Guides
Aluminium Window Maintenance Compared with Timber and PVC
An aluminium window asks for very little, but the little it asks for matters. A gasket that has flattened, a roller that has dried out and a weep that has silted up will each show up as a draught, a stiff slide or a water mark, and each is cheaper to prevent than to repair. The routine is short: inspect the seals, keep the track clean, clear the drainage path and wash the finish. This guide sets out that routine and compares it with timber and PVC upkeep.
Why aluminium needs less upkeep
Aluminium does not rot, does not swell with moisture and does not need repainting to stay serviceable, so the frame itself asks for almost nothing. The finish is applied in the factory, and the moving parts are metal, gaskets and rollers rather than a material that decays. The maintenance that remains concerns the parts that wear: the seals that compress, the rollers that carry weight, the drainage path that carries water and the surface that faces the weather.
Gasket inspection
Gaskets do the sealing work, and they wear by losing their compression. Look along the frame perimeter and at the interlock on a slider, and check for a gasket that has flattened, hardened or pulled away at a corner. EPDM foam gaskets hold their compression as they age, and the 95 series uses them at the interlock and around the frame. A gasket that no longer springs back lets air and water past.
Roller care
Rollers carry the full weight of a sliding sash, so a track full of grit and a roller that has dried out will together turn a smooth slide into a hard push. Clean the track, remove debris from the rail, and check that the sash still runs on the roller rather than dragging on the frame. Ball-bearing rollers, standard on the 95 series, hold their line under repeated cycles, but they still need a clean track.
Drainage and the blocked weep
Water has to leave the window, and when it cannot, the result appears indoors. Keep the weeps and the sill path clear of silt and leaves, and check that the fall to the outside is still open. The 95 series uses an open, self-cleaning drainage path, but it does not stay open by itself on a dusty site. A blocked weep shows as a water mark line on the interior wall below the frame.
Insect screens and finish care
The insect screen and the finish sit on the outside of the routine. Clean a screen with a soft brush or a mild soap solution, and avoid pressing it out of shape. Wash the finished surface with water and a mild detergent, and keep abrasive pads and strong solvents away, because they cut through the film rather than clean it. On a coastal or hot site, rinse the sections more often. The 95 series carries a high-transparency insect screen as standard.
How it compares with timber and PVC
Timber needs periodic refinishing, and it can rot or swell where water sits, so its upkeep is part of its structure. PVC does not rot, but it can discolour and chalk as it ages under ultraviolet light, and it is harder to refinish in place. Aluminium keeps its factory finish without repainting, and its upkeep is inspection rather than renewal. The routine starts at handover, so keep the dimensional pack that arrives with the quotation and read its drainage notes as the map for the checks.
FAQ
Frequently asked
How often should an aluminium window be maintained?
The routine is a set of checks rather than a fixed schedule: inspect the gaskets, clean the track, clear the drainage path and wash the finish. On a clean inland site that is light and occasional. On a coastal or dusty site the finish wants a rinse more often.
Why does a slider start to feel stiff?
Usually because the rollers are carrying grit or have dried out, or because debris has built up on the track. The roller carries the full sash weight, so a dirty track and a worn roller together make the sash drag. Clean the track and confirm the sash still runs on the roller.
What does a water mark below the window mean?
It usually points to a blocked weep or a silted drainage path rather than to the wall. Water that cannot leave through the sill finds its way inside and shows as a line below the frame. Clear the weeps and the sill path, then watch the mark for a return.
Do aluminium window gaskets need replacing?
Yes, when they have lost their compression. EPDM foam gaskets hold their shape as they age, but a gasket that has flattened, hardened or pulled away at a corner no longer seals. Check the frame perimeter and the interlock on a slider, and replace a gasket that does not spring back.
How does aluminium upkeep compare with PVC and timber?
Timber needs periodic refinishing and can rot or swell where water sits. PVC does not rot but can discolour and chalk under ultraviolet light, and it is hard to refinish in place. Aluminium keeps its factory finish without repainting, so its upkeep is inspection rather than renewal.
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Series, glazing and finish come back as one quotation, with the full dimensional pack on PDF and CAD on request.