 |
|
|
|
Maintain your joinery & glass |
 |
|
|
|
Congratulations on selecting Epic aluminium joinery, coated with a tough exterior grade Dulux Powder Coating. In conjunction with a regular maintenance programme your powder coated aluminium joinery will have a long life expectancy and will stay in good condition for many years. Just as washing your car is important for removing dirt and grime, your powder coating needs to be given a regular wash to keep it looking in great shape. The effects of ultra violet light, atmospheric pollution, general dirt and grime and airborne salt deposits can all accumulate over time and should be removed at regular intervals. As a general rule cleaning must take place every six months. In areas where pollutants are more prevalent such as beach front houses and industrial or geothermal areas then a cleaning programme should be carried out on a more frequent basis - ie: every three months.  Check list for operating components 1. If opening sashs and door panels are hard to operate, measure the overall frame from corner to corner. They should read the same. If not, the joinery unit may have been installed incorrectly to your building. Other checks for opening sash's are - a) the mitre joins of the sash panel should line up with the frame mitre 2. If door locks don't operate, check the door jamb and panel stile are parallel to each other. Check the head and top of the door panel, they should also be parallel, If not, again this may be an installation problem. Slide door locks can be adjusted by releasing the screws of the strike box on the doorjamb and shifting it up or down, then retighten the screws. Slide door wheels are located at the bottom side stiles of each panel and can be adjusted up or down. 3. If French and bi-fold doors won't close, make sure the flush bolts are in the open position. Flush bolts are in the open position when the lever operated handles are facing towards the outer frame head and sill. 4. If sills and drainage channels are holding water, check the outer and inner drainage holes for blockage. 5. Regular lubrication with "Dry Glide", CRC or similar will prevent door and window hardware corroding and seizing, making them hard to operate. Prevention is always more economical than the cure. Three steps to cleaning your powder coating 1 Remove loose deposits with a wet sponge rather than risk micro scratching the surface by dry dusting. 2. Using a soft brush and a mild detergent in warm water, clean the powder coating to remove any dust, salt or other deposits. 3. Always rinse after cleaning with fresh water to remove any remaining detergent. Restoring weathered or scratched surfaces Weathered areas or scratches can be restored with the use of a polishing cream. Dulux "GLOSS UP" has been specifically designed for this purpose and can be applied with relative ease. Blemishes or deep scratches can also be touched up with the use of a Repair Kit. Repair Kits to match all I.P.T. (NZ) colour card colours are available. WARNING In some cases strong solvents recommended for thinning various types of paints and also for cleaning up mastics and sealants are harmful to the extended life of the powder coated surface. These should not be used for cleaning purposes. If paint splashes or sealants and mastics need to be removed then the following can be used safely. White Spirits Pegasol A A This information has been prepared to help you get the best life from your powder coating. If you have any questions please contact Epic. Maintaining your glass Epic recommend cleaning your glass at least once a month, and/or after adverse weather conditions. Any domestic cleaner will do the job. It is important to wash with clean water afterwards, and squeegee any excess liquid off with a rubber blade or cloth. Corrosion and staining Glass is often thought to be invulnerable except for breakage, but will in fact corrode or stain if permitted. Surface corrosion or staining is often caused by the deposition if dissolved or suspended minerals in water droplets which are allowed to dry and harden on the glass. As the contaminated water droplets evaporate, the minerals (or salts) become more concentrated and form strong chemical bonds with the glass itself, leading to residues or stains that are difficult to remove, or a permanently damaged etched surface. Where dissolved minerals are the cause, spots (the characteristic raindrop shape) are often seen on the aluminium glazing surrounds as well as the glass. Causes of surface corrosion • Alkalis (high concentrations of lime) from concrete, plaster or cement work. • Alkalis from agricultural paddock or drop dusting. • Hard water sources (high calcium concentration). Major surface damage occurs on building projects from the incidence of water run-off from concrete or plaster surfaces and chemically bond to the surface, some improvement may be possible by rubbing the area with a dilute solution (I %) of hydroflouric acid or a mild abrasive such as jeweller rouge or cerium oxide. The use of acid does require great care to avoid marking adjacent surfaces and suitable safety equipment such as face masks and gloves should be worn. Glass itself does not exude, leach or bleed any residue or stain causing materials. The only practical remedy for glass which is corroded, scratched, weld splattered or etched is replacement. |
|
