upvc frame welds problem?

[nospammer999]

Just had upvc windows fitted... fitters are finsihed and left... looking at various frames, there were what I thought was small dots of dirt in some of the corner welds, but when I couldn't wipe then off I got suspicious... got out a magnify glass and they seem to be actually small holes in the weld!... very thin and about 1-2mm long

for some reason, as far as I can see, they are restricted to the welds of the window opening lights rather than those the fixed frame itself, though I haven't inspected everything and it hard to see some of the welds on the outside.

So far I found them in about 4 window lights.... on some its just one or 2 minute holes ... on others there are several holes along the centre line of the weld.

How concerned should I be?

I haven't signed anything to say I'm happy with the job... and haven't paid the full amount yet... I'll obviously get the company back... (they're a reputable, small local company) but would like to know if these things are usual / acceptable beforehand...

Also ... anyone got a quick checklist of things I should inspect beforehand so that I can point out anything else when they come back.

thanks AJ

[Stuart]

Welds..???

Is that part of the fitting process or upvc windows ( I'm getting one fitted soon)..How do they do this /what do they use .?

Stuart

[Guy King]

The message from Stuart contains these words:

Yeah, the joins in the corners where one bit of plastic extrusion is mitred to another. How else do you think they join 'em?

[Stuart]

Well I wouldn't be asking if I knew would I FFS.

Could be glue of some sort . I don't know.

Stuart

[Andrew Mawson]

words:

I believe they use ultrasonics to weld the upvc.

AWEM

[Phil Anthropist]

Impossible to say without seeing these holes. Are the holes blind or do they penetrate the frame? If they penetrate the frame I would be concerned about water penetration and subsequent rusting of the steel reinforcing sections inside the upvc profiles. Things to check: does the 10 year guarantee include replacement if any of the steel reinforcing sections rust through the upvc (if this is a possibility); have all gaps between frames and masonry been filled and sealed; do the openers all open, close and lock correctly.

[Guy King]

The message from Stuart contains these words:

It's welded. The material is the same as the parent material surrounding it - can't remember whether it's hot-air or ultrasonic - perhaps different places do it different ways. Anyway - while it's hot it's supposed to be trimmed to give a neat slightly grooved join. Doesn't always come out perfectly - some are very slightly substandard, some gape like a landed fish.

[nospammer999]

Difficult to say if they are blind ... only seem to be on interior side of some of the opening windows - and too small to probe (think hair-width and couple of mm long along the exact centre line of the weld)... though they are black ... and I thought the weld would be white all the way thru?... unless they are some indentation mark left by the weld machine in manufacture ... I could try scraping ... but it didn't shift using a wooden cocktail stick... How thick is the material at the weld... could I scape more vigoursly without further damage to see if it is a hole or just an embedded mark...

I'll be calling them back anyway...

thanks AJ