THE WINDOWS ARE COMING (AT LAST!)
It’s fair to say that there have been many technical challenges in bringing this project to fruition, though perhaps none more testing than producing triple glazed sash windows that are thermally efficient and pass stringent planning regulations.
Being in a conservation area, the windows have to be “similar in appearance” to existing sash windows - i.e. look pretty much exactly like a traditional sliding sash, including being made of wood. It just so happens that nobody makes triple-glazed windows like this, so we had to it ourselves…
The challenges are multiple and onerous, including:
- achieve whole window U-values of 0.9 at least,
- carry the weight of triple glazing in a sash structure, and
- achieve sufficient levels of airtightness
In some ways having to start from scratch has been an advantage as we have been able to work from a blank canvas. Some exceptional design and technical brains have been deployed throughout the process.
The end product is a sash lookalike, with a fixed upper pane and tilt-and-turn lower section. With a triple seal, this results in excellent airtightness and allows us not to have to overly beef up the central bar to carry the weight. It also makes the window easy to clean and allows passive ventilation without compromising security.
I know these are not the most amazing pictures, but I guess they may be of interest to machine/carpentry geeks. And who knows, perhaps this is just the beginning of a bit of the fabled low carbon economy here in little old West London…?!
