TRANSFORMING HOMES SINCE 2007
MADE IN BRITAIN
NATIONWIDE SUPPLY & INSTALL SERVICE

Welcome to our digital helpdesk

We know that in the excitement of seeing your stunning new Express products installed that you can forget how to operate them correctly and we often receive questions regarding the simple maintenance of our products.

To act as your quick help guide we’ve created a series of short videos to help you enjoy and look after your Express products, covering everything from bi-fold and sliding door operation & maintenance, through to windows, integral blinds and building regulations.

How can we help?

We’ve categorised our help centre into product specific sections along with short videos to help ensure that you can use your Express products properly.

We’ve also included FAQ’s relating to our specific products, along with the general maintenance and cleaning tips for all our products, plus a section covering the general most frequently asked questions that we receive from our customers.

 

Bi-Folding Doors - operation & maintenance

Our bi-folding doors are covered by a comprehensive guarantee but we find the main issues our customers experience are because of incorrect operation and not cleaning out the bottom tracks. These videos demonstrate how to properly use and look after our bi-folding doors.

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Correct operation - with a traffic door

Opening & closing always needs the traffic door secured against the panel catch.

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Correct operation - without a traffic door

Bifolds without a traffic doors need the key removing prior to operating.

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Maintaining your bi-folding Doors

Here's our useful tips for properly maintaining your bi-fold doors.

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Changing the barrel of your doors

This video shows how quickly and easily you can change the barrel yourself.

Bi-Folding doors FAQs

What happens if I accidently damage my bi-fold door?

If the door has been damaged by misuse we can look to repair the damage or if required replace a full panel. Misuse however is not covered by our guarantee so a call out fee will be applicable, plus the costs for any materials.

What should I do if my door is catching when opening and closing

Your door could just need a simple adjustment. If you’re operating the door properly and it’s catching at the bottom simply e-mail aftersales@expressbifolds.co.uk with a description of the issue along with your job number and site postcode and we’ll arrange for an engineer to come to site.

Do you carry out service works on other people's bi-fold doors?

No, we only offer our comprehensive warranties and aftersales service to Express customers.

Is it normal to have water in my bottom track?

During driving wind and rain, it is possible for some water to accumulate in the bottom track.  All of our systems have built in drainage to allow this water to drain from the product.  If at any point, you are worried about the volume of water in the track, please contact our Aftersales team.

How do I finish the outside of my doors off / fit an ACO drain after Installation?

This is project specific and is normally undertaken by your builder or landscaper.  Should you need assistance or advice, a member of our experienced Installation Team will be happy to advise you on this if required.

Is it normal for my doors to feel stiff to operate when it is very warm?

As with any material, Aluminium will expand slightly in very warm weather.  Where this occurs, your product may feel slightly stiffer to operate until the weather cools down in the evening.  If this prevents you from operating your product, please contact our Aftersales team.

My key is stiff to turn, what do I do?

If lubricating the lock cylinder doesn’t help then this normally means that a small adjustment is required.  Should this occur, please contact our Aftersales team.

 

Sliding Doors - Operation & Maintenance

Sliding doors are easier to use than bi-fold doors and don’t get misused as much, but there’s still some useful tips and advice that will ensure years of trouble free use.

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Correct operation - sliding & lift slide doors

Watch your fingers and don't put too much strain on the handles and interlocks.

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Maintaining your sliding doors

Here's our useful tips for properly maintaining your sliding patio doors.

Sliding Doors FAQs

Sometimes I struggle to lock my sliding door?

Sometimes people close the sliding door with two much force and the master door is bouncing off the outer frame slightly, which makes the lock catch. When closing the door, slide it gently against the outer frame, this will prevent the panel from bouncing off, and will then lock easily.

Should I be worried if there is water in the bottom track?

No, the track is designed to hold water, as long as it is not coming into your property this is nothing to worry about. The tracks of our sliding doors are very deep so they do hold water in heavy rain, but the system is designed for this and eventually the water will work it’s way through the doors drainage system.

My key is stiff to turn, what do I do?

If lubricating the lock cylinder doesn’t help then this normally means that a small adjustment is required.  Should this occur, please contact our Aftersales team.

Is it normal for my doors to feel stiff to opperate when it is very warm?

As with any material, Aluminium will expand slightly in very warm weather.  Where this occurs, your product may feel slightly stiffer to operate until the weather cools down in the evening.  If this prevents you from operating your product, please contact our Aftersales team.

How do I finish the outside of my doors off / fit an ACO drain after Installation?

This is project specific and is normally undertaken by your builder or landscaper.  Should you need assistance or advice, a member of our experienced Installation Team will be happy to advise you on this if required.

