Wooden Window Repair in London: Timber Casements Reglazed and Fixed

Wooden windows are worth keeping. A well made timber casement can last for generations if the glass, putty, hardware and worn parts are looked after, and repairing it costs far less than replacing it. Mark repairs timber casement windows and other non-sash wooden windows: reglazing broken or cracked panes, renewing putty and beads, replacing hinges and stays, easing sticking casements and repairing worn timber parts. For sash windows, see our sash window repairs page.

Glazing and worn timber parts repaired
Single glazing reglazed and draught-proofed
Misted sealed units replaced in sound frames
Fixed price confirmed before any work starts
Send a photo or call

Reglazing is the most common timber window job. In older casements the glass is bedded in linseed putty, which dries out and cracks over the years, letting water sit against the glass and the timber. A cracked pane, or putty falling out in lumps, is the cue to reglaze: the old putty and glass come out, the rebate is cleaned and primed, and new glass is bedded and puttied or beaded. Our single glazing repairs page covers this in more depth.

Many timber windows were later fitted with double glazed units held by timber beads. When a unit mists up, it is replaced in the existing frame like any other sealed unit, and the beads refitted or renewed. Whether an older single glazed timber casement can take a double glazed unit depends on the depth of the rebate; sometimes a slim unit fits, sometimes the frame simply isn't deep enough, and Mark will tell you which on inspection.

Sticking casements are usually seasonal. Timber takes up moisture in winter and swells, so a window that closes freely in summer starts binding in November. The fix might be easing the edge, adjusting or replacing worn hinges so the casement sits square, or dealing with built-up paint on the closing edge. Stays and fasteners that have worn loose are replaced so the window holds open and closes firmly.

Worn timber parts such as a split bead, a damaged section of a casement or a soft patch on a sill can often be repaired where the rest of the frame is sound. Where rot runs right through, a repair is no longer sensible, and Mark will say so rather than patching something that won't last. For help choosing between frame materials, see our guide comparing uPVC, aluminium and timber repairs.

Hardware on timber casements tends to be simple and robust: butt hinges, a peg stay and a cockspur or similar fastener. When these loosen, the screws have often lost their grip in the timber, and the fix is to repair the fixing as well as replacing the part. Casement windows that rattle in the wind usually need their fasteners adjusted or replaced, and draught-proofing can be added to the closing edges so the window seals properly.

How the repair works

1. Photo or call Send a photo of the window and the problem: cracked pane, loose putty, sticking or draughts.
2. Fixed price Mark confirms a fixed price before any work starts.
3. Repair Glass, putty, beads or hardware renewed, and the casement checked to open and close cleanly.

Frequently asked questions

Can wooden windows be repaired rather than replaced?

In most cases, yes. Glass, putty, beads, hinges, stays and worn timber parts can all be repaired or renewed. Only frames with rot running right through are better replaced.

Can you put double glazed units into timber windows?

Sometimes. It depends on the depth of the glazing rebate. Where a timber window already has double glazed units, misted ones are replaced like-for-like.

Why does my timber casement stick in winter?

Timber absorbs moisture and swells in colder, wetter months. Easing the closing edge, removing built-up paint or adjusting worn hinges usually stops it binding.