Winter brings more than enough challenges to our lives. So, here is how you can reduce your carbon foot print with sash window draught proofing this winter. Draughty windows can be fairly quick to fix. It can save quite a lot of money and the planet gains as well.
There are some issues you need to deal with up front. The primary one is whether you want to deal with draught proofing yourself or have someone else do it for you. Lets assume at the moment that you will hire out the work. Here is what you should be concerned about when choosing a person for hire.
Will this workman want to cut or route out the sash channel? It is probably not the best alternative. It will weaken the window considerably. Is the plan to stick a piece of felt in the channel and call it a done deal? This is not particularly effective. It will help, but only a bit.
The felt brush that he was going to put in will help seal the window somewhat but it is not enough. It is perhaps better than nothing if the window is not damaged during the installation. But there are better ways to do this job.
First a proper inspection of the entire window is needed. To do this the staff beading and the parting bead should be removed. If there is damage from any cause it will now be apparent. If there are gaps, they can be filled.
A professional will look at the condition of your windows as a whole. The draughts may be a result of more than old staff beading. The bead channel may have sand or grit in the groove. This would interfere with a good seal. Cleaning the channel is an important step.
Now we finally get to the sealing strips. A smooth placement will provide a surface for the window that does not bind or stick. The new parting beading should also be fully primed when installed. Do not let any raw wood be used in the process.
The windows can be rehung now and if the rope or balance weights need repair replacement or adjusting that can be done as well. Well balanced windows seat better and are easier to use.
Any gaps that can be seen with the window closed can now be filled. The staff beading can be replaced and any areas with cracks or gaps backfilled. He should go outside and check for any spaces that have been missed from inside. He may have done the work, but you have shown that you can reduce your carbon foot print with sash window draught proofing this winter.
Get exclusive inside information on how to recuce your carbon foot print with sash window draught proofing this winter now in our sash window draught proofing company and sash window specialists overview.