Conservatory Bases and Dwarf Walls: The Structure Below the Glass
The part of a conservatory nobody looks at is the part that decides whether it lasts. Below the frames sits a base: foundations, a damp proof course, a floor build up and usually a dwarf wall, and if any of that is wrong the glazing above it will never sit right. Cracked plaster, doors that […]
Window Hinges, Handles and Restrictors: Fixing the Parts That Actually Wear Out
Window hardware is the part that wears out. Frames and glass usually outlast the hinges, handles and locking gear by a wide margin, and most windows that feel stiff, drop at the corner or refuse to lock properly have a hardware fault rather than a frame fault. That matters, because hardware can be replaced without […]
uPVC Frame Colours and Foils: How Dual Colour Windows Actually Work
Modern uPVC frames are not painted. The colour comes from a foil laminated onto the profile under heat and pressure during manufacture, which is why anthracite grey and woodgrain finishes hold their appearance for decades rather than flaking like paint. You can also specify a different colour inside and out, so the frames can be […]
Downpipes, Outlets and Gullies: Why Most Gutter Problems Are Not the Gutter
A gutter is only half of a rainwater system. The downpipe, the outlet, the shoe at the bottom and the gully it discharges into all have to work together, and in our experience most rainwater problems on Wirral homes are downpipe and outlet problems rather than gutter problems. If water is running down a wall […]
Window and Door Guarantees Explained: FENSA Certificates, Warranties and Insurance Backing
The paperwork that comes with new windows or doors matters as much as the installation. You should end up with three things: a FENSA certificate or a Building Control completion notice proving the work meets Building Regulations, a written installer guarantee covering the products and the workmanship, and an insurance backed guarantee that stands behind […]
Inline Sliding Patio Doors: When a Slider Beats a Bifold on a Wirral Home
An inline sliding patio door runs one or more large panes along a track rather than swinging them into the room. That is the whole appeal: you get a very wide glazed opening with no door leaf sweeping through your floor space, which suits rooms where furniture sits close to the opening. Modern sliders are […]
Misted Double Glazing: Why Sealed Units Fail and When Replacing the Glass Is Enough
Misting between the panes means the sealed unit has failed. The perimeter seal holding the two sheets of glass together has broken down, the drying agent inside has saturated, and moist air is now condensing on the inner face of the glass. You cannot dry it out or clean it. The fix is a new […]
Trickle Vents on New Windows: What They Do and Why Building Regulations Ask For Them
Trickle vents are small, controllable background ventilators built into the frame of a window. They let a slow trickle of fresh air into a room even when the window is shut, carrying moisture and stale air away before it settles on the glass or the walls. Since June 2022, Part F of the Building Regulations […]