Callaghan Sash Windows have rebranded to Timeless Sash Windows in a move that will make them more visible as a national and international brand. We dropped into their busy Navan, County Meath workshop – where all windows and doors are painstakingly handcrafted – and caught up with CEO Barry Callaghan to learn more about this long-running, conservation-market-leading family enterprise.
Synonymous with designing, manufacturing and installing quality windows for more than four decades, Timeless Sash Windows (formerly Callaghan Sash Windows) have specialised in the refurbishment of period sash windows for a quarter of a century.
Providing professional support and advice on the replacement and refurbishment of sash windows, their vast experience gives them the capacity to offer clients the best possible, bespoke solution. Highly-skilled workmanship and the keenest attention to detail combine to make Timeless Sash Windows the partner of choice for sash window restoration and refurbishment all over Ireland and beyond.
Enjoying enduring working relationships with a Who’s Who of main contractors including BAM, Sisk, Purcell John Paul Construction, GEM Group, etc., Timeless Sash Windows employ a highly-skilled team who are amongst the best in their sector. These time-served, cutting-edge craftsmen are experts in their field, boasting several decades of hands-on experience.
All members of the team are passionate about their roles and committed to the creation of first-class products and the delivery of a quality service. The fact that their sash windows are handcrafted using the highest-quality materials in the company’s factory / showroom on the outskirts of Navan (from which they service all of Ireland as well as the London market) separates Timeless Sash Windows from the competition.
Timeless Sash Windows take great pride in the restoration of historic buildings’ windows and doors, delivering high-quality, efficient and aesthetically pleasing timber products.
Using traditional methods and adhering to best conservation practice, they subtly introduce modern techniques – such as the discreetly-installed Timeless draught-proofing system – to improve performance. For example, the Callaghans have developed a unique system that allows very fine historic glazing bars to take a slimline double-glazed unit and have the capacity to tastefully restore a range of products back to their former glory, including sash windows; casement windows; doors and fan lights; shutters, architrave and surrounds; and ironmongery.
Restoration projects have been successfully completed to the very highest standards at landmark sites island-wide, including Ashford Castle, Clancy Quay, Killeen Castle, the National Gallery, Dublin Castle and the GPO, to mention just a select few.
The move to rebrand the highly-regarded family operation involves many enhancements to current products and systems, helping the team at Timeless Sash Windows to grow their business (as well as launching a new website and brochure). To complement the rebranding, many more exciting developments are planned over the coming years.
“My father, Gerry, started up the business over 40 years ago. He stuck it out through the ups and downs and he’s still an important part of the team here today, making sure we continue to maintain the high standards he set years ago” notes CEO Barry Callaghan. “The rebranding of the business coincides with a few new ideas and innovations that we have coming on stream and some different ways of doing things in the conservation end. We’re going to be pushing it on to the next level.
“It reflects our determination to create a long-lasting brand and where we want to go with the company, both in terms of the product and workmanship and our relationship with the public.”
The rebrand will help Timeless Sash Windows become more visible as a national and international brand. Being timeless is one of the qualities that epitomises the Callaghan family-run business, which offers customers individual solutions and bespoke products to fit their exact requirements.
Regarding the nature of the work, Barry continues: “It’s generally residential work. Even on commercial projects, there’s usually a home owner in there. It breaks down about 50/50 between working for developers and working directly for the home owner. We won’t turn down any job and we treat every client as a priority. We’re as comfortable doing a job with two windows to a major project like Clancy Quay, which was the largest we’ve completed to date, with over 1,000 windows. That was a major refurb and new build residential project and we worked for main contractor, Glenbeigh Construction.
“I’d say about 90% of our work is in the greater Dublin area but we will travel anywhere. We did a lot of conservation work as well as some windows in Ashford Castle Hotel and have worked on stately homes from Letterkenny to Belfast to Waterford.”
While the name may have changed, Timeless Sash Windows’ status as Ireland’s No.1 manufacturer and installer of conservation windows and doors remains a constant. “There are various levels of listings and some buildings are of more historical significance than others. We understand this fully. Conservation architects have their own ideas and home owners also have their own ideas … we can marry those together to find a middle ground and find the best solution for everybody. It can be difficult and it’s a balancing act sometimes but we’ve been at this for decades now and we know what we’re doing.”
More often than not, a bespoke solution is required. “It’s certainly not one size fits all,” Barry confirms. “We take each job on its merits. We don’t have a standard window or a standard system; instead, we provide a unique, bespoke solution to each job. Sometimes new windows are the only option and sometimes a refurbished window works out more expensive than a new one would … it all depends on the merits of the particular job.”
Some of the products provided include sash windows guaranteeing smooth running all year around (traditional pulley & weights system or spiral balance sliding sash windows) as well as traditional French / Flush or Stormproof casement windows which can operate on butt or friction hinge with the use of traditional ironmongery to offer a quality finish.
Meanwhile, their range of timber doors (French doors, bi-fold doors, front doors and sliding doors) are as stunning to look at as their windows. With each made to exacting requirements, a near limitless combination of panels, glazing bar and moulding profiles, top-lights, ironmongery and paint finishes can be offered.
Timeless Sash Windows have developed an A-rated sliding sash window, certified by the BFRC – the UK’s national system for rating the energy efficiency of windows, guaranteeing high performance in three key areas: u-value, solar factor and air leakage.
Shutter boxes provide the ultimate finish for a new window. As a traditional joinery manufacturer specialising in windows, Timeless Sash Windows have all the skills in-house to produce beautiful internal timber shutters. Historically, these were installed to keep out cold, dirt and light and provide a decorative internal panel to expand upon the aesthetics of traditional timber windows. Period shutters also provide excellent security and privacy. Patterns can be hand carved to match profiles to make shutters truly unique and various types of timber surrounds can also be provided to enhance the client’s windows.
Secondary glazing is useful where there are specific noise-related issues or where the existing window cannot be altered – which may be the case for listed properties or where the detailing cannot be recreated. Secondary glazing greatly improves the u-value and overall window where the use of double glazing is not permitted. Timeless Sash Windows can create a hinged or sliding internal window made from timber (in a variety of formats) to sit sympathetically behind the original window and improve performance. Often undertaken in conjunction with draught sealing or restoration services for the original windows, the space between the two windows (and materials used) will offer significant noise reduction and improved thermal performance without the presence of inappropriate modern materials in the room.
The quality of the workmanship provided by Timeless Sash Windows is quite simply second to none: “The work is labour-driven and the vast amount of skilled labour and craftsmanship involved results in an excellent end product,” says Barry. “To get the window back to its former glory and have it performing at its optimal level so that you can live in a comfortable home is no mean feat, but that’s what we specialise in.”
Despite the ravages caused to the construction sector by the economic downturn, Timeless Sash Windows has come through the lean years stronger than ever. “We have 40 people working here now, having been down to single figures in 2008/09. The easy option at that stage was to walk away but we decided to knuckle down and we actually grew through the remainder of the recession, which is a credit to our staff and the great work they put in.”
A two-times All-Ireland football championship winner with Meath in 1996 and ’99, Barry – who is joined in the family business by brother Pearse and father Gerry – says the future goal of Timeless Sash Windows is to be the best of the best: “We aim to be the market leader in conservation work in timber windows and doors, to maintain and build our reputation, and to take it to the international market,” he concludes. “We’d like to have a sustainable business here that we can hand on to the next generation.”
Timeless…
Timeless Sash Windows
Ongenstown,
Boyerstown, Navan,
Co. Meath.
Tel: 046 9023323
Fax: 046 9071133
Email: [email protected]
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, May 2017, Vol 3 No 4
