Fitting a sash window

[thomashenry]

Have made a replacement box for a sash window in my house (the sashes were ok, so they've been reused. Not quite sure how to go about fitting it. What's the traditional way? Will not be using expanding foam. I assume I just put the frame into its rebate, drive some wedges, then fill around the edges with mortar?

 

[Doug71]

Sometimes they are lugged in, the cill and head are left a few inches longer and built in to the brickwork, means removing a few bricks, you will see if the old one was like this when you remove it.

If it goes in from the inside sometimes a bit of galvanised type builders strapping can be fixed to window and screwed to wall.

Wedges are traditional but don't get carried away and bend the sides of the window in making the sashes tight.

You can use mortar but don't discount expanding foam, I know it's not traditional but is great for what you are doing.

If you need to point round the outside try trowel mastic, more flexible then cement, it's like a modern version of the traditional burnt sand mastic.

https://www.bcprofiles.co.uk/everbuild- ... HKEALw_wcB

also available in red.

Doug

 

[Mike Jordan]

Very few of these windows were built in using the horns at head and cill, all the ones I have seen are held with folding wedges inserted at the ends of the head and cill. The window will be damaged if you wedge against the sides of the boxes.
The true traditional way of sealing the outer face against the reveal is with horse hair mortar so I doubt you will be doing that! I agree that foaming materials have no part to play but any decent flexible frame sealant will serve to seal the joint between the outside face of the window and the brickwork of the outer skin of the reveal.
Mike.

 

[owen]

The ones I've taken out to replace have either been held in with wooden wedges or like bent metal pegs. The plaster holds them in place too. When I refit I used wedges then expanding foam.

 

[Jacob]

Yes folding wedges at head and cill. Very easy to fit and adjust, very easy to remove the window when servicing needed 100 years later.
Easier if you retro install the inside linings; make the sash frame up complete but without gluing the inside linings. Remove them to fit the frame and then do the linings, glue,nails etc. Can make them oversize and scribe to fit.