32
DECEMBER 2014 PRO INSTALLER
PRO SKILLS
www.proinstaller.co.uk
Performance Fit Composite Doors
How does a customer really know that their composite door is fitted correctly and not only
looks good but also lives up to its fire safety, energy efficiency and security claims?
Training and technical
manager at Ireland and
the UK’s leading composite door supplier,
Apeer, Gary Neil explains the importance
of ensuring fitters are
specifically trained.
Having invested time in
researching and choosing
a new front door, ensuring
the installation is carried out
correctly is absolutely paramount to its functionality.
When speaking to customers, we can never stress
enough the importance of
choosing the right person
to carry out the fitting. It
only takes an inexperienced
tradesman to make one
short cut to compromise the
benefits.
Most fitters are trained in
PVCu door fitting which is a
much more flexible material
than composite so behaves
in a different way. The
rigidity of a composite door
requires expert precision
and attention to detail to
avoid damaging the door
and eradicate potential irri-
tations. Only an expert fitter will have the knowledge
and experience to make
minor adjustments when installing it, to avoid problems
further down the lin e.
We are regularly contacted to provide solutions for
‘problem’ installations. I
have come across cases
where something as simple
as the wrong use of sili-
in particular require that
the door frame is perfectly
square before the door is
hung. Any imperfections
will result in a gap and
potentially a twisted frame
causing pressure on the
lock which will then also
fail.
Another issue that we’ve
faced is where a frame
was fitted with the protec-
‘compromising on the installation
is a false economy for both the
supplier and the customer’
cone can make a door too
large for the frame. A less
experienced fitter may then
attempt to alter the door to
fit the frame - circumstances
which will compromise the
functionality of the door,
risk invalidating the warranty and damage the very
features that were required
in the first place.
Attention to detail is
key. Fire safety features
tive film still intact. When
plastered up to, this then
loosened and broke the
seam between the frame
and the render allowing
water in.
Every composite door is
bespoke and individually
crafted with millimetre
precision to exact specifications and substandard
fitting will result in company time and money being
lost, as well as an unhappy
customer, reputation damage and bad reviews.
Advice and training is
available from composite
door manufacturers to companies and organisations, including housing associations
so they can ensure none of
their properties are compromised by bad workmanship.
It’s absolutely crucial and
can even save lives.
A front door is a very
individual and personal
statement and compromising on the installation is a
false economy for both the
supplier and the customer.
Apeer has produced two
new guides to fitting the
company’s doors. The new
manuals cover installation of
both the door and frame –
and door and sidelight. The
step-by-step instructions can
be obtained from http://apeer.co.uk/index.php/door_
tech/ Hard copy formats are
planned for next year, as
are separate instructions for
stable doors, double doors,
toplights and arches.