City and Guild PowerPoint Repairing windows

Level 2 Diploma in Site Carpentry

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Repairing windows

Unit 210: Carry out carpentry maintenance



Sash window

Two cords on either side each go into the sash box over a roller and are connected to a heavy weight which counter balances the window. This is how the window opens with little effort and stays where you want it.



How to repair a window – replacing a broken sash cord

Working from the inside remove the vertical beading (the staff bead) from the side with the broken cord. This is what holds the window in place. It will probably have been nailed in and may have been painted over.




The snapped cord end needs to be removed, it will have been nailed into the side groove. If you want to take the whole window out remove the cord from the other side, otherwise get someone to hold the window in place whilst you undertake the repair.




Once the staff bead and window has been removed you need to remove the central runner, or the parting bead. This will either be nailed in place or wedged in and may be stuck with paint!

By using a Stanley knife you can score down the paint on the inside and outside and use a hammer and chisel to prise it out.




You can now remove the loose wooden plate to get to the weights. Using a chisel or screwdriver carefully prise open the wooden plate. The weights for the top and bottom window for this side will be in this box, separate by a loose piece of wood.

Take out the weight for the broken cord and remove the old cord end from it.




Feed the new length of cord into the sash box at the top over the pulley wheel. Make sure you have plenty spare. The cord may snag on the box and not feed through, so be patient.




Attach the new cord to the weight using a single strong knot, pull it tight and trim off and surplus.




Put the middle wooden plate and central runner back in place. If the central runner broke removing it, it is easily replaced as these are available at any good DIY store. You might need to hold it in place with some extra nails, if this is the case drill a pilot hole first to avoid splitting the wood.




Using 3 short nails with large heads, nail the new cord to the window making sure that the first nail is no closer than approximately 5-6 inches from the top of the window. If it isn’t the nail may catch on the pulley wheel.




You’ll need to judge the length of the cord accurately and ensure it is not too short or too long. It needs to be the correct length so that when the window is shut the weight doesn’t bang on top of the sash box or, when the window is open fully, it doesn’t bang on the bottom. Pull on the cord with the weight attached a couple of times to determine where the weight is in the box.

You can now put the window back in place and check that it runs up and down smoothly. If required replace the staff bead and repaint any chipped or damaged paintwork.




1. Remove the staff bead.

2. Remove window and cord.

3. Remove parting bead.

4. Remove wooden plate.

5. Lift out the weight.

6. Feed new cord over top pulley.

7. Tie cord to weight.

8. Replace wooden plate.

9. Replace parting bead.

10. Nail cord to window.

11. Put window back in place and

staff bead



Any questions?

City and Guild PowerPoint Repairing windows

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