Full House Renovation
A whole property taken back and rebuilt to a single standard, managed by one team from first drawing to final handover.
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Windows and doors
The elevation is what people see, and the glazing is most of it
Windows do three jobs at once: they carry the character of the elevation, they control heat loss and they are the largest opening in the building envelope. Get any one of the three wrong and you notice every day.
- Sash window overhaul, draught proofing and reglazing
- Slim profile double glazing for period property
- Timber, aluminium and aluminium clad timber replacements
- Bifold, slim framed sliding and lift and slide door systems
- Front door replacement and security upgrades
- Building regulations compliant installation and certification
Restoring sash windows rather than replacing them
The sash windows on a Victorian house in Fulham or Kensington were made from slow grown timber with tight grain and high natural durability. That material is better than most of what is available new, and it is usually worth saving.
A full overhaul means stripping the paint, splicing in new timber where sections have rotted, replacing cords and rebalancing the weights, fitting brush and compression seals, and reglazing. The result closes properly, stops rattling, cuts draughts substantially and keeps the elevation right. It generally costs less than replacement, and in a conservation area it may well be the only option you are permitted.
- Paint stripping back to sound timber
- Timber splicing and resin repair
- Cord, pulley and weight replacement
- Brush pile and compression draught seals
- Slim profile double glazed unit retrofit
- Sash locks, stops and security fittings
- Full redecoration inside and out
When replacement is the right answer
Where the timber has genuinely gone, where a previous owner fitted poor quality units in the nineteen nineties, or where you are building an extension and specifying from scratch, replacement is the correct call.
Timber suits period elevations and is often required in conservation areas. Aluminium gives the slimmest sightlines and the largest panes, which suits contemporary rear elevations and extensions. Aluminium clad timber offers a timber interior with an aluminium exterior that needs no repainting. We fit all three and will tell you which suits the elevation you have.
Bifolds against slim framed sliding doors
Bifolds open the full width of the aperture, which is their advantage. The trade off is that when they are closed you are looking through a series of frames, and the stacked panels take up reveal space when open.
Slim framed sliding doors give a far better view when closed, because there is much less frame, and they suit the way most people actually use a rear elevation, which is closed for most of the year. The trade off is that you only ever open part of the width. Our view is that on most south west London gardens, sliding doors are the better choice, but it depends on how you plan to live in the room.
Regulations and certification
Replacement windows and doors are notifiable work under the building regulations. They have to meet minimum thermal performance, and where a window serves a habitable room it has to meet the requirements for ventilation and, on upper floors, for means of escape.
Glazing in critical locations, which means doors, side panels and anything low level, has to be toughened or laminated safety glass. We certify the installation so you receive the paperwork, which is what your solicitor will ask for when you sell.
Questions
Windows & Doors: common questions
Can you double glaze our existing sash windows?
In many cases yes. Slim profile units are made specifically to fit into refurbished sash boxes where standard units would be too thick. The sash usually needs the rebate deepening and the weights rebalancing to carry the extra load. We assess each window, because it is not always viable on very slender glazing bars.
Are we allowed to replace windows in a conservation area?
It depends on the specific designation and whether an Article 4 direction is in place. Where one is, replacing windows on the front elevation normally needs planning permission and the replacements have to match the originals in material and detail. On listed buildings, listed building consent is required. We establish the status of your address before quoting.
How long does an installation take?
A typical whole house window replacement runs one to two weeks depending on the number of openings. A sash overhaul is slower because the repair, drying and decoration all take time, and we normally work in batches so the house is never fully open. A set of rear doors is usually two to three days.
Will we get a certificate?
Yes. Replacement windows and doors are notifiable, and you receive the certification as part of your handover pack. Keep it, because it is one of the documents your buyer's solicitor will ask for.
Free consultation
Windows draughty or past their best?
We will assess whether restoration or replacement makes more sense on your elevation, check the conservation status and give you a written price for both where it is worth comparing.