Our Services
At SFWR Ltd we take great pride in the restoration and refurbishment of our historic buildings windows and doors, allowing our clients to retain and enjoy the character that they offer. With a abundance of experience, we know that no project is the same, so we tailor our works to meet our clients requirements.
Our Services
At SFWR Ltd we take great pride in the restoration and refurbishment of our historic buildings windows and doors, allowing our clients to retain and enjoy the character that they offer. With an abundance of experience, we know that no project is the same, so we tailor our works to meet our clients requirements.
Refurbishment
Metal windows can suffer from various problems including surface rust, distortion, excessive build-up of paint and/or debris, and failed hinges and fittings. Whilst they may look like they’re beyond repair, in most instances this is not actually the case.
With this in mind, we have shaped our practice around guidance from Historic England and SPAB – researching and developing our specialist methods to deliver high quality refurbishments to increase lifespan and retain features of historical and architecture interest.
Our Process
We always start by assessing the general condition of the windows/doors before commencing to determine the works required. This gives our clients a good understanding of the level and type of refurbishment needed. We use this information to create bespoke refurbishment plans for each project as the works may vary from window to window.
In-Situ refurbishment
We have developed specific methods for the In-situ refurbishment of ferrous metals (which include Cast-Iron, Wrought-Iron and Steel). We use a combination of abrasive systems to remove excess paint, debris and corrosion from the frames and casements. Any structural repairs to wrought iron or steel windows/doors are then made by our metalworkers welding in replacement sections. If the windows are Cast-Iron these cannot be repaired in the same way and will require a technique known as ‘cold stitching’.
In addition to the above when overhauling metal windows, our service includes replacing broken glass and defective putties, cleaning and repairing ironmongery and replacing missing items with as close a match as possible. We service all moving parts, easing and adjusting hardware to ensure they are in a good working order.
Once all the corrosion has been removed, we prime the frames and casements with several coats of a high zinc contentment primer to ensure a high level of protection from future corrosion. Our standard finish is to leave the windows primed, ready for decoration as this is generally more cost effective, but we are more than happy to provide a decoration service upon request. For frames that have been re-puttied, it is necessary to wait before decorating as the putty can take a few weeks to harden, leach oils and form a skin.
Before
After
Refurbishment
Metal windows can suffer from various problems including surface rust, distortion, excessive build-up of paint and/or debris, and failed hinges and fittings. Whilst they may look like they’re beyond repair, in most instances this is not actually the case.
With this in mind, we have shaped our practice around guidance from Historic England and SPAB – researching and developing our specialist methods to deliver high quality refurbishments to increase lifespan and retain features of historical and architecture interest.
Our Process
We always start by assessing the general condition of the windows and doors before commencing, in order to determine what works are required. This gives our clients an understanding of the level and type of refurbishment needed. We use this information to create bespoke refurbishment plans for each project as the works may vary from window to window.
Before
After
In-Situ Refurbishment
We have developed specific methods for the In-situ refurbishment of ferrous metals (which include Cast-Iron, Wrought-Iron and Steel). We use a combination of abrasive systems to remove excess paint, debris and corrosion from the frames and casements. Any structural repairs to wrought iron or steel windows/doors are then made by our metalworkers welding in replacement sections. If the windows are Cast-Iron these cannot be repaired in the same way and will require a technique known as ‘cold stitching’.
In addition to the above when overhauling metal windows, our service includes replacing broken glass and defective putties, cleaning and repairing ironmongery and replacing missing items with as close a match as possible. We service all moving parts, easing and adjusting hardware to ensure they are in a good working order.
Once all the corrosion has been removed, we prime the frames and casements with several coats of a high zinc contentment primer to ensure a high level of protection from future corrosion. Our standard finish is to leave the windows primed, ready for decoration as this is generally more cost effective, but we are more than happy to provide a decoration service upon request. For frames that have been re-puttied, it is necessary to wait before decorating as the putty can take a few weeks to harden, leach oils and form a skin.
In-Situ Refurbishment
We have developed specific methods for the In-situ refurbishment of ferrous metals (which include Cast-Iron, Wrought-Iron and Steel). We use a combination of abrasive systems to remove excess paint, debris and corrosion from the frames and casements. Any structural repairs to wrought iron or steel windows/doors are then made by our metalworkers welding in replacement sections. If the windows are Cast-Iron these cannot be repaired in the same way and will require a technique known as ‘cold stitching’.
In addition to the above when overhauling metal windows, our service includes replacing broken glass and defective putties, cleaning and repairing ironmongery and replacing missing items with as close a match as possible. We service all moving parts, easing and adjusting hardware to ensure they are in a good working order.
