i Si ash [ee] July 1997 Repairing timber windows: dealing with draughty windows, condensation in sealed units, = operating problems, and > \deterioration of frames Defects occur in timber windowsis thatthey can _ condensation between the windows for anumberof _oftenberepairedwithout _ panes of sealed units, K reasons including poor specialist skills, materials windows that are difficult to =\2\ design, poor installation or or knowledge. operate, deterioration of coe (C2) alazing or tack of Part2 of this Guide gives _external finishes, and > : maintenance. One ofthe advice on dealing with distortion and decay of the z advantages of timber draughty windows, frame. Pare of TE - For advice on how toinvostgate defects and what to do about water leakage see Pat 1 Se aT oS Dealing with excessive draughts ter leakage and/or dampness at eveals Windows which suffer from water leakage will cessive draughts ridensation bebween the panes of sealed units usually also be draughty. However draughts © Operating problems (sil to open and/erdiicultte _-—_-can occur in windows which do not leak water close; breakage ar falure of hardware) © ary deterioration of extemal fishes {© Distorton and/or decay ofthe frame (© Almost always, neffectve or absent weatherst iP Making repairs Existing weatherstripping can become ineffective ifit’s damaged or has been painted over so that it becomes hard and loses compressibility. When the casement is closed, the weatherstrip should be compressed on all four sides ofthe casement. Ifthe sweatherstripping fils to close the gap between the adjoining surfaces: © the ft of the casement should be adjusted, @ a larger section weatherstrip could he fitted or weatherstrip could be fitted an both closing faces. Awide range of weatherstripping is available forall types of window. Early stages of decay n a softwood windowMisting between the panes of a sealed lazing uit A broken canopy hinge resuiting from lack of cleaning and lubrication Dealing with condensation between the panes of sealed double-glazing units Failure of sealed double-glazing units due to condensation between the panes appears unsightly and their thermal efficien slightly reduced. CET ing unit? oisture being trapped for long periods of ime against the edge seal, asa result of: — poor glazing that has lft gaps inthe bed ofthe glazing compound, or — poorly fiting beads, or — deterioration of bedding and beads inservice Ieeanalso be the result of © oor quality double glazing units Making repairs Once adouble-glazing unit has failed, it cannot be repaired, only replaced. Remember the following when replacing sealed glazing units. © Only BSI kitemarked or other similar quality-assured units should be used © Drained and ventilated glazing systems are preferred. © IF fully bedded systems are used, they should be subject to rigorous quality control during glazing; all beads must be secured in compound and fixed. @ Beads should have sufficient eross-falls to drain water away fiom the sealed unit and should be large enough to allow correct fixing. @ Bead width should normally be atleast equal to the bead height. © Glazing rebates should be sufficiently deep to cover and protect the whole ofthe edge seal system of the sealed unit; the rebate upstands should be a ‘minimum of 15 mm for fully bedded timber and 18 mm for drained systems (see BRE reports ermal insulation: evoiding risks and Double -glaing unis a BRE guide to improved durability for more details) © Setting blocks, distance pieces and location blocks should be used. See Faulty glazing of casementsin Part | (page3) ofthis Guide for guidance on positioning, © Linseed oil putty must not be used to glaze sealed units. Further recommendations on selection and installation are given in Double glazing units:a BRE guide to improved durability. Note: The edge seals of sealed units can be damaged by chemical paint strippers and excessive heat from blow lamps used to burn off paint from the window fiame. Dealing with operating problems Usaly 1 poor mained or bay itedhardware, anor € Snte exparsioncousg bing betwee casement ard Fame Itcan also be the resutof: © paint on the weatherstrips adhering to the adjoining timber members © inadequate gaps to allow fr seasonal movement the timber, ie fauty design Making repairs Hardware breakage and failure is commonly caused by a lack of maintenance, though it may also be caused by fitting lightweight hardware to large and heavy easements. The more complicated hinges and pivots, espagnolette bolts and safety catches currently used should be regularly cleaned and oiled to prevent them becoming stiffto operate and eventually breaking. Ifyou are easing a window by planing away timber in the winter, remember that its moisture content may be high; when it reduces in warmer weather, the gap may be excessive.Horizontal surfaces with darkcoloured fnishes vill deteriorate quicker on southerly elevations Sharp arises resultin thin film finishes and > coating of powder based filer was used toprepare wellweathered wood for painting. When the timber got wet, the ‘whole layer of filer and paint ited off Fresh inseedcilputty is incompatbie wth water-borne paint and woodstains; the puty willrack andthe paint wil discolou very Quickly. The solutions: Water-borne paint © low 7-21 days for inseed cil puty to harden belore appyng pant, or (© Aoply a coat of solvent thinned wood primer to puty before applying paint, or © Use bead glazing oran acrylic putty Woodstains © Use only gazing systems recommended by stain manufacturer Deterioration of external finishes Maintenance of the external finish not only keeps the window looking good but helps prevent deterioration and failure of glazing and bedding. Some types of finish will have shorter life spans than others. Ce ‘© oor preparation and protection of new windows durng construction can reduce the ife of ‘the applied rsh © Clear fishes are affectee more by sunlight and wll generaly need more regular maintenance than translucent or opaque fishes which have been specially formulated for use on externa joinery © Defects in forming fnishes alow moisture penetration tothe wood and then preventit from drying. This can cause