Leigh · Greater Manchester
Sash Windows in Leigh
If single glazed sashes in Leigh stream with condensation every winter, double glazed replacements with draught seals can make rooms warmer and quieter.
- WN7
- Guide from £1,495
Leigh: timber sash windows
Sash windows that run smoothly need routine care: keep the pulley wheels free of paint, wax or lightly lubricate the running channels, check the cords for fraying, and repaint timber before bare wood shows. Draught brush seals in the beads and meeting rails reduce rattles and heat loss.
Heavy double glazed sashes need matching weights. When single glazed sashes are swapped for double glazed ones in an existing box, the old weights are usually too light, so the glazier re-weighs each sash to stop it dropping or creeping up, and checks the pulleys can carry the load.
A sliding sash only opens to about half its frame height, which can make an escape window harder to achieve. In England, Approved Document B guidance calls for at least 0.33 m² clear opening, 450mm high and wide, so tilt-in or side-hung escape sashes are sometimes specified for upper floors.
A traditional box sash hides cast-iron or lead weights inside the side boxes of the frame, connected to each sash by cords running over pulleys. Modern sash windows often use spiral or spring balances instead, which take up less depth and suit uPVC and some new timber designs without weight pockets.
Included as standard
- Double glazed units, with safety glass where required
- Weights or balances set for smooth, even sliding
- Made-to-measure timber or uPVC sash windows
- Removal of old sashes or frames and disposal
Working in Leigh
- Postcodes covered
- WN7 and the surrounding area, including Atherton, Tyldesley and Golborne
- Coast
- Leigh is well inland, around 23 km from the nearest coast, so salt exposure is not usually a factor.
- Daylight and sun
- In Leigh the midwinter sun reaches about 13° above the horizon at noon, with roughly 7.2 hours of daylight, rising to about 60° and 16.8 hours in midsummer. Glazing bars and deep frames reduce daylight, so slimmer bars and high light-transmission low-E glass help north-facing rooms. Tall south-facing sashes can let in strong summer sun; the top sash can be lowered to vent warm air out at high level.
- Access and setting
- Older rural houses often have sash openings that are out of square, with soft stone or lime plaster around them, so each window is measured individually and fitted gently. Exposed sites benefit from draught seals and robust weatherboards on the bottom sash.
- Rules in England
- Approved Document K requires safety glass in critical locations in England: glazing in doors and in side panels within 300 mm of a door, up to 1500 mm above floor level, and any glazing in walls or partitions up to 800 mm above floor level.
Guide prices in Leigh
| Typical job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| uPVC sliding sash, 900 × 1500 mm | £1,495 – £1,995 |
| Timber-effect uPVC sash, 900 × 1500 mm | £1,795 – £2,295 |
| Painted timber sash, 900 × 1500 mm | £2,595 – £3,295 |
Get a guide price for your size
In England, replacing a whole window, roof window or glazed external door is building work. It has to be notified to building control, either by an installer registered with a competent person scheme such as FENSA or Certass, or through a building notice to the council. Replacing only the glass in an existing frame is a repair and is not notifiable.
What you can choose
Spring-balanced timber sash
Timber sashes running on concealed spring balances, giving a slimmer frame where weight pockets are not needed or space is tight.
uPVC sliding sash
Low-maintenance uPVC frames with sculpted profiles and optional woodgrain foils, suited to homes where planning rules allow uPVC.
Replacement sashes only
New double glazed sashes fitted into your existing sound box frame, keeping original linings, architraves and plasterwork.
Sash Windows in Leigh: questions
How secure are sash windows?
New sash windows can be secure when fitted with keyed locks at the meeting rails, sash stops, laminated glass and tight-fitting beads. Older sashes often rely on a single catch, which is easily forced. Upgrading ground-floor and easily reached windows first makes sense, and the glazier can recommend locks that suit the sash and frame.
What maintenance do timber sash windows need?
Timber sash windows need periodic repainting, how often depends on exposure, orientation and colour, plus routine checks of cords, pulleys and seals. Keep paint off the running surfaces, clean the sills and touch up chips before water gets in. Factory-finished timber lasts longer between coats than site-painted joinery, but still benefits from yearly inspection.
Do sash windows have to meet building regulations?
Yes. Replacement windows are controlled under building regulations across the UK, and the detail differs between nations. In England, the work can be self-certified by an installer registered with a competent person scheme or approved by building control. Energy, ventilation, safety glazing and escape all apply, though listed buildings may meet some standards only where reasonably practicable.
Will double glazed sashes be too heavy for my existing frame?
Double glazed sashes are heavier than single glazed ones, so the box frame, pulleys and weights must cope. When new sashes go into an existing box, the glazier checks the pulleys and adds or replaces weights so each sash balances. If the box is weak or rotten, a new frame is the better option, and the survey will tell you.
Do you cover Leigh for sash windows?
Yes. We can quote for sash windows across Leigh and the surrounding Greater Manchester area, including postcode districts WN7, and nearby Atherton, Tyldesley and Golborne. Start with your postcode on the quote form and a glazier will arrange a free survey before giving you a written quote.
Get a written quote in Leigh
Free survey for new glazing, clear guide prices and one point of contact for every glazing job.