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Do you notice draughts around the sides and bottom of your top-hung uPVC windows? Then you may need to adjust the screws in the inside of your uPVC frame. But how can you adjust a window if it opens up and outwards from the window frames?

In this article, we’re going to discuss how to adjust top-hung uPVC windows. This is critically important since unaligned top-hung uPVC windows can cause draughts and affects your home’s ventilation. But lift your spirits, because it doesn’t require much time and you can do it yourself. Let’s get started. 

Adjusting your Top-Hung uPVC Window’s Height

1. Check the bottom of the window sash and see if it fits in the frame.

Open and close your window several times to inspect the bottom of the sash if it fits and slides smoothly into the window frame. If it sticks against the frame or seal, then you need to raise the height. But if when if it rest about 1⁄16 inch (0.16 cm) above the frame when you close it, then you have to lower down the window’s height to prevent draughts. 

• The window sash is the panel that raises and lowers when you open up the window. It is typically composed of multiple glass panes. 

2. Open the window completely.

It will help you gain more access to the small screws that need to be loosened to alter the height of the window. Window adjustment may take up to 15-20 minutes, so, it would be better to do it on a rain-free day. 

3. Loosen the screws on the left and right side of the frame that holds the window casement.

There are four small screws on the left and right side of the casement that holds the metal strip to the window frame. Loosen each of them with a full turn in a counterclockwise direction using a Phillips head screwdriver. The screws vary in size, so test out different sizes until you find the screwdriver that perfectly fits into the screw. 

4. Adjust the window’s height by pressing or lifting the window sash. 

Once the screws have been loosened, you can already raise or lower down the height of your moveable window panel. If your top-hung window is not closing fully, move it a little increment downward. But if it sticks against the frame when you’re closing it, push it upward. 

If the panel is heavy, it may get pulled downward with its own weight so you may need to give support to the window panel until the screws get tightened again. 

5. Tighten all the screws.

After adjusting the window, put back the screws(a total of 8) in place and tighten it by doing a full turn in a clockwise direction. Then, close the windows a few times to see if it opens and closes smoothly.  

Your uPVC window should fit snugly into the frame by now. By doing those simple steps, you can stop draughts caused by unaligned windows in your home. 

Having draught in your home is a real pain in the neck because aside from raising your energy bills, it can also affect your home’s ventilation. However, you may be surprised that doors are the main culprits in this issue. Are you completely fed-up of the draughts that keep ruining your home’s environment? Thankfully there’s a solution! In this article, we will walk you through the process of adjusting uPVC doors to stop draught. 

According to recent research, it is estimated that roughly 44% of the homes in the UK suffer from draughts which is a significant cause of heat loss and high energy bills. Multiple draught spots in a house can contribute to the chill of our homes, but the doors are one of the most prone into it. But carrying out some adjustments can help you get rid of the draught problems. 

But before we jump into it, it would be best to consider how to assess your uPVC door if it needs adjustment so you can resolve it right off the bat.  

How Do You know If Your Door Needs Adjustment?

It’s always better to check what causes the problem with your door before adjusting it. You can start by checking if there are any obstructions at the bottom of the door frame, such as stone or dirt. If there are dirt and debris, you should clean it before adjusting the door to make sure that it will not cause another problem. 

Carefully check if there are any damages to the edges of your uPVC door which will likely occur as your door gets older. If you found broken seals or damage to the door or its frame, you may need to have a replacement. doesn’t just offer a vast range of uPVC doors; we also provide composite doors that are durable and not prone to draught. 

CHECK THE ALIGNMENT

There are a lot of ways to make sure that your door still serves you well and checking if the door is out of alignment is a good place to start. To achieve this, you should begin by checking and searching for cracks and gaps in the seal and make sure that the hinges are in place. It is probably one of the basics, but it is also essential. 

FIT A WEATHER SEAL

If you notice some problem with the door seal, you may need to repair the seal or fit a new weather seal in your door to stop air from getting through into your home. Sealing is essential to make your house more comfortable, so it is something that you should not overlook. 

There are various types of weather seals that are available out there. Thus, it is essential to understand what fits your uPVC door. If you are knowledgeable with it, then you can take your time in sorting it out and installing it, but if you’re not capable of such task, we recommend hiring professionals who can complete it the right way. 

It is also necessary to check if there are noticeable problems in the exterior of your door. If you found no issue in it, then the problem might have something to do with the door’s function. If it’s not closing the way it should, then draughts will have plenty of room to come through.

How to Adjust uPVC Doors?

Here’s the step-by-step procedure in adjusting your uPVC doors to prevent draughts and keep the warm air in your home.

