Be sure to kit yourself out with the full basket of tools when you begin a sash window repair business. Make sure that they are of a high standard so that the work you produce will be excellent. Good work will generate more business through personal referrals.
The sash window was originally designed towards the end of the Eighteenth Century and the structure has remained the same for hundreds of years. This means that some parts are still available commercially and others can be made by a good carpenter.
Repairing a sash frame is a relatively simple as the windows have been made in such a way that they easily taken apart as the inventors were aware that time and weather would wreak their vengeance.
Many buildings with sash windows are classified as heritage buildings and replacing the old wooden sashes with plastic or aluminium frames is a travesty. The wood will warp, cords will fray and pulley mechanisms seize up but keeping the original ambiance is preferable.
The original design has lasted for literally hundreds of years if they have been regularly maintained. The life span of modern plastic and aluminium versions is only ten years. The wooden windows have features in moulding and detail that are not replicable in the newer materials, which must be retained for their beauty if nothing else.
The owner needs to inspect his windows regularly once a year but many would prefer to outsource the work and this is where you come in.
The paintwork will generally begin to flake or crack and should be stripped and repainted at five year intervals. The cords may have broken. Failed putty and loose or broken panes are easy to replace. Often the wood has decayed due to lack of maintenance especially along the bottom strip. Fillers can be used for small areas of decay while loose corner joints can have corner brackets placed over them to strengthen them. It is recommended that you check with the local building regulations for rules regarding ventilation needs when doing sash window repair.
The actual work you will do consists of treatment of rot, putting in new glass panes, cords and weights. Repainting will require a full stripping of the wood using sugar soap or detergent and removing all dust. Be careful with very old windows with lead paint which releases toxins when removed.
European countries have a plethora of sash windows as they have been popular for many hundreds of years. Therefore repairing sash windows as a business will keep you busy for years.
If you have been considering doing a sash window refurbishment, you might want to check out the information available by a professional information session. A sash window workshop can demonstrate the benefits of repairing or renovating your windows.
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