I wrote earlier we are replacing the windows and doors. Three things happened after taking quotes. All the windows were to be triple glazed and will trickle vents as per the new regs. We were about to sign a contract, but decided to take a pause and re-assess. 1: We spoke to the established local specialists. He said triple glazed windows or double glazed ones are A+ rated vs the current C rated. They will be effective and will retain heat. But, the trickle vent will circulate fresh to address condensation and is likely to neutralise. In short, he said we won’t see a difference. 2: We called a surveyor with the help of a builder, who did some kitchen work. He confirmed what the local windows / doors installer advised. He suggested replacing the windows and doors seals to address the draught. 3: Based on the above, we have put replacing windows throughout the property on hold and replace only the main door, which is broken and require a replacement. We have placed an order for the Endurance main door. I have grabbed 25 metres pack of Stormguard windows / doors seals and started with the French Doors. Stormguard UPVC Replacement Door and Window Bubble Gasket Rubber Seal (Black) 25 Metres My questions are : Is there a better quality or an alternative to the above Stormguard available? 2: We need a large quantity. Is there a bulk order supplier as buying 25 pack will be expensive 3: I also need some weather seals to go between both frames, doors and windows to improve the seal. 4: There is still a small gap at the top of the French windows. How do we address it please ? 5: How do we adjust this to address the top gap? I think this is a butt hinge. Opening the screws can move it to the left or right. There are no Allen nuts on the top or bottom of the hinge (under the flap of the hinge) to adjust the height. We don’t have plans to install windows and doors films. They are a faff to install and remove.

I can only part help. Is there a better alternative to Stormguard? Not that I’ve found easily available. Where to buy? Check screwfix, toolstation and local builders merchants. Most merchants offer a cash trade account to anyone, so worth asking about that too if you need a lot. Not clear from the photo where the gap is, can you mark it up or take a photo of the bottom where there isn’t a gap?

PortafilterProcrastinator Is there a better alternative to Stormguard? Not that I’ve found easily available. I guess you could tape up windows you don’t use…

I might be being daft but it doesn’t seem to that there is any way to adjust those hinges vertically - the knuckle has no room to move in the barrel. I’d also be very careful with those screw because they look pretty rounded out.

Gagaryn If that’s what he means then agreed, there isn’t any movement in them.

Thanks every one for all useful recommendations. These hinges are old and can’t do up/down adjustments. Looking inside out, the right side door is perfect after seal changes and adjusting the hinges. I turned the top inward, the bottom outward and the middle neutral. This helped. I did the reverse on the left. This doesn’t help much. After locking the left door only, there are still gaps on both sides as the top door pushes a few mm outward. However, the seal and the adjustment on the right are so good now, locking the door shut fully gets a perfect seal. Will continue the trial and error for the left door. Thx

Replaced the french door seals. The gap on the left side of the door still remains. We will have to see what else is causing the gap problem. Fully shutting and locking the french doors get a damn good seal. We can straight away notice a difference - sound and air flow. We will replace the seals on a couple of windows in the living room to wrap up the living room at a cost of max £20. We were about to pay at least 3K for the French door and a couple of windows in the living room alone.

LMSC Have they always had the gap? It doesn’t look like you can adjust the hinges in any direction - has the window warped over time? I’ve done a few of our windows, but may well do others this summer as replacing is out of the question at the moment.

PortafilterProcrastinator Have they always had the gap? Have had during the last 2 seasons and not before. We have been here for 7 years. There could be a few reasons, why this may happen. The seals on the doors/windows and frames typically require a change in 5-10 years. The previous owners never changed them. If you insert a credit card, it shouldn’t go in freely. If it does, the seals require a replacement The doors will typically slag up or down or become slanted over time. This can be fixed. PortafilterProcrastinator It doesn’t look like you can adjust the hinges in any direction Almost all hinges can be adjusted. Some left to right or vice versa, up and down or both. The French door is set except some tweaking of the left-side door. We have got a very tight seal now. It is ready for the next winter and we do think we should see a difference. We will change the windows and doors seals throughout the house. We are only replacing the main door now.

PortafilterProcrastinator I’ve done a few of our windows, but may well do others this summer as replacing is out of the question at the moment. Makes an economic sense to replace the seals, weather strips and caulk where required. Saves a lot of money, which will be a massive bottom line boost under current circumstances.

LMSC if you’re going to re caulk the windows, it’s worth checking whether they foamed the gap between the window and the wall. This is often skipped for speed, but can make a big difference to the overall level of insulation.

Resealing Windows and Doors

LMSC

After turning down one of the leading suppliers / fitters, who dropped the quote by 35% in a matter of an hour, they spoke and emailed us or kind of harassed us into buying theirs! I had to tell them off.

They say all local businesses are not BFRC rated. Even if they are, they won’t report the solar and effective air leakage factors as the rating is not a legal requirement. They claim the (BFRC) unrated windows and doors mean the air leakage of at least 8% making them inefficient. It’s their word against the local guys, who have a good reputation; they are in the business for more than 20-25 years.

I don’t buy their claim of 8% air leakage with competition and their 0% leakage standing good for the next 20 years. A lot of local environmental factors come into play as far as the efficiency and leakages are concerned, which are the disclaimers / caution these rating agencies provide by default.

We have short listed two, whom they say their products are A++ energy efficiency. They are not BFRC rated. We have asked them to tell us how they arrive at the rating.

One of them gets their template / profile from Kommerling (German company), add guardian glasses and manufacture them locally.

The other provides Deceuninck windows or use their template that seem to use Eco-lite triple glazing.

I am sure some of you would have replaced the windows and doors. What’s been your experience and how much attention one should actually be paying for this independent rating, when there is no legal mandate? I see these certificates as more of a marketing tool.

The origin A++ rated triple glazed bifold has a BFRC rating, but still their air leakage factor is around 0.4%.

I have reached out to rationel through a distributor. hornbyben Did they give you an energy performance certificate of your door please? The windows and doors are rated by one of the three independent agencies with BFRC seems to be the most popular choice.

Thx for reading.

hornbyben

The U value I was given was 0.65, according to en iso-10077. This does not count the impact of ventilation.

I hope that helps

LMSC

hornbyben Wow! 0.65. It is a massive door, a lot more meaty frames and scope for efficiency loss. That’s the best I have heard so far.

One of the local vendors gave me 0.9 for triple glazed windows. The triple glazed French door is still 1.2, while the endurance utility door is of similar value.

You get what you pay for :-) Thanks

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