Lyssand Windows/Doors: Handling, Storage and Maintenance

Windows and Doors should be delivered to site as close to the time for fixing as possible. The longer they are stored on site, the greater the risk of physical damage and occurrence of problems relating to weather exposure.

Receipt and Storage

1. Unloading and handling of windows & doors should be carried out in a safe and careful manner, avoiding damage to the frames and breakage of the factory glazing.
2. We strongly recommend that windows and doors are stored indoors. It is not good practice to store finished joinery outdoors, even if protected. We recommend that windows are stored vertically on edge and must be prevented from falling over to avoid glass breakage. Never store horizontally and never store to an excess height.
3. Always allow free circulation of air around stored windows and doors. Never allow moisture and condensation to build up.
4. Avoid warping of the frames during storage by evenly distributing the weight of the units on timber battens and prevent soiling the units by covering with heavy plastic sheeting or tarpaulins until used. Light polythene will tear, trap water, or blow away and therefore should not be used.
5. Units that will be held in site storage for long periods prior to fixing must receive at least a base coat of stain or paint before storage.

Airing

During construction, it is necessary to ventilate the building to avoid condensation forming on the inside of the glass units. Further airing may be required until the building has fully dried out, which can often take up to six months after building completion.

Site finishes

Where pebble dashing is to occur, the entire window should be protected by plywood or similar. Visqueen/Plastic sheeting is sometimes not adequate.

Surface treatment

All products from Lyssand are vacuum impregnated; this process is only a protection against rot and fungal decay and is not a sealer or a surface treatment. Hence it is imperative that all windows and doors be delivered with full factory finish or receive at least one coat of water repellent, pigmented surface treatment prior to installation or prolonged site storage. This is in addition to the standard Vacuum treatment. Colourless wood preservatives give limited, if any ultraviolet protection and should therefore not be used on external surfaces. Exposed surfaces should receive full factory finish or a minimum of two coats of surface treatment on site.

Care should be taken that neither stain nor paint comes into contact with weather seals. We appreciate that clients may want to determine their own colours and finishes at a late stage in the contract, but it is in the best interest of the product that they are factory finished. Not only for the superior finish that can be achieved by the application in Lyssand's technically sophisticated paint shop.

Site glazing

Lyssand windows and doors are normally supplied factory glazed. Glass breakage's do occur, and some clients prefer to supply there own glazing, although this will not give the guaranteed result of factory glazing. The size and specification of the glazing unit will normally be on the silver spacer bar inside the cavity of the glazing unit.

1. Ensure the glazing unit is evenly spaced all round the sash/frame. As such the sash and glass act together to maintain perfect alignment. Incorrect packing can lead to the weight of the glass unit being transmitted unevenly into the sash, such that distortion and warping take place.
2. Ensure that the factory supplied rubber glazing seals are accurately positioned, and that if mastic or putty is to be used, they are suitable for use with timber.

Lyssand products are very easy to operate if you remember these tips: -

1. Surface treatment must be maintained periodically, most frequently on south facades.
2. Paint and stain must not be applied to weather strips, glazing seals or ironmongery. This will cause the weather strips to become hard and brittle, and therefore no longer weatherproof. Allow adequate time for complete drying after site painting or staining and before closing the windows and doors.
3. A dusting of talc is good for weather seals.
4. Hardware should occasionally be given a light oiling. (Sewing machine oil).
5. Friction stays should be tightened when necessary.

Should you have any further questions on maintenance or surface treatment or would like some further advice on your Lyssand windows and doors, please contact your distributor.

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