Edwardian Sash Window Restoration — Queens Park
This case study covers a single bespoke sash window supplied and installed for a 115-year-old Edwardian semi-detached property on a quiet residential street in Queens Park, London. The existing window had been painted shut at some point in the 1990s, had developed a noticeable lean, and let in enough draught that — as our client Margaret put it — you could keep a drink cold on the windowsill without a fridge.
Project Overview
Location: Queens Park, London
Property: Edwardian semi-detached, 115 years old
Materials & Specifications:
- Finger-jointed Accoya hardwood-engineered frame
- Traditional Edwardian proportions matching original glazing bars
- Spiral balance system replacing original box weights
- Slimline double-glazed units (4/6/4mm)
- Draught-proofing brush seals on all four sides
- Factory primed in white finish
The Brief
Margaret's Edwardian semi had one lower sash window that had been painted shut sometime in the 1990s and never properly freed since. Beyond simply not opening, the sash had developed a visible lean within the frame, and the gaps around it let in a serious draught — enough to notice a cold spot in the room on any windy day.
Rather than a full house of replacements, this was a single, bespoke sash window built and fitted to match the original Edwardian proportions and glazing bar pattern exactly, so it sits in the elevation without looking out of place next to the property's other original windows.
Materials & Specifications
We built the new sash from finger-jointed Accoya — an engineered, dimensionally stable timber that resists the swelling and warping that caused the original sash to stick and lean in the first place. The glazing bar layout and proportions were matched to the property's original Edwardian detailing, so the new window reads as part of the house rather than an obvious replacement.
The original box weight system was replaced with a modern spiral balance, giving smooth, effortless operation without the bulk of traditional lead weights — a practical upgrade that doesn't compromise the window's appearance from the street.
Glazing & Draught-Proofing
The new sash was fitted with slimline double-glazed units (4/6/4mm) to improve thermal performance without thickening the glazing bars beyond what looks correct on an Edwardian property. Brush seal draught-proofing was fitted to all four sides of the sash, eliminating the gaps that had been letting in cold air.
The Result
The job — start to finish, including two well-earned tea breaks — took a single day. As Margaret told us afterwards: "The window is perfect. I couldn't be happier."
If you're looking for bespoke sash window specialists in London, contact Golden Ratio Sash Windows & Doors to discuss your project and arrange a free quotation.