Sash window glass is commonly damaged, and whilst it can be a nuisance, it can be easily repaired by replacing the damaged part.
Identifying the Glass Type
Typically, sash window repairers will establish whether your sash windows currently have single glazing, original crown glass or secondary-glazed units before proceeding with a replacement. Getting this wrong could result in your sash windows looking differently to how they currently look and having a different operational performance.
Removing the Old Putty and Beads
Care is then taken to score and to chipping away the old putty, and the glazing beads are prised off the frame without damage. It is important to retain the original glazing beads on older sash windows as it can be extremely difficult to source a matching replacement.
Cutting and Fitting the New Glass
The opening is measured up as sash frames rarely are perfectly square. The glass is cut slightly smaller than the width of the opening’s rebate on each side, allowing for movement and a suitable amount of putty to be spread.
Applying and Finishing the Putty
Linseed oil putty is pressed into the opening for the glass and then spread to the edges of the rebate using a putty knife. The putty is left to harden for several weeks before it is painted over.
Matching Period Glass in Older Properties
If you live in a conservation area such as parts of Lambeth then the council’s guidance on the repair of historic windows is to use glass that exactly matches the original, in terms of texture and thickness. There is more on Sash Window Repair Lambeth at https://www.sashwindowpreservation.co.uk/services/sash-window-repair/london/lambeth/.
Understanding the process of sash window repair can ensure you ask the correct questions before the work commences.