UPVC windows

alan86

A question about upvc windows. We have triple glaze black upvc windows in our house and I have just noticed that it looks like the bottom corners of the windows appear to curve out slightly. Like if you were to put a level on the window vertically it looks like there a 1 or 2 mm gap at bottom where bottom of frame meets upright of frame.

The windows would of been fitted in jan this year and the house was plastered last month and I have only noticed this now. I'm just wondering are upvc windows know to twist slightly and would anyone think it's anything to worry about?

monseiur

Black objects absorbs the sun rays and turns it into heat, if your windows are in a sun trap the heat created may be slightly warping your windows.

I have seen black seamless gutters totally warped and twisted by the direct heat of the sun.

alan86

Ya the house would get hit with alot of sun and I'm wondering if the warm weather over the last while would of impacted them. It may be a case that it's normal due to the fact that black will absorb the heat like ur saying but was a thrown when I noticed it this evening.

BenIrishHome

Crap, am about to get black windows, doors and also gutters, soffits and facia etc (it's a complete aesthetic choice).

We are in sunny Wexford. Do you think this is a bad idea?

I heard someone saying here that Anthracite windows and doors were more common because they don't absorb the heat so much. Eek

NeoToad

I think it's a great post, because I wouldn't even have thought about such a thing as heating black PVC, although it's logical. So a big thanks to the author.

Happy_Harry

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123517191#Comment_123517191

We have a west facing black PVC door and I can confirm that it was not a great idea. It cracked , then got it replaced under warranty and cracked again. Few weeks ago after the "heatwave" the door wouldn't close anymore. I am replacing it now with a anthracite composite door. Don't want to scaremonger , so the people selling composite doors say that a composite door will not behave like the PVC one.. My PVC door was installed 2012. I would just check with your installer and confirm whether there will be an issue. Position of the door is obviously also important. My door gets about 10 hours full sun during summer. North facing door would get a lot less.

josip

Our neighbours had problems with the black gutters twisting on their south facing wall. I'd never heard of it before them.

BenIrishHome

Weird I hadn't been on boards in weeks and then was just re-reading this post when you replied.

Thanks! I think we need rethink our entire design for the front of the house. WE are very exposed East facing house, overlooking the sea, lots of sun in the morning, our front drive really heats up on a warm day.

Our house design was suposed to be black windows, frames, gutters etc, with white walls. I think we will have to go with Anthracite. I like it but the wife doesnt.

I like how it's through the entire window/door frame with most companies, not black painted on a white UPVC frame. Seems like its likely to be much longer lasting.

chooseusername

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123540146#Comment_123540146

No expansion gaps probably

https://youtu.be/ZBNUfwWEm7Q?t=307

monseiur

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123542635#Comment_123542635

Aluminium seamless gutters don't have expansion gaps as they're a one piece gutter the full length of house (fabricated on site) hence the warping/twisting.

chooseusername

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123542698#Comment_123542698

I assumed @josip was talking about black plastic guttering, as the thread is about black upvc windows buckling in hot weather

BenIrishHome

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123540136#Comment_123540136

I've talked to three windows companies this week and they said there was nothing wrong with black uPVC windows or doors. Munster. Senator. Weatherglaze. all roughly 15 year guarantee. Unlikely to go wrong they said…

billbond4

Got our white uPVC replaced with Black ones 9 years ago, no change in the colour of Black frames
The front of house is south facing and gets plenty of sun

Happy_Harry

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123553794#Comment_123553794

Sorry, I missed the notification, and I know we are a month later, but I'll show you what I mean.

Literally every corner of the "panels" have cracks running out of them. You can also see the door expanded from within. I don't believe the door is black anymore ( compare to mailbox for example) And this was the replacement door after the first one had exactly same problem, so I call BS on what these suppliers tell you on black PVC doors. This one came from one of the supplier you listed btw.