Author Archives: southamptoncarpenter

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”

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”

The cords had broken on these shutters, and I could not locate the pockets to access the weights in order to re-cord them. I had to refer to a publication by George Ellis titled ‘Modern Practical Joinery’, printed in 1902, for the answer. As you can see, the pockets had been cleverly hidden behind theContinue reading “Balanced or Lifting Shutters”

This particular porch is in good condition apart from the corner post and cill. The rotten timber was cut out and a hard wood replacement offered up and glued in place, Merranti was used for the post and the cill, the original being an inferior pine, that however was not the cause of this rot,Continue reading “Porch in Southampton”

This particularly fine example of a double bow window manufactured and installed in the early 1950s was made by Crittal, who have been trading since 1849 originally in Braintree Essex. The steel windows are almost as good as the day they were made a testament to their quality, the cills were also surprisingly in aContinue reading “Renovations of a double bow window”

An annual visual check and action on potential weak spots, coupled with a 5-7 year cycle of re-painting, will be sufficient to protect your timber windows for many years. The oldest windows I worked on were installed in the 1700s. They were ‘tired’ but because they had been included in a maintenance programme over theContinue reading “Maintenance:”

Putty The number one cause of rot, it cracks over time, usually starting in the corners, water gets in, and the damage starts.  Water sits in the rebate where it has no means of drying out sufficiently, until next winter arrives, bringing more rain and, for good measure, a frost, which freezes the water between theContinue reading “Rot in openers and sliding sashes:”

There are very few instances where a window frame has become damaged by rot any significant distance above the cill.  Such rare instances have four main causes: when water gets into the drip bar or the transom; when a closed opener sits tight on the transom leading to capillary action; when the opener loses the throating,Continue reading “Rot in window frames:”

The culprit. A leaking gutter over time will do this damage. Repairs to a bay window the result of a leaking gutter. Showing the damage to the frame and cill and a example of one of the pieces taken out and finally the repair  

Replacement of rotten cills to a former Victorian school, the grooves in the brickwork were made by pupils in the 1800s that used the bricks as a sharpening stone for their pencils, a marine primer was used to protect the new cills until a painter can finish in the desired gloss.

Refurbishment of a bay window…

Secondary glazing manufactured and fitted to a timber bay window. This format of secondary glazing is common in Europe. Essentially, a second window is fitted into the reveal. The secondary windows open inwards so the original bay window remains intact with its windows opening outwards. This type of secondary glazing is less conspicuous than aluminiumContinue reading “Secondary glazing”

These images show the process of repairing a rotted corner in an otherwise sound hardwood window frame. This rot occurred almost certainly due to the failure of the rubber draught seal that is fitted to this type of window. Over time, the rubbers can become compressed and tired, which weakens the seal, allowing water toContinue reading “Repairing a rotted window”

These pictures show repairs to a bay window: replacing the cill, machining out the rotten timber on the bottom rail and the stile to a fixed window, and fitting timber cheeks.