New build (2004) - Draughty

Skyhigh

Last year we moved to a relatively new house built in 2004 with two previous owners. (Built by Barratts)

Recently as the cold weather draws in I've noticed that many of the windows and the french doors let in a lot of cold air - you can feel it blowing through.

Air's getting in from the window frame/window seal.
In our bedroom and the french doors we're getting quite a lot of condensation on the windows.

I've looked into the NHBC, but it seems the window units themselves are only covered, so we'd have to have condensation *inside* the windows.

We can't claim on the windows guarantee as it's non-transferable and we're not the original owners.

I've heard that building regulations require that new builds are 'draft proofed', so I'm hoping that I could push the point with Barratts and get them to fix/replace the windows (even if they just replace the seals).

I've looked on:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/buildingregulations/
but can't find any references to a requirement to draft proof.


I've looked at replacing the seals myself, but I want to try this avenue first since if I touch the windows they wouldn't even consider looking at them.


Anyone had any experience with this type of issue or know about 'draft proofing' requirements? Or any ideas for alternative paths?


- Cheers

thebaldwindowfitter

are the windows upvc .have you got trickle vents on the frames

Airwolf1

Do they have mastic on the outside? (Yes, believe it or not, I've done the odd survey where windows have had no mastic on them)

lagi

I know the current regulations require cavity closers around windows and doors. Not sure if this was the case back in 2004, and it would be hard to tell if they are fitted without removing the window or seeing the original specification build sheet. (If they exist.) For the small cost, i will be fitting them in any other windows that i have fitted.

To find your leak, why not use a hair dryer on cold blow setting. Start at one part of the window with a partner inside and run it along the edges to see if they can feel where its coming from, you can always reverse the inside/outside testing to fully confirm. Hopefully it will be a mastic problem as this would probably be your cheapest option and something you could do yourselves.

Skyhigh

Cheers for the responses guys!

They are uPVC windows, double-glazed and they do have trickle vents on them but they're closed and don't cause a draught problem.

The draft feels (and you can really feel it when it's windy) is coming from the seal between the frame and the window unit itself. It looks like the 'P' seal has worn and been squashed so much that it's not really touching the window and sealing.

Looking at other peoples windows, they window units usually have an outer seal on the window unit itself, and then another inner seal on the frame that you can usually see from inside.

e.g. Outer seal - on window unit (white):
http://www.slcd.co.uk/images/large/duf_window1_LRG.jpg

Inner seal - on window frame (black):
http://www.vuewindows.com.au/assets/images/photos/european-hardware.jpg

I'm pretty sure that the frames are well sealed to the building and theres no gap in the sealant/mastic - but I'll double check, some windows seem worse than others.


Just as a test I bought some cheap stick-on foam window sealant and put it on top of the existing seal for one of the windows. Closed it and all draughts seemed to disappear, it sealed really well too.
We seemed to be getting much less 'outside noise' (we get a lot, you can easily hear people just talking normally across the street, it's like we've got no windows at all sometimes!).
But I removed it, since I didn't want the adhesive to bind and wouldn't want to damage the seals if theres a chance I can get them replaced by Barrats somehow.


Like I said before, I don't know if its worth waiting to see if Barrats will do anything, even though the windows are faulty - the warranty on the windows doesn't apply as it was non-transferrable and seemingly the NHBC doesn't cover the window seals.

lagi

If its not transferable, can you not ring and be Mrs. Smith??? for a day. Very unlikely you would require proof as it was only 2004. If you know the previous name surely worth a phone call.

owned_by_2_Siamese

Hi - we had a similar problem - everything was fine at first - then the draughts started.... check the catch plate on your window frame - where the locking mechanism grips the frame when the window closes.. ours were screwed in and could be losened and the catch plate pulled closer to the window (only a few millimeters adjustment was possible) this made the window close tighter to the frame - and so the rubber draft sealer on the frame was closer to the window - and hey presto - no draughts! It is fiddley as doing too much and the window wont close (but you can then undo and slide back a little)- on some windows there were several to adjust - its' worth a try!
Open the window and look down the frame - worth a go? Otherwise try a local window comapany - they might be prepared to come and adjust them albeit you have to pay - it might be worth it if you cant do it yourself?

thebaldwindowfitter

is the draught at the hinge side /lock side or both .sometimes the hinges fail and dont seal properly .if its lock side the espagnolet can be adjusted with an allen key in the roller cams by turning

Skyhigh

On most of the windows the drafts are coming from the bottom and hinge side, although on the french doors in the kitchen its from the top mostly.

I'll have a look to see if I can adjust the unit so it fits closer - I didn't realise that you could adjust the windows, but I'll have a look to see.

After previous experimentation the only way to get a 'good seal' on some of the windows is to shut them quite hard (almost slam), but I'm not doing that since I'm sure it will damage the windows.

thebaldwindowfitter

is the a outside cill on these windows and if so has it been sealed were it meats the frame ?.