Sash windows and their design options

Sash windows have always been a popular choice for homeowners as they are timeless and easily create a more traditional look and feel to a home.

When buying sash windows, there are lots of options to choose from which you may or may not be privy to. This blog aims to help give you all the information and options so you can ensure you are buying the correct sash windows with the correct details for your home.

Firstly, there are two main types of sash windows you can choose from: with weights and pullies or spiral balance. If you’re looking for traditional sash windows, then weights and pullies is probably the way to go as this is the traditional method sash windows have always made in. In effect, there are cords and weights in the sides of the sash windows that help the sashes slide up and down. If you’re wanting sash windows with a more modern take, or are building a newbuild, then spiral balance is a great option. You get all the same detailing and hardware as a sash window with weights and pullies, but the sashes open via springs rather than the weights and pullies. These windows sound a little different when opened as you can hear the spring uncoil rather than cord, but as the springs are much smaller than the weights and pullies, the sides (jambs) of your sash windows are much narrower. This is the reason they are great for newbuilds and more modern homes. Typically, with older homes that already have sash windows in them, you will find the windows have been sat in-check, meaning the jambs of the frames are hidden behind the brickwork to make the jambs look as slim as possible. Therefore, when you come to change your windows, it’s probably best to choose sash windows with weights and pullies so you are replicating what you currently have. On new builds or newer homes this isn’t typically what is designed and built and so spiral balance is a great option.

Now you know if you want sash windows with weights and pullies or spiral balance, next it’s time to choose exactly how you would like your windows to open. On both types of sash windows, you can choose whether you would like just the top or bottom sash to slide, or if you would like both of them to slide. Further still, if you have chosen a spiral balance sash window, you can choose to integrate a tilt option. This means you can tilt the top of the window inwards. This is a great option if you have a window that is hard to clean from the outside, as you can tilt the window in and clean it from the inside of your home.

The next choice is the look of your sash windows. Typically, sash windows look quite decorative with glazing bars that are available in different designs. You can have as many or as little glazing bars as you like as these are pieces of timber that are stuck onto the inside and outside and the glass. You can choose an ogee or a lamb glazing bar depending on how decorative or simple you would like them to look. When we specify glazing bars, we always request a dummy spacer bar in the glass between the glazing bars where possible. This is a black or white strip that matches the seal around the edge of your glass and makes it seem as though you have individual pieces of glass between the glazing bars, rather than one sheet. You can of course also have sash windows with no glazing bars if this is your preference.

One of the most important decorative parts to choose on your sash windows is the horn detail. This is the decorative detail on the outside of the window where the two sashes meet in the middle. At the sides of the window, you will notice a piece of timber that drops down in a decorative shape – this is the horn. There are lots of horn options to choose from in different sizes so you can choose as simple or as elaborative horn as you like. From the horn, if you move to the bottom of the window on the sides you will notice a cut out detail. You can choose again to have this as a small notch, a smooth arch or a more decorative cut out. Typically, our customers choose a smooth arch but there are options here if preferred.

The final, but very important, decisions are around the hardware. Sash windows typically use fitch fastener hardware which is a simple twist lock that is placed on the transom (the middle bar) of a sash window with sash lifts at the bottom (so you can pull the bottom sash up) and ring pulls at the top (so you can pull the top sash down) if you chose to have the top sash open also. Again, there are other hardware to choose from, such as a hooking sash fastener, a heritage fastener, a Brighton fastener and a modern fastener. They all do the same job, but just look slightly different so it’s your personal preference on which one you choose.

There are options for different pull handles rather than the sash lifts, as well as restrictor options. Restrictors on sash windows are placed on the sides of the windows internally and can be opened or closed depending on how you want to use them. The two most common restrictors are the push ventlock restrictor and the angel ventlock restrictor. Nowadays most windows need restrictors on them so help stop people accidentally falling out of the window and can be used for security on sash windows also. The push ventlock restrictor has a simple push button. If it is pushed in, the window can open freely and as far as you like. If it is pushed out, the sash will hit the restrictor at a point you decide when ordering your sash windows (typically around 100mm) and means it cannot be opened any further until the button is pushed back in. The angel ventlock restrictor does the same thing, but rather than a button, there is a latch that can be pushed in or out to again stop the window from opening fully if desired. Some customers will use these restrictors when they go away for extra security. They push all of their restrictors out while they are away so if someone tried to pull open a window from outside, the restrictor would stop them from being able to open the window fully.

Sash windows are truly beautiful windows but there are a lot more decisions to be made on them compared to a typical casement window. We hope this blog helps you understand the decisions and choices you have so you can build the sash windows of your dreams and really elevate your home.

As always, with any order with us, we will go through these decisions during our design phase to ensure you’re fully happy before production.