Timber Sash Windows on Weights

How Timber Box Sash Windows Work

A sash window has two glazed panels — the sashes — that slide up and down past each other in a timber frame. On a traditional box sash window, each sash hangs on cords that run over pulleys at the top of the frame to counterweights hidden inside hollow side boxes. The weights balance the sash, so it stays where you leave it, open or closed.

That hollow, deep sash window frame is what gives a box sash its name and its authentic period proportions. It is the design found on most Georgian and Victorian houses in the UK, and it lets you open the top sash to release warm air, the bottom sash for fresh air, or both for maximum ventilation.

Our frames are made from engineered timber — several layers of wood laminated together — so they stay stable and the sashes keep sliding smoothly instead of swelling, twisting or sticking with the seasons. For more on how the style developed, read our history of sash windows.

Our Wooden Sash Window Range

Timber Sliding Sash Window on Weights with Glazing Bar — from £449+VAT

A traditional sliding sash on cords and weights with a vertical astragal bar. A clean, classic look that suits Victorian and Edwardian terraces. Available single or double glazed.

Georgian Timber Box Sash Window on Weights — from £649+VAT

A box sash window on traditional weights with a full grid of astragal bars across both sashes — the signature look of Georgian townhouses. Available single or double glazed.

Need a different bar pattern, an arched head or a pair of windows to match? We build to your drawings. If your reveals are shallow or you want a slimmer frame, see our spring balance sash windows instead.

Double Glazed Timber Sash Windows

Double glazing is standard on our double glazed timber sash windows, giving good thermal and acoustic performance while keeping the traditional look. You can also choose:

• Triple glazing for maximum energy efficiency or noise reduction
• Acoustic laminated glass for busy roads and city centres
• Single glazing where planning rules for a listed building require it
• Low-E coatings, argon gas filling, toughened or laminated safety glass and obscured glass for bathrooms

Glazing bars can be true astragal bars or solid glazing bars, depending on the look you want. The exact U-value depends on the timber and glazing you choose, so ask us for the figure for your specification when you request a quote.

Softwood or Hardwood Sash Windows?

Every timber we use is engineered — laminated for dimensional stability — and comes fully finished. The choice comes down to budget and the look you want:

Still deciding? Our guide to hardwood vs softwood sash windows compares the options in detail.

Large and Small Sash Windows, Made to Any Size

We don’t work from a size chart. Every window is made to your measurements, from small sash windows for bathrooms and landings to large sash windows for tall Georgian openings and bay fronts. Non-standard proportions and arched heads are part of our everyday work.

Measuring your own openings? Follow our guide to measuring wooden windows for replacement. If you would rather not, we can arrange a site survey to measure up for you.

Sash Windows on Weights or Springs?

Both look like traditional sliding sash windows from the outside. The difference is how the sashes are balanced:

If you want the slimmer option, browse our timber sash windows on springs.

Sash Windows for Period Homes and Listed Buildings

A box sash on weights is the authentic replacement for original Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian windows. Our guides to Georgian sash windows and Victorian sash windows explain the details that matter, from bar patterns to proportions.

If your home is listed or in a conservation area, check with your local planning authority before you order. We make windows to the drawings and specification you have had approved, including single glazing where it is required — see replacement timber windows for listed buildings.

Finish, Protection and Lifespan

All timber is vacuum-impregnated before machining and finished with a multi-coat microporous system that lets the wood breathe while keeping moisture out. Choose any RAL or Farrow & Ball colour.

With routine care, a factory-finished timber sash window typically needs repainting roughly every seven to ten years and can last for decades. Every window comes with our 5-year warranty.

How to Buy Wooden Sash Windows

1. Send us your measurements and preferred style, timber and glazing — or ask for a site survey.
2. We send a detailed quote within 48 hours. A 50% deposit books your manufacturing slot.
3. Your windows are made in around 20 working days.
4. We deliver fully finished windows across the UK. The remaining 50% is due on delivery, and your own installer fits them.

Prices start from £449+VAT. For a fuller picture of budgets, read our timber windows cost guide or see timber window prices.

Timber Sash Windows: Common Questions