Windows: Custom built timber casement windows in a conservation area.
Timber: Oak
Glazing: Double Glazing
Style: Georgian casement windows
Details: Timber casement windows replacement in a conservation area close to Harrods in SW1W. All the works were completed from inside the building.

About the job: This was a particularly nimble window replacement job we had in a very prestigious part of London – just opposite Harrod’s (they actually also need new windows, they should give us a call! Now that they have new owners with petrodollars they should get some good new windows installed).

These units were made in full oak, with laminated technology for optimal stability. Full oak windows are very rare in the UK, as they are usually very expensive, but at our competitive prices this client just could not resist. This choice of timber makes a lot of sense, as it offers very good lifespan qualities, excellent rot resistance, and, coupled with our top quality microporous paint, a fantastic look for many years with minimum maintenance required.

Fitting-wise this job was complex. It required meticulous dust covering, and the entire replacement thad to be done from the inside, as one couldn’t work from outside for security reason (works at height, and no scaffold).

But the job was a success, and the new units are exact replicas of the old units, but this time in the best timber, double glazing, outstanding daft sealing and modern sound & energy conservation. Quite frankly, the look is also much better, as the photos demonstrate.

London’s ripe for this kind of quality timber windows, in all honesty !

Windows: Custom built timber casement windows
Timber: Oak
Glazing: Laminated Single Glazing
Style: Georgian casement windows
Details: Timber casement windos replacement on a listed building requiring a 1-1 reconstruction of the entire top floor. Roadblocks and cherry picker lifts were required.

About the Job: This recent job was definitely the most prestigious, and, from a fitting point of view, the most sophisticated job ever performed by Sollex. The client was Killick & Co., the famous City broker. They needed brand-new casement replacement windows for their top floor units, who were in a poor state and were negatively impacting the office quality for the staff in the Killick brokerage offices.

The building is Killick & Co.’s prestigious Grosvenor Street (said to be home to the most highly valued properties in the world) address, where stricht regulations exist. Due to the office’s working days, as well as the requirement to block the entire street to allow for a cherrypicker to lift up the units onto the roof, as well as the erection of a scaffold, this meant that the Sollex fitting team had to work under extremely tight timeline targets. Basically, all units had to be replaced within two weekends only! In the end Sollex managed to get all units up onto the roof, and almost all of them fitted within one weekend only! This made the second weekend of blocking the road obsolete, much the the client’s delight.

The units were perfect replicas of the previous units. Even double glazing wasn’t possible, as the building is Grade II-listed. The new units had laminated glazing, for additional security (and somewhat better insulating values), as well as our superior quality laminated timber technology, and the most modern micro-porous paint for maximum paint life and wood protection.

Please see all photos, which demonstrates the complexity of the fitting job, and the perfect match of new vs old units. Also noteworthy the perfect use of glazing bars, perfectly rendering the original charm of the Georgian style of this stunning building of highest architectural importance.

Sollex Products ltd. feels proud to being able, on a continuous basis, to help restoring so many London architecture gems to their former glory. We remain convinced that in many cases we even achieve a look more elegant and more beautiful than ever in the life of these buildings. This job is an excellent case to demonstrate this!

Windows: Custom built timber sash windows
Timber: Nordic Pine
Glazing: Laminated DG 6/16/4 Argon – B-rated
Style: Victorian/Edwardian
Details: Timber sash replacements, a complex procedure made simple by a professional approach and tailor made product, a speciality of Sollex Products ltd.

About the Job: This order consisted of a range of single sash windows and double block sash windows. As always, the timber we used was of the highest quality. We only use triple laminated wood to limit any shrinking/working to a bare minimum. The windows also had Georgian bars, which, using our internal glazing spacers, looked great in this original property.

The fitting was very delivate for the front (street) windows, as they were fitted using lead protection outside all around the units (these windows were in the roof area, as this was a top floor flat). This meant that the sash windows had to be produced using wider outside boards than inside, so that the lead outside would fully cover the units from the outside.

