Replacement of Frames: Useful Tips

Prepare for the Receipt of the Frames

Prepare Your Home Properly

The installation technicians will need space to workbut accidents happen. To reduce the likelihood of an accident, move:

• objects that tip over, such as floor lamps, away from the work area. 
• The process of installing a window or door can shake the walls, so remove fragile items from nearby shelves. 
• furniture located directly in front of or near the windows and doors to be replaced. This may include moving patio furniture, lawn ornaments, etc.

If large windows or doors need to be moved through the house to their destination, make sure they don't encounter obstacles near tight corners or along narrow hallways to allow them to pass through.

What You Need to Check During Installation

During installation, the frames must not come into contact with the masonry or the floor, otherwise the thermal insulation is negated. Between the frame and the masonry or the floor, plastic plugs or special elastic gaskets should be placed around the perimeter to maintain the thermal insulation properties of the frame and all joints should be sealed with foam insulation material and then with silicone.

At the bottom of the frame, at the time of installation and then at the joints, sealing materials should be used. All frames must have special holes in the casing for the drainage of water collected from rain and moisture. These holes are covered with special plugs. The glass sheets should also have sinks on the bottom and on the top.

Checks to be made on delivery

Hinged Frames

• When a hinged frame is installed, open the glass leaf. The leaf should stand still in any position and not close or open on its own and open almost silently.
• In double-leaf frames, when closed, the gap between them from the inside should be uniform from top to bottom.
• The technician will also indicate the correct way of opening - closing the frames, which should be carefully observed, especially if they are frames with tilting mechanisms. If you notice a blockage in the movement, do not try to fix the problem yourself, as you risk making it worse. The problem will be solved by the technical staff of the frame fabricator you have chosen.

Sliding frames

• You should not be able to lift the glass sash of a sliding frame.
• Check that the sashes of a sliding frame are the same width by sliding them in parallel and placing them in the same place. In addition, the sashes of a sliding frame must be exactly the same height
• In the recessed frame, the gap between the aluminium and the wall should be covered with a profile so that moisture from rainwater does not get in. When sliding recessed frames fully into the wall, they should not find any obstacle inside the wall.

Entrance doors

• All entrance doors shall have a threshold, even if it is only one centimetre high. Otherwise no gasket can be fitted, with the immediate consequence of not being insulated.
• Entrance doors should not lock with difficulty and should not move if pressure is applied or they are pulled when locked

Electric Rollers

We also check the operation of the rollers. If the electrical mechanism is stuck, call the technician to solve the problem, as the mechanisms of the rollers are complex and any careless intervention on our part may bring the opposite result from the expected one.

Fittings

The fittings that will be used in the construction of the frames are an important factor, both for the correct operation and for the longevity of the frame. This category includes gaskets, mechanisms, corners, handles, hinges, rollers, etc. The fabricator shall use all fittings proposed and approved by the designer and fabricator of the aluminium system.

Documents You Must Receive

Quality Guarantee

The fabricator must provide the customer with a Quality Guarantee of all products installed. The minimum warranty period is two (2) years and to be valid, the customer must comply with the terms of periodic maintenance and cleaning provided by the fabricator so that the frames maintain their high standards of durability over time and weather conditions. With proper use, maintenance and cleaning, the customer can contribute to both their proper functioning and their impeccable appearance.

CE marking

You should also obtain the special CE marking form from the fabricator, which is mandatory by European Union (EU) standards, for every frame of domestic use. CE stands for the French words "Conformité Européenne" which means European Conformity. CE does not in any way indicate product quality, but safety for the end user. Products that comply with the requirements of the European Standards, which set out the minimum specifications required for the product to be safe for consumer use. Products that do not bear the CE Marking are not allowed to circulate in the European Union, i.e. they are illegal!