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I'd have thought it would be lousy with window specialists up there? Even though they aren't sash (or are thy - I can't tell), it may be worth talking to a sash repair specialist, as they do wood well.
Re-doing burnt sand mastic is a piece of piss though, so at least that bit is well within DIY territory.
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Not sash - they're pivot windows. From the 1970s, probably. Not perfect, but new sashes are around £5k for this bay, so I'd rather repair if possible. I;ve tried a few window specialists but no dice so far - maybe I just need to persist!
As @Airhead says, it's not great for access as it's 1st floor. However there is a front yard below, so scaffolding or an access tower could be used. If I were to DIY something I'd certainly go for a tower rather than a ladder.
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Finally got a quote for the repair. Looks like very few companies want to work on pivot windows, preferring to install new sashes. Anyhow, I've got a quote for raking out all the mastic etc and installing hardwood plates to bridge the gap between timber window frame and wall. Comes to around £2k for the bay, two single windows on the back, and a bit more mastic renewal elsewhere. Chap who quoted didn't think there was much rot, thought - as I thought/hoped - that the blackened colour was in the sand mastic. Fingers crossed...
Edit: re-painting is additional to the quote.
Anyone got experience of timber window repairs? There is rot to the soffits of the windows in my flat. I've struggled to get anyone to quote for repair works on these - perhaps it's not a viable business model? I've talked to window installers and they all just want to put new ones in. Maybe I am asking the wrong type of contractor.
It seems to me that then small upper panes could be removed (hinges are screwed to the soffit, visible from inside). They might need to be repaired. The timber soffit would probably need repaired, likely cutting back the timber locally and splicing in new in situ. Then they'd generally need repainting and the sand mastic would need renewed. Perhaps some localised timber repairs to the cills also.
(and the windows need a clean! they are difficult to access for cleaning)