Sash Window Repairs in Eastbourne & East Sussex by RWJ Sear Restorative Carpentry
What clients say...

Here you'll find well over 50 recommendations from clients it has been a pleasure to have served.

Piers Bizony St Leonards - 19 May 2026
Restoring Victorian sash windows- and rebuilding or replacing long-lost bay window panels ...
it all takes someone who knows the deep history of how these things were built in the first place.
Fed up with cowboy carpenters? Jim
Is a true expert- and lovely to work with.

David Dyer Eastbourne 13 May 2026
I cannot speak too highly of Jim Sear.
He is absolutely superb!
Jim did an excellent job of replacing the side sash window (where wood rot had set in) in the lounge of my flat.
He also very successfully replaced the ropes etc in relation to other sash windows which were not opening and shutting properly.
Another problem he resolved was a leakage problem coming through one of the front sash windows in the lounge - he really fixed that brilliantly.
It is a nice feeling that all my sash windows are now in good working order.
I cannot recommend Jim enough!

Andrew Berry Eastbourne - 10 May 2026
Jim and his team expertly repaired almost all the windows in our three story terraced house,
replacing rotten wood, cracked glass, broken sash cords, rattling windows
and added draught proofing and new catches at a fraction of the cost of windows replacements.

Nick Clark Eastbourne - 7 May 2026
We've been lucky enough to have Jim renovate several Edwardian sash windows and a door.
He's a genuine craftsman and takes pride in restoring, so that windows and doors can have another lease of life.
Thoroughly recommend.

Tom Lord Eastbourne - 5 May 2026
Very happy with the restoration of some of our sash windows by Jim.
Really pleased to be able to save the character of the windows while making them work in the way they were intended.
Planning to get more restored in the future. Thanks Jim.

Bartoz Eastbourne - May 2026
Fantastic specialist. Jim restored our 100-years-old sash windows in East Sussex. The job was done in no time. Very organised, professional, and super tidy approach to work. The communication with Jim was fantastic. He left our place very tidy. A true professional, authentic, experienced, and very reasonably priced workman. I would recommend Jim Sear to everyone!

Jilly Byford Landlord Alfriston - April 2026
From creatively solving existing problems to completing the job, Jim was amazing.
Professional, friendly and most importantly he listened to what it was I needed to be achieved.

Olivia Harper Estate Agent Eastbourne - April 2026
We hired Jim to fix a sash window in one of our properties,
he got it done so quickly and so well!
Highly recommend him to anyone looking for someone reliable :)

Stephanie Bexhill 27 April 2026
Jim recently restored several sash windows and window sills in my flat, some of which were in a very poor condition.
The transformation is incredible! He brought them back to a beautiful standard with real care and craftsmanship.
He’s clearly passionate about his work, and I really appreciated the video updates he shared throughout the process, which kept me informed every step of the way.
Jim is reliable, professional, and genuinely great to deal with.
I’d highly recommend him to anyone looking for high-quality window restoration.

Tony H - Eastbourne
I cannot recommend Jim too highly.
We have a 100 year old porch. One large panel, one small one and several struts had completely rotted. In addition, one section of the porch had slipped an inch and had to be raised. Jim recommended the most suitable type of wood, carefully removed two panels of stained glass, carved and fitted the new wood, raised the porch to its correct level, and refitted the stained glass. Our porch now looks as good as new.

Emma, Eastbourne, 26 April 2026
We have been looking for someone to repair our sash windows for a while and finding someone like Jim is not short of a miracle. He came straight round to give us a quote and the next day he was on the job. He works with Mark and they are both very diligent happy to put dust sheets down and showing us their progress. Windows that I haven't been able to open for a couple of years..or have had to prop open with a reinforced egg carton ..glide up and down with great ease. We also have a few other carpentry jobs that needed seeing to and Jim got on with those too..We have had people come in and say "No job too small and then we never saw them again" I am guessing that the job was too small..But this is not the case with Jim..We are now finding with great delight that our very sad looking doors have had wood panelling put on them and yesterday Jim and Mark took off one of our doors and came back with an original wood panelled door ..I love the look of it and I am going to give the same treatment to all my doors..it will make our apartment look as if it has had a face lift. So if you are looking for a knowledgeable carpenter..Jim is your man.

