Just had a bad dream of a day with window fitters.

They've done a good job on most of the house but today did the
(90degree) bay window. When it came to the point of putting in the
main pane, which is big, about 1.2m x 1.5m, the fitter found the frame
was bowed upwards in the middle of the bottom part. He appeared not to
have cut the existing frame level or he shoved too much foam in
resulting in the upvc being forced up. The result was that the dg unit
was tight as a gnat's wotsit in the middle of the bottom horizontal
part of the frame and at the upper corners of the top frame - imagine
a pair of (( turned through 90 degrees for an exaggerated idea of it.
So much so that he had to bend at the top to stand a chance of getting
the bead in, during the course of which he put a crack in it.

I'm concerned. Am I right to fear that forcing a dg unit into a frame
will strain it and potentially weaken it early in its life? Should I
demand that they fix the issue of the flexed and cracked frame and
reinsert the dg unit before I pay them?

Of course I should. I know the answer already (having a good rant on
here can be very clarifying for the mind sometime), but any further
thoughts/observations on these sorry cowboys are welcome.

tia

Ants

Its not right in my opinion - there is no reason why you should accept a
crack. Insist they change it.

"Antony" wrote in message
om...
Just had a bad dream of a day with window fitters.

They've done a good job on most of the house but today did the
(90degree) bay window. When it came to the point of putting in the
main pane, which is big, about 1.2m x 1.5m, the fitter found the frame
was bowed upwards in the middle of the bottom part. He appeared not to
have cut the existing frame level or he shoved too much foam in
resulting in the upvc being forced up. The result was that the dg unit
was tight as a gnat's wotsit in the middle of the bottom horizontal
part of the frame and at the upper corners of the top frame - imagine
a pair of (( turned through 90 degrees for an exaggerated idea of it.
So much so that he had to bend at the top to stand a chance of getting
the bead in, during the course of which he put a crack in it.

I'm concerned. Am I right to fear that forcing a dg unit into a frame
will strain it and potentially weaken it early in its life? Should I
demand that they fix the issue of the flexed and cracked frame and
reinsert the dg unit before I pay them?

Of course I should. I know the answer already (having a good rant on
here can be very clarifying for the mind sometime), but any further
thoughts/observations on these sorry cowboys are welcome.

tia

Ants

In article ,
Antony wrote:
I'm concerned. Am I right to fear that forcing a dg unit into a frame
will strain it and potentially weaken it early in its life? Should I
demand that they fix the issue of the flexed and cracked frame and
reinsert the dg unit before I pay them?

IMHO, the frame should be perfectly level and square after installation
and sealing.

Of course I should. I know the answer already (having a good rant on
here can be very clarifying for the mind sometime), but any further
thoughts/observations on these sorry cowboys are welcome.

I installed a Screwfix UPVC window and patio doors, and the instructions
were very explicit about not warping anything. I packed and fixed them
solidly at the correct intervals before using any foam - and that
sparingly.

I'm sure practice makes perfect, but it took me quite some time to get
things right.

Two years on, both are working great.

--
*Where there's a will, I want to be in it.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

So much so that he had to bend at the top to stand a chance of getting
the bead in, during the course of which he put a crack in it.

I`d be concerned too - Shouldn`t upvc double glazed frames generally have
strengthening rods inside them, so there shouldn`t have been any movement
anyway ?

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"Antony" wrote in message
om...
Just had a bad dream of a day with window fitters.

They've done a good job on most of the house but today did the
(90degree) bay window. When it came to the point of putting in the
main pane, which is big, about 1.2m x 1.5m, the fitter found the frame
was bowed upwards in the middle of the bottom part. He appeared not to
have cut the existing frame level or he shoved too much foam in
resulting in the upvc being forced up. The result was that the dg unit
was tight as a gnat's wotsit in the middle of the bottom horizontal
part of the frame and at the upper corners of the top frame - imagine
a pair of (( turned through 90 degrees for an exaggerated idea of it.
So much so that he had to bend at the top to stand a chance of getting
the bead in, during the course of which he put a crack in it.

I'm concerned. Am I right to fear that forcing a dg unit into a frame
will strain it and potentially weaken it early in its life? Should I
demand that they fix the issue of the flexed and cracked frame and
reinsert the dg unit before I pay them?

Of course I should. I know the answer already (having a good rant on
here can be very clarifying for the mind sometime), but any further
thoughts/observations on these sorry cowboys are welcome.

tia

Ants

As you say "Just had a bad dream of a day with window fitters" is it really
worth losing sleep over...?
--
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http://www.tuppencechange.co.uk
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On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 23:39:49 +0100, Colin Wilson wrote:

I`d be concerned too - Shouldn`t upvc double glazed frames generally
have strengthening rods inside them, so there shouldn`t have been
any movement anyway ?

They do but thats more to stop them bending under their own weight.
uPVC is very flexable.

As to the OPs problem. The frame should not be distorted at all, units
should fit easyly. Any stress on a unit is highly likely to make the
unit fail early. Get 'em back to fix it properly. Not quite sure if
the crack at the top is in the beading or the frame itself. Niether is
good, the latter really bad and needs to sorted out. I don't think you
can repair cracked uPVC, at least not by methods available to a DG
installer. I suspect a cracked frame means it's time for a new frame.
Prepare for extended discussions.

Who did the work? A sub-contractor to a national chain(*) or regional
firm or a small local company? Start with a telephoned complaint,
follow it up in writing and start keeping copies and records of
everything. Try and get the boss man involved, with one of the
nationals that'll be the local franchise holder, the national head
office won't be very interested in my experience.

(*) It can be difficult to tell if you have subbies or real staff as
subbies may well be provided with a uniform and logo'd van etc.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

On 11 Aug 2004 14:13:19 -0700, (Antony)
wrote:

When it came to the point of putting in the
main pane, which is big, about 1.2m x 1.5m, the fitter found the frame
was bowed upwards in the middle of the bottom part. He appeared not to
have cut the existing frame level or he shoved too much foam in
resulting in the upvc being forced up.

I'm no DG fitter (nor would want to be) but did help my mate fit 8
uPVC frames (including two dormers and one 45 deg bay) and *none* were
bent, bowed, out of plumb etc.

Why, because we took the time to do the right 'prep' (running the
angle grinder / bolster over high spots, playing with loads of
different shims, removing the frame several times till we got it right
etc), time most 'fitters' don't have or won't offer (low margins etc).

There is no reason why your DG bay frame should be 'bent / bowed' in
any direction .. I just hope you haven't made your final payment yet?

Yes, you could just leave it as is and turn your back on it but why
should you? If you had you car repaired and the boot lid was sticking
up at a funny angle you would take it back and get them to sort it
wouldn't you?

All the best ..

T i m