Patio Doors and Composite Doors

Patio Doors
Patio Doors are most commonly made from PVC-u, and have a sliding action. The finish may be white, or a light or dark timber effect. Some patio doors have more complex opening arrangements than the simple sliding action. for example, some can tilt for ventilation, and hinge outwards. Patio doors can also have a concertina action, with the doors typically opening outwards, or inwards for opening, otherwise known as bi-folding door. This has the benefit of providing a full width clear opening to terrace or garden.

Viewed from inside or out, patio doors transform the look of your rooms as well as your home as a whole. Illuminating interiors with natural light, providing comfort from the elements and affording security with peace of mind, are the essential criteria for all window and door products. These are the standards by which our reputation has been established. Good looks, great performance and long lasting peace of mind.

Composite Doors;
Where a door will be exposed to weather or particularly harsh or humid climates - composite doors are a smart choice. These doors realistically imitate the look of wood, thanks to a combination of moulded wood grain texturing and the fact that they can be stained to match most popular wood, such as Golden Oak or Rosewood.
The word Composite is used to refer to doors and Windows that are made up of more than one material. A composite door can look very much like a wooden door and part of the reason for this is that the mould was originally taken from a very old real wood door with outer frame moulded from PVC-u.

Your composite door will not crack, dent, peel or expand due to weather conditions. Unlike timber, they will not rot, bow or split and have a thermal insulation value of up to four times of timber doors.

C & L Windows and Conservatories LTD

48, Stroud Road

Gloucester

Gloucestershire

GL1 5AJ

01452 526028

www.candlwindows.co.uk 

Condensation the answers?

Condensation is a relatively new phenomenon resulting mainly from changes in lifestyle and our desire to keep heating costs as low as possible. Condensation is related to the way we heat, ventilate and insulate our homes. In days gone by, most homes had one or two chimneys; allowing up to four air changes per hour. Doors and windows were generally less well fitting than they are today. This natural ventilation was the very process which prevented condensation. To cope with increased fuel costs came the trend to insulate. This resulted in loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and double glazing. However, it is also a fact that energy-efficient homes are more likely to suffer from condensation - because anything that keeps warm air in will also keep fresh air out, creating the ideal conditions for condensation to form. Before we tackle the problem, we have to understand exactly what condensation is, then find the best way to deal with it. Condensation is merely the air’s natural moisture content settling on cool surfaces. The amount of moisture in the air is called relative
humidity. If the humidity level rises above 70%, mould and mildew will be encouraged to grow.
Astonishingly, the average family creates up to 20 pints of moisture every day, simply by washing, cooking and breathing. This moisture must go somewhere and be dealt with to avoid condensation.

What is condensation? 
Condensation is water vapour suspended in air. where does most water vapour come from? The most common sources of water vapour are cooking, drying clothes on radiators, washing up, in house plants, moisture in newly built properties and extensions and from the breath we exhale. where can condensation occur? Due to the thermal currents within a house, condensation can occur in a number of places, usually at cold spots i.e. An unheated room or a conservatory without any form of adequate heating. Condensation forming on the room side surface of a sealed unit indicates a high water vapour content present and that the temperature of the room side glass surface is inadequate. Condensation within the airspace of the sealed unit indicates the unit
has broken down.

Double glazing cannot cause condensation
I did not have condensation before my new windows were installed. There must be something wrong with them. This is a common assumption but, unfortunately, it is also incorrect. Windows cannot and will not produce any water. This ‘water’ is produced by our normal living activities. Therefore we, the householder have created the problem. 

How do I know if I have condensation?
Condensation will take many forms, the most common being steamed up windows and puddles of water on the window sills. In extreme cases, dark spots of mould will appear around the windows, wall coverings and mastic seals throughout the house.
If you have a non-condensing tumble dryer, make sure it is properly vented to the outside of your home. Remember, tumble dryers can create 16 pints of water vapour during one cycle.

