A short and sweet blog post from us today before the chaos of christmas descends upon us. We want to wish all of our customers new and old a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year however you are spending it.
We will be closed from 5pm on December 20th and will be back on the 6th January for normal business. For any urgent help please contact either myself or Vic.
Photo by Alex Robert on Unsplash
Just a simple post from me today, but this house was one of the jobs I first worked on and it still looks great 18 years on! We returned to replace a few glazed units last week but it really has stood the test of time. There’s a number of technical and aesthetic differences between these windows and the ones that we fit now but overall these are still looking great and still have a long life left in them.
It’s was a job which at the time was one of the biggest things I had fitted and in honesty felt a bit daunting and it’s one that I’ve always remembered well . We drive past the job fairly often so that always keeps it in our memory but every time I do, I get a great sense of pride.
It was also a big learning step for me and it’s shaped other jobs since - both bigger and smaller. One of the things I love most about this job is that there’s always room to learn more. There are always different things to consider and learn from in every job and that never stops. People ask if I ever get bored of fitting windows and the answer is always no, with projects like the above one to spice things up somewhat, and the range of products we do, things are always changing on a daily basis.
Here as an interesting job that we completed recently where an existing canopy was showing signs of excessive rot and wasn’t in a good way. The existing felt was very patchy and in places was back down to the existing timber. Next door had already installed EPDM but because of their installation it left us quite restricted in our options.
Our first job was to strip everything back and replace anything showing signs of rot.
The existing EPDM next door hadn’t been finished properly and wasn’t stuck down on the end which certainly wasn’t helping matters.
Once everything was stripped back we were able to put a new timber on the front for our fascia to fasten to and a brand new deck over the top of the old deck - also adding angle bead to help give a neat finish when the new EPDM went down.
The new EPDM went down well with a fully adhered installation which was slower but ultimately the right choice - the weather was truly on our side which helped no end, each glue needs time to cure somewhat before proceeding with installation and if you’re rushing against the weather this increases the risk of bubbles forming under the EPDM which although usually go down over time, are unsightly for the short term. We glued next doors EPDM down and made the best of jointing up to their EPDM.
Finally, new PVCu Fascia Board and Soffits were installed with all the necessary trims and tapes to complete the job the right way. We will always tend to work our diary so that we’re able to make the most of good weather. The time we were able to commit to the job and fortunate weather were key to this installation looking great for years to come.
Ok, I Know we are still in October but the fact remains, Christmas is coming. I say this not lightly because I realise that it feels like ages away. However, we as a company are booking work in for late November which means that for guaranteed Christmas fitting you’ll need to be quick.
Every year, we have a mad rush of customers who want their new windows, doors or living space completed by Christmas and I completely understand why - I’d be the same (I’d also be the one trying to place the order on Christmas Eve). Sadly, there’s only so many hours in the week and whilst we will fit as many customers in as we possibly can, every year the work carries through into the new year.
From our end, we will be honest with you with regards to realistic fitting dates, our suppliers are on the ball when it comes to delivering on time although inevitably there will be some disappointed customers. As a small fitting team of Father and Son, it doesn’t take too many orders to completely fill a month with orders (we could expand with more fitters bur by keeping things small we know that we can consistently offer the same level of quality time and time again and be proud of putting our name to a job).
So this will be the last time I mention the dreaded word but please: (brace yourself)
Many of our existing customers will have already met Pumpkin our resident Puggle; head of quality control and technical support . As our work has increased Pumpkin’s demands for gravy bones have in turn escalated and to be quite frank been quite unrealistic so we have taken the decision to relax her duties somewhat and take on an extra pair of err paws …
So without further ado, let me introduce you to Ivy, the newest and youngest member of our team. Ivy is a two year old Lurcher originally from Ireland and has been rehomed with us via Dogs Trust. She’ll be taking quality control very seriously having taken a crash course from Pumpkin so rest assured our standards will not be slipping (infact her eye for detail is even more thorough than Pumpkin’s!). Ivy likes to spend her spare time sleeping (lots), running and chasing after squirrels (fruitlessly) her favourite product that we do is Composite Doors!
Please join us in welcoming Ivy to the team.
