Aluminium lasts, the moving parts wear
Aluminium frames do not rot or rust, which is why an old aluminium window is usually worth repairing. What wears out are the parts that move or seal: runners, handles, stays, hinges and rubber gaskets. Replace those and the window works properly again, without disturbing the plaster or the paint around it.
Sliding windows that stick
A sliding sash sits on small runners in its bottom channel. When grit builds up or a runner cracks, the sash drags, jumps or has to be lifted to move. We lift the sash out, clean the channel, replace the runners and the guides at the top, and set the sash so it slides and latches cleanly. If the channel itself is bent, it is dressed straight before the sash goes back in.
Handles and stays on top-hung and casement windows
Top-hung windows open outwards from the top, with the handle on the bottom section, and casements swing on side hinges. Both rely on stays or friction hinges to hold them open. A gust that catches an open window can bend a stay or tear it from its fixings, and handles eventually crack at the spindle. Replacement parts are fitted to the existing holes where possible, so the frame is not weakened by fresh drilling.
Seals and gaskets
Two kinds of rubber keep the weather out: the seals around the opening sash and the glazing gaskets that hold the glass in the frame. Both harden and shrink in the sun. Replacing them stops draughts, rattles and water running down the inside of the glass.
Glass
A cracked pane in an aluminium window is released by taking out the glazing beads or gaskets, and the new pane is set on packers so the glass never sits directly on the metal. Laminated safety glass is worth considering for low panes and bathroom windows. Our page on window glass replacement covers the glass options for every frame type.
Adjustments
Many windows that seem broken only need adjusting. Sashes drop slightly over the years, hinges loosen and keeps shift, until the window has to be pushed hard to close. Resetting hinges, packers and keeps brings the sash back into line so the handle engages without force.
Matching old profiles
Older aluminium windows were made in profiles that are no longer produced. Handles, stays and seals can usually still be matched with a current part that fits the same fixings. Where a part cannot be matched, we tell you before quoting and suggest the closest working option, or a new sash or window if that is the sensible route. The window types we make are on our aluminium windows page.
Repair or replace?
Repair when the frame is straight and the fault is in the hardware, seals or glass, which is most of the time. Replace when the frame is bent out of square, badly corroded at the corners, or when you want a different window type. For window faults in other frame materials around the house, start with home window repairs.