Removing UPVC window

MJN

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I want to remove a UPVC window and having hacked off one side of plaster on the inside I was expecting to find cleats similar to these securing the window to the internal wall leaf:

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-uPVC-Window-Frame-Fixing-Cleats-Pack-of-10/p/180130

But I didn't see anything of the kind:

http://www.newtonnet.co.uk/permanent/loungewindow1.jpg
http://www.newtonnet.co.uk/permanent/loungewindow2.jpg
http://www.newtonnet.co.uk/permanent/loungewindow3.jpg
http://www.newtonnet.co.uk/permanent/loungewindow4.jpg

The vertical plastic piece (held in with two nails and a bit of plasterboard adhesive overspill) looks to me like it it some sort of cavity closer and its profile is such that I can't see how any sort of straight cleat could pass through/behind it. I certainly can't see anything on the exposed blockwork.

Any ideas how this window is secured in place? Incidentally, the inside of the frame shows no obvious fixings passing through to anything either (I've only checked the opener; I haven't removed the fixed glazing to see if there any clues tehre).

I will continue to hack away when I can find a moment, and will look to remove the window ledge also in case there's anything under there (I wouldn't expect there to be as it'd also require something along the top which doesn't seem like a good place to secure a window what with the lintel above it).

Any suggestions?
 
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Only 4 other things I can think of:
1. Possibly some direct fixings behind the hinges. Pop the glass out first to look for lower fixings though.
2. Take off the flat trims down the sides of the window. Assuming the windows were originally box sash, Timber may be screwed to the sides of the window and the timbers fixed straight through to the outer block.
3. May only be fixing foam. Again take the side trims off and see whats behind.
4. Very rare! Cavity closers with built in clips that the whole window clicks into
 
Really appreciate your thoughts Gazman.

I think I definitely need to rule out direct fixings - good point about the possibility they might be hidden behind the hinges. I will definitely take the fixed pane out too as if there are any they should be pretty obvious there.

The flat trims down the sides just don't want to move, even having removed the sealant (on the outside only; the inside ones were hidden behind the plasterboard and had no sealant). It's almost as if they are some sort of channel that the window sits in... which is making me think there might be something along the lines of your suggestion 4! This is a Persimmon house built in 2007 and so they could well have used what is presumably a time-saving approach of a dedicated former/fixer/cavity-closer prior the windows going in.

Further investigation required...
 
Is this a new build or newish? Some window fitting friends of mine who mainly do new build use a system where by a sprung clip screwed to the side of the window with teeth that grip grooves on the cavity closer, no fixings it's all about speed on sites
 
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Can you post some better pics of the internal side trims?
They may just be super glued on which will probably mean caving to smash/cut them off with a chisel and hammer. (Maybe clipped though) Either way it they get damaged you can get new trims.

Checking behind the glass would be a good first step.
 
I finally got round to the removing the window (and a set of French doors for that matter) and can confirm that they were held in place by a combination of 'conventional' fixing cleats (top and bottom) and a proprietary cavity closer with a full height clip on the sides:

http://www.newtonnet.co.uk/permanent/loungewindow5.jpg
http://www.newtonnet.co.uk/permanent/loungewindow6.jpg

The clip was easy to remove once I knew it'd come out, the cleats were a bit more difficult as the top ones appeared to spot welded (possibly rivetted?) to the lintel above and so I ended up hacksawing them loose.

Thanks everyone for the inputs - they were most helpful in getting my head around what possibilities I was facing.
 

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