What are sash weights?
Sash weights create the proper counterbalance for each window sash, allowing for smooth operating double-hung windows. Made of iron, weights can be installed alone or stacked, and are ideal for vintage window restoration or new period style home construction.
What are the different types of window sash weights?
We offer a range of window sash weights that can be installed alone or stacked, including add-on weights, stackable iron weights, stackable lead weights, and stackable round weights. When selecting weights, remember, although they can allow for smooth operating windows, oversize weights can impede sash movement and cause the window to malfunction.
Why are old sash windows counterweighted?
Old sash windows are counterweighted to help them slide more easily. A rope extends from the top of the lower sash -- and if the upper sash isn't fixed in place, from the top of that one, too -- over a pulley and to the weight hidden behind the frame. Some of the old weights are brick, and they can break or get stuck.
What is a sash cord on a window?
The sash weight is connected to the window by a braided cotton sash cord, or a chain, that runs over a pulley at the top of the frame, although spring balances are sometimes used. Repairing a broken cord requires disassembling parts of the window frame.
What are old sash weights made of?
Traditional sash windows are balanced by sash weights which hang in the boxes at the side of the window. Traditionally the weights were made out of lead but in the Victorian era cast iron became a more popular choice as it was easier to get hold of and cheaper.
What are the weights called in a sash window?
Weights: (also counterweights) bars of metal, often lead or iron, which are attached with the sash cords to the window sashes, providing a counterbalance so the sash can be moved and held open.
How much do sash weights weigh?
With window sash less than 12 lbs., the weight variation from counter weights to window sash weight can be a half pound. For window sash weighing over 12 lbs., the variation should be a pound difference.
Are window weights lead?
Window weights are lead weights that counterbalance the weight of a window sash - the movable part of the window - in older houses.
What are old windows with weights called?
Windows operated by weight and chain, or sometimes called weight and pulley, have a chain (or cotton cord) that connects the sash to a weight that is concealed in the wall next to the window.
Why do sash windows open top and bottom?
"The trick to getting the maximum flow of air through the window is to slide the sashes so the window is open equally at the top and bottom. By separating the in-flow and out-flow, cooler incoming air efficiently flushes the warm air out of the room.
How do you fix sash window weights?
3:215:31How to Repair Damaged Window Sash Cords | Ask This Old HouseYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUp almost to the top and back it down just a little bit. So now i push the rope in the dado. And iMoreUp almost to the top and back it down just a little bit. So now i push the rope in the dado. And i line it up at the bottom of the hole. And that's where i will tie my knot.
What is the average weight of a window?
A cubic foot of ordinary window glass weighs approximately 157 pounds or around 71 kilograms. However, a heavier type of glass, like lead crystal glass, weighs heavier at around 185 pounds per cubic foot. Flint glass even weighs even more at around 230 pounds per cubic foot.
How do you determine the weight of a sash?
To calculate sash weights we :-Weigh the top and the bottom sashes to find the total weight including glass.Add 2lb to top sash total weight (1lb each side). ... Subtract 2lb from the bottom sash total counter balance weight (1lb each side). ... Divide the total counter balance weight in half to find the weights required.
How do you make window weights?
0:055:40How to make sash weights - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's the balance the windows. Yeah it's very very simple it's very very simple one pair of bathroomMoreIt's the balance the windows. Yeah it's very very simple it's very very simple one pair of bathroom scales get hold of the window.
When did they start using window weights?
In the early 18th century a system of pulleys, ropes and weights gradually became standardised in the design of the overall window. This pulley system enabled the weight of the sashes to be balanced, making it easier to open.
What are lead weights used for?
Because of lead's high density and relatively low cost, it has found numerous uses in the form of lead weights, lead ingots and lead billets. Some common uses include counterweights, ship ballast, fishing sinkers, diving weights and in sports handicapping.
How do you fix sash window weights?
3:215:31How to Repair Damaged Window Sash Cords | Ask This Old HouseYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUp almost to the top and back it down just a little bit. So now i push the rope in the dado. And iMoreUp almost to the top and back it down just a little bit. So now i push the rope in the dado. And i line it up at the bottom of the hole. And that's where i will tie my knot.
How do sash weights work?
