Heritage, Preserved
As word spread about the quality of his work, so did the demand. He eventually established Sash Window Insulation, bringing his son and daughter into the business and investing in Repair Care’s Level 2 Advanced Contractors Course.
That training opened the door to larger restoration projects, including Burgage Manor, the former 18th-century home of Lord Byron, where Paul restored the Grade II listed building’s windows using Repair Care epoxy resins.
“I realised that instead of replacing windows, with a bit of love and care, I could restore them.”
Paul Doyne-Ditmas – Sash Window Insulation
What began with one set of ageing windows has developed into a business dedicated to extending the life of historic timber and preserving original craftsmanship.
Hill House, Southwell
In April 2025, Sash Window Insulation was contracted to work on Hill House, a Grade II listed Georgian property in Southwell, built in 1800 for Rev. John Thomas Becher. Becher was a prominent local clergyman and social reformer, and the property remained in the Becher family for more than a century before later becoming a boarding house and, eventually, being converted into apartments.
With its original Georgian character and historic sash windows, preserving the existing timber was an important part of the restoration.
The initial work carried out by Sash Window Insulation was so successful that, by November 2025, Paul was back at Hill House working on a second apartment. To date, he has completed restoration work across four of the apartments, as well as the Hill House cottage.
For the extensive timber repairs to the historic sash windows and doors, Paul selected DRY FLEX® 16.
Designed for extensive timber repairs, DRY FLEX® 16 provides the working time and modelling properties needed to recreate damaged sections and intricate details. Its ability to accommodate natural timber movement makes it particularly suited to restoring historic joinery.
For Paul, that flexibility means he can take the time needed to achieve the finish he expects, rather than rushing the repair.
“DRY FLEX® 16 is easy to use. With 1.5–2 hours of working time, I can shape, recreate and repair, preserving original features.”
Paul Doyne-Ditmas – Sash Window Insulation
The result is more than a repaired window or door. Original timber and architectural details can be retained, giving historic joinery a new lease of life rather than replacing it unnecessarily.
Restoring with Less Disruption
At 8am, Paul arrived on site to begin work on the Hill House Cottage doors — ageing timber that needed significant repair. Keeping them off site for an extended period would have created unnecessary disruption for the client.
So he removed the doors and began the repair on the spot, using the faster-curing DRY FLEX® 1 and DRY FLEX® 4 to complete the repair, sanding and painting process within the same day. By the time the work was finished, the doors could be rehung that afternoon.
For the client, that meant less disruption and greater peace of mind, without compromising the quality of the restoration.
The Old Vicarage, East Stoke
The Old Vicarage in East Stoke is another Grade II listed property where restoration was chosen over replacement.
Dating from the early 19th century, the historic property is characterised by its red-brick façade, Gothic-style sash windows and distinctive bay windows. Its long connection with the local clergy adds to its heritage, making the preservation of its original features particularly important. When the new owner took on the property in 2024, much of the timber was neglected and rotten, and the initial plan was to replace the windows and timber doors.
However, obtaining planning permission for the replacement of the historic joinery became increasingly difficult, while the projected cost continued to rise. Sash Window Insulation offered an alternative: restore as much of the existing timber as possible using Paul’s restoration skills and Repair Care epoxy resins.
In some areas, the damage was extensive.
“Some windows were in such bad condition that I had to cut them in half and rebuild them. Repair Care’s DRY FLEX® 16 modelling properties allowed me to shape and restore intricate details, helping to preserve the character of the original joinery.”
Paul Doyne-Ditmas – Sash Window Insulation
Over several months, Paul and his team carefully restored 55 windows and timber doors across the property, including the main house, garages and Old Coach House.
The result was a positive outcome for both the owners and the Planning Authority: historic features were retained and the cost of restoration was significantly lower than replacement.
Working Together
For Paul, choosing Repair Care is about more than the products themselves.
As the business has grown, so has Paul’s experience and reputation for quality restoration. Along the way, Repair Care has provided not only specialist epoxy resins, but also training, technical advice and hands-on project support. This is often invaluable when working on projects with such specialised needs. Repair Care pride themselves on being able to provide expert advice backed up by years of working on heritage projects with specialised needs.
That combination of traditional restoration skills and modern repair technology has allowed Paul to approach historic timber differently: repair where possible, preserve original features and extend the life of existing joinery.
“Although there are other, cheaper products out there, I wouldn’t touch them. Once you understand the Repair Care system, you see how advanced it is.”
Paul Doyne-Ditmas – Sash Window Insulation
Historic timber does not always need to be replaced. With the right skills, support and repair system, it can be restored and preserved for the future.
