From: Neil Evans Sales Director,
VEKA UK Group

As we continue to enjoy fantastic summer weather (with more to come?) it was concerning to read the following web news release issued by a reputable regional housebuilder to their homeowners –

“Due to the warm weather we have been experiencing, you may be struggling with the opening, closing and locking of any doors and windows that are in direct sunlight. This is due to the expansion of the framework caused by this heat. We strongly advise that you avoid the use of any door or window that is in direct sunlight unless absolutely necessary. Alternatively, to cool the framework down, you can spray with cold water or allow them enough time to naturally cool down. Please do not force any opening and closing as this may cause excessive damage.”

It was not a general release to all of their customers, or all of their developments, but appeared targeted at specific new developments where issues were being encountered.

We know uPVC expands and contracts but that inconsistency in experience suggests that specifying and procuring the right window systems, as well as installing to allow for expansion and contraction, were not major factors in their product decisions or construction.  And it would suggest that the role of steel reinforcement to mitigate some of the movement caused by heat (never mind to support wind load performance) has not even been considered.  That's why as a systems company we design and test our window systems with bespoke steel sections and have comprehensive fabrication and reinforcement standards.

At the risk of being too idealistic, surely the combination of additional after sales costs and reputational damage caused by customers being only allowed to use their doors or windows in their dream homes if “absolutely necessary”, would be enough to make builders want to take more care to get it right.

Warm weather tends to restrict sales in our industry as consumers find other ways to spend their time and money; we are foolish if we let shortcuts in the supply chain render products unusable during that very same period.