Quick answer: A traditional UK sash window is made up of around 10 timber parts — top sash, bottom sash, meeting rails, glazing bars, parting bead, staff bead, sill, pulley stiles, jamb linings, and the head. We stock authentic timber components for Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian sash window restoration, supplied to match original profiles.
Restoring a sash window means replacing exactly the right component in exactly the right profile. The wrong meeting rail, parting bead, or glazing bar will sit proud, fail to glide, or destroy the period look. This page lists the timber parts of a sash window, what each one does, and the stock we keep ready to ship.
The parts of a sash window (timber components)
| Part |
Purpose |
Notes for restoration |
| Top sash |
Upper sliding pane unit |
In Georgian designs, contains glazing bars dividing the pane |
| Bottom sash |
Lower sliding pane unit |
Often heavier — needs heavier counterweights |
| Meeting rails |
The horizontal rails where top and bottom sashes meet |
Profile must match exactly for weather seal and security |
| Glazing bars (sash bars) |
Timber bars dividing each sash into smaller panes |
Profile varies by period — Georgian (lambs tongue), Victorian (ovolo), Edwardian (chamfered) |
| Parting bead |
Thin timber strip separating the two sashes in the frame |
Replaces a worn part that's the most common cause of stiff sashes |
| Staff bead |
Front trim that holds the inner sash in place |
Removable for sash repair access |
| Sill (cill) |
Sloped horizontal timber at the bottom of the frame |
Critical for water shedding — usually first to rot |
| Pulley stiles |
Vertical sides of the frame housing the sash cords and weights |
Hidden weights run inside these |
| Jamb linings |
Inner faces of the box frame |
Smooth surfaces the sashes slide against |
| Head |
Top horizontal of the box frame |
Houses the pulleys at each end |
Sash window timber: which species?
Period sash windows were typically made from Baltic redwood pine (slow-grown softwood) or European oak for high-end work. Modern restoration uses:
-
Joinery-grade redwood — closest match to original UK sash timber, paintable, machinable, kiln-dried for stability.
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Engineered/laminated softwood — better dimensional stability for sashes that need to glide reliably.
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Hardwood (oak, sapele, accoya) — for premium restorations or coastal locations where rot is a recurring issue.
We supply machined sash window timber sections in joinery-grade redwood as standard, with hardwood available to order for specialist projects.
Sash window restoration: which parts to replace?
Sashes won't glide smoothly
Replace the parting bead first — it wears thin and lets sashes rub on the staff bead instead of sitting in the channel. Cheap fix, big difference.
Cold draughts at meeting rails
The meeting rail profile has worn, flattened, or warped. Replace with a profile-matched section so the weather seal closes properly.
Rot at the bottom of the frame
The sill (cill) is the most common rot point. Splice in a new section or replace the full sill — never paint over rotten timber.
Broken or missing glazing bars
Match the profile to the period (Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian) and the existing bars. Buying the wrong profile is the single biggest mistake DIY restorers make.
Sashes won't stay open
Cords or weights have failed inside the box frame — access via the staff bead and pocket pieces. Replace the cords as a pair, never just one side.
Buying sash window parts from Nottage
We stock standard timber sash window sections including glazing bars, meeting rails, sill sections, parting beads, and staff beads. Matched to common UK Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian profiles. Cut to length on request.
For full window replacement rather than restoration, see our flat-pack timber window frame kits or browse the full windows and doors range.
Not sure which profile you need? Send us a photo of your existing component on 01656 745959 or by email — we'll match it from stock or specify a custom profile.