1.REMOVING THE OBSTRUCTIONS

The first thing to do is to check if there is anything that blocks the door. If you’ve observed debris in the bottom of the door or drainage holes, make sure to remove it to ensure that the door is free from obstruction. 

2.READJUST YOUR DOOR’S ALIGNMENT

If your door is now free of obstruction but still causes draughts, you should try the final method, which is to readjust the alignment of your door. You can do it adjusting the flag hinge on the door:

Step 1. Removing the Plug on the Flag Hinge 

Take off the plastics plug on the centre of the hinge in the middle of your uPVC door. You can do it by using either a Flathead and Phillips Head screwdriver that fits, or manually by hands if required. 

Step 2. Adjusting the Door

You may then search for an Allen key spot and if you found one, insert the Allen key to the hole and turn it to adjust the door- you’ll be able to see the door moving back towards the frame. You may need to do this to the top and bottom hinges as well.

Step 3. Repeat the Process for the Remaining Door Hinges

Repeat the same process on other door hinges until the door becomes properly balanced. If adjustment of the flag hinge doesn’t solve the issue, start adjusting the butt hinge. It has the same process with flag hinge, but newer doors may require screwdriver instead of Allan Key.

Need to Upgrade for a Better Solution?

If you’ve been covering draughts from time to time and got fed up by this problem, upgrading to a higher quality composite door is likely the ideal solution for you. It is designed to boost your energy efficiency and is thermally efficient with durable and robust construction. What’s more? It comes with anti-draught technology and 5-point locking system for a secure home. 

It is also made from a reinforced plastic that doesn’t warp or crack. Aside from increasing the warmth of your home and added security, a composite door is an excellent investment that can serve you for years to come.

Does your door stick a little whenever you close it? Or is it draughty during the windy or cold season? If so, your rubber seals may be damaged and need replacement. Neglecting this issue could lead to water leakage and other problems that might wind you up. But how should you replace a rubber seal? 

In this article, we’re going to discuss how to replace rubber seals. It generally comes as one single piece so it can be a bit tricky but for £5 – £15 it’s very cost-effective. However, you might want to look through this post to see what’s what. 

Assessment and Ordering of Replacement Seal

1. Remove a Small Portion of the Seal and Check the Shape

The shape of seals in uPVC doors vary depending on the design, so you need to check it by removing a small piece which is about 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) in size and cut it using a pair of scissors. Then, inspect the shape whether it’s T-shaped, angled, round or has two parallel connecting slots because it must match your uPVC door’s frame. If the rubber seal is glued to your door, peel out a portion using a utility knife. Please do not remove the entire seal since it would result to draught. 

2. Measure your Door and the Check the Thickness of the Seal

Rubber seals are only used in exterior doors, and most exterior doors measure 36 by 80 inches(91 by 203 cm). If your uPVC door is custom-made or has an irregular shape, then, you need to measure its height and width using a measuring tape. 

3. Find a New Replacement Seal

The easiest way to find a new one is to contact your door’s manufacturer and ask for a rubber seal or gasket and detail out the dimension of your door and the shape of the seal. 

If you have no contact with your door’s manufacturer, you may search for a rubber seal gasket for uPVC door online and see if the images match with your door’s seal. 

• After measuring, add the width and the height, then multiply it by 2. For example, if a door measures 90 inches(230 cm) by 40 inches (100cm), you need a seal with a length of at least 260 inches (660 cm). You can buy a longer seal though since you can cut the excess with scissors. 

Don’t forget to measure the thickness of the seal as well to help you determine how big the replacement has to be. 

Removing the Old Rubber Seal

1. Keep the door open by placing a door stopper underneath.

You don’t need to remove your uPVC door to replace the rubber seal, but you do have to keep it open while working. Then, place a door stopper underneath to keep it from moving. If a door stopper is not available, you can opt with brick or any bulky items in your home.

2. Remove the Rubber Seal Out of the Frame

Most rubber seals are removable by hands, so pinch a part of the rubber seal between your fingers and draw it out gently out of the frame. If it doesn’t budge easily, keep on finding a weak point where the seal comes out. You can slowly get the seal out of the frame once you’ve peeled a small portion. 

• If the seal is glued, loosen it by a knife blade. Slide it between a portion of the seal and the frame. You’d be able to pull it out this way since most adhesive seals are weak to help the seal in sliding around easily.
• If the seal still won’t budge, get a flathead screwdriver or a utility knife and press it into the seal at a 45-degree angle for it to slide into the frame. Pry it out until a portion is removed, then pull it by hand. Repeat the process in other section around the door frame if you can’t pull it out with your hands. 

