The Wooden Window Workshop - The Sash Window Restoration Service
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Environment

How to stop condensation building up on your single glazed sash windows

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Windows and Doors answers your condensation question
What causes condensation on windows? Is it a sign of a faulty window? Condensation is actually a sign that windows and doors are doing their job. While it can be frustrating to look through a foggy wi...
If you have a home with the original period single glazed wood windows with modern heating systems combined with freezing temperatures outside it is going to be virtually impossible to eliminate condensation from occurring on the interior glass surfaces.
 
Condensation build up can and does cause wooden windows to rot from the inside out. The interior mouldings of your windows were never designed for water to run off and away like the exterior design allows for. Water from condensation tends to just sit there, eventually lifting up the surface paint and rotting the exposed timber underneath.
 
 
You may be considering draught proofing your sash windows but this could actually make the condensation problem worse still!
 
If you insulate the windows in your home you will have evenless air circulation than before and the condensation problem you may have had before could become far more intense.
Although you will obviously feel warmer by having your old sash windows draught striped it isn’t necessarily a cure for the condensation.
 
 
"Of course you are probably expecting me to start trying to convince you into replacing your windows with double glazed wooden windows, this is The Wooden Window Workshop’sline of business after all isn’t it?
 
Well you will be pleasantly surprised to hear that I am notgoing to harp on “too” much about double glazed windows.
 
The truth is though, by upgrading to double glazed sash windows you will obviously be making a great step forward in the prevention of condensation.
 
Let’s just imagine just for one minute however that you cannot afford to replace your windows.
 
What can you do to prevent or at least reduce condensation from building up on your single glazed wooden windows?
 
One very good system is an electronic dehumidifier, thisw ill help warm the room and also remove moisture from the air. I have seen 4 litres of air born water removed in the course of one night with these machines.
 
Always check the energy efficiency of the dehumidifier as you do not want to receive a massive electric bill at the end of the month. Some machines will auto-turn on when needed and then go into sleep mode when not needed, this type of dehumidifier is the one I would recommend.
 
You can also buy crystals on websites such as http://www.ebay.co.uk/
 
These crystals absorb moisture from the air but we have found that this type of method is really only suitable in very small enclosed areas such as a cupboards or such like.
 
 
Quite a useful resource for information on dehumidifiers canbe found here:
 
 
Secondary glazing will also not prevent condensation and could also make the problem worse. With the secondary glazed panel fitted you will find it very hard to mop up any water that condenses, we would advise against this as well.
 
 
In all reality you have two choices, either the dehumidifier which will work well and cost you about £300 for a high quality low consumption energy efficient model or replacement double glazed sash windows.
 
The cost of the later will be considerably more but you will save some money on you heating bills and also will not have to have adehumidifier working 247
 
 
We wish you all the best in your efforts this winter tocombat your condensation problems and if we can be of any help please do giveus a call.
 
 
We can provide you with many references and The WoodenWindow Workshop reviews on the internet are all extremely good too!
 
Just Google search us and see for your self
 
 
 

The Benefits Of Choosing Wooden Windows

Wooden window replacements When building a home or renovating a house, it is advisable to be well informed on the materials that are to be used in all aspects of the project. The windows of a building can either make or break the architectural design and should be both attractive as well as functional for the purpose desired.
 
Sash windows are an age tested design that suit both modern contemporary design homes as well as more historic houses and properties, as such most interior designers and architects will advise on them as being a definite must have option.
 
People may well have doubts about having wooden sash windows in the house thinking that they are expensive. This is a misconception as the price of timber windows when compared to aluminium and or PVCu often fall in the same ball park.
It is advisable to have your joinery made locally to reduce CO2 consumption; if your windows are made abroad for example you will undoubtedly have transportation costs built into the price of your replacement windows.
If this is the case you might find that you are able to have windows designed and built for the same price locally and you will then be able to afford hardwood as opposed to softwood due to the lack of transportation fees.
 
