Tips Before Buying

Each aluminum profile manufacturing company (e.g., Europa, Alumil, etc.) continuously certifies, trains, and inspects specific aluminum manufacturers (who are few compared to the ‘labels’ that exist) for the production of its systems.

The certified manufacturers are continuously informed and trained on problems that arise in the series and how to prevent them, on the company’s new products, and on the correct production of frames. Furthermore, by choosing a certified manufacturer, you have the option to contact Europa’s private customer service line (22 620 32 100) and ascertain whether the materials used for the production of your frames (mechanisms, gaskets, corners, rollers, etc.) are authentic and approved and meet all the specifications of the designing company (see technical inspection sample, from Europa Profil). Here we should add that certified manufacturers are obliged to repair any problem that arises and for which they are responsible.

Some aluminum frame manufacturers, in order to reduce production costs and increase their profit, as well as to make their offers more attractive, use commercial components (blinds, gaskets, screens, rollers, locks, external painting, etc.)!!!

These components are completely unsuitable, as they reduce the water tightness and thermal and sound insulation coefficients of the frame, and sometimes they can even be dangerous. The consumer, however, does not have the technical knowledge to ascertain all of the above. Therefore, before the final payment for the aluminum frames, you have the right to call Europa’s private customer line (tel 22620 32100) and arrange an appointment with a company engineer, who is obliged to certify whether all components are approved by the said company (see technical inspection sample, from Europa Profil).

The technical inspection should be carried out before the final payment for the frames, which should be agreed upon from the beginning and stated in the aluminum frame offer you sign.

(see what a detailed aluminum frame offer should state).

An aluminum frame offer usually states the Company and the series (e.g., Europa 5000 casement frame). Many consumers believe that by stating these two characteristics, they can compare two frame offers. Unfortunately, this is not enough to evaluate and compare two offers. A balcony door or window (e.g., Europa 5000, Alumil S 350) can be manufactured in many ways that affect performance, appearance, functionality, and price. It is characteristic that a series of casement frames (e.g., Europa EOS 60) can be manufactured in several ways (the EOS 60 series has 10 different frames and 9 different sashes with different curved or straight designs), many types of mechanisms (simple or perimeter), and many brands (Roto, GU, Giesse). All these affect use and appearance. Also, many offers do not include details, such as whether the price includes covers for the sliding tracks, so that they do not protrude from the floor, or their sealing.

The safest way to ascertain all this is to visit the frame manufacturer and ask to see exactly the type and frame they will install, because many construction details (frame gaskets, track covers, screens with cover caps, track end caps, etc.) are not visible in the offers. If, however, you are unable to do this, it is advisable to ask the following questions about the frame offers you received:

• Does it include installation, removal, and disposal of old frames?
• Are the roller shutter boxes also energy-efficient (thermally broken roller shutter boxes)?
• Are track covers, capping – sealing, and perimeter trims included for recessed sliding frames?
• What handles – knobs are included?
• What type of gaskets are included in the frames (foam, lip, bubble)?
• Which company’s mechanisms (Roto, Giesse) and what type (simple, perimeter)?
• The type and supplier (e.g., Europa, commercial) of the shutter blinds, screens, roller shutters, glazing.
• The type of sliding tracks (inox, simple).
• Where are your frames painted (e.g., Alumil, external paint shops).

Consider that buying aluminum frames is a major investment that will accompany you for several years.

The aluminum frame offers you receive from aluminum frame manufacturers are the only document that accurately reflects the type of frames you are about to receive and has a binding character (it can also be used in court) for both parties (buyer and frame manufacturer). In aluminum frame offers, all the elements that determine the quality of the frames you are about to buy are stated or omitted, and for this reason, they must be detailed and accurately describe the products you will receive. This practically means that there must be precise information (supplier, exact type, warranty) for all the elements of the frames (profiles, roller shutters, glass, screens, installation, mechanisms, accessories, handles, gaskets, etc.), as otherwise you do not know the quality level of the frames you are buying. See in detail what should be stated in an aluminum frame offer.

Once you have chosen the aluminum frame manufacturer you will work with, it is essential that the agreement you make is documented in writing, in private agreements or in a detailed offer.

These should detail what products (aluminum) will be delivered (products are listed in the frame offers, which is why they should be detailed), how long it will take, how they will be paid for, and when you agree. It is also good to have delivery clauses, in case one of the parties defaults on their agreement or delays. All of the above should be signed by both parties and are necessary for any misunderstandings… or perhaps useful in case of disputes. Here we should note that in recent years, private agreements can be replaced by detailed frame offers signed by the interested parties.

