Install Double-Glazing during cold/wet weather?

gutovicky

Hello Forum,
I aim to replace the last few single-glazed windows & doors in my property with double-glazed units..
I am just wondering when would be the right time now that winter's arrived….

For two of the windows, I wish to reduce the window opening, so will ask the installer to do some block- and brick-work (cavity-wall) before those new windows go in.

My question is:
It may be fine to install double-glazed windows & doors at this time of year.
However, can block/brickwork be carried out during the cold/damp winter weather?
Should I really wait until Spring to get these window-gaps reduced?

And, at whatever time of year it is done, is it appropriate to install a new double-glazed window into block/brickwork that has only been built a few days before?  Or should some interval of time be allowed for the mortar to ‘go off’ beforehand?

Thanks for any advice you can give.
Cheers, Vicky  

FreeBear

General advice is not to lay bricks/blocks if the temperature is likely to fall below 5°C for a few days. Covering the work with hessian or plastic sheeting will offer some protection... Ideally, you want to leave a week for the mortar to set before drilling holes in to the wall. Drilling & fixing in to freshly laid brick runs the risk of disturbing the mortar joints and compromising the adhesion.

If you can wait until say March next year, the weather should be improving, and you'll have longer days to get the work done. This time of year, you'd be lucky to get six hours of daylight.

gutovicky

Thank you FreeBear.
Yes, you've confirmed what I thought tbh.
I've left it too late, I'll just concentrate on hanging thicker curtains for now!
Cheers, Vicky

FreeBear

gutovicky said: I've left it too late, I'll just concentrate on hanging thicker curtains for now!

Had a couple of windows fitted here at the beginning of February 2020 - Cold and very wet... Didn't need any brickwork doing though.

EssexExile

Builders work all year, you may even get it cheaper this time of year!

greenface2

You didn't say what part of Siberia you come from . Builders work throughout the year except when its stupidly cold . Window fitters put on their winter shorts then too . Last week . Temp ok except some rain . Did a shop front inc 3 course brickwork and had the frames in within the hour after . fitted a kitchen window with expanding foam because all 4 sides were still wet new bricks . going back in the morning to fix some screws in .  Had to fill in the hole made by the brickie 

TELLIT01

If brickwork has to be done even a couple of days before you have the windows fitting, do you really want just to have a piece of plywood over the opening at this time of year.  Simply replacing windows like-for-like wouldn't be a problem.

gutovicky

Thank you everybody for input, I really appreciate it - helps me get my head around it..

On balance, because of this block/brickwork I need doing, I'm going to leave this renovation til Spring...

Another question really:
Do you think getting the block/brickwork done by the actual Double-glazing firm is a good idea - because they'll still want to fit in the new windows against fresh mortar whatever time of year it's done?
It would be dearer I expect, but am I better off arranging for an independent tradesperson to do the block/brickwork as much as a month before the new windows go in?

Thanks, Vicky

FreeBear

How much brickwork are we talking about ?

If it only a handful of bricks, you are going to struggle to find a builder/brickie willing to spend just a few hours on such a small job. Window installers can do brickwork as long as it isn't too technical or complicated, although I wouldn't trust one to do a whole wall.

On the subject of replacement windows & brickwork, a word of caution - On a lot of older properties, the timber frames provided structural support for the outer leaf of brick. uPVC frames are not structural and a steel lintel must be installed or you run the risk of the outer skin slowly collapsing. If you have a big lump of stone over the window/door or there is already a lintel in place, there is no need to panic.

stuart45

Have you got a.photo of the window and brickwork? How much are you going to bring it on each side?
Face brickwork at door and window reveals need to be done properly, as these areas tend to show up more than the centre of a wall. I've seen some really poor attempts when new windows have been installed.

gutovicky

Hello again FreeBear. 
Yes, good point, it is tricky to get anyone in to do a small job - not without paying a premium anyhow. 
How much block/brickwork involved?  I'm talking about closing up one side of 2x window openings by no-more-than half-a-square-metre each.  But this is 2x half-a-square-metre of cavity wall, with an outer roughcast (?) render.

How likely is it that my wooden window frames are structural?   
I'll give you some more info......
I live in a bungalow, built in 1970.  The remaining wooden window frames in the property (some windows are already uPVC double-glazed) are NOT particularly 'chunky' - in fact, I'd say the woodwork is quite thin, 'lightweight'.  They would be softwood, though better quality timber than today's softwood I expect.  I can't see evidence of lintels in place atm since the outside is finished in roughcast render.
I've had a couple of (relatively small, relatively local) Double-glazing firms in, to survey & quote.  Neither of the firms mentioned the need for steel lintels as part of the install....  but then, I didn't ask....

Hi stuart45, 
I appreciate what you're saying about the need for tidy brickwork, but I don't think it's a concern here.....
I'd be bringing the window openings 'in' by no-more-than 60cms, on the one side.  The new, outer brickwork will be covered, and hidden, by new roughcast render - to match what's there already hopefully!

Thanks all for sharing your thoughts and experiences, Vicky