The origins of the sash window are partly obscured by time, but this type of window is known to have emerged in England in the 1670's and has remained popular ever since. Widely used in Georgian and Victorian architecture, these windows became popular in America during the Colonial period.
This style, a major innovation that differed greatly from earlier casement windows, is generally credited to a a major scientist and inventor, Robert Hooke. Hooke was an industrious man who coined the term 'cell' for the living units of biology he observed with a homemade microscope, discovered many principles of the law of gravity, designed some of London's most historic buildings, and surveyed much of London after the Great Fire of 1666. He also studied the properties of glass and invented a balance spring which allowed for the watch to be created.
Robert Hooke, a brilliant man born in England in the 1600s, was both a practical man skilled in clock making and surveying, a skilled architect, a biologist, and a physicist. He studied gravity, the properties of glass, and invented a balance spring that led to the development of the watch. It is easy to see how these studies contributed to his window, moving up and down with a weight to offset the pull of gravity, with muntins (strips of wood holding individual panes of glass in a frame) to relieve stress on the amount of glass needed for large panels, and attractive enough to grace a stately home.
One of the earliest known houses to install the innovative designs was the Ham house, an ancestral home updated in the 1670s by the Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale. This property has been owned by the National Trust since 1948 and used in many films.
New houses have this style of window as well, although the materials may be more modern. Either soft or hard wood is still seen in many houses, since it gives a traditional look and is a good insulator. Modern commercial buildings and cement block houses may have more informal vinyl or metal windows, often using aluminum which does not rot or corrode. Another durable material is fiberglass, which has the advantage of expanding and contracting the same as the glass panes. It is stronger than vinyl or aluminum, neither rots or corrodes, may be painted, and has a higher insulation rating than metal or plastic.
Newer materials include soft and hard wood, vinyl, metal such as non-corroding aluminum, and fiberglass. All of these materials have variations in insulating factors (wood is best, followed by fiberglass), durability (wood will rot if not kept sealed from moisture, although proper care will extend its life practically indefinitely), and strength.
The origins of the sash window in England may account for its popularity in other areas which were once English colonies.
If you found this article interesting, you can find more information and details about Sash Window companies in London today! The professionals at a Sash Window draught proofing service will enhance and improve your home easily!