Protection of metal-plastic windows during repair

Plastic windows installed in the room can be seriously damaged during internal or external repair work. There is a risk of damage to the profile, cracks on the double-glazed window or failure of the fittings if dust or construction debris gets into the mechanism. In any case, it will take time and money to eliminate the consequences — serious or cosmetic — and it will not always be possible to restore the window in principle.

The conclusion is simple: you need to think in advance about protecting metal-plastic windows during repair and take measures in advance. Moreover, this task is not difficult at all!

How to prepare plastic windows for repair

The ideal situation is if the windows have not yet been installed in the room that we are going to repair. The structures delivered and stored in the room can either be taken out of the room or covered with plastic wrap. The film is fixed with adhesive tape — so dust will not penetrate to the mechanisms and will not settle on the profile.

Pay attention! Metal-plastic windows should be stored in an upright position. Prolonged horizontal storage is undesirable. Firstly, so the probability of damage to the double-glazed window increases many times. Secondly, with horizontal storage, the risk of deformation of the frame or sash will be very high — especially with significant dimensions of the structure.

It is much more difficult if repairs need to be carried out in a room with plastic windows already installed. In this case, the structures need to be additionally protected:

• If the windows were installed recently, a film may remain on them, which is glued by the manufacturer to the profile just to protect it during transportation or installation. It is worth removing such a film after the completion of repair work — unless, of course, they are delayed for a month or longer.
• Another option for effective window protection is the use of polyethylene film. A regular or self-adhesive film is stretched so that it covers the entire window. We fix the film along the edges with masking tape. In this case, the window will receive the most effective protection from dust and mortars.
• You can protect not only the window, but also the slopes — if they were decorated before the start of the repair. As in the previous case, we use a combination of "plastic film masking tape". Qualitatively closed slopes will receive protection from moisture, dust and from damage to thermal insulation.

An alternative to the film is special protective sprays for plastic or glass surfaces. They are quite expensive (this is a significant disadvantage), but they are very convenient to use. The composition is evenly sprayed over the treated surface and polymerizes upon contact with air. A sufficiently strong film is formed on the surface of the window, which collects all the construction dust. After the work is completed, the polymerized film is simply removed from the surfaces, leaving no traces.

Window care after completion of repair work

Effective protection of a plastic window before the start of repair is half the battle. Sooner or later it's time to remove the protective film. And the result of all our efforts largely depends on how well we will act at the stage of completion of the repair.

• Throughout all work, we make sure that the protection is not damaged. If the film is torn and dust, mortar, glue or paint gets on the window, we remove them as soon as possible. The longer the impurities remain on the surface, the more they polymerize, the more difficult it will be to remove them without a trace.
• The protective film pasted by the manufacturer on the profile must be removed no later than three months after the completion of installation work. The reason is the polymerization of the glue that holds the film on the profile. If the glue dries completely, the film will lose elasticity and will stick almost tightly to the base. It will be very difficult to clean the profile so that there are no traces of glue left. And in the case of laminated windows, it is almost impossible.

Advice! If the repair is delayed, then you need to remove the "native" protective film and paste a masking tape on the profile. For its manufacture, glue is used, which polymerizes very slowly, and when removed leaves no traces. The width of the adhesive tape should be such that the protective layer completely covers the plastic parts.

• After removing the plastic film, you need to clean and lubricate the fittings. If this is not done, the dust, which will inevitably penetrate under the polyethylene, will get inside the mechanism. This will accelerate its wear and provoke the appearance of a squeak in the hinges, as well as in the locking part of the fittings.

When the repair in the room is completed, the window needs to be washed. For washing, soapy water or detergent is used, which contains no active solvents that can damage PVC. To clean up dirt, you should use microfiber cloths or sponges, but hard brushes (especially metal ones) should be abandoned. Processing plastic parts with such a tool will inevitably lead to scratches.

It will be much easier to wash windows after repair if you take care of the protection of structures in advance. This applies not only to interior, but also facade work — the window needs protection both inside and outside. It is not difficult to protect the window during the repair, and this does not require large investments. But on the other hand, you will avoid serious damage to the profile and the double-glazed window, as well as protect the plastic window from the appearance of numerous cosmetic defects that will be very difficult to remove in the future. 

You can order a high-quality professional installation of metal-plastic windows by following the link