Tiarna Edwards, Eastbourne April 2026

I have no hesitations in recommending Jim. He has repaired multiple sash windows for us, all of which have been completed to a high standard and for a very reasonable price. Jim is quick to respond, punctual with his arrial to jobs and very informative when explaining what the issue is. We will be continuing to contact Jim first when we have any further jobs for him

Sash windows draught-proofed and re-roped in multiple properies

Nikoletta Serli , Eastbourne April 2026

Thank you very much. Excellent job done.😀😃😄😄💯💯💯💯👍👍👍👍 …

9 solid oak doors installed and new security garden gate made

Mahmood Sharifi April 2026

I have used Jim's Carpentry services an absolute professional precise and prompt. no non sense.

Very knowledgeable in helping with designing too. I would not hesitate to recommend Jim. Brilliant

Attic door installed

Mark Warrington, Eastbourne March 2026

Great service from start to finish. Honest advice and top quality workmanship. Our old sash windows now work beautifully again.

17 sash windows refurbished

Peter Marshall, Eastbourne, March 2026

I was very pleased with the service Jim had to offer. Good knowledge and craftmanship for anything to do with sash windows.

2 sticking windows freed up

Sharon, Eastbourne March.2026

Jim has restored and refurbished numerous sash windows for us. Every sash opens and closes easily. He can even fit draught proofing to old sashes. The joy of opening top and bottom sashes creates ideal air circulation! He is efficient, diligent, helpful and always cleans up. His workmanship is of the highest standard. He is a valuable contact and upon recommendation, acquaintances are equally pleased with his broad carpentry skills.

20 sash windows restored, re-glazed, re-roped and weighted

Quentin Wedmore (Hastings) 11/12/1925

Jim is a true craftsman with an unbelievable level of knowledge. He restored a Victorian sash window for us, it looks amazing and is incredibly draught-proof. Professional service with great communication and he kept the house tidy whilst working there.

Sash window rebuild in Hastings

Vikki Lacey Bexhill 14/09/2018I have 28 sash windows and was toying with the idea of have UPVC replacements but when I received ridiculous quotes and more importantly found out I would have lost a lot of the detail in the windows (my front windows are arched at the top) I went with my heart and decided to keep the originals despite everyone saying I was mad.I contacted Jim, who was very quick at getting back and coming to my property for a survey, I was still a little reluctant when he couldn't give an exact price for each window and only giving me a ball park figure. This is because each window will require different work depending on its condition. Jim offered to complete one window before I committed to the whole project and I was impressed. He even sends you a video the process of refurbishing your window. The craftsmanship of Jim's work is second to none. When he claims that you can open and close one of his refurbished windows with one finger, it's absolutely true. You can tell from talking with Jim that he has a true passion for his work and he is extremely clean and tidy on site. Needless to say I am over the moon with my windows that are now as good as they day they were installed over 100 years ago!!!! Thank you

Diane & Didier, nr Lewes,05/09/ 2018It’s really no exaggeration to say that Jim and his sidekick Serge are like restoration superheroes to us! When we bought our dream cottage it came with a built-in nightmare – it was absolutely riddled with rotten timber. Fixing it felt like a hugely daunting task and we’d been scratching our heads for weeks wondering where and how to start before we found Jim online by chance. He was immediately reassuring, totally ‘got’ what we were trying to achieve with our restoration and as soon as he and Serge started work we knew we’d chosen exactly the right team to help us bring our poor crumbling cottageback to life. First, they built an amazing wooden scaffold to access the upper dormer windows (saving us significant costs on conventional scaffolding).Then, efficiently, meticulously worked round the house, sensitively repairing and restoring the dormers, sashes and weatherboarding and even reconstructing and re-glazing a 1930s round window, as well as fixingnumerous other tricky carpentry conundrums along the way. They were also great to have around, always smiling and full of enthusiasm. It’s fair to say they didn’t just transform our cottage, they transformed us too - from worried novice house restorers to happy new homeowners. We can’t recommend them enough. Thanks chaps!