As a business in the construction and home improvement industry it’s clear that there are many different levels of skill which is of course understandable. On top of this, some companies will pay their installations team per window meaning they’re racing against the clock to make their wage for the day. Others will pay a daily rate but not give have any flexibility over how long a job will take.
When improving a home, things don’t always go to plan but a little time and care can be critical in making sure that you’re getting off on the right foot. We’ve seen countless instances where existing framework has been ripped out without any regard for how it will affect the finishing of the project. We believe that wherever possible, there should be minimum disruption to you and where possible there should be little to no plaster or brick damage - not only does this mean no decorating for you and by spending that time and care early on in the installation, it will save us time and a lot of effort later on when it comes to finishing off.
As a small example, have a look at the images below, the left hand image is how a job was left by a large national company - you’ll notice the buildup of paint which has been left from the original installation. When installing a new window, you’re looking for clean lines for a fresh looking home and the old paint lines only detract from that. The right hand image is after the bricks have been cleaned up by us (the process is quite slow and can take up to half an hour per window but it’s well worth doing along with many of the extra things we do as a company). Note in some instances due to the bricks used on a house, this may not be possible - if this is the case we’ll use slimline trims to finish the window properly.
We carefully check that wherever possible, everything is level and plumb - this can be critical when it comes to keeping your windows and doors operating over a lifetime. Again this also means there’s less time making adjustments at the end of the job and less return visits to readjust things.
This post isn’t meant to point the finger of blame at anyone nor is it meant to scaremonger anyone, everyone has to learn somewhere and everyone has a budget. However, what we are trying to say is that we believe that however you are upgrading your living space you deserve the very best within your budget. Your project should only require doing once so make sure it’s being done right first time or it could end up costing you more in the long run.
Make sure the work being carried out is done by someone you trust with your money. We’ve forged relationships over a long period of time with our customers and trade clients who in turn recommend us to others, it’s how we’ve grown into the business we are today. We don’t rush, if a job isn’t quite going to plan, we’ll return the following day as rushing can only make the problem worse.
If you were at Grand Designs Live in Birmingham’s NEC Arena this year, you may well have noticed one of our garden rooms being proudly displayed by our manufacturer.who have been hailed as a ‘Grand Designs Innovator’ it’s a term which is easy to throw about but what does it mean to you ?
Our garden rooms are harder wearing than traditional timber garden buildings, they won’t dent or bruise as easily as traditional timber.
Some designs use a timber frame which is clad and then filled with a rockwool type insulation (see below). Timber can obviously warp over time when exposed to the elements, the continuous cycle of the seasons will take it’s toll. The clever structural design of our Garden building not only speeds up installations it gives the building it’s structural integrity making sure that everything remains rigid. Furthermore, the composite material will never need to be sanded down, painted or varnished - it will remain looking great for years to come.
A ‘Traditional’ Timber clad design
Thermally excellent
Structurally solid & faster to install
The quick installation helps keep our installations costs really low meaning that your money is being spent on the highest quality product available rather than paying for time consuming fitting methods.
Side by side, on paper and in real life, the difference is night and day and we think you’ll agree.
Also launched at the event, was the new ‘Garden Room Configuration Tool’ which will be online very soon and will allow you to build and design your very own virtual space to your own bespoke requirements from the comfort of your own home. This state of the art software showcases exactly what is possible with a Garden building from us and we can’t wait to show it off to you.
Your new windows and doors are designed to last the test of time and should need very little attention going forwards. When we set up your new frames we spend a lot of time making sure everything is setup as it should be and so going forward they’ll require minimum effort going ahead.
The important thing is if you have any queries or issues, please get in contact - Your windows and doors have a warranty of ten years* a small problem which is neglected can turn into a much bigger issue so please don’t be afraid to give us a call.
In addition to our previous post about cleaning the windows and doors, there’s a little maintenance which if carried out every 6 months will extend the life of your new windows and doors indefinitely.
Mechanisms such as hinges and locks are best lubricated with silicone spray.