To truly see what kind of aluminum manufacturer you intend to work with, it would be good to visit their recent projects.
In an aluminum frame exhibition, you will usually see the best examples of work and the best exhibits of that particular manufacturer. By visiting an actual project, you will see real work samples, not fictitious ones, as well as the manufacturer’s installation level, which is one of the most important aspects when purchasing aluminum frames. So, ask for a list of their recent works – and not just one that they choose – to ascertain all of the above.

All aluminum profile manufacturing companies (e.g., Europa, Alumil, Etem) provide certificates and guarantees for their products (aluminum profiles, paint, Sea side class, etc.). The above are not enough, because they only concern aluminum profiles (bars) and not the other parts of the frame (glazing, frame mechanisms, roller shutter motors, screens, etc.). Also, they do not cover any corrosion (filiform corrosion) that may occur if the manufacturer does not apply joint sealant (or Brougal) during frame assembly. It is the legal obligation of the aluminum frame manufacturer to provide a written guarantee for all the elements of the frames they manufacture and sell. This guarantee must explicitly state the warranty period provided for each product delivered to you (e.g., aluminum profiles, paint, roller shutters, screens, mechanisms, roller shutter motors, etc.) and commit to providing service in case of a problem. Most importantly, it must guarantee the correct installation of the aluminum frames, and all this must be stated in detail in the aluminum frame offer you agree upon.

Several sites that provide online frame prices and cost frames online are not frame manufacturers, but advertising companies that, after taking your details, ‘promote’ them to specific manufacturers of their ‘choice’.

Also, in several cases of online prices, the following are presented:

• They are not certified manufacturers, as they sell many products – frame series. Certified manufacturers sell one series (Europa) and, of course, do not offer plastic frames.
• In many cases, stock products are sold, which are the result of errors.
• Some of these frames are imported from third countries (e.g., Bulgaria).
• In many cases, prices do not include frame installation, which creates an issue with guarantees and certifications (see more on online frame prices).
• In some cases, they are not even frame manufacturers, but sellers who maintain showrooms and websites with many products (ask to visit their manufacturing unit).
• Some prices are ‘indicative’ with the sole aim of communication
• Large down payments are requested (over 40%) and full payment before completion.

Read in detail what to look out for in online aluminum frame prices

All aluminum manufacturers, to start a frame order, reasonably request a down payment of 30% – 40% of the amount. Larger down payments should be avoided.

Also, it is useful for the consumer to know the financial data of the company they intend to work with, because from the day of the down payment to the day of installation, there is a period of approximately one month, which is enough for any unscrupulous person to exploit.

Many believe that the good name of the aluminum series (Europa, Alumil, Etem, etc.) determines the quality of construction. This is not true, because extrusion companies (e.g., Europa, Alumil, Etem) offer their products (aluminum) in the form of six-meter bars (they do not manufacture windows).

The quality of construction, the construction materials, the mechanisms, and the quality of frame installation depend on the frame manufacturers (e.g., Fenestral). An aluminum frame manufacturer may take a well-known and expensive profile (e.g., Europa, Alumil, Etem) and not construct it correctly. Conversely, an aluminum frame manufacturer with passion can construct frames from less known companies (extrusions) and achieve a better result.

Some extrusions – aluminum profile manufacturers (e.g., Etem, Europa, Alumil, Exalco, etc.) during technical inspections, certify and confirm only if the aluminum profiles from which the frames were made belong to their company and do not refer at all to individual components thereof (gaskets, mechanisms, shutter blinds, rollers, roller shutters, plastic spacers for thermally broken frames, etc.), thus protecting the aluminum manufacturer – their customer.

Therefore, during technical inspections, you should insist that you are informed and that it is recorded in the technical inspection report whether all elements of the frame (components, roller shutters, gaskets, etc.) are those specified by the company that designed the frame (e.g., Europa).

Here we should note that some companies – aluminum profile manufacturers, even if they identify a problem in a technical inspection (if they find that there are unapproved components, roller shutters, etc.), do not oblige the manufacturer to repair the ‘problematic’ frame. The only protection for this is to explicitly state at the beginning of the agreement and at the offer stage that in case unapproved materials are used, they will be replaced.

Finally, we should note that all specified materials and components of each series (e.g., Europa ESS-34) are listed in the technical catalog of each series, which you can find in our products.

For more details, read the article frame certificates and technical specifications.

All frame manufacturers are obliged to state the performance of each product they produce (windows, balcony doors) in relation to thermal insulation, sound insulation, water tightness, etc. Find out what all the numbers mean in the frame quality determining factors.

