Check out our handy guide to our most commonly seen problems

Any of these sound familiar? We've seen it all before

Casement Windows

Casement windows have hinges on the vertical frame/sash and swings open like a door.

Some common problems with old casement windows are:

They have been painted shut (to check, see if there are any visible gaps around frame and window. If none are visible then it’s likely the window has been painted shut)
Broken or rusted hinges

Sash Windows

Double hung sash windows are made of one or more movable panels, or "sashes", that form a frame to hold panes of glass, the glazed panels are opened horizontally.

Sash windows can last hundreds of years however this does mean that they are sometimes in need servicing.

Some common problems with double hung sashes are:

Painted shut
Snapped sash cord
Lost weights
Rotten sash
Rattling about in wind
Letting in draughts and noise

Hopper / Awning Windows

This is a window that has it's hinges on the top or the bottom of the frame / sash. It opens like an oven door, or out like an awning.

Some common problems with Hopper/Awning windows are:

Painted shut
Seized friction hinges
Rotten frame

Mechanism

There are two ways in which double hung sash windows work. They either rely on a sash cord on a weight, over a pulley, or a spiral balance mechanism (a tensioned metal rod).

Unfortunately mechanisms do fail from time to time, but they can all be easily replaced by a professional.

Here are MST Window Repairs we do sash cord servicing and spiral balance servicing, but before we can help we may have a few questions, such as:

Does it have hinges or is it sash cord and weights?
Has it got plastic tubes attached at the top of the frame(Spiral Balances)
Is it on small wheels which run inside a track?

N.B the picture on the left shows a spiral balance