Saving Money on Window Restoration

If you own a home that has traditional sash windows in them it would be a good idea to consider renovating them every couple of years to make sure that they continue to function correctly. If you are not that familiar with these types of antique windows you may want to consider hiring the services of experts who can come into your home and evaluate your old timber windows to see exactly what type of problems your windows may have and what is the best, most cost effective solution to solving those problems. For some older Georgian or Victorian style homes these windows could be over 300 years old so the process is going to have to be a delicate, time consuming one to make sure that nothing is lost during the restoration project.

It is never a good idea to replace your historic sash windows with cheap PVC or aluminum style windows. They do not measure up to the quality of the original windows that were installed in the home and over time they will not hold the value of the original windows that were installed in the home many years ago. Many wooden windows can be fully restored to their original condition, if not better, with the help of professionals. Finding the right service experts for your windows should not be something that you take lightly. You want to make sure that you take the time to research just who it is you are about to hire to do the restoration work on your sash windows before you actually sign up for a contract with them.

Depending on what you need done to your old windows, the cost of these services will vary from each professional contractor you talk with. If it is draught proofing and painting that needs to be done the cost should not be that great. However, if you need to have the timber replaced because of rotted wood or get the cords replaced, you may expect to pay a little bit more, especially if the windows are not functioning correctly in the first place. The thing to remember when you are getting estimates on the work is that you are comparing the same labour and part replacements. You want to evaluate apples to apples in terms of what you are getting for your money. Another thing you want to keep in mind is that if the experts at your home insist that you need to have your old windows replaced make sure to get a second estimate. There are, unfortunately, still sales people out there today that just want to replace your old windows with new, less effective windows that will not measure up to the quality and craftsmanship of your historic timber windows. It is always a better idea to have your old sash windows renovated instead of replaced.

If you need your sash windows repaired, you can find professional help at http://www.ventrolla.co.uk/.

View the original article here

Can I Save Money by Installing Double Glazing in My Orangery?

For centuries the orangery has been used, however its purposes have varied over time. They were typically used for growing oranges, lemons and other citrus fruit. Orangery designs can use a range of different materials though originally were built from stone. You can now have an orangery in almost any shape of style you wish and incorporate many different modern elements into it, including having double glazing.

Stone was the original building material. This was because the was a steady supply of stone and it was also a sound building material. Wood and metal are starting to become more popular components of the orangery however, stone still remains popular too.

As the design industry moves forward so does the way in which orangeries are made, moving away from traditional stone and instead choosing to use timbres which give a softer look which can sometimes be more aesthetically pleasing. Oak is one of the most typical materials, joined together with beech pegs. This works by the wood shrinking over time and in the weather in order for the wood to tighten, this means the structure will be a lot more sound. However, wooden and timber orangeries can prove to be very expensive so these should only be considered if you have a larger budget to play with.

Some of the cheaper materials include glass, aluminium and uPVC, however it is more common to see uPVC in conservatories rather than orangeries. Aluminium is becoming more popular due to the fact it is less costly, strong and is very easy to work with. It is a lot more aesthetically pleasing that uPVC too. Aluminium was very popular during Victorian times and has remained so ever since, it is a versatile, lightweight material that does not require nay heavy lifting, it is also relatively inexpensive. The one downside is that it can be harder to heat the interior, other building materials achieve this better, however it may just be a case of taking adequate heating precautions, especially if you intend growing plants.

Not forgetting glass. An orangery can bring you many benefits but without the glass you will be unable to experience them, such as the light and airy feeling. Orangeries typically have plenty of double glazing windows to allow for light. You can also enjoy the surroundings outside without having to leave the comfort of your home. If you design your own orangery then this is a perfect way to decide how much of each material you are going to use.

The author of this article knows their stuff about windows, especially double glazing! So they know the dos and don'ts when it comes to installing new windows in your orangery.

View the original article here