Velux window story

handful

I just thought I'd share a potentially disastrous story. On Sunday morning at 3am my son was awakened by a load bang followed by a 'tinkling' sound. When he turned on his light he discovered that his velux window had shattered (inside pane only) and sent tiny glass fragments showering over his bed. He came and woke up myself and OH and whilst we were stood gawping up at the window, a large shard, approx 6 inches x 3 inches fell out of the window and landed on his pillow.:eek:

Anyway, I have been in touch with Velux and they are coming tomorrow to replace the glass FOC (with laminated glass this time) and they are also checking our others and will replace anything that needs it. They were extremely helpful and although this may have been down to the potentiallly fatal consequences of this incident, they deserve credit for responding so positively.

I have absolutely no idea how this happened but my advice to anyone with velux windows is to get them checked out.

Barneysmom

It's possibly the freezing weather we're having, it the frame moves and the glass doesn't I suppose it could break?
I'm having problems with my conservatory door in this cold weather, we had to have all the locks and hinges adjusted to make a good fit again.

Well done to Velux for their rapid response! :cool:

SatanicHare

I've replaced the sealed units in loads of velux windows ( work for a d/g repair company) and most of them are fitted with 3mm float glass, the only sensible explanation i've been given for this is that generally most velux windows are sold to trade and the onus is on the purchaser to specify safety glass. Why velux don't fit it as standard and just factor it into the price is beyond me.

rodent

Hi I am a Landlord
I have a loft conversion with 3 velux windows, The tenant reported a shattered inner glass only around 6 months ago, on inspection i disbelieved him and told him so !! telling him one of his house mates/guests must have broken it without his knowledge.
This week a second one "exploded", the third is over Tenants bed so i am very grateful for OP for putting this post up as it would appear to not be an isolated incident. Will speak to velux and report back !

The Rodent

I'll_Be_Frank

rodent wrote: »

Hi I am a Landlord
I have a loft conversion with 3 velux windows, The tenant reported a shattered inner glass only around 6 months ago, on inspection i disbelieved him and told him so !! telling him one of his house mates/guests must have broken it without his knowledge.
This week a second one "exploded", the third is over Tenants bed so i am very grateful for OP for putting this post up as it would appear to not be an isolated incident. Will speak to velux and report back !

The Rodent

I am sure that being a gentleman, you have now apologised to this tenant
for calling him a liar and asked for his forgiveness.

Frank.

handful

I should really have updated this, sorry! Velux came out on NY Eve and replaced the glass on the broken window and two others that were installed at the same time, approx 2003 I believe.(All FOC:T) The fitter explained that although still fairly rare, they did have a few issues with units produced at around this time due to a change in the manufacturing process. I can't remember exactly what the problem was now but it was to do with changing from having just plain 'air' inbetween the panes to another type of gas, argon I think. Apparantly if there is an escape in argon gas and normal oxygen accesses the vacuum it can cause a build up of pressure causing this to happen. He checked the other 5 in the house as well and said they were all fine as they had the older 'air filled' units. He was extremely efficient and advised that the 10 year warranty would now commence again from that date for the glass. A worrying problem in the first place but a satisfactory conclusion.

chappers11

Same thing happened last night, around 3 am we had a loud bang and found the inner glass shattered.

Having seen the above thread, called Velux, and they have agreed to repair and replace with safety glass on the broken one and another the same, even though both are 8 years old

Only snag, will take 3 weeks to get them fixed...but again Velux customer service comes up trumps, they are paying for a glazier to make it safe in the mean time.

If i had not read this thread, i would have been paying through the nose for an emergency glazier, to thanks to all posters!

Tucker

The internet has it's faults, but it's priceless for us ordinary consumers sharing information just like this!

Good money saving Chappers!

996ducati

Im amazed that Velux dont now offer safety glass as standard.

We have to do that to comply with the building regs when fitting glazed canopies and by their very design Velux roof windows will always be overhead?

Maybe this is an old problem and they now offer safety glazing as standard?

jillmar

Just returned from A&E where my son has had to have stitches in a deep facial wound caused by falling shard of glass whene our Velux window has just exploded in exactly the same way! We had no idea what had happened as he was just sitting under the window using a PC. Thanks to the above posts, will now contact Velux and see what they say. Has anybody else suffered injury? Why on earth were these windows not fitted with safety glass as standard! My son is now scarred for life!

bex2010

We had a loft conversion done last year with 4 velux windows. Can anyone tell me how I can tell whether or not the windows have safety glass. I'm really worried now after reading these posts as my daughter sleeps up there.