All moving parts should be lubricated with 3 in 1 oil or silicone spray (silicone spray will be easier to distribute, give window hinges a clean along the track with a cloth to remove any debris or dust and then lubricate. Also pay particular attention to each bearing which makes up the structure of the hinge. Try not to get any lubricant on the glass as it’ll create smears on your windows for a period afterwards. Finally lubricate the locking mechanism which you’ll find on the locking edge of the window - spray a liberal amount into the moving parts and work it through by moving the handle open and closed a few times clean up any excess with a kitchen towel.
Again, lubricate hinges and locking mechanisms fully as above however, on the lock barrel (the part which the key slides into) should be lubricated with graphite powder as WD40 or oil will invalidate your warranty). Graphite powder is a dry lubricant which will stop the lock cylinder from getting clogged up with dirt and debris it is readily available from locksmiths, hardware shops, DIY’s and online.
Lock barrels should be lubricated with Graphite powder only.
In the case of Composite doors, we recommend that the door when shut is closed with the locks engaged (the handle lifted up whether or not the key is actually locked) the composite materials used are similar to timber and can expand and contract over time, this is completely normal but usually happens more while the door is settling in by engaging the locks - this helps everything stay where it should. For further information please consult the sticker that came when your door was fitted.
Finally, please do not attempt to make any adjustments yourself to a window or door, this can sometimes invalidate the warranty. Between us here we’ve got over 45 years experience and at the time of fitting, we can make adjusting a door or window look easy, however it’s quite easy to get it wrong and is some cases the damage can be irreparable. If in doubt about anything - please give us a call.
*Please note glazed units are guaranteed for five years and units with integral blinds are guaranteed for one year.
Ok, so maybe i’m overselling this. But we get asked a lot of questions when we install our Window and Door products across Shropshire and beyond. But you can guarantee the one question that every home owner wants to know (whether they ask it or not) is how do I keep my new windows looking great for years to come.
As you can imagine, we clean a lot of Windows and Doors over a year and so we’ve tried just about every product on the market to find the toughest products on grime and also the easiest ones to use.
For most jobs, we’ve found Mr Muscle to be the best product on the market including all of the indusrial products the key though, is to make sure it has extra vinegar on the label. Now some will swear by their own home made solution adding different quantities of white vinegar to get the cleanest windows. We’ve tried it all and still keep reverting back to Mr Muscle.
Simply spray on evenly (but not too liberally), wipe it around with some clean kitchen paper then leave it to dry. You may find that the odd streak may just need bufing out with a microfibre cloth (or newspaper if you’re fancy) but as long as you' haven’t gone overboard and applied the cleaner liberally you shouldn’t need to. For any really tough marks (especially sticky marks or really ground in dirt, you can try some white spirits but you will need to do a few cleans with Mr muscle straight after to remove the streaks.
We’ve tried window vacuum products without much success, we’ve found that the rubber squidgee can create lines on the joins of each section that you’ve gone over.
Again, Mr Muscle is your friend when it comes to the frames and as long as you have a fairly regular window cleaning routine you’ll be fine with it. Cream cleaners on white PVCu also work but can be messier so we tend not to use them. For tougher stains on white - again white spirits, multi surface cleaner or Cillit Bang will do wonders bur rinse well afterwards.
Woodgrain foiled windows will benefit from the odd polish with regular household polish or, hot soapy water or car shampoo- nothing fancy but it will give it a gorgeous shine.
Avoid using harsh chemicals or solvents on composite doors. Some of these products have the potential to damage the ABS door skins.
When you’re going round with your vacuum cleaner, open up your sashes and just clear some of the dust and grime from the hinges and the opening - this should keep everything looking fresh!
Have you found a better way, something we’ve missed - get in touch and let us know!
If you’re feeling lazy, you could speak to us about Active self cleaning glass - and we also know a few good window cleaners …
Welcome to the new look Annvic Conservatories site, please mind the dust as we settle in, but here you’ll find an extensive range of what we offer. You might find choosing what you’re after daunting given the quantity of products but don’t panic, we can guide you through the whole process and tailor your needs exactly to the windows doors or conservatory that is right for you.
Be sure to check back on the blog often, here you’ll find a whole range of articles on home design as well as the very latest news on new products and services we can offer.
As with any website though, if you can’t see what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to discuss it with us, with so many options it’s sometimes hard to fit everything we do in one place !