DIY luxury sash window draught proofing repair kits
DIY luxury sash window draught proofing repair kits from Barnsbury Joinery in London: what each kit includes, the tools you need, savings and when to call us.
Our DIY luxury sash window draught proofing repair kits are designed for confident homeowners and small builders who want to overhaul a rattling, draughty timber sash window without waiting for a joiner. Each kit gathers the timber beads, brush pile, cord, furniture and fixings needed to renovate one vertical sliding sash, cut to length and ready to fit. The components are the same quality we use on our own commissions, so the finished window looks right and seals properly rather than simply being patched.
This is a supporting service alongside our full sash window work in London. If you have the tools and the patience, a kit lets you do the job yourself for a fraction of the cost of a fitted survey and installation. Below we set out exactly what comes in the box, the tools you will need, how much draught proofing can save you, and the point at which it makes more sense to hand the work to a professional.
What each kit includes and the tools you need
Every kit covers one vertical sliding sash window up to 2950mm high and 1450mm wide. That is enough to renovate a typical Victorian or Georgian sash, and larger openings can be covered by ordering more than one kit. The components arrive prepared and ready to cut down on site, so you are fitting parts rather than fabricating them from raw stock.
Inside each kit you will find timber staff beads and parting beads, available primed or unprimed depending on how you plan to decorate. There is a brush pile carrier with 22 metres of brush pile, which is the element that closes the gaps around the sliding sashes and stops the draughts. You also get 14 metres of 6mm waxed sash cord for rehanging the sashes on their weights, along with the window furniture: sash lifts, fasteners and locks to finish the window properly.
The installation materials are included too, so you are not making extra trips to the merchant. Expect screws, pins, mastic, the sash weights themselves and a pair of gloves. In short, the kit is a complete package for taking a tired, draughty sash apart, sealing it and putting it back together to a standard that looks and feels considered.
You will need to supply your own tools. As a minimum, plan for a hammer, a chisel, a multi‑tool, a cordless hand sander, a pair of snips, a cordless drill and a small chop saw. The chop saw and multi‑tool matter most: the beads need clean, accurate cuts to sit tightly, and the multi‑tool makes light work of freeing old beads and paint lines without damaging the surrounding joinery.
How much you can save by draught proofing
Draught proofing a sash window pays for itself in two ways. First, there is the immediate comfort of a window that no longer rattles or lets cold air track across the room, which usually means you reach for the thermostat less often. Second, there is a measurable saving on heating over the course of a year.
Published figures suggest a household can save in the region of £55 a year by draught proofing, with a further £65 or so available simply by being more careful with thermostat settings once the draughts are gone. Those numbers are averages and your own saving will depend on the age of the property, the number of windows and how you heat the home, but the direction is clear: sealing the gaps reduces waste.
The scale of the opportunity is easier to appreciate nationally. It has been estimated that if every household in the UK draught proofed its windows, the country would save around £180 million each year in wasted heat. On a single window the saving is modest, but across a whole house of original sashes it adds up, and it comes on top of the comfort and reduced condensation that a well‑sealed window brings.
Because a kit lets you do the labour yourself, the payback is quicker than a fitted job. Kits start from £164.50 plus VAT per window, so a house full of draughty sashes can be brought up to standard for a predictable, one‑off outlay rather than an open‑ended labour bill.
When to call a professional
A draught proofing kit assumes the window is fundamentally sound and simply needs sealing, rehanging and refurbishing. If that describes your sashes, and you are comfortable with the tools listed above, the job is well within reach for a capable DIYer over a weekend.
There are, however, situations where it is better to request a survey rather than order a kit. If the timber is soft or rotten, if joints have opened up, if the frames are out of square or the glass is cracked or loose, the window needs repair or partial replacement before any draught proofing will hold. Fitting brush pile to a failing sash only masks the underlying problem.
Listed buildings and conservation areas are another case for professional input. Where the window is historically important, or where consent conditions apply, the safest route is to have the work specified and carried out to a conservation‑grade standard so that nothing is done that cannot be undone. The same applies to very large, unusually heavy or leaded sashes, which can be awkward and heavy to handle safely on your own.
We offer a full service, from survey through making to installation, across London and the South East, and we supply only across the rest of the UK. If you are unsure whether your windows are candidates for a kit or need proper restoration first, request a quote and we will help you judge which route makes sense before you spend anything.
Common questions
What does one kit cover?
Each kit renovates a single vertical sliding sash window up to 2950mm high and 1450mm wide. For larger openings, or several windows, order one kit per sash. Every kit contains the beads, brush pile and carrier, waxed sash cord, window furniture and installation materials needed for that one window.
What tools do I need to fit a kit myself?
At a minimum you will need a hammer, a chisel, a multi‑tool, a cordless hand sander, snips, a cordless drill and a small chop saw. The chop saw is important for cutting the timber beads cleanly to length, and the multi‑tool helps free old beads without damaging the surrounding joinery.
How much will draught proofing save me?
Published figures suggest around £55 a year per household from draught proofing, with a further £65 or so available through more careful thermostat use once the draughts are sealed. Savings vary with the property, but a whole house of original sashes adds up over time, on top of the comfort of a window that no longer rattles.
When should I call you instead of buying a kit?
Order a kit if the window is sound and simply needs sealing and rehanging. If the timber is rotten, joints have opened, the frame is out of square, or the window is in a listed or conservation property, request a survey first. We also recommend professional handling for very large or leaded sashes.
Do you fit the kits or work outside London?
The kits are supplied for you to fit yourself. For fitted work, we offer a full service across London and the South East, from survey through to installation, and we supply only across the rest of the UK. If you are unsure which route suits your windows, request a quote and we will advise.
Request a survey
Request a survey for your project, from a single commission to a whole scheme.
Request a surveyA studio of The Barnsbury Group
Barnsbury Joinery is the flagship studio of The Barnsbury Group, a second‑generation heritage joinery house. Established in London in 1987, it makes bespoke joinery by hand and carries the parent voice for the family of studios.
