During the Georgian period, which spanned the hundred years between the mid- 1700s and the mid-1800s, sash windows were very popular. During this period, two sashes were usually moveable and each sash contained six panels of glass. Later, the Victorian era sash was considerably more decorative, often using multiple panes of leaded glass.
Casement windows, on the other hand, became popular during the Edwardian period between 1901 and 1914. Sash & casement windows in Edinburgh were often found alongside one another in homes built during that period. Up until the early 1890s windows had to be flush with the walls they were installed in, this changed and homes began to include bay and bow windows.
Both sash & casement windows were ideal for the British climate the lower sash could be closed to little more than a gap which maintained ventilation but reduced the chance of rain entering the room.
Sash windows are a very important aesthetic component of period homes. Depending on the design at the time there were usually two sashes, either both were moveable or the top sash was fixed and the bottom sash could be opened and closed. The construction of a sash window is quite simple; it is little more than a casement that fits the opening in the wall and frames that contain the glass are inserted into the casement. The casement includes a pair of tracks while the sash contains runners; this arrangement is that which allows the window to move up and down. Early period, sash windows used ropes to achieve the same up and down movement.
A casement window, on the other hand, is hinged on the side and opens and closes like a book. Typically, a casement window hangs vertically; it is fitted with hinges on either side, it swings out to open.
The problem with both sash & casement windows in Edinburgh is the fact that they are not energy efficient; the method that was used to construct the window resulted in leaks and draughts. Heritage homes, in particular, must not have the exterior aesthetics changed; any replacement windows must maintain the original design and appearance of the original. Fortunately there are replacement sash & casement windows available today that meet this strict criterion, the window design is the same but they are far better when it comes to weatherproofing as well as the finish; these replacement windows maintain the traditional look whilst providing the features you would expect from a modern window.
If your home is fitted with period sash & casement windows in Edinburgh no doubt,they leak and prone to draughts. For replacements that are in completely satisfactory to the Edinburgh Planning Department and Conservation Committee, you are invited to contact JBC.