful with the unit getting too wide. We had a load made in 1986. Individual 4:6:4 double glazed units.
I'd probably consider whole glass now, so two pieces per window, with the glazing bars cut to look like they were structural, perhaps. This may be a sh1t idea mind!

You may be able to get to 4:16:4 without too much hassle. (makes the whold unit 20mm bigger...) Biggest issue is the weights. Cast iron weights aren't heavy enough to counteract the extra panes of glass so you'll have to weigh lead & cast this. We just cast a long bar & chopped to the right length. Then drilled the hole for the sash cord.

There are modern plastic units that have the spring-in-a-tube to counter the sash weight & if your building isn't listed I'd go this way & fit as normal with some dekeratin' after! The cheaper option. Have a look around.
SS

 

[stablegirl]

All our Windows are painted shut to get rid of the draft and I'm not bothered about them opening!

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Sounds like a job for 'secondary' glazing then. Here's a quick look at what's available. https://www.duration.co.uk/Secondary-Glazing.asp
I've had success with this sort of thing in older properties where the tenant wasn't prepared to have new units fitted & the consequent rent increase.
SS

 

[neilo]

All our Windows are painted shut to get rid of the draft and I'm not bothered about them opening!

I was going to mention the draft round them. We had the exact same discussion re-double glazing ours last week, but the draft round the sashes loses more heat than the glass I think. Those (thick) curtains have stayed pulled for several days instead.

 

[stablegirl]

Yeah we painted ours shut some time ago in most rooms one opens house rarely gets too hot!