Maintenance & Care of Powdercoated Products
Consumer Information

1. POWDERCOATED ALUMINIUM WINDOWS - A GOOD CHOICE!

Thank you for choosing to purchase aluminium windows. Your windows are factory pre-finished in long-lasting electrostatic-applied powder-coating. A combination of painstaking preparation, careful workmanship, and the latest technology have come together to bring you your powder-coated windows and doors, in the decorator colours of your choice. Powdercoating is one of the most durable colour coatings available and, with very little effort on your part, it will provide you with many years of excellent service.

We want you to get the full long-term benefit of choosing low maintenance powdercoated windows. So we have prepared this information sheet for you that details the few simple things you need to do to get maximum satisfaction from your investment.

2. REGULAR WASHING IS THE KEY TO LOOKING SMART

To maintain the good looks of your powdercoated aluminium windows, each window and door unit needs regular washing all over - not just the parts that are sheltered from the rain. In fact looking after your windows is very much like looking after a new car - a regular wash keeps your investment in smart condition.

Unless you are close to the seaside or are in a similar harsh environment, such as near an industrial area, washing down your windows about every three months should be sufficient. Simply use a good quality, soft bristled, window washing brush as sold by general hardware stores. Some brushes have in-built detergent dispensers and connect directly to the garden tap. These brushes make it really easy to rinse off the detergent bubbles - which is a very important part of the care process.

If you choose to wash the windows by hand in the traditional way, simply use a dilute solution of mild pH neutral liquid hand-dishwashing detergent, available from  your supermarket, mixed the same way you would use to wash your dishes. Be sure to rinse off the window with a gentle spray from the garden hose, and dry the glass to avoid any marks developing.

3. WHAT TO DO ABOUT PAINT SPLASHES

Working around your house, painting overhead roof soffits and the like, may cause paint splashes to mar the appearance of your windows. The best thing to do is to protect the joinery by masking it using a simple plastic drop sheet such as those available from paint shops for a couple of dollars each. 

If an accident happens act quickly and remove such splashes with a cloth soaked in water. We recommend the use of water-based paints to enable easy clean up. Using any solvents on your joinery puts it at risk. Always immediately rinse off the area cleaned using clean water.

WARNING: - Never use any other kind of solvent cleaner as it could damage the powdercoating or cause it to deteriorate and age rapidly. Common solvents such as petrol, Acetates, Dulon Thinners, and Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) are very damaging to powdercoat and must never come into contact with it. Highly acidic, alkaline, common household solvent or alcohol-based cleaners are not recommended either. These comments also apply equally to the other components that make up the window or door - we recommend you do not use any solvents other than water.

4. REFURBISHING POWDERCOATED PRODUCTS

All surfaces eventually degrade on prolonged exposure to the elements. Change of colour, loss of gloss and some chalking may eventuate after time. A number of restoration techniques are possible. These will depend on the particular circumstances and the life expectancy of the refurbishment. The type of refurbishment chosen may vary between domestic and commercial applications.

For Domestic Refurbishment, we recommend polishing with a high quality automotive cream polish in accordance with the polish manufacturer's instructions. This will both clean and protect the surface. Avoid polishes which also contain cutting compounds, unless the surface is extremely weathered.

For badly scratched surfaces use a dab stick or aerosol can with colour matched paint. These are available from the company that supplied your aluminium windows and doors. They will be able to provide the appropriate colour match to your original order.