How can double glazing help?
Sealed unit replacement windows act as an insulator which will reduce heat loss which under normal circumstances, would be conducted from the inside of the room to the outside. Please remember that sealed units act as an insulator and are not a source of heat, therefore all rooms should be adequately heated - especially conservatories. The likelihood of condensation forming on a warm surface is therefore reduced.

How do I reduce condensation?
Condensation can be controlled by providing natural ventilation to change air on a regular basis and by maintaining an even temperature. This is achieved through ventilating units which are controlled by humidistats, an airbrick, or by opening a window. Please remember that the airbrick must be open to achieve good results. An effective way of controlling condensation would be to install a dehumidifier. This cost could be avoided if the problem is
one of ventilation, by installing an airbrick thereby creating ventilation or controlling those causes of moisture, that result in a build up of moisture in the air.

Breathing. 
Two sleeping adults exude two pints of moisture in 8 hours, which is absorbed as water vapour into the atmosphere. 

New property 
The bricks, timber, concrete and other materials in an average 3 bedroom house absorb 1500 gallons of water. The same principle will apply to a conservatory base and the construction materials used. As with any new building work, please allow a period of drying out to ensure problems are not encountered in the future.

Kitchens & Bathrooms
Prevent water vapour finding its way into the other rooms of your house by closing the adjoining doors and leaving a window open after cooking or showering to allow a change of air. Extractor fans and cooking hoods work well for this purpose.
If you find dark mould spots forming treat the affected area immediately with a solution of household bleach or milton fluid. This will kill the mould spores and prevent them from spreading to other areas. All new houses with improved insulation and replacement windows are likely to trap moisture build up. This can be identified and dealt with, as long as all the rooms are heated throughout the house, and the air is changing regular basis.

Conclusion
Condensation is the result of a build up of moisture caused by normal lifestyles and the continual improvement and modernisation of our homes.
Replacement Windows can not produce condensation. Double glazing will act as insulator if there is sufficient heat within the house in the beginning. Therefore it is wise to attempt to control the amount of water vapour displaced within the household and to provide controlled ventilation to dispel the moisture before a problem arises.

C & L Windows and Conservatories Ltd

48, Stroud Road

Gloucester

Gloucestershire

GL1 5AJ

01452 526028

www.candlwindows.co.uk 

Product Care and Maintenance

When buying new windows and doors you will need to know the basics of keeping your home looking great and as new owners of top quality products, you'll have to spend very little time keeping them in excellent condition.
To maintain your products they will benefit from a small amount of care and attention.

1. General cleaning of PVC-U and aluminium products; Frames are best cleaned by regular (six monthly) washing with warm soapy water. If exposed to smoke, cooking fumes or external pollution, or you are in a coastal location, please wash more frequently as these conditions can cause permanent discolouration. Avoid leaving anything that can rust on the external cill of your products as this will become more permanent
2. Residential Doors, Patio Doors and Bi-folding Doors; The cill frame and any stainless steel tracks should be cleaned with a soft brush and warm soapy water, taking care to clear all drainage slots. Any hinges, locks or wheels, should be regularly lubricated to ensure smooth movement and slick lock operation.
3. Casement Windows; Keep the friction stays clear of dirt and debris. If stays become too slack, tighten gently with the small brass friction screw, ensuring the tension is equal on both sides. Lubricate all visible moving parts on the stays and the locking systems, with a silicone based spray or light machine oil. Clean off any excess lubricant. If handles become loose, remove the cover caps and tighten the screw gently, then replace the cover cap. Continued use with wobbly handles, can damage the gearbox on the locking mechanism.
4. Glass; Glass is best cleaned with warm soapy water or with readily available consumer glass products. however avoid spraying the frames with these chemicals. If you have leaded glass, this will appear silver when new, oxidisation will occur and the lead will change colour, ending up as a dark grey colour. This is normal and will take a couple of months before stabilising.
5. Drainage; From time to time, particularly after heavy rainfall, you may notice a small accumulation of water in the bottom of the Cill frame. This is normal, this water will eventually disperse through the drainage slots and into the dispersion channels designed inside the PVC-u profiles. It is vital to keep these drainage slots free of dirt and debris.
6. Condensation; Your new windows should help reduce condensation in your home. The latest energy saving glass means the inner pane is much warmer than single or old double glazing. however, condensation is caused by the humidity in the house, usually coupled with poor ventilation.