The timber industry including the wooden window manufacturing industry has raised concerns from some people over the years that there could be some long-term negative effects on the environment due to cutting down of so many trees. This theory has long been proved incorrect and actually deforestation, if done ethically is proving to have a very positive effect on our world.
 
Let me explain:
Let’s imagine a timber company cutting down trees to feed an ever increasing demand for wooden products (as was horrifically actually happening in the first part of the 20 century!)
 
The resource soon dries up and the timber industry is dead and the environment suffers as a result!  Modern companies now realise that to run a long term successful business they need to plant more trees than they are cutting down. This sustains the business and keeps them in the money.
 
But this “business” minded view also has a double edge to it that is extremely positive and eco-friendly. Young trees just like young humans need more food than mature trees to enable them to grow, just like us! When the company plants these young trees they zap tons more CO2 than the older trees that were cut down.
These young trees pump out lovely pure oxygen while the mature, when at the right age are cut down to feed the demand and other young trees planted to take over the playing field.
 
Timber windows and in fact timber usage as a whole when compared to plastics and metals is surprisingly good for the planet.
There has been decades of misinformation supplied by companies trying to convince us that modern plastics are better as they "last longer" and are "stronger" but this is fast being recognised as utter nonsense.
 
"The fact that plastic lasts longer is true, But hang on one minute, do we really want tons of plastic still hanging about in landfill in 10,000 years time? Plastic is made from Oil drilled from deep within the earth, it took millions of years for this oil to develop and it is fast being depleted.
 
Wood is completely biodegradable; it grows naturally and sustains the earth whilst it grows. It is a resource that will never be depleted and has got more than10,000 years of proven success as a construction material!
 
Our ancestors navigated the globe in boats constructed of wood, houses and windows have been constructed from timber for decades. Furniture and musical instruments have been made from wood for thousands of years. Quite simply, timber is one of the world’s most valuable commodities and has a very long good standing record of reliability and strength.
 
So,are you still considering plastic windows now?
 

Why Timber Windows are so good for the Environment

Timber windows are good for the environment for a number of reasons.
 
The first reason is that they can last for very long periods of time. If the window is maintained well, it can last for a remarkably long time as can be seen across London, which has wooden windows that are over 150 years old and still in every day use.
 
This means that once the window has been made and fitted there should be no need for replacement if reasonable maintenance is upheld; hence no need to cut down more trees.
 
Another reason why wooden windows are Eco-friendly would be with regards to the energy used in making a wooden window. There is little energy that goes into making a wooden window as compared to other materials such as aluminium.
Apart from the energy used in making the window, the energy used in repairing it is far much less for a wooden window that it is for one made of aluminium. Energy conservation is one of the most important elements of environmental friendliness.
 
Persons or companies who manufacture wooden windows should, if they have ethics, get their timber from well-managed forests. Some of these forests are entirely man-made and owe their entire existence to the timber industry as a whole.
The fact there is demand for wooden windows and timber as a building material means that those in the trade have to ensure that they conserve the trees and forests where the timber comes from. If we did not do this, we would have run out of timber many years ago.
 
Of course, no single business person would like to run out of business. The timber dealers are therefore forced to plant more trees as they cut down others. This is for the sake of their businesses, even if not out of love from the environment.
 
The disposal of waste from wood used to make such a window is also very Eco-friendly. The waste can be used by the manufacturer for heating purposes within the wood manufacturing plant. The heat this produces can for example be used to run machines and so on.
 
There is therefore very little wastage when it comes to using wood. This compared to the waste material from a window made of PVC. Such waste is usually disposed off by being burnt especially in less developed countries as recycling costs are quite high. The burning of PVC waste is very harmful. It leads to the production of poisonous gases, which are released into the environment, thus causing air pollution. These waste products are a major environmental hazard.
 
Many of the paints used in the wooden window industry are now water based and biodegradable. This means that they are also Eco-friendly. The same case applies to the stains used on other timber products like fencing and furniture. This may not be true for paints and stains used in a window made of other materials. Biodegradable paints and stains are of no harm to the environment. This is also another reason why a wooden window is more Eco-friendly.
 
Last but not least, it is also no secret in the scientific community that as trees grow older; their ability to absorb carbon dioxide form the atmosphere is greatly reduced. It therefore actually helps to cut down such trees and replace them with younger ones, which can absorb carbon better and faster. Since these trees are cut down in order to make wooden windows, it would be correct to conclude that timber windows are good for the environment for this reason as well.
 

Who invented double glazed windows?

double glazed windowsTemperature moderation technologies have made it easy for people to live in extreme temperature so well that some may ask: Who invented double glazed windows?
 
It is a question that not many would answer right away yet a good number of people benefit from the merits of these windows.
 
The glazed windows were invented in the 1930s courtesy of the Libbey Owens Ford Glass Company. The company, co-owned by two people known as Edward Libbey and Michael Owens, changed the way people leave in a major way. It became easier to maintain temperatures in homes and other buildings.
 
Ideologies behind this technology were based on the insulating qualities of air. It is apoor conductor of heat thus making it possible to reduce heat transfer from one part of the window to the other. Air or a specific gas can be sued in the making of these panes for the intended functions.
 
The technology requires that two glass panes are put together in such a way that there is a space between them. That space will be filled with air for the purposes of insulation. At times, a gas that is a better insulator than the rest would be used for perfect results to be achieved.
 
Suchp anes are able to work according to plans even when the temperatures vary so much. They are able to maintain a roughly constant temperature no matter the changes out there or within. It is due to this that they are highly recommendedb y many people all over the world today.
 
The insulation properties of such panes are higher than those of a single pane make. The former type has a higher insulation capacity thanks to the space between the two panes. A spacer is used to make the two panes as wide apart aspossible for the best results to be realized.
 
Althoughthe panes were invented in the 1930s, it took a number of years for them to be taken in by builders and window makers all over the world. This was due to the many different policies that govern various manufacturing companies in the world. However, it fast became popular thereafter.
 
Today, many manufacturers are trying as hard as they can to improve the insulation qualities of the glazed panes. They try to rise what is called the thermal resistance that is, R-value. This value is directly proportional to the effectiveness of heat resistance of the glass thus the need to raise it.
 
Materials used in the making of these panes are mostly poor conductors of heat. PVC and wood are some of the best materials recommended by most builders of the other parts of a glazed window unit.
It improves the insulator features of the window by far.
 
Many people around the worl are now using these windows for their own insulation requirements depending on where they live. The windows have helped since they were invented by this great glass company. Now you know the answer and more details to the question: Who invented double glazed windows?
 

War On Plastic Windows - Let the revolution begin!

There is a highly regarded Window Company based in London who have taken it upon themselves to educate consumers in understanding that uPVC windows have become the scourge of the window industry.
 
You may think that by using man-made plastic windows, youare actually doing your bit to save the planet and reduce your carbonfootprint.  Think again!  When the highly experienced 'Wooden Window Workshop' speaks of the dangers of uPVC it really is to your benefit to stand up and listen.
 
Having been in business since 1985 their record of customer service and top quality window installations are a massive step ahead of the rest.  With a reputation that any fortune 500 company would be proud to have it is really essential that their words on the dangers of Plastic Windows are heard.
 
MISCONCEPTIONS
 
There is a huge misconception that by using wood in any construction that you are actually in detriment of being environmentally friendly.  This is so far from the truth but sadly is one that plastic window sellers have added to their sales list over the past few years.
 
Of course, it seems to make sense that if a tree would need to be cut down in order to make a window or door then surely that has an effect on the environment, doesn't it? And there in lies the Great Misconception.  In fact you are being much more environmentally friendly by using wooden windows than you are with uPVC. 
 
Let's just discuss why the uPVC industry is doing it'spart to destroy our planet and why forward-thinking companies like the WoodenWindow Workshop are doing their best to halt the onslaught of environmentally unfriendly plastic companies.  Firstly here are a few facts you may not have known...
 
 1.    Almost 70%of the major UK and International Timber Window Manufacturers are actually owned by uPVC Companies.
 
 2.    UPVC Windows can have a lifespan of only 20 years whilst wooden windows can and will last a lifetime – even longer!
 
 3.    Plastic windows can be harmful to your health and the world in which we live – FACT
 
So why is it then, if uPVC windows are so bad for the environment do so many people still include them in their new-build or as the best choice for their window replacements?
 
Because there has been a global misinformation campaign of advertising that has been tantamount to a worldwidec onspiracy. 
 
UPVC windows are cheap to manufacture, large companies know this and so if you go for one of their plastic window installations, guaranteed to be factory-made then they are making a huge profit from you and in turn they are ignorantly destroying the environment in which we all have to live.
There is also a depending factor involved here as most well know. 
If you purchase wooden windows from a uPVC owned or funded timber window company then you are simply funding their huge advertising campaigns and it is never in their favour to state the truth about uPVC even though they would be fully aware of the dangers involved.
 
You would be putting fuel to the fire of the conspiracy that allows uPVC companies to peddle their wares, so although you think youwould be doing the right thing by going for wooden windows, it really does depend on who you get them from.
 
 WOOD vs uPVC = To save or not to save the environment?
 
In this day and age we all know the importance of being environmentally friendly and although we may not find the time to do everythingwe can do, we can at least start with our own homes when looking to a greener horizon.
 
The Wooden Window Workshop is part of the campaign against the uPVC scourge that has infiltrated many sections of everyday living.  Look at your window right now if you are near one, in an office or home and ask yourself – does it really look better than a bespoke wooden window?
 
Wood is Sustainable
 
Using wood from a sustainable source is 100% Environmentally friendly as for every tree felled, three new trees are planted in it's place.  A young tree will absorb far more CO2 than a mature tree does and by replacing one mature tree with three young ones this creates a very positive effect on the environment.
 
Timber is Recyclable
 
Wood is a natural product that if left discarded will degrade naturally.  uPVC has to to gothrough a lengthy and costly process in order to be recycled which in turn has a negative effect on the environment due to the processes used.  UPVC windows are replaced all too easily and the old ones just thrown on a landfill site to poison the Earth for many centuries to come.  Our Grandchildren will not be thanking us for what we did to the planet in such a small period oftime.
 
English Heritage has stepped forward recently to state that cheap plastic windows are spoiling the look of England's properties at over 9,000 conservation areas where properties are classed as being of historic importance. It is unbelievable to think that centuries-old windows are being replaced with cheap factory-made plastic products that destroy the environment!
 
Toy Town Windows
 
It goes without saying that plastic windows are like children's doll housewindows, they look absolutely appalling and will come to the end of their lifevery quickly.  A wooden window if looked after properly should last for many centuries to come.  These toy-town windows are all too quickly disposed off in a very un-safe way.
 
Plastic is for children's play things and household items, not to build a house with – Do you really want to live in a plastic house?
 
Plastic is a man-made item, the manufacture of which is hugely damaging to the planet whilst wooden windows can be created from sustainable sources that actually prevent any deterioration to the environment.
 
Sash Window replacement or Sash Renovation?
 
Good companies like the Wooden Window Workshop are keen topoint out the benefits of restoration and repair.  Double Glazing salesmen are keen to point out the benefits of uPVC and so many an unsuspecting buyer simply opts for replacing their old windows where in reality they can be brought back to their original splendour usually cheaper than opting for a replacement.  And of course doing so mean you are being 100% environmentally friendly as nothing is being thrown away and everything is being restored to replicate the original period it dates from.
 
It is well known that wooden windows offer better insulation than their factory produced plastic counter-parts and so in the cold months of winter you will be having to spend more on energy costs to keep warm if you have plastic windows installed.
 
The Wooden Window Workshop and other smaller local firms who only deal in wood creations should be applauded for going against a huge and misconceived industry that is advocating the destruction of ourplanet. 
 
This writer's request to all who read this is –please, do not let our children suffer for what we are doing to the planet now.  Small green-minded businesses do not have the advertising power to go against the uPVC machine but by getting the word out there, they have in the least -  thrown the first swing to get the revolution started.
 

