Is it ok to only replace internal seal in pvc bay window with wedge seals?

Penny1996

We have absolutely pathetic double glazed windows in our house. They are so bad the house is freezing - especially with this windy weather. We are thinking of starting to improve the airtightness of them by replacing the internal seal on the windows with wedge seals - the outside could do with being replaced but for now we can only afford to do inside or outside and because the corner mitre cut leave a lot to be desired we think if we were to replace the outside seals air would still get through. My question is have you heard of this happening, do you think we are right or will it make any difference - the worst window is a bay window (no opening type windows in it) where you can see pieces of thread (I taped to the frame) move with the breeze. A really shoddy job was done on these windows!

colm_mcm

I assume they're externally glazed, really you'd want to be squeezing an extra inch or two of rubber in there to allow for shrinking. Are there gaps between the beading outside? Are there gaps in the rubber in the beading?
Are you basically saying the sir isn't coming in because the sash isn't closing tight in the frame, and the air is coming in through the glazing?

Penny1996

Hi Colm_McM, yes there are gaps on the outside at the corners where the rubber seal has shrunk but where the white beading which holds the glass in meets (at the mitre joint) it is not flush and have gaps in them. We are worried if we go to the bother of resealing them with wedge seals that air will still get in at these points so we think that (for now) it would be better to replace the internal seal with wedge seal and then when funds allow do the outside ones. This window is not an opening window, it is just the frame with glass and non opening full time. Thanks

colm_mcm

You can get gap sealer for pvc Windows, but even mastic/silicone would do the job outside

Window would have drain holes on the front so unless you've got a good seal on the inside of the glass too, you might get a breeze from these.


One route you might try going down if all else fails is to get double sided foam tape and actually stick the glass unit to the inside frame, then cut the rubber from the outer bead and use a wedge rubber between the outer glass and the bead.
I've successful done this a good few times. I would try it on a small sash first as you'll have to mess around with different wedge rubber sizes.

This obviously depends on how well you fare trying conventional methods. Even just renewing the internal wedge rubbers, and a few gaps filled might be enough

Penny1996

colm_mcm wrote: »

One route you might try going down if all else fails is to get double sided foam tape and actually stick the glass unit to the inside frame, then cut the rubber from the outer bead and use a wedge rubber between the outer glass and the bead.
I've successful done this a good few times. I would try it on a small sash first as you'll have to mess around with different wedge rubber sizes.

Thanks Colm, So do you think only replacing the internal rubbers would be better than only replacing the outside ones (funds will only allow for one or the other)? Do you have any recommendations on where to get them in Ireland. I have only come across places in England - can get them at €1.30 a meter approx. Had thought of the removing the glass, putting a bead of Tec7 to stick glass to the upvc frame and then putting glass in again but don't know if this would be as beneficial as the wedge seal!!

colm_mcm

i wouldnt go using tec7 anyway. wouldnt be uniform thickness. the foam tape mentioned earlier would be much better if you were going down that route. Depends on how much give there is in the beads, some are tight.

your external rubber is part of the head (usually) so replacing that isn't really gonna be straightforward.

it would be with getting a professional to look at the Windows too as they might be able to get rubber a lot cheaper than you.