AXE JOINERY MOTO
if a job is worth doing then it’s worth doing properly
KEEPING TO THE ORIGINAL DETAILS. We like our timber windows to look as original as possible. Here are some methods that are often used by joiners but take away the original look of the sash window.
On some sash windows the glazing bar is made too thick. Glazing bars are usually supposed to be thin and elegant so we measure the originals and make them look the same.
Some sashes are fitted with horns that have just been rounded off, cut at an angle or cut off completely. We always cut the horns in the shape that is the same as the original would have been.
We make our glazing bead with a chamfer so it looks like a putty line. The traditional way to glaze sashes was with putty but with double glazed units the oil in the putty will break down the hot melt that holds the glass together.The timber bead is held on with special purpose silicone which makes the windows waterproof and with panel pins for extra strength. The beading is put on flush so it doesn’t look like there is beading around the glass.
On some sashes trickle vents have been put in as people think it is in building regulations to have them.This is not the case as we know 99% of the windows we fit don’t need them and this rule only really applies to windows in new builds.
Some sashes are fitted with spiral balances instead of using the traditional weight and cord system. The original way is the simplest and problem free compared to the spiral balances which are prone to snapping and getting stuck.Sections of the timber window have to be grooved and cut out to take the round plastic tubes which takes away the original look of the sash box.
Some sashes have black or silver spacer bars in between the glass. Considering 99% of windows are painted white inside and out this will make the double glazing look obvious and make them look more like plastic windows. We use a white spacer bar which is far more discreet than black or silver.
On some sashes there are gaps at the joints, this is where they have not been hand made and made on a certain machine. The timber sections come out of this machine with chamfers on all of the edges. We are not sure why this is but think it’s to allow for differences, i.e. If the joints don’t line up there will be a noticeable step that would need sanding down, but with a shadow gap a step wouldn’t notice but you still see gaps on all the joints. We still do it in the way where the joint is flush and can’t be seen.
Some sashes have the draught excluder on the parting bead. This brush is in view all the time and makes the windows difficult to paint. We put all the draught excluder on the sash so they are well hidden and can’t be seen.
Some sashes are sprayed before they are fitted but we still use the original method of hand painting after the fitting has been done. A sprayed finish often looks out of place, almost too perfect and along with shadow gaps are the best ways to make timber windows look like plastic.
