the greenest option
Perhaps we should call this "The Window Comparison Website" where the home-owner or refurbisher can see and compare the available options
Here's the Real McCoy: A truly beautiful pair of rising sash windows. Part of the facade of a large building in the heart of Georgian London - Queen Anne's Gate. Upper storey windows photographed from the far side of the street, the reflections are at their best, showing off the characterful imperfection of the hand-blown glass. Despite the reflections, curtains are clearly visible.
This is a National Treasure. No secondary double glazing here! They look wonderful, but expect big heating bills and cold feet from the downdraught induced by the single glazing.
The SupaSash solution would specify drawn glass with Low-E sealed 20mm DGUs for an almost invisible change and a dramatic increase in comfort while retaining those reflections.
This is a National Treasure. No secondary double glazing here! They look wonderful, but expect big heating bills and cold feet from the downdraught induced by the single glazing.
The SupaSash solution would specify drawn glass with Low-E sealed 20mm DGUs for an almost invisible change and a dramatic increase in comfort while retaining those reflections.
Not far away, near Hyde Park, here's more of the Real McCoy:
Here, these lovely original windows are ruined by the inept choice of secondary double glazing that destroys the lines of the sashes.
Apart from the vertical line of the internal frame, the double reflection is magnified by its being set so far inside the outer sashes.
This solution might preserve the fabric, but it ruins the appearance.
Efficient it may be in reducing heat-loss and noise, it does nothing to preserve the appearance of the building.
SupaSash e-sashes, even with float-glass Low-E sealed DGUs, would be almost invisible, making a vast improvement to the appearance both inside and out.
Here, these lovely original windows are ruined by the inept choice of secondary double glazing that destroys the lines of the sashes.
Apart from the vertical line of the internal frame, the double reflection is magnified by its being set so far inside the outer sashes.
This solution might preserve the fabric, but it ruins the appearance.
Efficient it may be in reducing heat-loss and noise, it does nothing to preserve the appearance of the building.
SupaSash e-sashes, even with float-glass Low-E sealed DGUs, would be almost invisible, making a vast improvement to the appearance both inside and out.
From the sublime to the ridiculous: This is the usual 'solution' to rattly and draughty old rising sashes. Tear them out and replace with PVC proportioned to give a faint echo of the originals, while sealing out the draughts and noise with modern gaskets and improving the thermal efficiency with sealed-unit double glazing.
The typical internal glazing bar with no attempt at an external bar is a nod in the direction of the traditionalist. You either hate it, or couldn't care less. I never heard of anyone who actually 'likes' it.
Increased comfort at an attractive price, but at the cost of a heavy reduction in the value of the building.
SupaSash e-sashes with 24mm Low-E sealed DGUs, modern weather-seals, and mock glazing bar almost as 'real' as the original might cost a little more, but preserve the integrity of a fine old village pub and actually enhance its value.
The typical internal glazing bar with no attempt at an external bar is a nod in the direction of the traditionalist. You either hate it, or couldn't care less. I never heard of anyone who actually 'likes' it.
Increased comfort at an attractive price, but at the cost of a heavy reduction in the value of the building.
SupaSash e-sashes with 24mm Low-E sealed DGUs, modern weather-seals, and mock glazing bar almost as 'real' as the original might cost a little more, but preserve the integrity of a fine old village pub and actually enhance its value.
This is where it gets more interesting. These are windows in Palmerston's birthplace, (former Prime Minister, born 1784) also in Queen Anne's Gate, directly opposite those National Treasures at the top of the page.
Photographed from a low angle against a bright sky the undistorted reflections tell us that these are windows glazed with modern glass. There is no sign of a second reflection to indicate either sealed units or secondary glazing.
These are perfect candidates for the SupaSash treatment. If we were to specify drawn glass, we could combine thermal efficiency with the 'interesting' reflections and without disturbing the visual aspect.
Photographed from a low angle against a bright sky the undistorted reflections tell us that these are windows glazed with modern glass. There is no sign of a second reflection to indicate either sealed units or secondary glazing.
These are perfect candidates for the SupaSash treatment. If we were to specify drawn glass, we could combine thermal efficiency with the 'interesting' reflections and without disturbing the visual aspect.
Neighbours in a Hackney street, one of these houses is original with single-glazing, and the other has been fitted with new double-glazed e-Sashes, complete with modern weather seals.
Can you tell which is which?
The e-Sash frames are double-glazed with 20mm Low-E sealed-units, giving a whole-window U-value of less than 1.6. That's the value demanded by the latest Building Regulations (Oct 2010).
Can you tell which is which?
The e-Sash frames are double-glazed with 20mm Low-E sealed-units, giving a whole-window U-value of less than 1.6. That's the value demanded by the latest Building Regulations (Oct 2010).
This is a 'before' and 'after' job. A terrace home (also in Hackney) retro-fitted with new e-Sash rising sashes in the old box frames. Can you tell which is 'before' and which is 'after'?
Again, the pre-finished e-Sash frames are double-glazed with 20mm Low-E sealed-units, with a whole-window U-value of less than 1.6. That compares with a single-glazed U-value of around 5.0. (That's not much better than leaving the windows open).
