Herbert Collins 1885-1975 was a British architect.He designed many suburban developments in Southampton primarily but not exclusively around the Highfield and Basset Green area of Southampton.Distinctive in their design and built during the 1920s and 1930s. Today their uniqueness is closely guarded with no deviation from the original design allowed and quite rightly so.There areContinue reading “Herbert Collins Architect”
Author Archives: southamptoncarpenter
A solution to Double Glazing in wooden windows
Some exciting developments have been made in Double Glazing technology. And finally a solution to retrofitting traditional single glazed wooden windows with a double glazed unit has been developed. It is now possible to have a 6.7mm or a 7.7mm clear double glazed unit. The statistics are impressive.It’s actually better at insulating homes than doubleContinue reading “A solution to Double Glazing in wooden windows”
16th Century windows
16th Century windowsIts nice to come accross such delights. The customer asked for a survey of these windows and I was suprissed at their condition some areas require a bit of attention particulary on the Oriel window which has a established mini forest of foilage hanging down. This will have to be removed.Repairs were undertakenContinue reading “16th Century windows”
A stained glass window in Southampton.
Repairs of a stained glass window in Southampton. Cracked or missing in addition to the rotten timber window frame.
Box Sash Diamond Lights
I came across this beauty whilst stopping for lunch in the west country on my way down to Cornwall. I have described this as a Box Sash Diamond Light which is something I have never seen before. The Diamond design is not unusual in fixed and opening windows but in a sash window it is.Continue reading “Box Sash Diamond Lights”
Yorkshire lights
This example required new shoes -the sliding windows run along Oak or metal runners fixed to the cill and housed in a rebate cut to the underside of the bottom rail, known as a plough groove
An opener damaged by wet rot
An opener extensively damaged by wet rot. The bottom one third of the window was completely rotten due to wet rot. The window although under a thatch overhang so set back by around 2ft (600mm) from the rain had suffered. I couldn’t work out why this was the case. When I visited the customer toContinue reading “An opener damaged by wet rot”
New lease of life for a neglected window
Renovation of an old wood window frame in Southampton
Major rebuild of a bay window
This bay required extensive refurbishment. Cutting out of most of the bottom 20% , new windows, removal and repair of all the leaded glass before re-fitting. and the introduction of secondary glazing into the leaded windows – the lead came had perished. New cills. Was it worth it? well an 8 light timber bay madeContinue reading “Major rebuild of a bay window”
The finest Gothic revivalist window
This is probably the finest example of a Gothic revivalist window that I have ever seen. I came across this sash window whilst on a weekend break in Ely, Cambridgeshire. My reason for visiting this city-the second smallest in Britain, was to see the Cathedral and the Stained glass museum within. This beauty is inContinue reading “The finest Gothic revivalist window”
Leaded Windows repairs
This was a challenging project. The leaded windows had extensive rot to the bottom rail and both the left and right hand stiles. New windows were made. Because of the long term exposure to high moisture laden timber frames the lead cames around the edge of the glass had deteriorated and fell apart when theyContinue reading “Leaded Windows repairs”
Examples of Georgian fanlights and windows
In my opinion a period in which the skills of the joiner were reaching their pinnacle. It would be very difficult today to find a tradesman with the confidence to manufacture these complex pieces. It is essential that examples such as these are preserved and cherished.
Leaded and stained glass window repairs
Leaded/ stained glass window repairs. The method of making leaded or stained glass has changed little since its inception in the early part of the 11th century. although technique and materials have advanced its nice to know that the basics remain the same today as they were applied back in the 1100s. A common problemContinue reading “Leaded and stained glass window repairs”
Circular windows
A opportunity arose for me to undertake some circular work. The window in question had been re-glazed approximately 10years ago. Unfortunately the glazier did not measure the bend correctly and had to fit the glass ‘off centre of the bend’. This resulted in the glass having to be forced against the rebate and pinned.In turnContinue reading “Circular windows”
Window Cill replacement
This started as a small area of rot in one of the corners. But once I started It became apparent that the whole cill had perished. The exterior walls had been rendered and the interior walls plastered after the window had been fitted. It would have meant either a re- rendered exterior wall or aContinue reading “Window Cill replacement”
Sash window rescue
About ten years ago these two sash windows had double glazed units fitted after the original glass had been removed. Because the original rebates that the old glass sat in was not deep enough, the contractor machined them so that they became deeper and allowed the thicker units to be fitted. This meant that theContinue reading “Sash window rescue”
Scarfing in
An area of wet rot to a 1930s window appears to be the result of either water ingress past the putty or insufficient primer used when painting a previous repair. As you can see I made a cut out of the effected area leaving in the piece that has the interior moulding it may haveContinue reading “Scarfing in”
Why Preserve historic windows?
There is pressure to replace wooden windows with PVC-u this has come about partly by plastic window industry which has heavily invested in marketing, with the often optimistic claim made to fit replacements in one day to a whole property, and the promise of a seamless experience with out the need too bring in otherContinue reading “Why Preserve historic windows?”
Types of glass found in historic windows
Broad Glass. A method used widely in the 12 and 13th century found mainly in churches and cathedrals made by blowing a bubble of molten glass swung to create a tube this was then laid and flattened with the ends cut. Once cool the tube was cut into small rectangular lengths of sheet glass. Crown glass.Continue reading “Types of glass found in historic windows”
Thermal upgrading windows
Energy efficiency for reasons of economy, comfort and, reducing carbon emissions are a major priority. Economy because we all want to save money and there is only one direction that fuel bills go. Comfort – who would want to live in a cold home with draughts which adds not only to the economy argument butContinue reading “Thermal upgrading windows”
Wooden Window Repair 