Karen, Battle29/07/18After having several quotes for the windows on my listed house and being let down by uninterested or unwilling carpenters, we found Jim. Where other carpenters and window companies were adamant the windows, sills and frames were beyond repair Jim explained how he would go about repairing and restoring all my windows bringing them back to a pristine, working order. He explained, with great pride, these windows don’t need replacing with something which would not only look out of place on my 17th century house but would be expensive and unnecessary. Jim and Serge worked tirelessly, cleanly and with little impact on me or my family. They are immensely proud of the work they do and explain each stage with great compassion and pride. I am extremely happy with the finished work and would highly recommend, not only on the high quality of the work but on the cost, their personalities and trustworthiness. It was a pleasure to have them in my home, often whilst I was at work. The house was immaculate on my return each day. My sash windows are now beautiful again.

Rosie, Bexhill18/07/2018Jim carried out window refurbishment of all the sash and other windows in my ground floor/basement flat in Wilton Road, Bexhill in July 2018. I chose Jim because of all the good reviews on his website and he definitely lived up to the reputation. The work was completed in 2 weeks, He dealt with a lot of unexpected rotten frames and sills and replaced everything to a high standard. I was given daily updates and very good use of WhatsApp software to send video and photos of the work unfolding. The front sash now can be taken down very quickly to get large furniture into the flat. The standard of work and professionalism of Jim and his team was extremely high and I would be very pleased to recommend him to others. His team also fixed other areas of the flat as a bonus including rehanging doors so now they close properly.

Neil Chalmers- Hastings15/07/2018We bought a Regency period house knowing the windows were in poor condition. Little did we know how poor! Luckily we found Jim and his team who soon enlightened us....and then set about fixing each window with care and real quality workmanship. I overheard Jim giving instruction to one of his team and the care and attention to detail was a joy to hear. Restoring windows takes time and not a little cash, but we are delighted with the work that Jim has done and have already and will continue to recommend him to anyone who'll listen!

Pauline Eastbourne 28/08/2017I would like to recommend Jim Sear and his team of craftsmen. Their workmanship is superb, my finished stairs look as if the house was built around them rather than stairs of a later addition, with the added benefit of looking new. Jim and Serge re-built my ropey staircase which appeared to be made of wood and a superior cardboard into a fine looking, wooden set of stairs. Jim kept to budget and he actually underestimated the number of days it took to remodel the steps and used the remaining time, without being asked, to remedy some gaps in the floorboards, which I had had laid eight years earlier by another carpenter. The expert professional craftsmen worked nonstop and cleaned up beautifully every evening, I can't recommend them highly enough.

Michael and Melanie Burwash17/09/2017Jim and his talented team Serge and Mark worked very hard and created a new fitted wardrobe.They raised the sloping floor and made it level, and reconditioned an old sash window in our cottage .As we live on a busy road, Jim also created an inner window. this has helped a great deal with noise and draughts. Thank you very much for all your hard work.

Gary Potter, Hastings13/06/2016Jim and his team have refurbished the sash windows in our flat in Hastings. We found him by seeing the excellent work he was doing next door. We were thinking of changing to plastic - so pleased we didn't. Jim said, "You'll be able to move your windows up and down with one finger when I'm done." We can! He is very personable, he is very skilled, he is extremely thorough, he is the personification of what every individual would ask for when hiring a skilled professional. My wife and I are so pleased with the work he has undertaken in our flat; he is a gem! Furthermore, if you want other wooden items built and fitted he's a safe bet. We're having our new boiler encased by Jim; it's in a sticky location but, after the one look, he's got a plan, a vision and we'll go with it. I think there I'm talking of trust - and we trust Jim!

