The Six Steps to Choosing the Perfect Sash Window Expert
Sash windows: timeless, desirable, full of character, and, let’s face it, probably long overdue for a refurbishment or repair. If you’re looking at your sash windows and thinking it’s time to refresh the elegance and character they add to your home or to finally sort out that draught, then it’s essential to find a skilled sash window specialist to ensure your windows and your home, receive the care they deserve.
Here, we’ll take you through the six key steps to help you find the right professionals to restore your sash wooden windows to their best.
Know the improvements you want and the services a specialist can offer
So, you have an idea of the work you want done, but at this first stage, make sure you double-check whether you understand the different options that are available.
A good sash window specialist will be able to understand what you are looking for and will provide you with guidance, advice, recommendations, and a bespoke service that ensures you achieve the results you want.
Whether it’s structural restoration of traditional timber wooden windows, improving functionality, reducing draughts, replacing glass, adding double glazing, or increasing energy efficiency, there is a range of services available, so finding the best option to suit the needs of your traditional timber sash windows is a vital first step.
Expertise and Experience
When it comes to sash windows, experience and expertise matter, look for professionals who specialize in sash window installation, repair, and restoration. A well-established expert will have a proven track record and be familiar with the intricacies of different sash window styles and any requirements specific to your home.
If you own a historic home, preservation and restoration are always a priority. Choose an expert who understands the importance of preserving historical authenticity and has experience working on heritage properties, particularly with traditional timber sash windows. Great sash window specialists will have experience working with Grade 2 buildings and windows. If you live in a conservation or heritage area, then finding a wooden sash window specialist who can renovate historic sash and casement windows in a way that conservation officers approve will give you early peace of mind with a methodology suitable for Grade 2 listed buildings and those in conservation areas.
Even if you don’t need to consider Grade 2 or conservation issues for your home, finding a sash window specialist that provides conservation area-approved work is a good indicator of the quality of work you can expect.
An experienced team from an expert sash window restoration company will be able to install or repair quality windows with the utmost care.
Portfolio of past projects
Being able to see the quality of the work and quality products on offer is another critical element. A good wooden sash window specialist will have no hesitation in providing you with a wide range of their previous projects, and if they are as good as they claim to be, any sash window specialist will be happy to let their work speak for itself.
This will help give you an idea of their craftsmanship and style. Pay attention to the quality of materials used and how well they have managed to seamlessly blend with and enhance, the existing architecture to provide a flawless, timeless look.
Warranty and aftercare
A reputable sash window expert will offer long-term warranties and extensive guarantees on their work and installation service, with some elements lasting several years and others with decades-long coverage.
Don’t overlook this element when you are considering what constitutes value for money at a competitive price. You should always discuss with specialists what is covered under the warranty and what their offer means for their confidence in their work and your complete peace of mind.
Reviews of previous work
At this point, no matter how good you’re feeling about, or how great your engagement with, a sash window specialist has been across the previous four steps, now is the time to pause, step back, and compare what you have been told and what you have seen so far against what their previous customers have said about the service they received.
This is also your opportunity to check cost against value – you’re about to invest in your home for the long term, so make sure you are getting the best. Whether you want to see if energy efficiency increased and energy bills and heating costs decreased, how expert craftsmen dealt with a period property, or how well they were able to add sash window double glazing rather than secondary glazing. Check online reviews and see if what the company promises matches up to what they actually deliver.
Feel Comfortable
Finally, the most important factor in finding the right specialist is you.
Everyone wants to feel comfortable in their own home, and the right sash window specialist will understand that and will work with you throughout the entire process to ensure they enhance and protect that feeling of comfort, as well as preserve the charm and aesthetics your traditional windows bring.
Getting the job done well will have a hugely positive impact on how your home looks and feels for years to come.
Conclusion
Choosing the perfect sash window expert is a critical decision that impacts the beauty, functionality, energy efficiency, and value of your home.
Following the steps above will make sure you have taken the time to research and consider the critical factors in such a big decision, from the specific services you require to the level of comfort you feel with the expert.
By selecting a skilled and experienced professional, you’ll ensure that your traditional sash windows are expertly installed, double glazing added, repaired, or restored, preserving the charm and elegance of your home for years to come and achieving that flawless, timeless look you desire.
