Finishing & Care Advice
In order to keep your Aluminium and Timber frames in good condition it is important to ensure you follow the correct finishing and care guidelines to suit your product.
Cleaning Aluminium and Anodised finishes
Product Cleaning Frequency Guidelines
All powder coated surfaces should be cleaned using a soft cloth or sponge with a solution of
warm water. Cleaning intervals depend on the following environments:
- Rural & Tropical: Mild – at least every 9 months
- Metropolitan: Moderate – at least every 6 months
- Coastal: Severe – at least every 3 months
- Within 5km of the Coast or Highly Polluted Industrial Area: Very severe – at least every month
Cleaning Powder Coated Aluminium Frames
Regular cleaning will help minimise the effects of weathering on your aluminium powder coated
windows and doors.
Remove cement mortar dropping from windows immediately, taking care to avoid scratching
glass and frames, as permanent damage can result. Stock Windows and Doors will not be liable
for any damage that may occur if the timber or aluminium painted surfaces comes into contact
with acid when cleaning brickwork.
Cleaning Aluminium Sliding Window and Door Tracks
To ensure better performance for your window and door tracks, it is recommended that you
vacuum tracks on a regular basis
We recommend that you wipe tracks yearly with a light machine oil, for example, sewing
machine oil. The machine oil will collect excess dirt and dust and make the sliding action much
smoother.
Cleaning of Anodised Aluminium
Anodised aluminium finishes should be cleaned regularly to avoid deterioration of the coating.
Deposited dirt can hold contaminated moisture on the anodised surface, which can cause
corrosion of these components. Cleaning should be conducted in line with the Product
Cleaning Frequency Guidelines. Clean the anodised aluminium surface by removing grime
deposits without causing any damage to the anodic oxidation coating.
The cleaning method to be adopted depends on the degree of deterioration that may have
already occurred. Hand rubbing is often used for small areas of work, but large areas of the
anodised surfaces, for example multi-story buildings, call for carefully controlled methods to
loosen adherent deposits. In this case professional cleaning is recommended.
The anodised aluminium should be washed with warm water containing a suitable wetting
agent or with a mild soap solution. Fibre brushes may be used to loosen dirt.
DO NOT use emery paper, sand paper, steel wool or other highly abrasive materials, acid or
alkaline cleaners as they can damage the anodic oxidation coating. The use of a mild abrasive
such as pumice powder and water may sometimes be necessary. It is important that you rinse
the product thoroughly using abundant application of clean water, particularly where crevices
are present. Where greasy deposits are present, cleaning may be carried out using a soft cloth
dipped in white spirit.
Since emulsion cleaners or proprietary chemical agents may damage the coating, they should
NEVER be used except in consultation with companies who specialise in the cleaning of
anodised aluminium. After cleaning anodised aluminium, it may be treated with a good quality
wax polish.
Cleaning and finishing of Timber Frames
Finishing of Timber Products
All Timber Windows and Doors are supplied unfinished and should be finished, stained, painted
or sealed within 1 month of delivery. As timber is a natural product it can be greatly affected by
the changes in weather which can cause the timber to warp, crack or in some cases rot.
To seal the product is is recommended that you use two coats of stain, paint or sealer. The
entire product should be finished, this includes all faces and edges of the product, including the
top and bottom.
Product Sanding
It is generally recommended by paint manufacturer’s to give timber products a light sand
before finishing. The surface should be prepared with appropriate sand paper and not with
anything such as steel wool or metal scourers.
Always sand in the direction of the grain and avoid cross sanding. Our products feature veneer
wrapped aluminium components, these products should not be sanded.
Extra care should be taken when finishing the products to ensure the hardware is not
compromised as this will cause issues with the products operation.
Cleaning of Timber Frames
Use soft, clean cloths for cleaning, do not use scraping devices or abrasive cleaners. Wash down
the frame with a soft cloth and mild detergent, rinse off any residue with clean water.
Keep the bottom tracks clean, ensuring to vacuum any dust and debris on a regular basis, wipe
with a cloth and use a dry silica based lubricant if required to lightly grease tracks and any
hinges. Ensure all opening sashes are operated regularly to ensure they continue to move
smoothly.