Given the poor quality of the previous windows, and the serious noise pollution due the busy road this house is located on, the new units made a massive difference to the owner’s life quality. The noise pollution has been reduced to such low levels that the front room can be used as a bedroom again.

Windows: Bespoke Built To Spec. Sliding Door Systems, Doors and Fixed panels
Timber: Siberian Larch
Glazing: Laminated DG 6/16/4 Argon – B-rated
Style: Modern
Details: The Ifield in Chelsea. former Pub remodeled into a modern office and living space in Chelsea by Parsons Green Land.

About the Job: If there is a bespoke timber sliding door job, then this is the one! The spectacular, semi-open spaces within this pub conversion required sliding door systems, all custom built, to let in as much light into the various floor levels as possible.

What made this mandate particularly hard was the fact that the units had to be produced before the building was finished, so this meant repeatedly advising builders on construction dimensions, as there was little to no room for error. Given the sheer dimension of these units, this was a very delicate matter.

To everyone’s delight the units all slotted in perfectly well, as our short clip demonstrates.

From the German sliding system (Roto), to the quality of the white-painted timer (only spray-painted!) and the glazing (white spacers) and the elegant contemporary satin chrome handles, these wooden window units are the very best product one can find in London.

We also delivered a green-painted front door (see photos), all painted in micro-porous Sikkens paint, and the front fixed windows, which matching arched window bars to the unit next to ours.

Windows: Bespoke French Doors & Wing Sash windows.
Timber: Siberian Larch
Glazing: Laminated DG 6/16/4 Argon – B-rated
Style: Victorian
Details: Conservation Area

About the Job: This job was on the face of it a straight-forward one. An old & very tired (and poor quality) set of French doors, leading from a large master bedroom onto a balcony, was to be replaced by a new set. 2 sets of fixed panels, on the right and left of the French doors, had to be replaced by 2 new sets of sash windows, giving back the property the original charm.

The complexity of the works consisted of accurate and clean workmanship, in order to minimise the disruption to the client. The quality of the units was our usual Sollex standard: white spacers to optimise the original look, perfect spray paint finish (including archetraves and bull noses), and a ultra-safe 4-point locking system on the French doors.

The client informed us that his heating costs have already dropped dramatically since the old drafty units have been replaced and has placed an order with us to replace all other timber windows in the whole property now.

Windows: Bespoke Fixed Panels, French Doors & Casement windows
Timber: Siberian Larch
Glazing: DG 4/16/4 Argon – B-rated, acoustic glass
Style: Georgian
Details: Listed Building

About the Job: The owner of this prestigious building and hotel (it is a listed building) approached us as he wanted to combine best quality of finish, preserve the original look and at the same time reduce the noise pollution from outside to the maximum as many of the hotel’s reviews pointed towards that weakness.

We were mandated to change all the fixed panels in the main restaurant overlooking the river in Windsor, as well as a bespoke (and large) casement window and a set of French doors.

At the same time, the hotel has mandated has to change all of the hotel’s sash windows in several steps. We have already changed the first ones, and the rest will follow in a process that will last for a whole year, as the hotel is going through a staged refurbishment. There are over 130 windows to be changed in total. We will update the blog with photos of that job soon!

The acoustic glass, as well as our standard triple draft sealing, will reduce the noise levels to an absolute minimum, while making no visual difference whatsoever. As our draft seals are all set in the sashes, they are not visible anywhere from either the outside or the inside, as they are hidden by the beadings.

The timber that the client chose (Siberian Larch) is known to be one of the very finest timbers for the use of windows, as it’s very rot resistant. We are extremely competitive for that timber, and we only use it in triple laminated (engineered) format.

The white aluminium spacer bars used for the glazing perfected the original look of the units, and the truly stunning and unique location and views of this hotel restaurant have been brought back to its former glory.

