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I'm hoping there some double glazing people who can offer help.
Last year we had our house double glazed and very happy we were to, until now. As you can see in the two pictures the spacers in the sealed units are starting to bow upwards in the middle. This is happening on approx 6 top openers. We contacted the company that installed them and they say they can offer no help as they have gone into voluntary liquidation, Great.
Does anybody know what is going on with the units, why are the bars bending etc. and any other help appreciated.
Thank in advance
Scott
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sadly, that's what many double glazing companies do, as they can then advertise guarantees for 10 years etc, and have no intention of fulfilling them. Often they go into liquidation, and then set up again under a different name and start again.
From the best of my knowledge, you're unlikely to get much joy from them if they are in liquidation, as opposed to administration, as they've ceased to be a going concern.
If you do want them fixed, you can probably go to Everest or Anglian or something, and they'll be able to put some better quality glass in. But it'll be your expense.
Did you pay for any of the cost with a credit card - deposit maybe?
If so ask the credit card company to sort it out
Was the company a Fensa registered installer? if so they have to provide an insurance backed guaratee
Yes they were fensa registered and i've got some certificates from fensa but I cant find any insurance guarentees from them.
Might be worth giving fensa a ring to see where you stand, but that is one of the guidlines set out in order for a company to be registered.
I'll give fensa a ring tomorrow but i dont hold out much hope.
does anybody know why the spacer bars have bent?
"[i]does anybody know why the spacer bars have bent?[/i]"
Unusual one IME but possibly because the 'packers' under the glass sealed-units are too narrow and are only supporting the spacer bar and not the actual glass. This [i]could[/i] have the effect of allowing the spacer bar to push up. Is it only the [b]bottom[/b] spacer bars that have moved?
No, the tops have moved also but nowhere near as much as the bottom ones.
But I will be taking a unit out to have a closer look sometime next week and will bear that in mind, Thanks
Sounds like poor sealant used in the making of the s/units.
Pursue the FENSA option. If the units can be replaced under an insurance-backed scheme ensure that whoever replaces the s/units is paid direct rather than you pay and claim. Most glass companies / glaziers can supply and replace s/units; the only possible problem is when seals / gaskets are damaged / easily damaged and replacements are not available (often the case with old aluminium frames).
Another thing to note is that whilst most double glazing companies offer 10 year warranties, the small print often excludes the sealed units (especially if they buy them in) which commonly only have a 12 month warranty.
psling's on the right line I think the packers are not wide enough to support the glazing unit, remove the glazing bars & check
Glazing packers may well have caused this, but all the ones I have ever come across are as wide as the thickness of the whole double glazed pane. Maybe the installers have used something else.
I too was mugged by the promise of 10 year double glazing warranty on my conservatory. I have numerous units that have blown and have let in moisture. I might just knock the conservatory down and build a proper brick and tiled roof extension as it is over 10 years old now. Probably not much more expensive in materials than replacing my 25 toughened units. Some have Georgian bar inserts and there is also the risk of the hassle that some won't fit.
I have wondered how feasible it might be to remove a glazing pane and split the two glass panes. If this can be done, the glass cleaned up with a suitable spirit and a flat blade scraper, then you have at least recovered the glass. A reputable local glazier could then re-assemble them with new spacing beads and the correct gas.
I don't understand why some units last 20 years in the same position as others that only last 2 or three. I can only assume these cowboy outfits cut corners with the quality of materials and don't have people properly trained to do the job.
It's a mad that MP's haven't legislated against these companies electing to go bust and immediately restarting under a new name, same building, same staff, when they are clearly not insolvent! These guys are running rings round the system and it is not fair to allow them to rip off trusting punters and leave them with all this hassle and expense. It also tars the rest of the industry with the same brush.
if the FENSA route doesn't help, you can buy replacement sealed units from your LGS*. nowhere near as expensive as replacing the whole window.
*Local Glazing Suppliers