Full Sash Window Restoration — Victorian Townhouse

The Challenge

Many of the sashes were painted shut with up to twelve layers of accumulated paint, and some had been damaged by amateur repair attempts that had used non-flexible filler products in the moving joints, cracking them solid. The original Georgian glazing bars — only 12mm wide — were extremely fragile and required the lightest possible preparation methods to avoid cracking. Cadogan Estate required the work to be completed and inspected within a defined programme, with no extension beyond the agreed access period.

Our Approach

Working from the top of the building downward, our team freed each stuck sash using a craft knife to score through the paint film at the meeting rail and frame junctions, then carefully worked the sash free using purpose-made hardwood wedges. All failing paint was removed using the Speedheater infra-red paint removal system — the gentlest available method for fragile glazing bars — and any soft or decayed timber was treated with Repair Care flexible two-part consolidant. New draught seals were fitted to all windows as part of the restoration, significantly improving the thermal performance of the building. The Cadogan Estate-approved paint system was applied: Dulux Trade Weathershield Exterior Gloss on all external faces, Little Greene Intelligent Eggshell on all internal surfaces, in the estate-specified off-white.

The Result

All nineteen sash windows now operate freely and seal correctly, with the paint film restored to the crisp, clean standard Cadogan Estate requires. The Cadogan Estate surveyor approved the work at inspection with no remedial items. The client noted that the improvement in thermal comfort from the new draught seals was immediately apparent. Our comprehensive schedule of works documentation now forms part of the property's maintenance file.