Replacing a Broken Sash Cord

If you have a broken sash cord, the window will be difficult to open and will judder as it is raised. If one of the four cords has broken, replace all. You will need to repaint the window after.

1. Using an old chisel, prise the staff bead away from the interior sides of the window frame, starting at the middle of the bead. Make a note of their position to make it easier to put them back when you have completed the job.
2. Lean bottom sash into the room from the top.
3. Cut any unbroken sash cord with a trimming knife and lower weight gently to the bottom of its compartment (tie a knot on cut sash cord to prevent it disappearing). Remove inner sash and lever out nails holding the cut-off or broken cords to the sides.
4. Prise away the narrow parting bead and remove the upper sash in the same way.
5. Unscrew the weight pocket (a slip of wood at the bottom of each side of frame) to reveal the weights. There will be two on each side. Lift out the weights.
6. Measure each sash for the new sash cords and cut these to length, allowing a couple of centimetres for trimming.
7. Where the old (cut off) sash cord is still in place, you can tie this to the new length to draw it through the pulley.
8. Where the cord has broken, tie a small weight (folded lead is ideal, but a bolt will do) on to a piece of string, pass this over the pulley, lower the small weight and then the string can be used to pull the new sash cord through. Tie the new sash cords to their weights using a non-slip figure of eight knot and tie a temporary knot in the other end.
9. Rest the upper sash on the window ledge, pull one of its cords down and use galvanized clout nails (short nails with a large head) to fix the cord into the groove on the side of the sash. Trim the end of the cord. Repeat for second cord.
10. Replace the slips of wood at the bottom of the frame, followed by the upper sash, the parting beads, the lower sash (fit cord first), and finally the beading around the edges of the frame (reuse the nails sticking out, though you may need a few more).