unsightly staring and may utimately result in decay © Darkcolowed frishes alow surfaces to become much hater (on southerly elevations, up to 307°C aitference compared with ight colours), encouraging resin bleed and eal fish Geteroration ‘© Sharp arises cause localised thinning ofthe paint or stan fim and lead to eary flare {© Hoxzonta surfaces which do not have sufficient cross falls for water to runoff wil deteriorate more quck'y ‘© Finishes on horizontal surfaces such as sils and transoms usualy need maintenance before the frish on vertical surfaces © Paint fis often fai frst atjits which move due to seasonal variation in moisture content ofthe wood €@ Freshlinseed ol putty will crack and the paint wil discolouifa waterborne pants applied © Fresh or agedinseed ol puty wil crack a wood stains apoied Making repairs © Prepare a sound surface for refinishing. Ifthe paintwork is unsound or flaking remove as much paint as possible by abrasive cleaninggand burning. off, particularly concentrating on vulnerable, weathered areas like sills and the lower rails of windows. @ Remove resin on the surface of wood by sanding or scraping @ Remove sharp arrises with glass paper to give a3 mm minimum radius rounded edge. © Apply ascaler containing fungicides liberally with a brush to bare surfaces, ensuring that preservative penetrates any cavities, eracks and indentations, © Apply stopper to deep cavities and filler to open joints, small indentations, surface defects fine cracks and woodgrain, Don't use filers to produce a new surface on extensively weathered timber (see photo, left) © Replace cracked linseed oil putty in single-glazed windows (see note in box, left) © Use a water- or solvent-borne paint finish or woodstain which has been developed specially for external joinery. Dealing with distortion and decay of the frame ‘© Season variation nthe moisture content ofthe wood resulting in surtace spits, tasting or bowing, o the exudation of resin through the finish ‘© Cla rames may nothave been preservative treated (Timber windows produced by reputable manufacturers since at east te early 1970s wil have been preservativetreated by double vacuum impregnation, considerably reducing the risk of decay) ‘© Poor maintenance allowing water penetration and suitable conditions for wetot Making repairs © Severely split, wwisted or bowed pieces will usually mean replacement of components or their affected parts. Less severe faults can usually be filled oragjusted without replacement. © When frames are cut or altered the cut surfaces should be liberally brushedwith an appropriate wood preservative since cutting is likely to have breached the original preservative treatment. © In old frames or frames which have not been preservative-treated, decay (usually wet rot) is generally confined to the bottom rails and bottom comers of easements or frames or where mullions meet the sill, owing to - water penetration at these joints, Where rot isnot extensive, the affected wood can be cut out and replaced with either a pieced-in section of pretreated timber, or where this is not practicable, a proprietary exterior grade filler, and the finish made good. Always cut well into the adjacent sound wood when removing rotted material. Liberal brushing of the FC adjoining wood with preservative before fitting the new piece of timber (or applying the filler) will help limit recurrence of decay. However, decay occursitis generalyatjoints on preservative treatment may be more effective if pressure injected or if the lower part ofthe window boron implants are used (see box, lei). The comers of easements where curred, but is not too serious, can sometimes be repaired using angle brackets let into the internal face of the easement. © When the decay is more extensive, replacement of the casement or the whole window may bea preferable and more economic solution, Replacement windows and/or casements should be of treated timber. ro SE ‘Since itis recognised that only a small part ofthe window frame is at risk from decay, this has led to the commercial development oflocalsed preservative reatmentsforuse _Nofe:‘There are a number of contractors who specialise in repairing or in stu, There are several types ofthese, the most readily avaiable being water-soluble boron implants which ae inserted into replacing windows in buildings of historic interest or in conservation areas. holes drilled in| ae ‘and capped with an Good Repair Guides are accessible, British Standards Institution Caron getter hepesenave Resvteopues ofr Sopa ee Spenstystiontoerrnonrncet ocetannose ncatgeensen SEA Waa inthe wood, te within the parts where high be avalable on CDROM during 1997. More ‘zccerbled windows of various iypes ‘moisture content is putting the joinery atrisk detailed advice is available in the following 5 mace ae 656378 Peromarcactvsdon (publications. Part 1: 1989 Classification for BulngRatearch xabehet eateries @ Tharnalimlatoncavokingriks, Pan 967 Spectealon or opetaon arson oe, 1998 ni soengh crc fo bine gucrguris:a08E plier» 8S 6215-Vinlows sorsreroghs Krorovevaurblly Sl Conran’, Pata 1990Gutcofpectes te TREGlosSrcke GosinCRO, 1295, rtlaunclrepacemert dons “e axle ana Die eriagdecyineiena’ _ 8S8000- Wether ong ses cea Pat 71980 Code tacts ot © 345—Wet rots: recognition and control ‘wazing Sr7seccmgunca Brien Woodworking Feeraton etme 0 av otemdowsonste Lo, 4, © 357-fowwttatestreerxwond 1992 8 sar "moet © Dai linger vies nt © Azz_ parang oteroroos tonen 1988 mate «tr bere Lode, @ 5/91 — Exterior wood stains 1994. S14/st—insttesmertctodeior —— lassand Glrng Federation [oneyvsngberonsuced, © Gorn ergs ibe windons irre rarer sl tases Land, © 6/04— Werte cates or Sor 189 tearwons gan rt ont, Good Building Guide a Oe yang eer som Soci forthe Protection of Acint ae Dulas ge 8 8 ccs ee ene ecorerneeeseeons ht on eaviceaw ast Sense O190308t068 nfesevch iat Pay ‘eens afor Commas siuesclORe plete: Connon eee woe TR ‘eraton Papers Lerin,FCIRADL Cost ene toebscrbers, ‘permsincf Bug Consevetion Research Tweprone 1029664664 sesrttec lpetenteutemap ce Retaehtsiakhmer ts Conmsesionet Fosmve 182585095 Stspn forte eapone9171 50 Scena 1997 Foaea0e nave we O17 ‘Sewer ee srs 102 00