Georgian Bar Windows

What Are Georgian Bars?

Georgian bars — also called glazing bars, astragal bars, or muntins — are the slim timber divisions that split a sash window into multiple panes. In an original Georgian window, each bar was structural: it held individual pieces of glass in place because 18th-century glassmaking could not produce large sheets. The typical pattern was 6 panes per sash (6-over-6), though 8-over-8 and 12-over-12 were common in larger houses.

Today, glass technology allows single sheets of any practical size. But the visual rhythm of Georgian bars remains central to the character of period architecture. Without them, a sash window on a Georgian terrace looks blank and modern — immediately wrong to anyone who knows the period.

Types of Glazing Bar

True Bars (Through Bars)

The bar runs through the full depth of the sash, dividing the glass into genuinely separate panes. Each pane is individually glazed and sealed. This is the most authentic option and the one most Conservation Officers prefer for Listed Buildings. It is also the most expensive, as it requires more glass cutting, more putty or beading work, and more sealing.

Planted Bars (Surface Bars)

Slim timber bars are bonded to both faces of a single large pane. A spacer bar inside the sealed unit aligns with the external bars, creating the illusion of separate panes. From a distance of more than a metre, planted bars are indistinguishable from true bars. They cost less, weigh less, and offer better thermal performance because there are fewer sealed-unit edges.

Common Patterns

Preview Your Bars in 3D

Choosing the right bar pattern is hard from a catalogue. Our 3D configurator lets you apply any bar pattern to your exact window size and see it rendered in real time. Switch between 6-over-6, 2-over-2, margin bars, and more — the price updates instantly. It is the fastest way to find the right look for your property.

Pricing

Georgian bars add approximately £80–£180 per window depending on the pattern complexity and whether you choose planted or true bars. A 6-over-6 with planted bars on a standard sash window adds around £95. True bars on the same window add around £160. All prices include the bars, additional glass cutting, and finishing.