Care & Maintenance

It is important to maintain and care for your windows and doors.
Proper maintenance is not just good for you and the environment, it pays for itself many times over.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Some windows in your house may be fitted with a restrictor which limits the initial opening of the window to 100mm. This provides protection from falling to small children.

It is important that the householder makes sure all occupants are familiar with these
restrictors and can release them in case of fire.

To release the restrictor :
1. Open the sash out as far as the restrictor will allow
2. Pull the sash back in slightly – (10 – 12mm, )
3. Push down on the restrictor arm and pull inwards.

This releases the restrictor and allows you to open the sash fully. The restrictor will automatically engage when you close the sash again.

Maintenace

Wooden Windows and Doors - Care and Maintenance

During the Build Process

Keep the coating intact at all times.
Protect surfaces from plaster, render or concrete damage. Clean off any spatters while wet, with clean water – do not use any acid based cleaners. Plaster damage will cause damage to coating and timber staining.
Use any brick or stonework wash with extreme caution. These products are usually acidic. Spatters will cause paint, timber and hardware damage.
Pay particular attention to the protection of window cills and door thresholds from damage by plaster, render or cleaning products.
Keep moisture content of timber at acceptable levels. Dry and ventilate the building. Excessive moisture levels will cause expansion of timbers, jamming of doors and growth of mould and algae on the timber surface.
When the house is completed, heat and ventilate.

Maintenance

This product has a factory applied coating. Where any damage or marking of the product has occurred during the build process, brush coating with a single coat of paint on the outer face will restore a good decorative finish and prolong the coating life. In a location which is exposed to severe weather conditions this treatment will also give added protection against moisture damage. For translucent finishes Sikkens Filter 7 or Saldolin are suitable products. For opaque finishes Sikkens Satura will provide good cover.
Inspect windows at least annually. Pay particular attention to lower areas, glazing beads and cill. Repair any small patches of coating damage promptly.
Wash surfaces with a solution of warm water and liquid detergent – change water frequently. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. The build up of dirt on joinery surfaces encourages mould growth.
Check joinery for signs of algae or mould growth. Treat affected areas with a solution of one part household bleach to two parts water. Allow 20minutes to act and wash off with cold water and a stiff nylon brush. This is very important on building facades which are exposed to cold and damp. Unchecked mould growth may damage the coating and penetrate the timber to cause permanent damage.
Redecorate when the lower parts of the joinery show general signs of wear. The time taken for this to happen will depend on the climate and level of shelter. Redecoration time must be based on physical inspection of the windows.
Remember that timber is a natural product – it expands and contracts with varying climatic conditions. With a panelled door this may give rise to lines on the paintwork around the panel. Sand down any unevenness and touch up the coating in this area.
Keep moving parts – hinges, locks, handles etc. clean and free of grit, dirt or mortar. Clean regularly. Apply an acid free oil, Vaseline or a silicone lubricant to all moving parts at least once a year.
Do not paint over rubber gaskets or ironmongery

uPVC and Ecotherm Windows and Doors - Care and Maintenance

uPVC Windows and Doors

Protect window from , plaster or render spatters
If using an acid brick wash or other aggressive cleaner make sure this does not damage the window or leave any residue on hardware or weatherstripping
Warranty does not cover damage caused by wet trades or aggressive cleaning.
Clean uPVC parts using water and a mild household detergent annually
Wipe off any glass cleaning product which gets on the uPVC or on the gaskets.
Never allow contact between paint stripper or a blow lamp and the uPVC
Keep moving parts – hinges, locks, handles etc. clean and free of grit, dirt or mortar.
Apply an acid free oil, Vaseline or a silicone lubricant to the moving parts annually.
Do not paint uPVC windows

EcoTherm Windows and Doors

Protect window from spattering with cement based products such as plaster or render
If using an acid brick wash or other aggressive cleaner make sure this does not damage the window or leave any residue on hardware or weatherstripping
Damage caused by wet trades or aggressive cleaning is not covered under warranty
Clean frames using water and a mild household detergent annually
Wipe off any glass cleaning product which gets on the frame or on the gaskets
Never allow contact between paint stripper or blow lamp and window or door
Keep moving parts – hinges, handles etc. clean and free of grit, dirt or mortar.
Apply an acid free oil, Vaseline or a silicone lubricant to hardware annually

Glass

Protect glass from all alkali materials and fluoride bearing compounds
Never use scrapers, razor blades, steel wool or other metal tool on glass – the window supplier is not responsible for scratches occurring during construction or cleaning.
Water used to wash the face of the building may contain contamination taken from mortar, cement, organic coatings etc. – it will damage the glass surface.
Remove glass labels promptly after installation – prolonged exposure to the sun can make the adhesive very difficult to remove.
Protect glass from splatter during welding/cutting – will cause permanent damage.
Protect glass from concrete splatter – dried on concrete is impossible to remove without glass damage
Organic solvents, oils and plasticisers must not come in contact with the glass.
Protect glass during surface treatment of masonry – acid washing, sand blasting, grouting and waterproofing.
Prolonged exposure to sprinkling or spraying with hard water can lead to the minerals in the water precipitating out on the glass and becoming chemically bonded to the glass causing permanent damage.

Standard Glass Cleaning Procedures

Clean glass from top of building to bottom
Never clean glass in direct sunlight – the cleaning solution will dry on the glass – the dry surface will allow scratching to occur
Use a solution of water and mild detergent – e.g. wash up liquid
Use clean grit free cloths or a clean grit free sponge
Rinse the glass immediately with plenty clean water to remove all detergents
Use a clean, lint free cloth or squeegee to dry the glass