Regular care and maintenance of your windows and doors will help prolong their life and improve performance.
Here is our guide to maintaining your windows and doors, which you can also download as a handy PDF document.
Handles – Handles have a push button catch and a key lock.
To Open – Unlock with key, push the button, turn and push to open window.
To Close – Close window, turn handle and key lock.
Note – Ventilation is provided by engaging the window catches in the outer slot of the window keep fitted to the frame (see below).
You can lock the handle as suggested, but the window is not as secure as when fully closed and locked.
Handles – When closed, handle will be vertical with the pointed end down. Insert key to unlock.
Tilt Position – For ventilation, turn handle 90 degrees only and gently pull the top of the window back into the rest position. The handle can be locked in this position for overall safety.
Reverse to close. With larger frames, push both sides of window in at the same time.
Turn position – The complete window hinges inwards from the side.
From closed position, turn handle so pointed end is up. Gently pull window inwards as required.
Reverse the process to close.
To Slide – Disengage central catch on the horizontal meeting rail between the sashes and slide either up or down. Reverse to close and secure.
To Tilt Inwards for Cleaning
Bottom Sash – Disengage central catch and slide bottom sash up slightly. Disengage both slide button catches on either side of the horizontal meeting rail. Pull the top of the sash gently inwards.
Upper Sash – Slide the upper sash down to expose finger catches on the top of the sash. Slide the catches towards the centre and gently pull the sash inwards. Reverse to close. The catches will automatically re-engage. (NB: Tilt Restrictors are optional extras)
Slot ventilators may be fitted to the top of your window frame or opening sash to allow ventilation in your home without opening the window.
To open this, simply pull or slide top of shutter and reverse to close.
The window will open up to the ‘stop’. It can be opened further by lifting the lever on the hinge. On closing the window, the restrictor will re-engage automatically.
Escape/Easy Clean hinge
As fitted, the window opens up 90 degrees for escape.
For cleaning, depress the buttons on both hinges and slide towards the centre. On closing the window, the hinge will automatically revert to ‘escape’ mode.
The restrictor in the window rebate will limit the opening of the window. To open fully, draw the window slightly towards you and release the hook, taking care to avoid trapping your fingers. On closing the window, the restrictor will re-engage automatically.
There are two styles of handles that can be fitted to your doors.
It is important you identify the handle style on your doors.
The door can be opened from either side by unlocking and depressing the handle.
When unlocked, the door can be opened from the inside with the handle or with a key from the outside.
When the doors are closed, you must lift the handles to engage the hooks at the top and bottom of the door. This offers optimum weather and draught proofing and will protect your door unit against expansion and contraction issues that may arise from natural changes in the weather.
The door consists of a top and bottom leaf that can be used together like a conventional door or separately.
French doors include a master door, which always opens first. The remaining door – the slave – is operated independently but can only be opened when the master door is open.
Keyholes and handles are fitted to both sides of the door. A small lever engages catches between door and frame.
All windows, doors and other surfaces should be maintained as described in this booklet. However, there are a few additional matters that should be addressed.
Glass and plastic roofs can be cleaned with water and mild detergent, such as washing-up liquid, to remove grime and any naturally occurring algae. Always test first. Under no circumstances should abrasive cleaners and solvent-based materials be used on any surface.
Take care not to damage roof materials such as glass or polycarbonate. Do not walk directly on the roof. If necessary and with great care, use boards resting on frame members to spread the load. Avoid leaning ladders directly against plastic materials such as gutters, PVCU framing, roof sheets, etc.
All gutters, box gutters, and downpipes should be regularly inspected and kept clean and free of debris and blockages. A small quantity of standing water in gutters is normal and can be ignored.
After continuous use, it is possible that the hinge (friction stay) of outward opening windows may become slack or tight and difficult to use.
Opening the window will expose the hinges at top and bottom or on either side. Clean area first then, if still necessary, the small screw on one of the sliders of each hinge can be adjusted to increase or decrease friction.
This is a simple maintenance procedure that you can do yourself and is not covered by the warranty.
Some settlement may occur, causing slight interference when opening and closing. The hinges on PVCU entrance doors have two-dimensional adjustments.
Remember, by lifting the handles and engaging the hooks when the door is closed, you will protect your door unit from expansion and contraction caused by natural changes in the weather.
Glass used in most double-glazed units is easily scratched. Remove hand jewellery before cleaning. Any standard household cleaner can be used with a soft cloth, and we recommend that heavy external grime be initially removed with a solution of soap and water.
Laminated glass – or glass containing Georgian bars – is cleaned in exactly the same manner.
If you do have scratches in your glass, these tend to be able to remove by using jewellers’ rouge, or an equivalent rubbing compound.