Again, the pre-finished e-Sash frames are double-glazed with 20mm Low-E sealed-units, with a whole-window U-value of less than 1.6. That compares with a single-glazed U-value of around 5.0. (That's not much better than leaving the windows open).
Still in Hackney, this is a straight comparison between old (on the right) and new (on the left).
The new tropical hardwood frames on the left - installed as complete replacements - are clearly very much heavier than the originals, yet with double glazing that fails to meet any recognized installation standard.
(But why?)
Installed in prime coat, after three days labour, they still need a few days work by the decorator to finish them off.
At least, they're not pvc.
The new tropical hardwood frames on the left - installed as complete replacements - are clearly very much heavier than the originals, yet with double glazing that fails to meet any recognized installation standard.
(But why?)
Installed in prime coat, after three days labour, they still need a few days work by the decorator to finish them off.
At least, they're not pvc.
Here's a novel idea, seen in a Warwickshire village.
Not easy to photograph, thanks to the awful reflections. It's not easy to spot even when standing outside, but something odd caught my attention.
This window - one of four - is covered - outside - with one large fixed sheet of glass. Secure, yes, but no ventilation, and no fire-escape possibility.
On closer inspection these windows are modern top-hung mock sashes, inserted recently in place of the original rising sashes.
Pity they didnt know about SupaSash.
Not easy to photograph, thanks to the awful reflections. It's not easy to spot even when standing outside, but something odd caught my attention.
This window - one of four - is covered - outside - with one large fixed sheet of glass. Secure, yes, but no ventilation, and no fire-escape possibility.
On closer inspection these windows are modern top-hung mock sashes, inserted recently in place of the original rising sashes.
Pity they didnt know about SupaSash.
A direct comparison between two neighbouring double-glazing options:
The one on the left is in PVC. Clearly heavier all round.Technically sound, visually poor.
The one on the right is also double-glazed, 14mm DGUs solid-bedded in mastic straight into the original wood frames - presumably after re-working the rebates to accept the thicker glass. Visually good, technically poor.
What is perhaps not immediately apparent is the substantial loss of glass area in the PVC frames - of the order of 8%. That means 8% less light entering the room.
The one on the left is in PVC. Clearly heavier all round.Technically sound, visually poor.
The one on the right is also double-glazed, 14mm DGUs solid-bedded in mastic straight into the original wood frames - presumably after re-working the rebates to accept the thicker glass. Visually good, technically poor.
What is perhaps not immediately apparent is the substantial loss of glass area in the PVC frames - of the order of 8%. That means 8% less light entering the room.
While photographing the windows in the previous box I re-discovered one we did around fifteen years ago: Secondary glazing in oak.
Not bad in visual terms, as the faded oak isn't that visible to the casual eye. It's the secondary reflection in the upper windows that gives it away.
In the absence of coated glass, it's not as thermally efficient as e-Sash, and with two additional glass surfaces to clean, original windows difficult to access, difficult to maintain, and impossible to use, we only offer this solution if it's specifically requested..
Not bad in visual terms, as the faded oak isn't that visible to the casual eye. It's the secondary reflection in the upper windows that gives it away.
In the absence of coated glass, it's not as thermally efficient as e-Sash, and with two additional glass surfaces to clean, original windows difficult to access, difficult to maintain, and impossible to use, we only offer this solution if it's specifically requested..
Three sashes found in a salvage yard.
In the centre, one was refurbished: Stripped, painted, reglazed with old glass. Hours and hours and hours of work, and it's still got a U-value of only 5.5.
On the far right, one had the box frame repainted and fitted with new 24mm double-glazed e-Sashes.
Three hours labour, Paint-Gard weather-seals and a U-value of 1.4.
In the centre, one was refurbished: Stripped, painted, reglazed with old glass. Hours and hours and hours of work, and it's still got a U-value of only 5.5.
On the far right, one had the box frame repainted and fitted with new 24mm double-glazed e-Sashes.
Three hours labour, Paint-Gard weather-seals and a U-value of 1.4.
I simply couldn't resist this.
PVC fabricators always trot out a picture of a crappy old wood window with peeling paint. Here we have the PVC equivalent: An imposing village house, ruined by these cheap, ill-proportioned 'low maintenance' plastic windows. 'No maintenance possible', they mean. Even keeping them clean will be difficult now.
Alec Clifton-Jones must be spinning in his grave.
Clearly proportioned for rising sashes, the old box frames must have been torn out when they might easily have been upgraded to the same standard (at least) to last another Century.
What a tragedy!
PVC fabricators always trot out a picture of a crappy old wood window with peeling paint. Here we have the PVC equivalent: An imposing village house, ruined by these cheap, ill-proportioned 'low maintenance' plastic windows. 'No maintenance possible', they mean. Even keeping them clean will be difficult now.
Alec Clifton-Jones must be spinning in his grave.
Clearly proportioned for rising sashes, the old box frames must have been torn out when they might easily have been upgraded to the same standard (at least) to last another Century.
What a tragedy!
