Can a boxed sash window have weights on one side?

[bazmdiy]

Hi All,

Can someone advise me on box sash window manufacture?

I need to get some windows made

The window opening is approx 1.8m x 1.1m and the planning permission is for two sash windows side by side.

My problem is that if I get four normal windows made the boxes will be either side - that means two in the middle plus a separating vertical member. The central build up would amount to 250-300mm. I would like to reduce this central area by having the weights for each sash running on the outside of each window. I know I can ring around window manufacturers but I would like to know my options before doing that because I often find suppliers shape their advise to get the work!

I attach drawing...

Many thanks
View media item 48926

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I doubt it. You need a sash cord on either side of the sash to counterbalance the weight of the sash - if you only had a weight/cord on one side the sash would tend to jam in the casing. Also the sash pulleys made for vertical sashes are all made so that the sash weights hang vertically inside the boxes. I've never seen any other arrangement. About the only way I know to reduce the size of the centre box would be to go to spring sash balances instead of cords/weights/pulleys. these don't require the traditional weight box but they are visible, if fairly unobtrusive, when the sashes are closed

 

[foxhole]

There are also concealed spring mount types.

 

[big-all]

i have re-corded a sash with a weight on one side it had rollers to stop it jamming
lifting that weight was not easy trust me

 

[bazmdiy]

Hi all,

Thanks for that, looks like I'm stuck with wide central part. I'll talk to manufacters to see if they can reduce boxing - they say 100mm per box.

Many thanks

 

[ladylola]

I have once come across a window like yours where to at least partly solve the problem and keep the center box as small as possible the solution was to have a single larger weight with a pulley wheel attached to it operating both top sashes and of course another the same to work the bottom sashes. Must have taken a bit of working out originally .

 

[Deleted member 174758]

looks like I'm stuck with wide central part. I'll talk to manufacters to see if they can reduce boxing - they say 100mm per box.

The problem with reducing the sizes of the boxing is that you need a minimum size to get "standard" weights in. With double glazing the weights are even larger making the problem more acute - and double width sashes sound like they may be fairly large windows to start with.

There are text book solutions (in very old books) with all the weights on one side, but they require extra deep head boxing to accommodate the run on the cord and a double width side box to accommodate two weights per sash instead of one. I think that any of those more specialist solutions would requiare the window opening masonry to be drasticly modified to accommodate them. They'd also be a nightmare to set the weights up on with four weights in one box.

 

[stevethejoiner]

looks like I'm stuck with wide central part. I'll talk to manufacters to see if they can reduce boxing - they say 100mm per box.

The problem with reducing the sizes of the boxing is that you need a minimum size to get "standard" weights in. With double glazing the weights are even larger making the problem more acute - and double width sashes sound like they may be fairly large windows to start with.

There are text book solutions (in very old books) with all the weights on one side, but they require extra deep head boxing to accommodate the run on the cord and a double width side box to accommodate two weights per sash instead of one. I think that any of those more specialist solutions would requiare the window opening masonry to be drasticly modified to accommodate them. They'd also be a nightmare to set the weights up on with four weights in one box.

We have made double boxes with weights only at the outer box sides, with cording running over to head. We eliminated the possibility or the 4 weights tangling up by putting a full divider where you would usually have the hanging wagtail between standard 2 weights. We then put 2 short
wagtails sideways between the other 2 weights. We used short wagtails to enable access to the weights at the back of the box for servicing.
They were however single glazed and we managed to weight them perfectly, but we would have struggled with double the amount of glass for a modern sealed unit.
.

 

[bazmdiy]

Thanks Steve,

Its interesting to know that somebody has actually tackled the problem but on the advice of the joiner I'm going for a tried and tested approach!

The window manufacturer has agreed to make a single window with a double central box. The centre width is about 170mm which internally and externally will have some kind of beading to compensate for a blank width. This way I also get a single sill.

Thanks