Use a soft cloth, warm water and mild detergent, such as washing-up liquid, on uPVC, woodgrain, coloured finishes and other surfaces. Always test your solution first. Under no circumstances should you use abrasive cleaners and solvent-based materials.
A suitable cloth or soft brush, such as a paintbrush, can remove dust and cobwebs from moving parts, rebates, and cill areas where dirt, dust, and grit can naturally accumulate.
Take care not to dislodge decorative lead strips during cleaning. Though strongly bonded, excessive pressure might cause distortion or delamination of the lead from the glass surface. Exposed lead will oxidise naturally, creating an attractive and lasting patina. It is recommended that this not be disturbed.
Where fitted, drainage holes and slots should be inspected and kept clear from blockage for optimum performance, especially in bad weather. Dirt and grit should be removed from door thresholds, in particular from metal, low-level cills, and the inside lower rebates of opening windows.
Keep weather-strips and glazing gaskets clean and free from grime. Inspect to ensure good, consistent surface contact. In most cases, any dislodged gaskets or weather seals can be slid back into position. If damaged, it is important to get this replaced.
For smooth operation, handles, hinges, stays, and locks should be kept clean as suggested and occasionally lubricated to stop sticking and stiffness.
Appropriate lubricants could include:
Water vapour is continually present in the atmosphere, and in your home, this natural water content is increased by everyday living, such as cooking, bathing, washing, boiling a kettle, etc., plus the basic activity of breathing.
Water vapour remains undetectable in warm air, but as soon as it hits a cold surface, such as windows, mirrors, or tiles, it condenses into water droplets.
Traditional houses allow the escape of water vapour through natural ventilation – such as open flues of coal fires, air bricks and traditional windows and doors.
The drive to conserve energy has led to better windows and doors and to more effective home sealing, resulting in trapped water vapour and increased condensation problems. In fact, sometimes more energy-efficient double-glazed units can, in certain circumstances, lead to condensation on the OUTSIDE of the window.
Maintain a permanent level of heat in your house during cold weather, marginally increasing the temperature in areas where condensation is a particular problem.
If possible, fit radiators under windows to maintain the temperature of the inside pane of your double-glazing.
Water vapour will easily drift on warm air currents far from where it originated.
• Keep the doors to your kitchen and bathroom closed and draught-sealed where possible. This will prevent the moist air in these rooms from reaching other parts of the house.
• Bedroom windows should have a night ventilation facility to provide air movement.
• To ensure air flow around your windows, your curtains should be a minimum of 150mm (6”) away from the window, with suitable gaps, top and bottom, to allow air circulation.
To minimise the risk of condensation, provide natural ventilation whenever possible by:
Always bear in mind security when leaving a window open.
The manufacture of glass is an exceptionally aggressive process. As a consequence, slight imperfections and blemishes cannot be avoided and are accepted as an industry standard,d which states:
(Extracted from the standards of the Glass & Glazing Federation)
Though exacting inspection and quality control systems are in place, tints from the energy coating, inherent blemishes and marks within glass used to produce double glazed units is beyond our control.
To meet enhanced thermal performance standards set by the UK Government, glass with an energy-efficient coating is used in the manufacture of double-glazed units. As a consequence, it is perfectly normal to see a slight tint within the glass.
Patterned and decorative glass is manufactured in large sheets, and due to the spacing of pattern repetition, centralisation and matching of a design in an individual unit cannot be guaranteed.
To prevent weather ingress, joints between the building and windows, doors or conservatories are sealed with a suitable compound. It is possible that, in time, some unavoidable discolouration and shrinkage of the compound may naturally occur.
As with natural wood, allowance should be made for variations in the shading and pattern of woodgrain finishes together with slight surface marks, scratches, fish eyes and inclusions including those caused by the fabrication process such as welding of joints.
When viewed from a reasonable distance, coloured finishes should be substantially free from blemishes and orange peel effect. Allowances should be made for slight variations in shading between surfaces and for those caused by the fabrication process, such as welding of joints. As with all surfaces exposed to sunlight, slight colour changes can be expected over time.
Your double-glazed windows and doors have been specifically designed to include a variety of security features to protect your home and family against unwanted intrusion.
But, we recommend a number of precautions so you can take full advantage of the security features available:
The contents of the Product Care & Operation Guide are provided in good faith and, to the best of our knowledge, accurately describe the care and operation of the windows, doors, and conservatories installed by us.
However, we cannot be held responsible for inaccuracies that may be contained or for subsequent results.
In the unlikely event of damaged or faulty components, qualified personnel should use the correct parts to undertake remedial work. Please contact us for assistance and advice, especially if the item is covered by warranty.
Contact us should you have any difficulties or require assistance. We are here to help.
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