C & L Windows and Conservatories Ltd

48, Stroud Road

Gloucester

Gloucestershire

GL1 5AJ

(01452) 526028

www.candlwindows.co.uk 

Trickle Vents - Always a tricky one

Trickle Vent Windows Advice

A recent question and answer session posed in the Daily Telegraph about the use of trickle vents has been the source of much debate on Twitter by members of the installation community.

Jeff Howell’s advice to a reader on whether he or she needed to replace windows with trickle vents with like has served to highlight the complexities facing many a homeowner and installer.

The Glass and Glazing Federation outlines the current correct guidance on using trickle vent windows.

All buildings have to be ventilated in order to maintain the health and well being of everyone using them. There are two kinds of ventilation: background and rapid. Background ventilation can be provided by trickle ventilators. Rapid ventilation by opening the window.

The need for background ventilation depends upon the building and how it is currently being ventilated. When it comes to replacing windows an installer will need to determine if background ventilation would be required.

If a window is not well ventilated then it can lead to condensation build up which, if left, can lead to the proliferation of potentially harmful mold spores.

Current building regulations* state that it is only mandatory to install trickle ventilators within a replacement window if there was a trickle ventilator within the existing window. This is so buildings that were originally designed to have background ventilation continue to do so. Removing such vents could lead to serious problems with condensation at any point of the room where it loses heat (a thermal bridge) and not just on the windows themselves.

The above answers the reader’s question posed in the Daily Telegraph but it was not the same advice given in the article itself which referred to a period in 2010 when originally trickle ventilation was going to be installed in all replacement windows. This recommendation was changed following discussions between the fenestration industry and the Government department responsible for buildings regulations, which agreed this would not be required.

A FENSA registered installer guarantees your job meeting Building Regulations. The installers have been vetted and undergone inspections to enable them to self-certify that their work passes Building Regulations.

FENSA is the first glazing self-certification scheme to start in the UK, they have 12 years of raising standards in the glazing industry since it was established in 2002, and it continues to work closely with government and industry. FENSA installers are continually vetted and inspected to ensure that compliance with the Building Regulation standards is being maintained.

On completion of the work you, the homeowner, will receive a FENSA certificate soon after the job is finished. This needs to be kept safe as it will be requested by the solicitor when you come to sell your home.

Benefits of FENSA

Other than knowing your windows and doors are being fitted to the high standard demanded by Building Regulations there are more benefits of using a FENSA installer:

• Offer Guarantee/Warranty: to cover the costs of completing rectification work in respect of defect.
• Insurance to back up the guarantee/warranty in the event the installer ceases to trade.
• Deposit Protection
• Replacement certificates – Can be ordered online. FENSA can offer support to your solicitor when tracing missing certificates during the sale of your property

How to get the best from your installer

Here are some hints and tips for when you are searching for your window and door installer (or indeed any contractor), and some practical steps to take when dealing with them.

• Get recommendations from family and friends.
• Shop around and ask for references – and follow them up!
• Get everything in writing – including cost estimates, timeframes, product selected etc
• Ask three installers to quote for your project.
• Ask them what insurance they provide – for things such as deposit protection.
• Check your installers’ credentials. If they claim Competent Person Scheme registration they will be listed on the relevant website: www.FENSA.org.uk

If you decide to go with an installer not FENSA registered you will need to organise an inspection of your installation job by your local building inspector. This can cost up to £250. If the installation is deemed to be below standard then the homeowner will be responsible for sorting out any problems. This is why we highly recommend using a Competent Persons Scheme like ourselves.

C & L Windows and Conservatories Ltd
48, Stroud Road
Gloucester
Gloucestershire
GL1 5AJ
(01452) 526028

www.candlwindows.co.uk