Common Aluminium Door & Window Problems

1. Misalignment

 

Cause: Often, we find issues with the original installation. There may also be evidence of damage sustained during transportation.

 

Effects: Misalignment can drastically affect user experience or risk damage to components. A door or window that is incorrectly aligned reduces energy efficiency, negates water-tightness and can result in the door or window being difficult to operate. During wet periods, failure to repel water can lead to water damage.

 

2. Warped Components

 

Cause: Issues with the original installation can be evident on warped doors or windows.

 

Effects: Anything that reduces the correct closing alignment or that causes snags upon use will drastically reduce the lifespan of aluminium assets. The door or window will not ‘settle’. Any existing faults at installation will only worsen and eventually lead to either a costly repair or decommissioning of an asset.

 

3. Aluminium Corrosion

 

Cause: Constant exposure to climate extremes. Coastal areas see the worst cases due to salt in the air. Lack of maintenance and simple regular cleaning accelerates the impact of the forces of nature.

 

Effects: Clouding of aluminium is clear evidence of corrosion, as the aluminium slowly oxidises. This can be limited to just the surface, but the longer it is left untreated, the more damage is done as the surface becomes pitted and the corrosion deepens.

 

4. Damaged Aluminium Doors or Windows

 

Cause: Minor scratches from normal use build over time. Accidents involving the aluminium or windows being struck vandalism, or as a result of a break-in and even over-zealous attempts to clean or polish can cause consequential damage.

 

Effects: Severely damaged units leave buildings insecure and its occupants feeling vulnerable. Scratches and dents may seem superficial, but over time, the damage exposes the unit to accelerated corrosion.

 

5. Inferior Locks and Hardware

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Cause: Despite standards being set for certain elements, such as locks and latches, there are still some manufacturers whose equipment stands apart from lower-quality suppliers. Budget options and imported, mass-produced components exist and are sometimes fitted due to budget restraints, or inferior specification by a developer. There can also be issues with poorly trained technicians installing critical components incorrectly.

 

Effects: Inferior locks reduce security, increase the risk of the need for a call-out and in some cases, irreparable damage to entire units.

 

6. Insulation Performance

 

Cause: Absence of thermal breaks. Thermal breaks are fundamental to minimising heat transfer.

 

Effect: Without proper thermal breaks, insulation effectiveness is reduced and results in loss of heat in the winter and heat retention inside during the summer. The consequence of this is higher energy bills to heat premises, and unnecessarily warm spaces in which to live and work.

 

7. Water Ingress

 

Cause: Damage to seals and weather strips. Misalignment of components, poor installation or inferior specification.

 

Effect: Water damages anything that it comes into contact with. Your doors and windows should keep rain outside. Accumulation of water ingress can slowly damage floors, sills, walls, building structure and property. Mold resulting from a steady supply of water can be a risk of damage to health.

 

8. Soundproofing Performance

 

Cause: Incorrect fitting or even use of the wrong seal or gasket

 

Effect: Without a correct fit, noise from outside can enter a building. This is critical in modern cities with high-rise luxury apartments constructed within close proximity of one another and busy roads with high levels of noise pollution.

 

9. Sliding Door Track Deterioration

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Cause: Build up of dirt in the tracks and rolling mechanism. Lack of maintenance and cleaning.

 

Effects: Over time, this dirt grinds on and erodes components or can block free movement of parts. This reduces the life of the asset and the experience of using it.

 

10. Mold from Condensation

 

Cause: Inefficient insulation, damaged insulation or high humidity levels due to loss of insulation, or bad installation.

 

Effects: Left unrepaired, moisture will feed mold and the problem will worsen. Mold has been proven to cause respiratory issues in vulnerable people.

 

11. Damaged Glazing

 

Cause: A significant external strike, or accumulated damage over time from accidental impacts.

 

Effect: In any thermally protective glazing, integrity of the unit is fundamental - without an intact glazed panel, security, energy efficiency, noise reduction and safety are severely compromised.

 

12. Sun Damaged Surrounds

 

Cause: Environmental elements such as UV from the sun, rain, temperature fluctuations and pollutants cause damage to low quality coatings used on aluminium doors and windows.

 

Effects: Frequent maintenance is required for the asset to retain its lustre. Peeling of these layers can occur which will interfere with the performance of the door or window.

 

13. Faulty Hinges

 

Cause: A hinge is an integral part of a swing door. Any fault with the hinge will impact operational performance. Despite the existence of standards for manufacture, some suppliers' products are inferior to others. Correct specification and professional fitting - including the top-toeing of doors for correct weight distribution.

 

Effect: Damaged or badly fitted hinges, or inferior products will vastly reduce the life and performance of a swing door.

 

14. Catching Frames

 

Cause: Doors and windows require maintenance. With prolonged use, fixings can loosen, positions can slip. If your new doors and windows are catching, then either the installation was unprofessional, or the fabrication of the frame is sub-standard.

 

Effect: Incorrectly fitted and manufactured doors and windows can be unsafe, inefficient, perform badly and essentially require costly repairs or replacement.

 

15. Joint Breakages

 

Cause: Gaps and signs of breakages in the corner joints of door and window frames can be due to poor manufacture, poor installation, or in extreme cases, load bearing faults due to subsidence in a building.

 

Effect: Misalignment can occur impacting use during opening and closing, the unit might be unsafe and further damage can occur.

 

16. Gaps in the Surround

 

Cause: Issues with installation and manufacture, a building out-of-plumb.

 

Effect: Gaps around the frame are serious and require immediate attention. Something is very wrong.