When a timber window starts to fail ,rot creeping into the cill, a sash that’s dropped, a pane cracked by a winter gale ,replacement is rarely the only answer, and on an older Cornish property it’s rarely the best one. Thomas Weston specialises in repairing and restoring traditional wooden windows across Cornwall: keeping the original joinery wherever it can be saved, and matching like for like where it can’t.

We work on sash and casement windows alike, from single cottages to Grade II listed townhouses, using conservation grade methods that last decades rather than quick fixes that don’t.

What we repair

Sash windows :sticking, dropped or painted shut sashes, broken cords, worn pulleys, rattling frames.

Casement windows: binding or dropped casements, failed hinges, decayed rails and stiles.

Rot and decay : decayed timber cut out and spliced with durable, comparable species such as Douglas fir or Siberian larch, with Repair Care resin used where appropriate, so we renew the rotten section, not the whole window.

Storm and impact damage : windows blown out or loosened in high winds made safe and reinstated.

Glazing : cracked panes replaced, including single glazed and listed building work.

Draughts and rattle: draught proofing and re balancing to cut heat loss without changing the look.

Repair, not replace

Our whole approach is built on saving original windows rather than ripping them out. There are good reasons for it:

It costs less. A targeted repair is almost always cheaper than a like for like replacement made to the same standard.

It keeps the character. Original timber windows are part of what makes an older Cornish home what it is, once they’re gone, they’re gone.

The timber is usually better. Old growth joinery is often denser and more durable than modern replacement stock. Repaired properly, it outlives a new unit.

It’s the greener option. Repairing keeps sound timber out of skips and avoids the embodied carbon of a full replacement.

We’ll always tell you honestly when a window is genuinely beyond saving ,but on most jobs, it isn’t.

Listed buildings and conservation areas

A large part of our work is on listed and conservation area properties, where what you do to the windows matters as much as how you do it. We work to a like for like standard in materials, profiles and method which is exactly what a conservation officer wants to see.

It’s also worth knowing that repairing and retaining original windows usually avoids the Listed Building Consent process and the objections a full replacement can trigger. We’re happy to advise on where you stand before any work starts.

Traditional methods and materials

• Durable replacement timber where needed . Douglas fir or Siberian larch, comparable to the original pitch pine, with profiles matched as close to the existing windows.

• Repair Care resin systems, used where they're the right repair.

• Traditional linseed oil paint finishes .Vapour permeable and penetrating, so the timber can shed moisture instead of trapping it behind a sealed film the way modern paints do.

  Areas we cover

We repair and restore wooden windows right across Cornwall from our base near Wadebridge, including Truro, Falmouth, Penryn, Redruth, Newquay, Bodmin, Padstow, St Austell, Camborne, Helston, St Ives and Penzance. If you’re not sure whether you’re in our area, just ask.

Storm and weather damage

Cornwall’s coastal weather is hard on timber windows. Driving rain and winter storms find every weak joint and worn cill. If a window has blown out or come loose, we can make it safe quickly and restore it properly, rather than boarding it up and leaving it. Get in touch and we’ll arrange a visit.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Can a rotten wooden window really be repaired instead of replaced?

A:In most cases, yes. Where timber needs replacing, we splice in durable, comparable species such as Douglas fir or Siberian larch, using Repair Care resin systems only where they're the right fix. You keep the original window, and only the damaged part is renewed.

Q: Do you repair casement windows as well as sash?

A: Yes — we restore all traditional timber windows, sash and casement, to the same conservation standard.

Q: Will I need listed building consent?

A: For a like for like repair, usually not. A full replacement is more likely to need consent. We can advise on your specific situation.

Q: How long will a repair last?

A: A properly executed timber repair, finished and maintained, lasts for decades.

Q: Do you cover my part of Cornwall?

A: We work county wide. Drop us a line with your location and we’ll confirm.

Need a wooden window repaired in Cornwall? Call 07729 297240 or email info@thomaswestonsashwindows.com for a quote and site visit.