Aluminium Window and Door Repairs: The Faults We See Most Often

Aluminium windows and doors are generally low-maintenance, but they do develop a specific set of faults over time that are different from uPVC or timber. Here are the problems that come up most often on the aluminium frames we work on across London, and what tends to cause them.

Why aluminium fails differently from uPVC or timber

Aluminium frames don't rot, swell or warp the way timber can, and they're generally more rigid than uPVC, which is part of why they're popular on shopfronts and larger domestic openings. But the slimmer profiles that make aluminium attractive also mean there's less material to absorb wear, so hinges, gaskets and hardware tend to be the parts that let a frame down rather than the frame itself.

Corrosion is another factor specific to aluminium, particularly around fixings and where two different metals are in contact, which can gradually seize moving parts that were previously smooth.

Stiff or heavy handles

A handle that's become stiff to turn on an aluminium window or door is often down to the internal mechanism drying out or gathering a small amount of corrosion inside the gearbox, rather than anything wrong with the handle itself. Left alone, a stiff handle can eventually seize completely or, worse, snap under the extra force being used to turn it.

A light silicone-based lubricant (not household oil, which attracts grit) applied to the mechanism and hinges periodically helps prevent this, but a handle that's already seized usually needs the gearbox replacing rather than just lubricating.

Sagging doors and worn hinges

Aluminium doors, particularly larger sliding or bifold sets, carry a lot of weight through their hinges or rollers, and over years of daily use these components wear. A sagging leaf that catches on the threshold or won't align with the frame is one of the most frequent aluminium door complaints we see, and it's usually a hinge or roller replacement rather than a frame issue.

• Door dragging along the bottom of the frame or threshold
• Visible gap at the top of the door on one side but not the other
• Handle needing extra force to lift and engage the locking points

Perished gaskets and draughts

The rubber gaskets that seal aluminium frames against the glass and against each other harden and shrink with age and UV exposure, which is a common cause of draughts and rattling in older aluminium windows even when the frame itself is in good condition. Unlike a full frame replacement, gasket renewal is usually a straightforward job once the correct profile has been identified.

A rattling pane in windy weather is often simply a sign the gasket has shrunk enough to leave a small amount of play around the glass, rather than anything structurally wrong with the unit.

Corrosion around fixings and locking points

White or grey powdery deposits around screws, hinges or locking keeps are a sign of aluminium corrosion, often accelerated by coastal-style exposure, nearby traffic pollution, or moisture trapped where two metals meet. Left unaddressed, this can eventually make fixings difficult to remove and cause locking components to bind.

Cleaning affected areas and replacing corroded fixings with the correct grade of screw usually resolves this before it becomes a bigger problem.

Cracked or scratched glazing in aluminium frames

Because aluminium is so often used for shopfronts and larger commercial glazing, cracked panes and impact damage are a regular call for us on this frame type. The narrow sightlines on aluminium can make glass slightly trickier to remove and refit than a chunkier uPVC bead, but the process is otherwise similar to any other frame once the correct glass spec has been confirmed.

Getting an aluminium frame looked at

We work on aluminium windows and doors across domestic and commercial properties in Central London and the M25, including shopfront glazing where aluminium is the standard frame material, door lock repairs for gearbox and mechanism faults, and cracked glass replacement where the pane itself needs attention. If you're not sure what's causing a specific fault, send a photo or short video through the quote page or call Mark on 07535 916982 and we'll talk it through.

Call Mark on 07535 916982 or request a callback.