The leading cause of problems that customers face with uPVC windows and doors is not the quality of the actual windows or doors but errors occurring during installation. By following three simple principles during the installation process, you can avoid the majority of these problems and, with that, a lot of hassle to correct these errors.
1) The windows and doors and the wall of a building should form a uniform assembly.
It is critical to ensure that the window-wall (or door-wall) connections are made correctly to prevent damage to both the window and the building. Several forces impact the durability of this connection, such as wind, rain and snow, temperature changes, or other mechanical forces. Especially in countries like Canada, which have a very diverse climate with hot summers and cold winters, this is particularly relevant as the stress the outside forces put on the connections can be pretty extreme.
If the connections between the wall and the window or door are not durable or flexible enough, gaps can form on both the inside and the outside, leading to a damaging process that can allow water and cold air to enter the home or moisture from the inside of the house. These penetrations can cause damage to the window frame and wall or cause deformations or other damage to the windows, which cannot be repaired.
Following this important principle during the installation process can avoid many problems and headaches and, with that, also save you money.
2) The connections should be as waterproof and durable as a roof cover.
The roof is widely considered the most critical part of a building to be waterproof and durable. However, windows and doors are exposed to the same elements and temperatures as the roof and, therefore, are subject to the same quality standards regarding connections and insulation. So it is critical to ensure that the connections between the wall and the window or door are tight and fully insulated to eliminate any potential for leaks.
But there is more to it because another critical part of a window or door installation is the movement of joints around the window or door. These joints are small gaps where materials mechanically bind the window to the walls and the material used for thermal insulation. It is crucial that these joints are protected against penetration by rainwater or other elements to ensure there are no leaks.
3) The inside should be more vapour-tight than the outside.
We have discussed the importance of leak-tightness, but air, vapor, and water play a significant role in the third principle of correct uPVC window and door installation. To keep the fabric of the building dry, the air, water, and vapour tightness of the connections between windows and walls of a house must be greater on the inside than on the outside. You can achieve this by using vapour barrier materials to cover the thermal insulation of the connectors. Using particular materials that will allow for evaporation will guarantee that no water will be able to penetrate the structure while enabling water and moisture that have managed to penetrate the thermal insulation layer to drain and evaporate.
Therefore it is critical to ensure that a boundary to separate the inside and the outside of a building is established along the complete surface of the external wall without any breaks in the sealing connections. Any damage to this boundary will lead to so-called “thermal bridges,” which are the uncontrolled loss of energy and lead to condensation inside the wall.
The three principles we described cover the majority of common and avoidable issues in installing uPVC windows and doors. Keeping them in mind will help you avoid a lot of time and hassle and save you money by doing things right the first time.
It is also important to note that with many manufacturers, improper installation may void all warranties, so it is critical to follow the installation guidelines and keep the above principles in mind to ensure comfort in your home and your peace of mind or service request for a professional uPVC window installer.
Contact us today at (416) 690-9992 to find out how Eco Choice Windows & Doors can help you with your uPVC window and door installations. We offer free, no-obligation quotes for any uPVC window and door renovation project.
