double glazing windows. Are these fitters doing right?

mark27888 · 16 Oct 2014

Hello everyone.
We are having windows fitted by anglian installer. Unfortunately, it seems a few problems have arisen.
Are these problems worthy of suspending payment.

1.
The first is a large gap between frame and window on one window. From the top side to the bottom side there is minimum gap of nearly 8mm to over 15 mm at it's widest, and the screws are plainly evident.
Also, the window cill is cut longer than the frame, probably meaning the window should have been larger... Is this gap size normal or acceptable?

2.
The second is the amount of plaster removed from the side of the walls when removing the frame. Whilst that can happen, the fitter had no plaster with him so filled up the large gaps with a sealant, the same he put around the window edges when you finish. Then, having filled the gap with the sealant, the strip is placed over it. The rest of the gap, which is showing, will be filled with plaster. This was also done to another window in the house.

Is this excusable, or is it fair to ask the fitter (or should he) take out this strip and put plaster underneath it.

3
Also, none of the internal cills have been removed because they said the metal cills are attached to the house and would be too diffult /cause too much damage to remove. The frames are metal and have been in place for 40/years, so I guess this is understandable.

All thoughts welcome. Is this a a problem worthy of complaining to someone else about and
suspending final payment.

DHFrames · 16 Oct 2014

Pictures would help, as mentioned in a previous post, you never know exactly what type of fitter you're going to get when using a big national company, as some are good some bad.
1. Need pics
2. If you're not happy with the finish say so, personally if plaster comes off then I'd re plaster, many fitters caulk the odd little gap here and there, that's fine but large gaps is a no no for me. Same with trims, sometimes it's best for frames to be trimmed, yet again it's your preference being the customer
3. Was new internal window boards in your contract? If yes then what ever mess is made ie plaster off, it's down to them to put right!
Can I ask why you chose this company?

mark27888 · 17 Oct 2014

Hello,
I thought Anglian don't subcontract...? They told us they use in house fitters.
But yes, they did come from a long way.
uploaded pictures to album (so hopefully everyone can see them there) but I don't know how to transfer to this thread.
Regards,

Gazman16 · 17 Oct 2014

Gaps look ok from the pic you have uploaded. Windows should be at least 5mm slack on the smallest (tightest) measurement, If its a large window this gap should be even bigger (10-15mm all the way around) to allow for expansion.

A bit of plaster damage is sometimes unavoidable and the trims etc are standard.

To be honest from the pics you have posted (cant see much from them) but looks like you have got lucky and had a halfway decent fitter and surveyor.

DHFrames · 17 Oct 2014

Just because they're on the books doesn't guarantee the install will be up to scratch

DHFrames · 17 Oct 2014

Just seen the pics, this window is surely unfinished!? Has it now been finished today, are you happy with the work?

mark27888 · 24 Oct 2014

The double glazing glass unit was put together at our home, that is the glass sheet on the inside and the sheet on the outside was put in separately (rather than obtaining the double glazing windows factory sealed as a unit with argon gas inside). Indeed we didn't even see any argon cylinders around our home when they installed the windows. Is this common practice for double glazing firms to install windows in this manner, placing in the sheets separately.

DHFrames · 25 Oct 2014

You've lost me! From the 4 pics you've uploaded the glass looks like any other double glazed unit. Are you saying just this unit was fitted by putting in x2 single glazed units?
If not I'd say the original double glazed unit was broke prior to them turning up, they then either cut the x2 single glazed units at the factory or on site along with the spacer and fit. End product will look the same in turn the customer ends up paying, there could be some doubts over the efficiency of the unit!

mark27888 · 25 Oct 2014

Some of the windows were installed with seperate sheets i.e the inside glass and outside glass was not sealed as one unit (and the windows which were bought were meant to have argon gas inside). Yes the windows look like any other double glazing unit when they finished. It's just how they put some of the windows together.

crank39 · 25 Oct 2014

So they sealed them on site?

DIYWell · 26 Oct 2014

mark27888 said:
Hello,
I thought Anglian don't subcontract...? They told us they use in house fitters.
But yes, they did come from a long way.
uploaded pictures to album (so hopefully everyone can see them there) but I don't know how to transfer to this thread.
Regards,

The biggies all claim "in house fitters" but usually what this means is they put an exclusivity contract in place so the fitters can only work for one and not multiple. Also the pay is often tiny base salary and fixed price per installed window or just fixed price per install. Means they have to cover a larger geographic area to make a reasonable wage, and are motivated by how many fits in a day, not the quality of the fits.

Cabbyfan · 26 Oct 2014

On the pic from the outside have they done anything to seal the external frame to the brickwork ? I would be expecting something in that gap then a nice angled mortar to the brick maybe ?

DIYWell · 26 Oct 2014

mark27888 said:
The double glazing glass unit was put together at our home, that is the glass sheet on the inside and the sheet on the outside was put in separately (rather than obtaining the double glazing windows factory sealed as a unit with argon gas inside). Indeed we didn't even see any argon cylinders around our home when they installed the windows. Is this common practice for double glazing firms to install windows in this manner, placing in the sheets separately.

I'd be very surprised if you have anything between the sheets other than damp air. Get on to Anglia and either ask them to certify the units are as per spec, or get them to replace it with a factory sealed one. If it's atmospheric air filled, you'll know about as soon as it gets cold enough for you to see condensation/frost/ice on the inside, but tell Anglia your worry, and ask them to certify in writing that the onsite replacement was made to spec

DIYWell · 26 Oct 2014

Cabbyfan said:
On the pic from the outside have they done anything to seal the external frame to the brickwork ? I would be expecting something in that gap then a nice angled mortar to the brick maybe ?

I agree. External void needs sealing to stop water ingress. Either PU foam and mortar or frame sealant

Nooz · 27 Oct 2014

Sorry, I can't get my head round this one.
I've been in double glazing for nearly 30 years and 20 of them was for Anglian.
Never in all my time have I known anyone to put glass in a window like this, it's possible but they'd have to get the right size glass and spacer bars first which means going to a glaziers who could make them a sealed unit just as quick.
Anglian sealed units are spot on, designed to last 20+ years, this doesn't sound like something they'd do and I know exactly how dodgy they are!

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double glazing windows. Are these fitters doing right?

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