Sash windows: restore or replace?

Rattling, draughty or stuck sashes are often written off when they could be saved. Here's how to decide.

Signs a sash can be restored

• Rot is local, at the bottom rail or sill, not throughout the frame
• The sash is stuck with paint, not twisted
• Cords are broken but pulleys are intact
• Putty is cracked or missing

What restoration involves

Sashes are removed safely, paint is stripped, timber repaired, glass replaced where broken, then reglazed with new putty. New pulleys, cords and beading get them running smoothly, and draught proofing deals with the cold. Then they're painted, on or off site.

When replacement makes sense

If most of the frame is rotten or the window has been badly altered, replacement may be better value. We'll tell you honestly.

Why restoration is worth it

Original sashes are often made from better timber than modern replacements and keep a period house looking right. See our sash window restoration service.