Casement is bowed

[dormermike]

Hi

I just noticed that a casement which is approx 1m x 20cm is bowed in the middle.

This window was fitted last year, and we had the installer back due to a problem with the hinge.

How big of a deal is the casement being bowed, is it worth getting them back?

Thanks

 

[crank39]

Grey on white, unfortunatley its quite common with foiled pvc especially the darker colours and exposed to the sun, if south facing then your fighting a losing battle

 

[dormermike]

Oh wow, really? Didn't realise. Hardly fit for purpose if they can't take a bit of sun in the UK!

This window is actually a shaded area though, west facing but a driveway so never gets direct sunlight. Could this be caused by poor fitment? The installer had to fit bigger hinges iirc.

 

[chirpychippy]

I would get it replaced, it'll probably keep going and become draughty.

 

[dormermike]

I would get it replaced, it'll probably keep going and become draughty.

Thanks, have asked installer what he thinks

 

[crank39]

Definitely nothing the installer has done here, I can see the hinge looks longer than it ordinarily would for a top opener that size but it's actually bowing in between the hinges

I sympathise with you, I only went to inspect 2 upvc sets of 5 panel bifolds today, light oak 3 years old, warped to hell, I'm going back to carry out some adjustments to make them better but they're in that downward slope, couple more years I reckon and they'll be beyond salvage, they are south facing though in a sun trap

 

[dormermike]

Definitely nothing the installer has done here, I can see the hinge looks longer than it ordinarily would for a top opener that size but it's actually bowing in between the hinges

I sympathise with you, I only went to inspect 2 upvc sets of 5 panel bifolds today, light oak 3 years old, warped to hell, I'm going back to carry out some adjustments to make them better but they're in that downward slope, couple more years I reckon and they'll be beyond salvage, they are south facing though in a sun trap

Cor that's awful. I'm in the process of getting some new windows fitted at the rear of my property (north facing this time) and you've got me thinking if I should go for aluminium. Wishing I hadn't got anthrafrickingcite on the front anyway

 

[mrrusty]

uPVC isn't a great material for building products. It seems to be OK in white windows, but when it's dark colours.... Think about how hot the roof of a black car gets in the summer sun - 40 degrees? 50? lets call it 50. In winter it could get down to -10 so a black surface exposed to full sun could see a 60 degree temperature swing.

Coefficient of thermal expansion of uPVC is around 0.07mm/degree/m so a black uPVC window 1m wide will try to expand and contract 0.07 x 60 x 1 = 4.2mm! Now you see the problem. And if the outside of the window is trying to expand because it's very hot, and the inside is 40 degrees lower inevitably it tries to bend. Same with cladding - anyone who fits black uPVC cladding where it is exposed to the sun can expect problems.

In fact all building plastics need treating with caution. LVT flooring is another one - manufacturers fitting instructions say don't lay when the temp is under 18 degrees. This is because if you lay it cold, and the sun then beats down on it, the expansion will likely wrinkle it up.

 

[ronniecabers]

White upvc can still bow too..seen it a few times. But rosewood, golden oak, anthracite grey and black ash are awful

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Surely the suppliers (if they're not also the installers) should bear some responsibility and should be warning this can happen with the colours mentioned at the time of ordering? Not that it sounds like much can be done now.

 

[ronniecabers]

Any reputable person should warn customers ... we always warn about how much colours move in the sun ...
And if it's under 10years old ... I'd be expecting my supplier to replace it!

 

[crank39]

Just something I saw today whilst out snagging, not technically uPVC in terms of material but still a plastic that's already warped and it's a 3 month old new build, this would be easy to rectify by elongating the end holes to allow expansion

 

[dormermike]

Any reputable person should warn customers ... we always warn about how much colours move in the sun ...
And if it's under 10years old ... I'd be expecting my supplier to replace it!

I'll be expecting a replacement

These uPVC windows were fitted last June and have been a bit crap compared to what they replaced to be honest. Rattly, fitment issues, feel cheap. They weren't. Rehau for what that's worth but obviously that's just the plastic tat not the assembly or fixings etc.