0:323:15How Do Window Weights Work? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo basically there's a roller. Right here let these roll on and these are just a counterweight. SoMoreSo basically there's a roller. Right here let these roll on and these are just a counterweight. So when pull the window up the weight goes down and holds the sash up. And it makes it nice and easy.
What are ropes in windows for?
Window weight ropes, also known as sash cords, are common on homes with older windows. These ropes travel over a pulley and are tied onto a weight inside the wall, which helps keep a window open when you want it to stay open.
When did windows have pulleys?
The earliest sash windows slid horizontally but were replaced by vertical sliding sashes which used pegs and holes to adjust their height. It was only in the late 17th century that sash windows were made with the system of weights and pulleys that we recognise today.
Step 2: Make Long Strips
Put your best long edge at the front of the bench and measure up 45mm before clamping a long straight edge along the marks. Don’t worry too much if the lead has a bit of a bend along its length it’s easy to hammer back into shape later.
Step 3: Fold a Sash Weight
Stack all your lead strips up and, you guessed it, hammer them flat. I found that I got much better results when I hammered a pile of lead flat rather than just a single thickness.
Step 4
Here you can see the various different stacks I made up. This probably took me about an hour but now that I know what I'm doing I could easily do it in half that time and get a better finish. I didn't take much care to clean rubbish off the lead before I started and with hindsight perhaps I should have.
What is a sash window?
Window made of one or more movable panels. A sash window. A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels, or "sashes". The individual sashes are traditionally paned windows, but can now contain an individual sheet (or sheets, in the case of double glazing) of glass.
How many panels are there in a sash window?
The sash window is often found in Georgian and Victorian houses, and the classic arrangement has three panes across by two up on each of two sash, giving a six over six panel window, although this is by no means a fixed rule. Innumerable late Victorian and Edwardian suburban houses were built in England using standard sash window units approximately 4 feet (1.2 m) in width, but older, hand-made units could be of any size.
What are the problems with sash windows?
Traditional problems with solid wooden sash windows include rot, swelling or distortion of the woodwork or rattling in the wind (due to shrinkage of the wood). These problems can be solved by careful repair and the introduction of draught stripping. It is also a common problem for painters to paint the sash stuck. The sliding mechanism makes sash windows more vulnerable to these problems than traditional casement windows. Sash windows are relatively high maintenance, but offer advantages in return (style, aesthetics, abides by laws (relating to older houses and buildings), natural resources etc.). However, well-maintained sash windows should last generations without needing parts replaced. It is also possible to clean all the glass from within the building by sliding the two panes to different positions.
How many sashes are in a single hung window?
A single-hung window has two sashes, but normally the top sash is fixed and only the bottom sash slides. Triple- and quadruple-hung windows are used for tall openings, common in New England churches.
What weight is used to balance a glazed panel?
To facilitate operation, the weight of the glazed panel is usually balanced by a heavy steel, lead, or cast-iron sash weight or counter-weight concealed within the window frame. The sash weight is connected to the window by a braided cotton sash cord, or a chain, that runs over a pulley at the top of the frame, ...
Where were sash windows invented?
The oldest surviving examples of sash windows were installed in England in the 1670s, for example at Ham House. The invention of the sash window is sometimes credited, without conclusive evidence, to Robert Hooke. Others see the sash window as a Dutch invention. H.J. Louw believed that the sash window was developed in England, ...
Is vinyl sash stronger than wood?
Over time the plasticizer chemicals used to make vinyl sashes flexible evaporate leaving the material brittle and prone to breaking. Vinyl is also weaker than wood and aluminum sashes and requires extra support in large window openings.
What is a sash liners?
They consist of liners that attach to the window frame with screws or nails and runners that go on the sides of the sash. Both are made from vinyl with a foam backing that also insulates. You can then fill the weight compartment with foam insulation and stop the cold drafts from blowing through the window. References.
Why are old sash windows counterweighted?
Old sash windows are counterweighted to help them slide more easily. A rope extends from the top of the lower sash -- and if the upper sash isn't fixed in place, from the top of that one, too -- over a pulley and to the weight hidden behind the frame. Some of the old weights are brick, and they can break or get stuck.
Can you insulate a sash window?
One of the problems with old sash windows is that the compartments on either side that hold the weights are passageways for cold air, and as long as the weights are there, you can't insulate properly.