Once all the corrosion has been removed, we prime the frames and casements with several coats of a high zinc contentment primer to ensure a high level of protection from future corrosion. Our standard finish is to leave the windows primed, ready for decoration as this is generally more cost effective, but we are more than happy to provide a decoration service upon request. For frames that have been re-puttied, it is necessary to wait before decorating as the putty can take a few weeks to harden, leach oils and form a skin.
If the situation demands it, we will remove the windows/doors and take them to our workshop for refurbishment. In order to remove the units, it is necessary to deglaze part/all of the unit in order to access the fixing points. We will then board any openings, to create a secure and weather tight environment and wrap and transport the units to our Sussex workshop.
In our workshop, the ironmongery is removed for refurbishment and repair. The units are completely deglazed and shot-blasted back to bare metal, at this stage if structural repairs are required, our team will straighten, remove and weld in new sections and rectify any other issues. The windows/doors are then hot-zinc sprayed and spray painted to an RAL of the clients choice. Ironmongery is re-fitted, and the units are partially re-glazed and transported back to site. The remaining glazing is fitted on site once the units have re-installed. If the glazing is to be puttied, painting will be required following the formation of a skin after their installation.
EX-Situ Refurbishment
In-Situ Refurbishment
We have developed specific methods for the In-situ refurbishment of ferrous metals (which include Cast-Iron, Wrought-Iron and Steel). We use a combination of abrasive systems to remove excess paint, debris and corrosion from the frames and casements. Any structural repairs to wrought iron or steel windows/doors are then made by our metalworkers welding in replacement sections. If the windows are Cast-Iron these cannot be repaired in the same way and will require a technique known as ‘cold stitching’.
In addition to the above when overhauling metal windows, our service includes replacing broken glass and defective putties, cleaning and repairing ironmongery and replacing missing items with as close a match as possible. We service all moving parts, easing and adjusting hardware to ensure they are in a good working order.
Once all the corrosion has been removed, we prime the frames and casements with several coats of a high zinc contentment primer to ensure a high level of protection from future corrosion. Our standard finish is to leave the windows primed, ready for decoration as this is generally more cost effective, but we are more than happy to provide a decoration service upon request. For frames that have been re-puttied, it is necessary to wait before decorating as the putty can take a few weeks to harden, leach oils and form a skin.
Ex-Situ Refurbishment
If the situation demands it, we will remove the windows/doors and take them to our workshop for refurbishment. In order to remove the units, it is necessary to deglaze part/all of the unit in order to access the fixing points. We will then board any openings, to create a secure and weather tight environment and wrap and transport the units to our Sussex workshop.
In our workshop, the ironmongery is removed for refurbishment and repair. The units are completely deglazed and shot-blasted back to bare metal, at this stage if structural repairs are required, our team will straighten, remove and weld in new sections and rectify any other issues. The windows/doors are then hot-zinc sprayed and spray painted to an RAL of the clients choice. Ironmongery is re-fitted, and the units are partially re-glazed and transported back to site. The remaining glazing is fitted on site once the units have re-installed. If the glazing is to be puttied, painting will be required following the formation of a skin after their installation.
Before
After
Decorating
If paintwork and putties are not maintained and left to deteriorate it is not only the appearance of the window that will suffer. Putty becomes brittle and prone to cracking after time and hence water will penetrate the paint film or putty causing the underlying metal to corrode. This can be avoided by regular inspection, servicing, and redecoration.
Previously, lead-based paints were commonly used on metal windows, but largely due to health concerns new paint systems have since been developed. When it comes to decorating, the chosen exterior paint must be able to cope with hostile conditions and have an element of elasticity to prevent splitting/cracking as it will act as a protective barrier. Compatibility with existing finishes, performance and maintenance requirements should also be considered.
Painting should be carried out in the appropriate conditions and care taken to ensure that no paint gets onto ironmongery and a lighter coverage to hinges to avoid clogging. Where windows have been puttied, the paint should cover the putty to prevent it drying out and be taken very slightly onto the glass to ensure that the joint is waterproofed.
Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019
Replica
We are leading experts in the in-situ
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Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019
Leaded Lights
We are leading experts in the in-situ
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Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019
Survey
We are leading experts in the in-situ
How it works
Step 1
We offer free of charge estimates for all our domestic jobs. Simply email info@sfwr.co.uk with a couple of photos of the windows/doors in question, some rough dimensions and location and our team will respond as soon as they can.
*Please note that we process emails in chronological order so during busy periods it may take a couple of weeks to reply.
Step 2
If you are still interested following your estimate, the next step is to arrange a site survey in order to offer you a fixed price quotation. These will incur a call out charge dependant on your location, which will be deducted from the cost of any works we undertake.
Step 3
Once we’ve surveyed the site we will send a fixed price quotation and the ball is in your court. We don’t like to pressure our clients, so we will always wait to hear from you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
companies we’ve worked with
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