There are several causes of decay and damage to traditional windows in the UK. Wooden sash windows can be prone to wear and decay over time if they are not taken care of or go through proper sash windows restoration.
Below, we are looking at the most common causes of damage and decay to these historic windows and then how we can help if you do have damage that you would like to treat.
Common causes of damage to sash windows in the UK
The most common causes of damage to windows in the UK fall into two categories, which are:
Neglect
If you’ve just moved into a historic building that hasn’t been looked after, you may notice damage and decay to the windows.
Sadly, without the proper care, wooden windows will begin to show signs of damage, rot and decay.
The glazed panels may be extremely dirty, and this allows water to cling to the glass and fall onto the wood. Double-hung windows may be stuck shut or nailed shut to prevent access to the building.
This means that the movable panels will require some work to free them up. Wooden windows also require regular maintenance and painting to work correctly and to ensure they are protected. If the building has been neglected, the paint can begin to peel, and this can result in a lot of issues under the surface; more on this in a moment.
Vandalism
Sadly, a lot of the historic Georgian architecture in the UK is victim to vandalism. If a building has sat empty for a while, the panes of glass may have been smashed. The paint on the exterior of the building may have been covered with spray paint.
The wooden windows may have been forcibly opened to gain access to the building damaging the mechanism. Wooden panels may have even been nailed or screwed to the windows to protect them.
All of this can lead to the biggest cause of damage and decay to window sashes in the UK, which we will cover below.
The biggest cause of decay in sash windows in the UK
While we could talk about neglect, vandalism, and many other causes of damage to wooden windows endlessly, the most significant cause of decay and damage to sash windows in the UK is actually much more straightforward.
Whether the period building has been left to rot for years or if someone has been living in it but not taking care of the exterior timber, the cause of damage is the same.
You can also consult to a double glazing company for your windows improvement.
Water damage
Water damage is the number one cause of decay and damage to sash and casement windows in the UK. When these wooden windows are not taken care of or maintained, water can get into the wood and begin to rot them.
In order to prevent this, original windows need to be maintained correctly. They must be painted every few years and repaired whenever necessary. If they aren’t maintained, the original windows will eventually succumb to water damage.
The sash window design is very clever in that water falls away from the upper and lower sash due to cleverly cut angles and the way they are installed.
However, without protection from paint or proper draught-proofing (draught-proofing in sash windows can deteriorate over time), the clever design can only do so much. If water is allowed to pool on any part of the window frame, this will begin to rot the window frame and cause a lot of damage.
We can help
Original sash windows offer a beautiful look to a historic building, and no modern window can replace the design of a box sash window. We are experts in restoring the damage from long-term exposure to water. We have many examples of sash windows that we have entirely restored on our website.
We can restore any sash or casement window back to its former glory and even improve the energy efficiency of your period home by adding an additional pane of glass to a single-pane construction.
If your traditional sash windows have decayed or damaged, we can help you bring them back to life. Wooden sash windows provide an iconic look to a period home, and when restored correctly, they can transform the exterior of your home back to when it was first built.
For more information about our wooden window restoration services, explore our website further. We can help you bring your home back to life and bring it into the 21st century with the latest window technology that will not change the appearance of your windows at all.
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