Need To Feed The Family? Try Sash Window Repair In Your Neighbourhood
What you will need to start up a sash window repair business is a good set of tools with which you can perform praise-worthy and long-lasting repairs
. This sort of one man show works best when your customers do your advertising for you and quality results are therefore essential.
This style of window has been used since the late Eighteenth Century and the basic principle behind them has remained unchanged. Some parts can still be bought off the shelf but other pieces will need to be made by a joiner.
The windows were designed in such a way that dismantling them is a simple task. Designers recognised that weather and time would take their toll and simplified the design in accordance with this.
Many buildings with sash windows are classified as heritage buildings and replacing the old wooden sashes with plastic or aluminium frames is a travesty. The wood will warp, cords will fray and pulley mechanisms seize up but keeping the original ambiance is preferable.
Wooden windows will last for hundreds of years if maintained and painted regularly whereas plastic or aluminium version cannot be repaired easily and carry only a ten year guarantee. Mouldings and traditional details are not replicable in modern materials. It is imperative to retain the old windows were possible.
Regular maintenance takes time and this is what will grow your business as owners should really inspect their sash windows once a year but seldom have the time or knowledge to do so.
The kinds of problems that you will face will be broken cords or windows that stick due to over-painting of joints. The paintwork itself is frequently flaking or worn and should be completely removed on a five yearly basis so that the wood can be resealed and repainted. The putty decays and panes become loose or cracked and must be replaced. The bottom strip of the sash often is victim to wood rot and wear and tear. Fillers will repay the smaller areas and if the corner joints are loose they can be reinforced with corner brackets. In addition, check with local builders codes to ensure that the ventilation requirements are complied with.
Your job will consist of replacing the panes and the putty, restringing the cords on the weights and oiling pulleys. Rot will need to be dealt with using filler and the paint will have to be stripped. Be careful of lead toxins as the older layers of paint will contain high concentrations of lead. Use strong detergents and sandpaper to remove all the dust, and wearing a mask is essential.
In countries that have an abundance of sash windows, you will have more than enough work to do if you repair sash window as a business.