Reasons Why Sash Window Renovation Can Be Very Expensive

| Thursday, December 29, 2011
By Peter Colwell


If you own historical period windows, and they are showing their age, you might be considering sash window refurbishment. Although the finished product looks great and is good for many more years of service, the cost might be considered very expensive by some homeowners. Here are some reasons why this type of work can cost money.

All assessment of a window's condition must be done by visual inspection. The various areas of a unit that can deteriorate are identified individually so that the missing, worn or broken parts can be replaced. Every part of a unit has to be checked before deciding how much effort and cost must be expended in order to bring the product back to full beauty and efficiency. This individual inspection is more costly than more routine checks.

All the wooden components of the frame must be checked for insect damage, weather effects or other deterioration. The replacement areas must match the look and weight of the existing pieces as closely as possible. To get a smooth finish, the entire unit must be sanded and smoothed. Stains or paints on the new areas should match the existing parts. Usually this is done by sanding and refinishing all the existing components.

There are some extras that can be added at the time of refurbishment to make the unit more efficient and safer. For example, an air lock allows you to retain the air flow through a slightly open window without the risk of children or pets falling out. Older designs may or may not have this feature. If you have youngsters or animals in your household, this is a good safety feature.

You can expect that the replacement of the weights and cords in an older unit will be expensive. Cords wear out over time. They may break. The weights that hold the frames open can become worn or misplaced. The parts must be individually replaced in order to make the operation smooth. To complete the renovation, the technician usually will plan on taking apart the frame and installing new weights and cords.

You may need to replace original parts of the design with newly crafted pieces. Special machining or measuring might be required in order for the pieces to fit correctly. If the work is done correctly, the finished product operates smoothly, looks great and offers many many years of efficient life.

For all these reasons, sash window refurbishment can be quite expensive. The benefits are plentiful as well. You have a home that looks great. Lower utility costs because of air leak reduction is another positive feature.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment