Most sash windows in Islington can be repaired rather than replaced. We overhaul, re-cord, draught proof and re-glaze box sashes across N1, N5, N7 and N19. Every job starts with a free site visit and a written quote. We also guarantee our labour for five years, because we expect the work to last.
Islington’s housing and its windows
Islington is full of terraces. Around Angel, Barnsbury and Canonbury you will find rows of tall houses with large box sashes. Highbury and Holloway have many Victorian terraces too. Because these homes are old, owners have often painted the windows dozens of times.
That paint is the root of many problems. It glues the sashes shut, and it hides rot in the sill below. Cords also fail with age. So a window that once slid easily now sticks, rattles or drops.
The good news is that the timber is usually worth saving. A repaired original sash keeps its slim bars and old glass character. A new unit often looks flatter from the street. For that reason we repair first and replace only when we must.
Common sash problems we see in Islington
The call we hear most is “my windows will not open”. Our guide to painted shut sash windows shows why it happens and why you should not force them. We free the sashes with care, so the beads and glass stay intact.
Rot at the sill is the next big issue, because water sits on old paint and soaks into the timber. Our sash window sill repairs cut out the bad wood and splice in new. A sill replacement is £120 per window.
Rattles and draughts come third. Our sash window draught proofing system seals the gaps without changing the look. For a tired window we offer a full sash window overhaul, which costs £188 per window with draught proofing.
Conservation areas in Islington
Islington has a lot of protected streets. The council says there are 42 conservation areas, including Canonbury, Barnsbury and Highbury Fields. Many of them are Georgian or Victorian terraces with original sashes. So it is worth checking your street on the council’s conservation areas page before you plan work.
Also, if your home sits in one, repair is the safe route. It keeps the original window, which is what councils like to see. Where a listed building is involved, our listed building sash windows service takes each home case by case.
What repair costs
See every price on our costs page, because we publish every price. Our guide to what sash window repairs cost in London also explains what drives the price.
For example, a small splice repair is £80. A bottom-rail repair is £120. A replacement sash is £190, and more for ornate or multi-bar designs.
Working in your home
Terraces in Islington often share a party wall and a street frontage. That affects how we work. We plan access to each floor first, and we protect your floors and furniture. In addition, we can often finish several windows in one visit.
Why we repair first
First, repair keeps what is original, because old timber, old glass and slim glazing bars are hard to copy. A new window often looks flat beside them.
Second, repair is often the lower-cost route. We cover our labour with a five-year guarantee, and the same cover applies to our draught proofing system. As a result, you get a lasting fix and a clear promise.
Third, repair is quicker and less messy than full replacement, because we work in your home for a short time. We also leave it tidy.
Finally, repair is kinder to the planet. Keeping an old frame means no new frame to make and no old one to skip. We still replace a sash when it has failed, so the choice is always honest.
For example, a sash that sticks is often fixed in one visit. However, a rotten sill may need more time. We tell you which case you have before we start.
In short, we fix what we can, because repair keeps more of your home’s character. We also tell you plainly when a sash is beyond saving.
Getting a quote in Islington
Since we cover every Greater London postcode, all of Islington is within reach. We work Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 18:00. First we visit and look at each window. Then we send a written quote, window by window.
To book, contact us through the form. Please give your postcode, the number of windows and what is wrong, because that helps us plan the visit. If you live nearby, we also handle sash window repairs in Camden and homes across Hackney.