The History of Sash Windows
Your home may have several different types of windows, depending on their location or purpose. The most common windows, and likely the majority of the windows in your home, are sash windows. Does this Spark an idea?
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What Is a Sash Window
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You have them in your home but probably think of them just as "windows." Your sash windows have two parts, an upper and lower, that slide along tracks encased in the window frame. They may be a single layer of glass (single glazed) or double panes (double glazed). Multiple small panes that make up the glass sections are called lights. Decorative or functional cross bars are referred to as muntin bars.
History
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Your sash windows can trace their heritage back hundreds of years. Early models had weights, pulleys and cords to open and close them. Dutch history makes reference to a simple sash-type window in the 17th century. But in 1519, W. Horman in his fictional story Valgaria refers to the old-style sash window that was operated with weights to open and close it.
By 1676 through 1685, many of large European estates featured the forerunner of your sash windows. In the 1850s, plate glass became popular and sash windows became larger and more available.
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Styles Through the Centuries
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Early 18th century sash windows were known as Georgian sashes. The typical design called for multiple panes, each slightly higher than wide. This resulted in windows in one of three common styles: six panes over six panes, three over six, or three over three.
By the early 19th century, the Regency was the sash window of choice. These windows were made with the new knowledge of how to make larger pieces of glass. The center of the window was one piece framed with smaller pieces. During the Victorian period in the mid to late 19th century, even larger pieces of glass were manufactured, resulting in two side-by-side panes over two more side-by-side panes.
The early 20th century produced the Edwardian sash window similar to what you have in your home: one large pane of glass in the top half and one in the bottom.
The Early Years
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Unlike the sash windows of today, early versions were small, individual pieces of glass fastened into lead and then further framed in wrought iron. This series of small panes then were framed in timber pieces. To make them movable, weights on ropes were enclosed in the timber frame. The weight lowered as the window went up and rose as the window went down.
Advantages
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One of the greatest attributes of your sash window is the ability to control ventilation. You can lower the top portion, raise the bottom portion or do a bit of both to control incoming breezes. Due to the design of your sash window, there is little chance that it will distort or pull out of shape. You may have some of the newer sash windows that have a tilt feature to allow you to tilt them inward for easy cleaning of the outer side of the glass.
If you are replacing older windows with new sash windows, you can find ones that have an aluminum exterior frame in a color that will complement your siding and never need painting.
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