The Old Forge Woodturners

Window and door joinery in Spalding

Handmade furniture for every occasion

We are a small, friendly, family company established in 1978 with the capacity and skill to make a wide range of architectural joinery and bespoke furniture. We are skilled cabinet makers, making virtually anything from a small free standing piece to fully fitted units, window frames and staircases. With our wealth of experience, we can successfully take on projects of all sizes including the make and fit of beautiful bespoke kitchens. Our workshop is based near Spalding, just north of Peterborough and we cover much of the local area including, Peterborough, Lincoln and Kings Lynn. We can make bespoke furniture and a huge range of other joinery to your own specifications and can also help you design a unique piece of furniture that will fulfil your individual requirements. From a T.V unit to fitted storage, we can make furniture to fit any style.

Sash windows

All of our windows are hand made to measure in our workshops. We also offer a supply and fitting service as well as boarding up, if required.

Developed over many years, our expertise lies with working with listed buildings. From period manor houses to grade 1 and 2 category buildings, we have constructed exacting replicas of all forms and types of casement windows.

Once completed, the heating and weather integrity is greatly improved as well as the cosmetic appearance, not to mention the cosmetic appearance. Visit our YouTube channel for example of our work.

Sash window repairs and renovation

At The Old Forge Woodturners, we also offer renovation and draught proofing of sash windows. Providing our help and expertise means that in many cases, you can renovate rather than replace your existing sash windows, retaining all the charm and original character.

Traditional wooden box sash windows look great and are extremely durable. With a small amount of general maintenance, they will withstand the elements and the test of time. However, flaking paint, missing putty, open joints and gaps around the perimeter of sash windows can lead to moisture ingress and wood decay. Common areas prone to rot are the windows sills, bottom rails, top meeting rails, lower sections of outer linings and lower sections of pulley stiles.

We are fully skilled in all traditional carpentry and joinery methods associated with windows of all varieties. Where relevant, we can use epoxy resins systems in conjunction with traditional timber repair techniques, bringing decayed or damaged sliding sash windows to their former glory. This system is ideal for carrying out repairs ‘on site’ which means the windows do not have to be removed, thus not creating any secondary damage to existing plaster work.

When it comes to window sills, we can replace the full width of the sill or in many cases, the sill may be renovated, spliced and repaired. We also replace the lower sections of outer linings and lower sections of pulley stiles, with housings cut into the new sill to accommodate the pulley stiles, if required. Our new hardwood window sills and all timber used is weatherproofed and can be finished to your specifications.

Sash window renovation

Staff beads, parting beads and sash cords replaced
New parting and staff beads fitted
Upper and lower sashes released
Sashes checked and re-hung to ensure free movement up and down
Sash cords replaced, and sash weights balanced
Draught proofing installed into both top and bottom sashes
New glazing putty
Installation of new window hardware, sash lifts and pulls
A range of security options available

Sash window draught proofing

Sash window repairs can include a draught proofing system that will eliminate the common problems associated with this style of window.

This additional improvement to the age old window design can increase your windows resistance to wind and rain, allowing them to function as they were intended – without the normally associated problems including cold draughts, rattles and heat loss.

Why choose hardwood windows?

When choosing the right windows for your home, there are several things to consider – the overall aesthetics, the planning regulations, finish, functionality, and most importantly, durability. Wooden windows have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years which is in part, down to the developments in high performance wood finishes and protective coatings. These coatings provide the wood with maximum life span and also enhance the appearance. The grain of hardwood trees is denser, straighter and subtler than softwood in many applications, making them more expensive than the softwood windows. The West African hardwoods such as Sapele and Idigbo are knot free and have a smoother, tighter grain making them much more durable. European Oak does have figuring and knots to an extent which many consider adds to its appeal. Iroko is a relative of Teak and best finished with an oil, if left untreated, it mellows to an attractive pale silver.

We also provide a traditional sliding sash range, with pulleys and weights. The pulleys tend to be used for listed and protected buildings where the frame lives inside the outer leaf in order to hide the sash boxes, which are covered by a deep timber architrave. We can also employ a spring balance system where required, which is ideal for a narrow frame or smaller window and it is a more cost effective solution if you are considering replacing your traditional sash windows, having fewer moving parts and less maintenance.

Longevity & durability

Longevity is provided by using a range of high performance micro porous finishes from Morrells water-based coatings. Unlike traditional oil based paints, the micro porous finishes are absorbed by the timber and also allow it to breathe whilst remaining water repellent, giving a very durable and long life coating. We can also apply a wide range of finishes to meet your specifications, varying from a light oak or ash to very dark walnut or Jacobean oak. Please contact us for more information or to see wood finish samples. Solid colours are provided in a huge range, including Farrow and Ball’s range of finishes which are ideal for listed building and properties requiring a period finish.

Bespoke hardwood windows

f you have a specific design or look you would like to achieve, an unusual opening o replicate to match existing windows, we are happy to assist you in the design, construction and installation. The team at The Old Forge Woodturners can visit your home or site to measure up and discuss the various styles and colours. We are also happy to work to specifications supplied by your architect or local planning office to ensure you achieve the perfect design and finish for your property. We can base the design on the more traditional styles of frames, with additional design elements or special finishes. We also work on unusual or ‘difficult’ commissions where arched frames are required or special graded building requirements need to be met – this includes stained glass. We can offer a range of special slim double glazing developed specifically to meet the exacting requirements of planning officers in certain building situations. All windows are manufactured in our workshop, and delivered to your home ready for installation by our team or another you have arranged. We have a range of different types of glazing available for every situation or style requirement, including our extra thin double glazing, stained and leaded to meet the demanding specifications required for listed buildings. Contact the team today for a free, no obligation quote.