Robert & Virginia St Leonards17/08/2017Virginia and I just wanted to thank you and your team for the great job you did on our sash windows and patio doors in St Leonards. We were used to draughts and rattling windows in any inclement weather but barely noticed the storm over the last few days. The sound proofing is much improved too, which really cuts down traffic noise. We always try to be as light touch ecologically as possible with the works we do on our house and given that the only alternative to your restorative carpentry was new doors and windows.You very much delivered! Thanks Virginia & Robert

Geoff Hall, Hankham09/08/2018Prior to repainting the exterior woodwork on my house I found three windows in various stages of decay. I knew of Jim by reputation so I called for his help. He restored the windows, even completely rebuilding one, and did a fine job. I would have no hesitation in recommending Jim, a craftsman of the old school, whose skill is almost matched by his love of tea.Geoff Hall. Hankham09/08/2018

Melanie, Burwash 30/7/18 Jim and Serge are very talented, calm, and hard working carpenters. We had two old sash windows reconditioned and a new balustrade designed and fitted in an old uneven challenging hallway . Timekeeping was excellent and communication about each project very good and professional. We are very happy with the results . Melanie Burwash 30/7/18

Graham Whitham Hastings 24/06/2016Jim is a craftsman who did wonderful work on our sash windows. Now they slide up and down with ease, are balanced and draught proof.He and his team were organised, efficient, obliging and pleasant, and what was really pleasing was that Jim so obviously enjoys his work.I couldn't recommend him more highly

Heathfield30/06/18I decided to give my sash window restoration to a local firm and was very pleased I did. Jim and assistant worked solidly on it and it now functions well and looks lovely. I was so pleased with the workmanship and the cost that Jim is coming back to do window number 2 in a couple of weeks and then number 3 in the spring!

Angela & Tony, Hastings17/07/2015We have a seafront flat in Hastings with wooden sash windows, the sashes having been changed to double glazed units.As you can imagine, the windows get battered by the elements and we soon discovered they were not wind and water tight. Both the window installer and another local company failed to resolve the problems, and we began to think there maybe no solution!Then I came across Jim and was impressed by his website and all the excellent reviews, so I gave him a call. On examination of the windows he soon diagnosed the problems and set about rectifying them. His prices were reasonable and he also advised on window furniture which has further enhanced operation and weather resistance. We're thrilled with the outcome and can now truly enjoy our flat whatever the weather!

Fred, Burwash 22/07/2016Dear Jim, it was a pleasure to have you working here and to observe your incredible expertise & professionalism. I am delighted with what you have done and thank you and Mark for the very pleasant week we spent together!If you are ever in the area, please do drop in for a cup of tea or a glass of something stronger!

Clare & Michael, Burwash 26/07/2016Good evening Jim, we just wanted to email to say a massive thank you for the work you carried out at our house. The workmanship was excellent and we couldn't of asked for anyone better to do the job.We will keep in touch to arrange a suitable date for our bedroom window if this is ok? As well as looking into having shutters fitted to the the bedroom one.Once again, many thanks.

Marcel Miller - Meads10/06/2015I bought a flat in Meads where all the old sash windows were in a bad condition due to prior neglect. Jim repaired, renovated and draft proofed them in September 2014. Excellent job very satisfied customer. Would be very happy to act as a reference site.

The craftsmanship of Jim's work is second to none. - September 2018

Sash windows... and will continue to recommend him to anyone who'll listen! — Jul 2018

Fitted wardrobe, raised sloping floor, reconditioned old sash window in Burwash — Sep 17

The great job you did on our sash windows and patio doors in St Leonards. — Sep 2017

Retread a staircase in Eastbourne — Aug 2017

A damsel in distress — Jan 2017

Another set of Burwash sash windows repaired — Jul 2016

Burwash sash windows — Jul 2016

Wonderful work on our sash windows. Hastings. — Jun 2016

I'm talking of trust - and we trust Jim! — Jun 2016

Crowborough sash window stuck fast — May 2016

New Oak front door in Eastbourne — May 2016