Window maintenance and upkeep

Looking after your windows

If you've invested a substantial amount of money into the windows of your home, you'll want to protect your investment. Whilst the most obvious way to do this is to safeguard your property with house insurance, there are a number of little things you can do regularly to maintain your windows.

This maintenance is also important as properly insulated windows can save you hundreds of pounds each year in energy bills. Below you'll find a number of tips for keeping your windows and frames in the best possible condition.

Painting Window Frames

One of the biggest concerns people have about their window frames is their appearance. A gentle cleaning of your window frames every six months is often enough to keep them looking fresh, but there are other options if that isn't enough for you. You can paint whatever window frames you have, but depending on the type of frame, there are certain paints that work the best. If you have UPVC windows and don't enjoy the look of the white plastic you can spray paint them.

Spray painting the windows can achieve a colourful effect that's in keeping with your house's style, or you can use metallic colour to give them a stainless, gold or aluminium appearance, it's up to you. If you start painting your window frames and sills, you have to continue, or they will end up looking worse than you perceived them to be in the first place.

Whenever you notice that the paint is less lustrous or flaking off, give it a touch up. The same goes for wood and metal frames too. You can paint these as you wish but make sure that the maintenance is kept up or they will look shabby. You can use gloss or matt paint on wooden frames, but you will obviously need to use a specialist metal paint for your metal frames.

Maintaining Wooden and Metal Frames

To extend the life of your window's frames for as long as possible, varnish your window frames at least every six months, this can ensure that they continue to look their best and do not begin to rot or rust. If your wooden frames begin to rot, it isn't the end of the world. Many window fitters can now replace rotten sections of wood without having to remove the entire window from the wall. To ensure that any replacement can be done with the minimum amount of inconvenience, make sure that you have your wooden frames treated as soon as you notice the first sign of rotting.

Aluminium frames are often harder to replace, if you think this may be a problem for you in the future, it is not recommended that you choose these for installation, speak to your window fitter for further details about availability of materials and replacement.

Hinges

To ensure that the hinges of your windows last as long as the glass and frames, make sure that you apply a lubricant like teflon spray to them. WD40 isn't expensive at all and a quick spray on your window hinges every few weeks will ensure that you don't have to fork out a substantial amount of money for completely new hinges.

You can use this same method on your window catches, rivets and handles too. When they don't look like they can handle much more use replace them. Opening windows with damaged hinges is not a good idea and could potentially have both financial and health consequences.

Window Glass

Just like the window's frames, cleaning the window glass regularly can maintain its appearance. Do you have large windows in your house? Why did you choose them? You probably chose them because they let a lot of light in and made the room feel airy. If your window panes are dirty, any light trying to shine through them will be obscured. Your room will appear misty and dull, which I'm sure isn't what you were hoping for.

If you notice a crack in your window or its sealant, get it checked out as soon as possible. When the sealant of a double glazed window stops being effective your window can get permanently fogged up with condensation. This won't just spoil the view from your window, it will also spoil the look of your house too.

If you notice that there are draughts in your home an easy way to reduce them is to attach draught excluder strips to the join of the window and its frame. This will keep the warm air from escaping from your home.

If you need a pane of glass replaced in your double glazing it no longer presents the same problems that were evident years ago. Upgrading of your glass to high environmental standards is also possible.

Sliding Windows

These windows can rattle as they age. To eradicate this annoying occurrence you can replace the felt inside the door. Doing this should also help to reduce associated problems like leaks and draughts from occurring.

Maximising Security

One of the main reasons for maintaining the health of your windows is to maximise on the security that they provide. Almost 85% of all burglaries committed occur because criminals notice that a window can be opened easily. These types of events don't just occur at night whilst you sleep, the majority happen during the day whilst you're at work.

Ensure that any broken window panes are replaced or at least properly secured until they can be replaced. Placing cardboard in front of them won't just let warm air escape from your house, it could help an intruder find a way in.

Another way to ensure your safety is to add dead locks to your windows. If your windows already have a locking feature, ensure that you have kept the frames and hinges in the optimum condition by following the advice above. By maintaining your windows you are removing another easy target from a criminal.

Remember prevention is always better than a cure. Protect yourself from extensive added work and costs by putting in small amounts of work over the life of your windows instead.