Environmental Benefits of Wooden Windows

 
Wooden windows really are better for the environmentThere is agreat misconception that Timber Windows are less environmentally friendly thanthose made from Man-Made materials such as metal, plastic or more specificallyuPVC.  This is actually incredibly untrueand we hope the following may at least go someway to show exactly why Timber Windows are great for the environment when compared to the more expensive man made products.
 
Timber Windowshave a life-span of somewhere nearing 60 years at the very least whereas thelongevity of uPVC or windows from other materials can be in the region of ahalf of that and sometimes much less.
 
Recycling and Biomass Fuel
 
 
If the wooden has come to the end of it's life it can be restored very easily and this is because wood is such a great material to work with.  If, upon coming to the end of it's life the window can not be restored by us then the energy within the wood can be reused through the process of recycling or can be used as a biomass fuel. 
 
 
You cannot do this with plastic and although some plastics can be recycled, more often than not entire windows are simply thrown on the trash heap and can be dangerous to wildlife and the environment around.  By having Window Windows repaired, designed or created by the Wooden Window Workshop you are guaranteeing that future generations can continue using or make use ofthe wood long after it's life span has been reached.
 
Natural Insulation
 
Timber is a natural insulator, more so than plastic due to it's tightly packed nature.  Wood is strong and is easy to repair, if awooden window is broken or cracked along the wood then this is very easy to repair, if a uPVC window suffered a similar crack then more often than not, the window would need to be replaced resulting in more impact on the environment.
 
Wooden Windows can be repaired to the original feel and look of the window and the surrounding décor of the home, period or modern.
 
Environmentally Sourced
 
 People may saythat if trees are cut down to create the timber to build windows then how can it be Environmentally friendly?  This istrue unless the timber a company sources comes from an environmentally friendly project or regeneration source which is exactly how the Wooden Window Workshop sources it's wood.  From Reliable, environmentally friendly sources and we also restore lots of timber windows ensuring that there is no impact on the environment whatsoever.
 
Attractiveness
 
And of course having wooden windows looks so much better than have modern, factory standard plastic products.  It is a fantastic feeling when you look out of your window and follow the natural wood linking your sight to the outside world rather than the white factory plastic windows.
 
Timber has been used for construction from the time that we began to use tools, it is Natural, Sustainable, affordable and in the form of windows is easy to maintain andincredibly environmentally friendly.
 

RecyclingEquipment Cuts Down On Waste

Today, we are very concerned about the impactof how much garbage we are making and what damage we are doing to theenvironment. The concern about filling up dumps and landfills has been a realthreat for many years. This fear developed into steps being taken to preventthis from occurring. People are now aware that they should recycle theirbottles, plastics, paper and can and that recycling equipment cuts down onwaste every day.

There has been great concern for the health and welfare of the planet and theatmosphere for a few decades. Toxic emissions, pollutants, and oil spills havebrought this concern to the attention of lawmakers, citizens and politicians.Projects to help clean up the planet have been put together in an effort tomake the average person aware of what they can do to participate.

To make it easier to recycle, people are now supplied with buckets or bins toput their cans or bottles in to be recycled later. Bins that stand several feethigh have been placed outside grocery and department stores for people to putrecyclable materials in. Each are usually labelled with a specific kind ofmaterial accepted in that bin, such as paper or bottles.

Large dumpsters are also used for recyclable materials. They are usually placedin mall parking lots or behind large stores. This gives people easy access tocontributing their materials. It is a good idea to save up a large bag of cans,bottles or whatever is being recycled and then take it to one of these largedumpsters.

However, anyone can recycle anytime. Some of the larger cities have their ownpick up schedules for taking these items from residences and disposing of themproperly. Pick-ups for these items are usually twice a month or one time perweek.

Recycling equipment cuts down on waste every day. People are wise to utilizethe machines, bins and buckets they are given to cut down on the amount ofgarbage they are sending to the dumps and landfills.
 

About the Author:
 
 
Forthe latest information on Waste Recycling Equipment and hiring waste sifting andrecycling equipment be sure to check out the CRJ Services website.
 
 
 
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