Sash Window Draught Proofing Service
Window Draught Proofing Service
Sash Window draught proofing services in South East London, helping homeowners increase energy efficiency and reduce heat loss. If your sash windows or timber doors tend to feel cold, rattly, or draughty during colder weather, getting them draught-proofed is a simple but highly effective solution.
The service we provide helps keep warm air inside longer, reduces unwanted draughts, and lowers energy bills. It also significantly reduces outside noise, making your property quieter and more peaceful — especially useful on busier South East London streets.
Why It’s Worth Doing
A sash window without draught proofing loses far more heat than most homeowners realise. This comes down to how the window is designed to work: the sash has to move freely within the box frame, and that gap is exactly where warm air escapes and cold air gets in.
Research, including guidance from the Historic England references, suggests that professional draught-proofing can reduce a sash window’s air leakage by 85%. Over a winter, that translates directly into lower heating bills, a warmer room, and less condensation build-up on cold glass.
DIY Foam Strips vs A Professional Fit
It’s worth understanding the difference before deciding how to tackle a draughty sash window, since not all draught proofing is equal.
You can buy self-adhesive foam or brush strips cheaply from a hardware store, and they give an immediate, noticeable improvement. However, they typically compress and lose their seal within one to three winters. They also rarely fit accurately across the full run of the sash, and they’re especially poor at sealing the pulley stiles and meeting rails: the point where most heat escapes.
It involves routing a precise channel directly into the timber, then fitting a proper brush pile or compression seal into that channel. Because we recess the seal into the wood rather than stick it onto the surface, it stays accurately positioned. It doesn’t interfere with how smoothly the sash slides, and it lasts for a few years rather than seasons.
How We Carry Out The Work
Our sash window draught proofing service involves removing the existing window beads. We replace them with new precision-routed beads fitted with discreet brush piles and carriers, creating a tight, long-lasting seal around your sash windows while still allowing your window to operate smoothly and easily.
We use two types of seals, depending on where you need them. Along the moving channels where the sash slides, we fit a brush pile seal. At fixed points such as the top rail and sill, where a sash doesn’t move but still needs a tight, draught-free fit, we use a wool or foam compression seal instead.
While we have the sashes out, we’ll also check the condition of the sash cords. If they are worn or close to failing
Signs Your Windows Need Attention
- A noticeable cold draught around the window, even when it’s fully closed
- Curtains or blinds visibly moving on a windy day.
- Rattling sashes, especially in strong wind
- A window that feels cold to the touch compared with the surrounding wall
- Rising energy bills without an obvious cause
- Increased outside noise coming through the window compared with other rooms.
Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
Our method fits discreetly into the existing timber rather than replacing it. Because of this, draught proofing is generally one of the least invasive upgrades available for a period sash window.
You can remove the seals later without damaging the original frame, which is why conservation officers typically welcome this approach for listed buildings and conservation areas. As always, we’d recommend confirming any specific requirements with your local conservation officer before work begins. We’re happy to advise on this as part of your free quotation.
We work on all types of traditional timber sash windows and doors, including:
- Georgian sash windows
- Victorian sash windows
- Edwardian sash windows
- Listed buildings
- Conservation area properties
Draught Proofing Cost Guide
The cost for draught proofing a sash window typically starts at £280 – £450, depending on:
- Size of the windows
- Number of windows
- Condition of existing timber
- Access requirements
We keep our pricing straightforward: no separate survey fee, and no surprise add-ons once we’ve quoted.
Areas We Cover
We provide sash window draught proofing services across South East London, including:
- Greenwich
- Blackheath
- Lewisham
- Dulwich
- Sydenham
- Bromley
- Brixton
And the surrounding South East London areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will draught proofing stop me from opening my windows normally?
No. Once we’ve fitted them, the seals let the sash slide freely, exactly as before. If anything, windows often operate more smoothly afterwards, since we replace the beads as part of the process.
No. Once we’ve fitted them, the seals let the sash slide freely, exactly as before. If anything, windows often operate more smoothly afterwards, since we replace the beads as part of the process.
Will it change how my windows look?
No. We recess the brush pile and compression seals into the timber so they sit flush. The finished window looks the same from both inside and outside.
No. We recess the brush pile and compression seals into the timber so they sit flush. The finished window looks the same from both inside and outside.
How long does draught proofing last?
A seal that we route into the timber, rather than stick onto the surface, typically lasts many years — often decades — unlike self-adhesive foam strips.
A seal that we route into the timber, rather than stick onto the surface, typically lasts many years — often decades — unlike self-adhesive foam strips.
Do I need permission for draught proofing on a listed building?
Draught proofing is a low-impact, reversible upgrade, which generally makes it more straightforward than a full window replacement. That said, we’d always recommend checking with your local conservation officer first. We can advise on this during your free quotation.
Draught proofing is a low-impact, reversible upgrade, which generally makes it more straightforward than a full window replacement. That said, we’d always recommend checking with your local conservation officer first. We can advise on this during your free quotation.
Can you also check my sash cords while draught proofing?
Yes. Since we already remove the sash as part of the process, we’ll check the condition of your sash cords and let you know if they need attention. That way, you’re not paying for a separate visit later.
Yes. Since we already remove the sash as part of the process, we’ll check the condition of your sash cords and let you know if they need attention. That way, you’re not paying for a separate visit later.
