How to Draught Proof Heritage Sash Windows?
Sash windows, prominent in Georgian and Victorian-era properties, are undoubtedly elegant. However, they have specific technical shortcomings. This has led many period property owners to seek draught-proofing solutions for their sash windows, and for good reason.
Original timber sash windows are still primarily single-glazed and do not have any weather strips, draught excluders or rubber seals.
They can allow a significant amount of heat to escape while letting cold air from outside enter. Drafty windows may also rattle in windy conditions and when combined with other factors, can lead to condensation problems.
The key benefits of draught-proofing are:
- Draught-proofing and weatherstripping help control ventilation by sealing gaps in the window frame and between moving parts.
- As gaps are sealed, wind gusts don’t cause rattling since the sashes bounce quietly against soft weatherstrips instead of wooden frames.
4 advantages of sash window draft-proofing:
- Eliminate cold drafts: You can prevent cold air from entering your home by draft-proofing your sash windows.
- Minimize window rattling: Draft-proofing helps reduce the rattling of your windows during windy conditions, creating a quieter environment.
- Smooth sash movement: Ensuring your sash windows are draft-proofed allows for smoother movement of the sashes, making them easier to open and close.
- Potential savings on heating bills: While draft-proofing alone can offer some savings on your heating expenses, you can experience even greater savings when it is combined with retrofitting single glazing.
Weatherstripping explained
Weatherstripping is available in a string and is used to seal edges of windows and doors against weather and other outdoor elements. Weatherstripping is a great tool to protect your home from wet weather as well as draughts and other outside elements from entering your home. Using tools such as weather stripping helps to insulate your home by avoiding heat loss through gaps in your door meaning it could help to bring your energy prices down.
How Do I Know If I Need Weatherstripping?
There are several ways to see if your sash windows are in need of weather stripping. If you can feel draughts coming through your door, it’s safe to say that you will need to install some weather stripping. However, there are some more obvious ways to test your sash windows. One way is to insert a piece of paper into the edges of your window. If the paper fits through and can move around with ease, it is a good idea to install some weatherstripping or a garage door seal on your door.
Another way is to use a hairdryer on one side of the window and get someone to hold their hand to the other side as you make your way around the window. If they can feel the air on their hand, there is a gap, and draughts are more likely to get in.
Should I use Silicone On My Weatherstrip?
Silicone makes an ideal weatherstripping because it’s durable, soft, and has no “compression memory”; it remains tight as the sash window swells and shrinks. The following steps will teach you how to weatherstrip a sash window to keep cold drafts from entering your home.
For a supply of high-performing sash windows, please get in touch today.