Timber window and door projects installed throughout London and Surrey

The image on the right shows one of fifty casement and sliding sash windows fitted to a building acquired by the Royal Ballet School in 2016. The frames were manufactured by Sollex and installed by Original Sash; the timber used was cross grain laminated for extreme dynamic stability. All hardware, pulley wheels and cords were premium quality and the frames were painted using breathable and durable Technos microporous paint as an undercoat and multiple top coats.

This low-maintenance solution means that the windows won’t need to be repainted for up to ten years and, when they do, they will just require a quick coat applied to the surface of the existing paint. Fewer coats with a less premium paint brand would incur the expense of removing sashes, burning off the oil-based paint, followed by repainting and refitting. As the location is in a conservation area, the dimensions of the frame were built to match the period, even down to the real putty beading applied over three weeks in the factory to avoid cracking in the future!

“We are very pleased with the quality we have received. Their delivery has been second to none. They stuck to the requirements of the job safety wise. I couldn't actually say a bad word, everything has been superb, communication, design and most of all the quality of the windows”

The image on the right shows a project recently designed and project-managed by Paul Clifton at LTWD. The client did not want the maintenance of timber but wanted to maintain the period look of the property, right down to the horizontal drip bars on the transoms and vertical frame stiffeners on the upstairs window mullions. uPVC was the obvious zero-maintenance choice.

Working to a budget and a frame depth of 70mm meant that the premium 100mm R9 heritage flush casement uPVC window was not a viable option. The agreed solution was a 70mm profile 22 flush casement frame with a smooth surface (rather than a foiled wood grain surface). This was installed with welded joints rather than period butt joints to further save on cost.

The drip sills and frame stiffeners were created using the Eclectic Systems R104 aluminium stiffener with R203 trim, specifically designed to clip on top. The door was re-glazed and re-painted by the client. The new windows improved heat retention and sound-proofing significantly, however the biggest achievement for the client was the fact that their new uPVC windows replicated the original period windows perfectly –their friends didn’t even notice that they had been replaced!

The image to the right shows the damage that an inappropriately designed uPVC window can make to an area and period property. Our client had recently moved into their dream home in Canonbury, London. Unfortunately, the previous owners had spoilt the appearance of the property with poorly designed lipped casement uPVC windows. Restoring the original sliding sash windows was the obvious choice, and the client chose timber, as opposed to uPVC, because he wanted to faithfully recreate both the look and the materials.

To match the streetscape, we fitted the windows with a deep bottom rail and a slim meeting rail with a single astragal bar. In addition, to enhance security and longevity, we opted for laminated frames and redwood-on-hardwood sills. The cords were made from pre-stretched platted nylon for longevity, alongside long-life load bearing pulley wheels (made with bearings rather than a pivot pin). The fasteners were screwed to concealed steel plates to help prevent intrusion (crow bars can otherwise burst fastener screws more easily). To reduce service cycles and the life of the windows, we opted for Technos microporous breathable paint. Finally, to complete the period look, the client chose to install both external and internal horns.

This timber bay window project took place in a conservation area in London, and required a faithful recreation of the original decorative Georgian bar design. The project was commissioned by Osborn Glass – one of our approved agents and installers – and was surveyed and installed by another of our approved specialist joiners.

With specialist projects, we generally find it to be beneficial for the smooth running if the manufacturer has the capability of surveying and installing as well. This means that all accountability sits under one roof while the systems are well-coordinated – this is essential for a consistently successful outcome. The materials used for this project looked great and performed better, lasting at least as long as the originals – if not longer!

This beautiful period cottage recently had the original windows replaced in the same style. The only difference was the material, which used modern engineered (or laminated) timber instead of sawn timber. There are a number of benefits to using engineered timber, namely that the sashes and frames are up to 30% stronger than sawn timber. In addition, they don’t twist and warp with temperature and moisture fluctuations, which sawn timber does.

Using engineered timber also meant that a multi-point locking system and high-compression hinges could be installed for vastly improved draught-proofing, sound reduction and security, not to mention longer sealed unit life and paint integrity. They also opted for quick-release hinges on this project, so that the sashes could be easily removed from the inside when the client came to repaint them in the future. The microporous paint applied ensured that the repainting cycles wouldn’t be required for at least ten years.

In the before-and-after area, you’ll see a contemporary orangery on a period cottage, which uses thermally-efficient grey aluminium loggia columns. In the images opposite, you’ll see a traditional-style orangery. This is an example of a traditional oak conservatory with thermally-efficient oak pillars on top of a matching sandstone dwarf wall.

The roof was built in the traditional orangery style and comprises a traditionally built flat roof with an ultra-frame glass lantern. Our approved installer used the best fully-seasoned oak which was then laminated (engineered) and cut to form the frames and fluted pillars.

The windows on this particular project were also replaced in the same colour and material.

For all-year-round use, the roof glazing was upgraded to the best four-season glass on the market: Celcius Elite. This glass absorbs just 17% of the sun’s heat during summer, and releases minimal heat during winter (0.9 watts per square metre per hour). This phenomenal performance is achieved by coating both double-glazed inner panes with an invisible high performance low-e soft coat (as opposed to the industry standard one coat), and coating the outer pane with a high-performance heat-reflective coat.

Timber frames are the most thermally efficient of most materials; for this reason, oak is the preferred window and wall material in colder European and Arctic countries.

The end result was a stunning garden room that can be used all year round, keeping the client warm in the evenings and throughout winter, and cool in the summer.

The goal for this project was to replicate ultra slim crittal doors, using thermally-efficient aluminium and double glazing.

While steel is often a popular choice as it’s inherently strong and can show a slimmer frame and glazing bars, in this instance they opted for aluminium. Our approved manufacturer was able to achieve the same effect as steel by using the Smart aluminium system as the base, alongside bespoke hinges and handles which were painted to match the door frames.

A period floating lock box, as opposed to a full length locking strip, was created true to the style of period deco steel doors, while the ultra slim glazing bars were created to be the same size on both the opening and fixed panes. This is not normally possible with heritage aluminium frames, due to the different thicknesses of the internally and externally glazed components.

This true deco steel look adds to the cost, but purists feel that it is worth it!

The end result was a stunning example of how modern technology can honour and preserve traditional aesthetics.