Timber windows and doors require regular care and maintenance to ensure that they do last a lifetime. To ensure the longevity of your product, it is required that you maintain your windows and doors in the best possible way. A six-monthly check and thorough clean is recommended in clean air environments, and a three-monthly check and thorough clean is recommended in coastal or damp environments.
Surface Protection
The surface finish coating should be maintained in good condition on both internal and external faces at all times. This can be achieved by regular cleaning with non-abrasive cleaners and refinishing when breakdown of the coating occurs.
Initial finishing and refinishing must include all edges of doors and windows including top and bottom. Steel wool or other metallic abrasives must not be used to sand cedar and other fine grain timbers. Use fine grit sandpaper or sanding blocks.
To avoid water staining, keep tracks and sash openings clean and free of leaves and other debris which may retain water.
The timber surface should be checked every six months and re-coated and touched up as necessary. The frequency and number of coats will depend on positioning, atmospheric conditions, thickness of existing coatings and exposure to the elements.
Hardware
Regular maintenance is required for all hardware, even stainless steel as they are moving parts. In most environments maintenance is recommended every 6 months and every 3 months in marine and industrial environments.
Hangers, pivots and brackets should be given a light spray of a corrosion preventative (such as CRC Marine 66, Innox or WD40) followed by a light wipe with a dry cloth to remove excess. Exposed surfaces should first be wiped down with warm soapy water and a soft rag, and then rinsed clean before applying preventative.
Visible surfaces of hinges should be wiped down with warm soapy water on a soft rag and then rinsed off by wiping with a clean damp rag. Application of a thin film of a light machine oil or one of the corrosion preventative sprays mentioned above will help to maintain the original lustre of the metal finish. Be careful not to get these compounds on the timberwork itself as they may cause staining.
should be sprayed with a lubricant such as those mentioned above at the sliding pin inside the bolt and to the lock cylinder.
A tube attached to the nozzle will help to concentrate the spray where you want it to go.
Glass
To clean standard clear glass, simply wipe over the surface with a few drops of methylated spirits, then polish the surface dry with a lint free cloth. Propriety glass cleaners are not recommended as some of them can cause damage to the silver backing on mirrors and the interlay of laminated glass. Ensure that all cleaning cloths are free of any abrasive substances.
Some high-performance glasses have specific cleaning methods documented. If unsure, please refer to the web site listed below.
Avoid causing extreme temperature changes as this may lead to thermal fracture of the glass (ie do not direct hot or cold water onto glass).
Please refer to the following web site for more specific cleaning instructions:
Sliding Door Tracks/Stops/Brackets
The tracks of sliding windows and doors must be cleaned regularly to ensure no build up of grit. Additionally any damage to tracks (such as small abrasions and nicks) must be smoothed immediately or the track replaced. Failure to carry out this maintenance will quickly destroy the integrity and smooth operation of the sliding wheels.
Given the large weight of many doors, all stops and brackets used in sliding doors and stackable sliding doors, are only designed to act as a guide or location point. They are not designed to take any impact or force.