Sash Window Restoration Olney
Preserving the Jewel in the Crown of North Bucks
If you are walking along the footpath by the River Ouse, looking up at that beautiful church spire, or driving past the sandstone cottages on the High Street, you know that Olney is special. It’s a town defined by its heritage.
But owning a period property on the High Street or near the Market Place comes with a unique set of challenges. The traffic noise, the rattling frames when the wind blows across the sports fields, and the decades of “quick fixes” can take their toll.
At Sash Window Restoration Winslow, I believe these windows are the eyes of your home. My mission is simple: keep the original character of your sandstone property alive without the draughts.
Can sash windows in Olney be restored?
Yes. In almost every case, original sash windows in Olney can be restored without needing full replacement.
Many homeowners in Olney believe their windows are beyond saving because they are painted shut or filled with decades of “DIY filler.” This is rarely the case. By carefully removing the excess paint, servicing the pulleys, and installing discreet draught-proofing, we can bring them back to life.
The “DIY Curse” and the High Street Problem
We see it often in the older properties near the Museum and Market Square. To stop the rattling, previous owners may have painted the sashes shut or used excessive filler to “get another year out of them.”
This traps the window, but more importantly, it stops the building from breathing.
Why I don’t recommend Double Glazing for Period Properties
I am often asked about retrofitting double glazing into these historic frames. My answer is honest: I rarely advise it.
These sandstone properties were built to breathe. Sealing them up with heavy double glazing can often lead to damp and condensation issues later.
- The Better Solution: Professional Draught Proofing.
- The Result: It significantly reduces the noise from the busy High Street and stops the rattling, all while retaining the original single glazing that belongs to the house.
Our Services in Olney
- Draught Proofing: Essential for stopping the whistle of the wind without sealing the house too tight.
- Unsticking Painted Sashes: freeing top and bottom sashes so they function as intended.
- Rot Repair: Removing the “filler patches” and splicing in solid timber using traditional joinery methods.
- Cord & Pulley Service: Rebalancing the weights so the window glides, rather than fights you.
“Is there a sash window specialist near Olney?”
Yes. We are the premier choice for Sash Window Restoration Olney has to offer. We cover the entire MK46 area and specialize in restoring the sash windows found in the town’s historic sandstone cottages.
“Can you draught proof old sash windows?”
Yes. We use a rout-in brush pile system that sits discreetly inside the timber bead. This seals the gap to stop draughts and reduce traffic noise, but allows the window to slide smoothly.
“Do you repair rotten sills in Olney?”
Yes. We avoid replacing the whole window whenever possible. Instead, we cut out the rotten timber from the sill and splice in new, durable hardwood (Accoya or Sapele) to match the original profile.
My windows are Grade II Listed. Can you still double glaze them?
It is strictly controlled. In many Grade II properties in Olney, thick double glazing is not permitted by conservation officers. However, we can often install specialized vacuum glass (like Fineo) which is ultra-thin, or focus on our high-performance draught-proofing system which delivers 70% of the thermal benefit without changing the glass.
Do you use scaffolding, or can you work from the inside?
For most sash window restoration projects in Olney, we work from the inside of the room. We carefully remove the sashes and transport them to our workshop to be restored under controlled conditions. This eliminates the need for expensive scaffolding on the High Street in 90% of cases.
How long does a typical bay window restoration take?
Because we perform a full Restoration (stripping back to bare wood in our workshop) rather than a quick patch-up Repair, the process is thorough. A typical project involves removing the sashes to our workshop for approximately 14 days. During this time, we install secure, weather-tight temporary glazing so your home remains warm and safe while we work.
Our Restoration Process
We believe in transparency. Whether you are in a townhouse on the High Street or a cottage near the river, our process remains the same:
- Survey: We inspect the rot and timber condition.
- Proposal: A clear, itemised quote with no hidden fees.
- Restoration: We work cleanly, respecting your home.
Ready to stop the rattles? Visit our Contact Us to book your survey today.