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What are sash and case windows? A Scottish homeowner’s guide
Learn how traditional sash and case windows work and how modern replacement products differ from original timber windows.
A sash and case window uses one or more sliding sashes held within a surrounding case. In Scotland, “sash and case” is the natural term for this traditional window type.
How the traditional window works
The sashes move vertically within the case. Traditional timber windows can have weights, cords, pulleys, glazing bars and details that vary with age and building.
The name describes a window form, not a promise that the existing frame is in good condition or that every sash operates the same way.
Traditional timber and modern replacements
Some modern products reproduce sash-and-case proportions while using a different material and mechanism. Check whether the offered frame is timber, uPVC or another material and whether it slides or only looks similar.
Ask to see the exact profile, opening action, meeting rails, bars and finish. A design reference or “heritage” label does not establish that a product is an original timber sash.
Repair, draught proofing and consent
Historic Environment Scotland recommends keeping traditional windows in good repair and discusses draught proofing and secondary glazing as ways of improving comfort. Work on a listed building or in a conservation area needs property-specific checks.
Ask the local authority or a conservation professional about the building before replacing historic fabric. The current website’s advertised replacement product is not a traditional timber restoration service.
Explore your next step
- Sash and case replacement windows
- Repair or replace traditional sash and case windows
- Historic Environment Scotland: reducing sash window heat loss
General planning information updated 29 September 2026. Product specifications and the work for your home are confirmed in your quotation.