How long should double glazing last?

knightstyle

As above, some units in our house have condensation in them after 6 years!

thebaldwindowfitter

Now thats a tough one we have done jobs which have lasted over 20 years and still going then we have replaced units that have failed within the 5 year guarantee period .There are a few things which can cause early failure one not sealed properly at the factory which is hard to spot and not being packed in the frame properly by the fitters which we see regularly when replacing

maninthestreet

The DG I had installed way back in 1998 was guaranteed for 10 years, but is still not showing any signs of failure 15 years later....

cyclonebri1

Strange, I answered a similar post yesterday, I've pasted this from my reply;

"Since this was lifted to the top by Katie I thought I'd just pass comment on my own situation.

We have lived in this property for 17 years, ever window and door was replaced 16 years ago with the exception of 2 massive bay windows to the front, they must have been changed a few years before we moved in.

In those last 16 years I have had to replace about 75% of the DG panels, those not replaced now need doing.

Not 1 of the bay window panes shows any sign of "fogging"

The difference being the front windows are quality joiner made Mahogany frames, they don't move with the sun."

cyclonebri1

thebaldwindowfitter wrote: »

Now thats a tough one we have done jobs which have lasted over 20 years and still going then we have replaced units that have failed within the 5 year guarantee period .There are a few things which can cause early failure one not sealed properly at the factory which is hard to spot and not being packed in the frame properly by the fitters which we see regularly when replacing

I found that with some of the units I replaced, only the outside or the inside pane was supported, ie, the packers didn't bridge the DG unit.

1 window fitter told me he has no problems, down to the fact that he always uses a silicone lubricant on the seals, any view on that ??

knightstyle

Thanks everyone. Now how can I show that the failure is due to the packing not being done properly? Plus should the windows whistle in the wind, what can I do to stop it?
Rep from window company that installed them is coming next week to quote for repairs but I feel they should last more than 6 years, not fit for purpose? Any legal experts out there?

cyclonebri1

knightstyle wrote: »

Thanks everyone. Now how can I show that the failure is due to the packing not being done properly? Plus should the windows whistle in the wind, what can I do to stop it?
Rep from window company that installed them is coming next week to quote for repairs but I feel they should last more than 6 years, not fit for purpose? Any legal experts out there?

Can't help you with the legal aspect, but I feel like you, they certainly should last longer than 6 years


And NO, the windows shouldn't "whistle in the wind", there is a problem with the seals or the adjustment if they do.

thebaldwindowfitter

knightstyle wrote: »

Thanks everyone. Now how can I show that the failure is due to the packing not being done properly? Plus should the windows whistle in the wind, what can I do to stop it?
Rep from window company that installed them is coming next week to quote for repairs but I feel they should last more than 6 years, not fit for purpose? Any legal experts out there?

you would need to deglaze the frames and check that the glass is packed up off the bottom of the frame this we find the most common of dg failure or the packers as said by cyclonebri1 are not correct width causing one piece of glass to slip another factor is frames having no lintols above bowing frames .Windows whistling can be adjustment or sealant has come astray

thebaldwindowfitter

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

I found that with some of the units I replaced, only the outside or the inside pane was supported, ie, the packers didn't bridge the DG unit.

1 window fitter told me he has no problems, down to the fact that he always uses a silicone lubricant on the seals, any view on that ??[/QUOTe
you have just given the reason for your upvc windows dg units failing it isnt because there worse than timber its because they wernt fitted right.Only silicon designed for glass should be used with dg units bathroom sealant for example would react the the sealant used on the dg unit

knightstyle

Thanks again, I will ask the window guy to remove the plastic fitting to look at the bottom of the glass.

cyclonebri1

thebaldwindowfitter wrote: »

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

I found that with some of the units I replaced, only the outside or the inside pane was supported, ie, the packers didn't bridge the DG unit.

1 window fitter told me he has no problems, down to the fact that he always uses a silicone lubricant on the seals, any view on that ??[/QUOTe
you have just given the reason for your upvc windows dg units failing it isnt because there worse than timber its because they wernt fitted right.Only silicon designed for glass should be used with dg units bathroom sealant for example would react the the sealant used on the dg unit

Right so that gives rise to another question, and don't get me wrong I knew about the support issue.

Why don't packers come in the correct size so that they can't be fitted incorrectly? yes there are different width panels and I guess differing widths of profile but there only seems to be 1 width packer/support used????