You should choose the aluminum frame manufacturer you will work with early. This is necessary because you will need advice on:

• What are the appropriate gaps between the bricks for installing recessed sliding frames.
• Informing marble workers and floor layers about the height of the frame tracks at the bottom, so that they do not protrude from the finished floor.
• Installation of false frames and where they should be placed, so that the manufacturer takes responsibility for any problems that may arise in the future.
• Installation of alarms and where the wiring will be routed, so that they are hidden (contacts and cables inside the frames).
• Selection of the appropriate aluminum frame system.
• Possible concealment of roller shutter boxes.
• Choosing a frame color that defines the entire home.
• Information about the presence of any pipes at the frame installation point, to avoid damage.
• Modification of problematic openings that are not cleaned or obstruct during use.
• Advice so that openings are made correctly and are functional.
• When frames should be installed so that they are not damaged by other crews.
• Collaboration with other crews for the construction of special openings (e.g., large frames, corner frames, etc.) and the prevention of dangerous frame construction (casement frames above living areas, casement frames in children’s rooms without balconies).

Also, you should know that aluminum frames are not ready for delivery, and their construction requires at least thirty (30) to sixty (60) days (except in special cases) from the receipt of the final construction measurements.

In Greece, there are dozens of paint shops (external paint shops) that can paint aluminum profiles. The cost of painting in these specific paint shops is considerably lower than the cost required to paint aluminum profiles within the extrusions (EUROPA, ALUMIL, ETEM, etc.).

Furthermore, a great advantage of external paint shops is the variety of frame colors they offer, as well as the delivery time. Unfortunately, many of them do not meet the necessary requirements (facilities, certificates, etc.), but mainly they cannot deliver (without always being responsible) the quality of paint that extrusions deliver (dents, unpainted areas, ‘pimples’ see more in paint problems, etc.). So, find out where the frames you are about to buy are painted.

Energy-efficient glazing is a group of glazings with many uses, properties, and prices. There are energy-efficient glazings for summer, for winter, for all seasons of the year, and with different properties and performances (which, if used incorrectly, lead to opposite results).

That is why it is essential, when you receive an aluminum frame offer, not to be satisfied only with the fact that it includes energy-efficient glazing (Energy glass!), because this alone does not essentially determine anything, but you must ask:

• what type of energy-efficient glazing it is (see all types of energy-efficient glass)
• who their supplier is.
• if they are effective all year round
• where they come from, and most importantly
• their energy characteristics – performances (Ug value – thermal insulation coefficient of glass, solar factor g, Light transmission (LT) coefficient, sound insulation, etc.). )
• Ask for details about the construction method (double bonding, hot, cold, argon gas), as well as the guarantees provided.

Manufacturers are now obliged to provide the above information.

The accessories used in the construction of frames are an important factor, both for proper operation and for the longevity of the frame.

It is the unseen factor that affects the performance and price of a frame. This category includes gaskets, rollers, mechanisms, corners – connections, espagnolettes, hinges, etc. For your part, you should demand that the manufacturer uses all the accessories recommended and approved by the designer and producer of the aluminum system (Europa, Alumil). In the case of accessories, economy has no place, because otherwise, even the best aluminum system can prove to be inadequate or even dangerous!

In the case of replacing old wooden frames, there are two installation methods. The first method is the complete removal of the old wooden frames, which is the correct method.

The second method is the removal of only the old wooden sashes (glass) and the installation of the new frames on the old wooden casings. This method does not cause damage (repairs), is easier to install (which is why many frame manufacturers recommend it), and is also more economical. Structurally, however, it is incorrect. The reason is that by installing new aluminum frames on wooden casings 40 years old or more, there is always the risk, after one or two years, that the wooden casings (woodworm, corrosion, normal wear and tear, etc.) that have already been there for many years will be destroyed, and eventually the new aluminum frames will also become useless. No one can know when such a thing will happen. That is why it is preferable, if we are not financially ready, but mainly psychologically (repairs), to wait until we gather the necessary amount and make a proper frame installation, so that it lasts for many years.

Many aluminum frame manufacturers, in order to reduce the cost of the frame, use closed sashes for the sashes of casement frames. This reduces the cost of a frame because it minimizes production time by half and also reduces material costs. This method results in the frames malfunctioning after a short period (‘catching’ at the corners), because with closed sashes it is impossible to properly ‘glaze‘ the glass panes. Furthermore, in case of glass breakage, its replacement becomes very difficult, because the entire sash of the frame must be disassembled.