Now that you’ve removed the old seal let’s start installing the new ones.

Installing the New Rubber Seal

1. Slot the New Seal into the Frame of your uPVC Door

Take the end of the rubber seal and using your thumb, press it gently into the corresponding slot in the frame. It would be better if you’d start in the middle of the door where the door closes so that you can be more comfortable and have enough space. Then, after placing the seal, try pulling it out, and if it’s not moving, then, it’s appropriately slotted into the frame. 

• If your seal has an adhesive at the back, don’t remove the adhesive backing all at once. Just peel 3-4 inches or 7.6-10.2 cm of the cover. 
• Then, use one of your hands in guiding the seal to the slot while your other hand is pushing the seal into the frame of the uPVC door. If you’re struggling to slot it into the sharp angles and corners, use a flathead screwdriver to push the rubber seal. 
• And if what you have is an adhesive seal, keep on removing the plastic of the adhesive seal while pressing it into the frame until you’re done fitting it around the door. 

2. Cut the Excess Seal

Using a pair of scissors, cut the excess length off and fit the unfinished portion into the slot in the frame. For adhesive seals, cutting would be easier if you won’t remove the cover on the back. Rubber seals are flexible so don’t worry if there’s a piece overlapping at the end even if it should’ve fit perfectly. You might have stretched it out a bit, but it’s not a problem. If you run out of the seal and end up short, it won’t be a huge deal if it’d have a 0.25–1 in (0.64–2.54 cm) gap in the seal, since you can fill it with silicone caulk. However, bigger gaps may cause heavy draughts. 

You can use the same process in replacing rubber seals of composite or wood doors which has a rubber seal on the frame. 

Why are Rubber Seals Important?

Rubber seal or draught seal is a type of weather stripping and joinery seal that goes around the frame and leaf of your uPVC door. It helps to seal off two different surfaces(such as interior and exterior) and prevent water leakage and damage, corrosion, and weathering. It also provides an and airtight barrier which prevents the loss of air or heat. Thus, it plays a vital role in insulation and keeping it in a good state can contribute to better ventilation and prevent draughts. 

However, the sun, weather and natural wear and tear can damage it. Paint can also damage it make it hard and brittle, so it can also damage the rubber seal. Furthermore, these chemicals can also harm your seal:

• Oil, greases, and gasoline
• Acids
• Alkalis

So, it’s critically important to avoid getting your seals in contact with those chemicals. Keeping it clean is also essential for you to enjoy a draught-free home. If you run into any issues, be sure to contact your local repair team.

The fibreglass flat roof is a structural system that was designed to provide a lightweight and efficient waterproof roofing solution for buildings, especially commercial buildings. It is constructed of panels made from polyester or polyurethane, bonded together using adhesives or by means of a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Some flat roofs are covered with tile, composition shingles, metal sheets, or other types of materials. The construction process usually begins with the frame being built up on top of the supporting structure in the building’s existing roofing system and then the panel is installed over the frame.

Advantages of Flat Roofing

If you’ve decided to opt for flat roofing in your home, there are some great advantages ahead! Here are some of the most common advantages of flat roofing.

• A flat roof is more efficient for the building’s energy usage.
• The installation of a flat roof also provides protection from the vagaries of weather. The panels are used as a waterproofing membrane and will not allow water to enter or leak out from between them.
• Flat roofs are often easier to clean and maintain than other types of roofs.
• Flat roofs can be designed into an aesthetically pleasing structure that has aesthetic value to the building.
• Not to mention, adding overall value to your home, as a flat roof has a longer life period than typical roofing solutions.

Disadvantages of Flat Roofing

However, there are some fibreglass flat roof problems that you should be aware before committing to installation. For example;

• Flat roofs are not suited for colder climates, as water is more likely to accumulate and pool on them. Flat roofing materials must be carefully selected so that they don’t freeze easily in colder temperatures.
• You’ll need to plan ahead and wait for the perfect weather for installation, when building with a flat roof, consult your builder before construction starts to ensure the proper weatherproofing of the building’s framework.

Flat Roof Problems and Solutions

One of the most common problems associated with flat roofs is water damage. Exposure to rain and snow can lead to water leaks, which in turn create wet spots and damage the roofing system. When this happens, there are two options available. You can either replace the roofing or you can seal up the leaky area and patch it with a bituminous material, like tar or sealant.

Another common issue with flat roofs is that they are often very cold in winter and lack insulation, meaning that they are not effective at providing warmth in the winter months. To prevent this problem, you should install additional insulation on top of your flat roof and make sure that it has some form of vapor barrier for added protection from moisture intrusion.