If you live outside the United States, chances are you are very familiar with sash windows since they are the most common and popular type throughout the region. But if you live in the US you may not have ever even heard of them before. So naturally you might have no idea if they would be good window replacements or even what they offer. The first that must be answered is exactly what is a sash window and why would you want replacement sash windows?
Sash windows are basically two wooden frames that are mounted in a larger vertical frame. The frames, called sashes, hold one or sometimes two panes of glass. The sashes slide up and down on the two tracks in the frame so that the windows may be opened and closed. If there are two panes of glass then the window is called a double glazed sash window. There is also a variety of sash window that has multiple panes of glass, called lights, in each sash. These are held in place by strips of wood or metal known as muntin bars.
When you are considering replacement sash windows, cost can be a big factor. Replacing a single one can cost several hundred dollars, more so if they are a rare type of window in your area. The more expensive are the wooden sash windows. These are popular because the muntin bars are removable, which gives some choice into how the window looks and makes it easier to clean. But there are also replacement sash windows that are aluminum on the outside and offer more choices in color and style. Another benefit to aluminum sash windows is that they never require any maintenance or painting. Aluminum also tends to be more versatile in size and availability as well. Nearly all sash windows have the feature of tilting inward so that the outside can be cleaned from indoors; this is ideal for second story windows.
With the availability factor most companies who will installing or replace sash windows are also the manufacturers, limiting the number of people you have to deal with. But with limited manufacturers comes limited competition and increased prices. You can best benefit from this by finding a company that offers warranties of at least 10 years. They should also be a well-established company so that you can rest assured that they will not be out of business if you need a repair. If you do not already have sash windows, you might be better served replacing your windows with the same type of window you have now, simply because of the price factor. But if sash windows are something that you simply must have, shop smart and look at all your options before committing to one contractor.
