John Dirks Jr Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 What do you call the ropes/strings that are part of wooden window frame mechinisms? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bain Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Balances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Simon Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 What do you call the ropes/strings that are part of wooden window frame mechinisms? Balance cords (chains if metal). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspectorjoe Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 If you mean older wood windows with cast iron counterweights, they're called sash ropes around here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Morrison Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 If you mean older wood windows with cast iron counterweights, they're called sash ropes around here. Well, up here in New England I've only ever heard them referred to as: "sash cords". (pause while Kibbel posts something that schools us all)...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHI in AR Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I've heard 'em called sash cords also. I would not advise calling them balances since that would seem (logically, anyway) to be the weights themselves, not the ropes/cords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Lewis Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Since John called them strings, he might be referring to the ones used in the Andersen builder's model. So, what are those called anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bain Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I'm sure it's a regional/semantics thing, but I use "balances" 'cause that's how manufacturers refer to them. http://www.swisco.com/cl/Sash-Support-B ... DQodS0Fb6A As for older houses, they're called sash ropes down here, as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted July 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Thanks for all the info on various eras. The ones in question are of the more recent variety, 1996 construction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Older with weights - sash cord, sash chains, window weights. Newer - balances - lot of types, the most common ones I see are the ones with the spring, mini block and tackle and thin nylon string. The damn springs break all the time. You can find one or two that have broken during an inspection and everything else will be fine and then a couple of weeks later one can break without any warning. I got a few calls about them back in the 90's but smartened up. Rather than get that phone call from the client about, "Hey, you missed a broken spring on one of my windows and now it won't open," I now give 'em a 1-minute mini lesson on how to remove the sash and replace a broken balance. Haven't had one of those calls in about 9 years. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted July 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Mike, I would like the 1 minute lesson. I found two bad ones yesterday. On one window, and upper sash wouldn't come down. On another window, the balance cord for the lower sash wouldn't retract when the window was opened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Take a look at Bain's link. Which one of those balances were used? OT - OF!!! M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kibbel Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 (pause while Kibbel posts something that schools us all)...... Window ropey thingies. For the old windows counter balanced by weights, the rope is always referred to as sash-cord in publications before 1950. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Lewis Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 John, who is the window manufacturer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted July 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 John, who is the window manufacturer? Not sure. They're double paned and double hung wood framed on this house that was built in 1996. Click to Enlarge 69.42 KB Click to Enlarge 42.42 KB Click to Enlarge 33.55 KB Click to Enlarge 60.76 KB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emalernee Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 John, They are Anderson Perma-Shield windows. The top jamb cover can be removed to access the sash balancers and the sashes can be removed by taking out the lower jamb cover on the left side. Check out the Anderson web site for needed repair parts. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Lewis Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 John, that's one of the more common windows here on the East Coast. The style of the sash frame hasn't changed on 40 years. The Andersen logo and date are etched into the glass at the corner. On older double hungs, the manufacture date can be stamped into the side jamb. After a while, you'll be able to ID that window from the street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Hockstein Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 The technology of window glass has come a long way since Andersen started to make insulated glass windows. Andersen now has replacement windows that fit into their old window frames. Window balance replacement kits are also readily avaiable. It is a nice option because you don't lose any daylight around the perimeter like many of the framed replacement units. I call them sash cords and sash weights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Ezra is mostly right. The vinyl clad casement series was called permashield, while the double hung series was called narrowline, sometime in the 90's when Andersen introduced the tilt double hung they started using model number dsignations, 200 for what you have and 400 for the tilt series. Watch the date codes, sometimes they vary wildly. I did a replacement job on a $500K house in a ski resort where there where two odd combination windows each made up of a picture, a casement and two awnings that varied in age seven years from newest to oldest, and the newest unit was four years older than the building. These weren't repairs or upgrades, the units were built from stuff laying around in someone's warehouse. Around here, up until around 2003, Andersen was so widely distributed it seemed like you could buy them at any corner gas station. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaydeNoc Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 I would appreciate it if someone could give me some details on how to replace the sash balancers on a Anderson Perma-shield Narrowline double hung window. The bay window is over 30 years old, several cords have broken, and the rest wind up in jerks and starts. I see where the lower left jamb appears removable, but how do you accomplish with the sashes down, and the tension on the cords? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erby Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 We all know Bill is a recognized historical expert. Due to that, I'll be changing all my descriptions to "Window ropey thingies" [][][] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Hockstein Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 This is a link to Andersen Windows Service and Parts page. Lots of good info here: http://www.andersenwindows.com/servlet/ ... 6852780873 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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