Windows: Traditional sliding sashes
Timber: Siberian Larch
Type: Weight Loaded
Glazing: DG 4/16/4 Argon – B-rated
Style: Georgian
Details: Zero Rated NewBuild

About the Job: This was a particularly exciting mandate for Sollex. This new build  in an upscale North London neighbourhood is designed in a typical English mansion style. This meant of course that all sash windows had to be in timber, but should also incorporate the most modern and advanced technologies, such as integrated alarm system, double glazing, triple draft sealing and many others standard Sollex sash window features.

The job also consisted of several triple block sash windows, as visible on the photos.

For the locks we used bespoke antique brass units to satisfy the client’s specific wishes for the overall look. As timber we used Siberian Larch, which is widely considered the very best timber for the use of window production. It is famous for its rot resistance, this obviously being the most important requirement for timber that is exposed to the elements and especially rain.

When the units were fitted we worked closely with the alarm fitting team, so as to make the whole works go smoothly. The overall spray-paint fitting job (please see photos) is second to none.

The overall look of the windows, combined with the beautiful design and traditional brickwork, has produced a fine example of classic English-style architecture. The quality of the windows will ensure many decades of lasting elegance.

Windows: Traditional Sliding Sashes
Timber: Nordic Pine
Type: Weight Loaded
Glazing: Custom 4/16/4 DG Argon Filled
Style: Victorian
Details: Conservation Area

About the Job: The client has PVC windows in lieu of the original sash windows and, despite the PVC units still being in good condition, he decided to replace the units by brand new timber sash windows. The neighbour’s sash windows served as template for the new units in terms of design. The new sash windows are weight-loaded, to perfect the look of traditional sash windows.

The client was delighted with the result. The bay has now been given back its original charm, with this bay probably being the prettiest of the entire Edwardian terrace now!

Doors: Custom Bifolding & Custom French Doors
Windows: Traditional Sliding Sashes
Timber: Larch

Glazing: Custom 4/16/4 DG Argon Filled

About the Job: This was a particularly exciting project for Sollex! The mandate covered most of the entire product range that we offer: Sash windows, fixed bespoke gable glazing units in timber frames (please see photos), a set of French doors , and a 5-panel folding door system. The sash windows were fitted next to the French doors. The architectural drawings showed that the bars of the sash windows would have to be in line with the bars of the French doors. This effect was created to perfection!

The gable units were particularly impressive, showing Sollex’s capabilities when it comes to producing any kinds of bespoke shapes and designs, be it off architect’s drawings, or existing openings. The combination of the large top fixed panels and the folding doors is a masterpiece of craftmanship and architectural design. It leaves the kitchen light-flooded, while giving this family plenty of options for summer garden parties.

If you need quotes for similar designs, please email us to Enquiry@sollex.co.uk !

Windows: Traditional Sliding Sashes
Timber: Oak
Type: Weight Loaded
Glazing: Custom 4/16/4 DG Argon Filled
Style: Victorian
Details: Conservation Area

About the Job: We were approached by this client for a very delicate job. Most original sash windows that were installed in the Mapesbury conservation area in London had top panels in a special glazing. Indeed this kind of glazing had been very popular at the time when many Victorian houses were built. The conservation officers insist on a like-for-like replacement of this glazing, while adhering also to the new double-glazing standards. Sollex, so far, has been the only sash window producer that to date has been able to satisfy the Brent council’s requirements. The look of the windows we supplied to this client perfectly mirror the original feel and look, while maintaining the highest thermal insulation requirements.

Like all our timber sash windows, they were triple draft proofed, with 24mm Argon gas filled units, engineered hardwood timber (oak), and spray-painted water-based micro-porous paint.

The job highlighted our capability to come up with innovative solutions when it comes to complex requirements, and that working closely with the council and the conservation officers can lead to a product that satisfies everyone’s needs, most importantly of course the customer’s!