Casement Windows

The short videos below cover some of the most frequently asked questions about our casement windows.

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Easy clean hinges

This short video demonstrates how to use our easy clean hinges

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How to use optional restrictor hinge

Restrictor hinges are easy to use as demonstrated above.

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Tightening top hung windows

This video shows how to stop top hung windows swinging open.

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Trickle vent opening & closing

Natural ventilation & air flow is easily achieved.

Tilt & Turn Windows

Our tilt & turn windows are growing in popularity but we’re finding that they’re being misused by our customers. These video show how to open and close these windows properly.

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Floating mullion tilt & turn window

This video shows how to correctly operate a tilt & turn window.

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Tilt & turn window - reset procedure

If the window has been used incorrectly, it can be reset easily.

Integral Blinds

Our internal blinds are sealed inside the glass and controlled by external components. On the rare occasions’ that there’s an issue with the blinds it can often be easily rectified within seconds as demonstrated below.

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Electric blinds not working

Often a quick clean of the contacts will resolve this issue.

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How to charge solar blinds

Your blinds will need charging if not in enough direct sunlight.

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How to change remote battery

Changing the battery in the remote is quick & easy.

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Sliding blinds reset procedure

Sliding venetian blinds can be reset easily by following this procedure.

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Refitting the SV magnet if it pops off

The sliding venetian blind magnet can come off, but easily put back on.

INTEGRAL BLINDS FAQ's

I can see light through my blinds

The benefits of the venetian integral blinds we offer are light control, shading and privacy but they don’t offer total black-out.

 

What does it mean if my remote displays bAtt or .8.8

Our Solar Blind and Electric Blind remotes use a CR2430 battery.  If your remote is displaying a bAtt sign or .8.8 then the battery needs to be changed.

Can I buy replacement parts for my blinds?

Yes, please feel free to contact our Aftersales team who will be happy to support with this.

Building Regulations & Guarantee's

Once your installation is complete it is natural to then ask for your Fensa or Certass certificate. If we have replaced your existing windows and doors with our own then you will receive a Certass certificate from us. If your installation has been into a new build or new extension then your installation will be signed off by building control along with the newly built structure.

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Installation into a new build or new extension

Installations into new builds & extensions are covered by building control

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Replacing existing doors & windows

When our products have replaced existing our works are covered by Certass

Building Regulations FAQ's

What's the difference between Fensa & Certass?

Both essentially do the same job, the only difference is that Certass is a none profit organisation

Will I receive a Fensa certificate for my new build?

No, a new build home or extension needs to be signed off by building control, this formal process covers the installation of the doors and windows & confirms that they conform to building regulations.

What if my building inspector needs information on the doors and windows?

This is no problem at all, simply e-mail aftersales@expressbifolds.co.uk with the information requested by your building inspector and our team will provide the information requested.

When will I receive my guarantee?

Once your installation has been completed and the final balance has been paid, you will receive your guarantees via email within 14 days.  Your guarantee is live as soon as the final balance is paid.

Can I extend my warranty?

We do not offer a guarantee in addition to the original ten years.  Subject to correct use and care the lifespan of the products can easily exceed the guarantee duration so we can still resolve any issues with the products, but these will be subject to a call-out charge plus the cost of any components that may be required.

If I move to a new house can I transfer the guarantee to someone else?

Your product guarantee is transferable with the associated charges detailed below.  All transfers are subject to a site inspection to confirm that your product has been operated and maintained properly.  We need written consent from the original contract holder prior to discussing this with a new homeowner.  Once signed off the new user will receive a maintenance guide and maintenance pack. Charges for guarantee transfers are wholly dependent on total contract value; £250 +VAT – Site inspection charge (On all transfers)

£350 +VAT – Contract value £9,999.99                                                                                                                              £700 +VAT – Contract value £10,000.00 – £24,999.99                                                                                                  £1250 +VAT – Contract value £25,000+

 

Keep aluminium profiles & gasket seals clean

Use a light, soapy solution and a non-abrasive cloth to wipe dirt from the windows and doors. Do not use washing up liquid, solvent based cleaning products or white spirit: we recommend a Ph-neutral liquid such as Dove. Avoid using an abrasive cloth such as a scouring pad as the windows and doors could scratch. In saltwater environments, the external surface of the windows and doors should be washed down with fresh water on a weekly basis as it is common for salt deposits to build up.

Use a light, soapy solution and non-abrasive cloth to gently clean the gasket seals. Do not use solvent-based cleaning products. Wipe the gaskets with maintenance spray 2 or 3 times a year for optimum performance.

 

Cleaning & maintenance FAQ's

Do I need to maintain moving parts on my products?

We recommend applying maintenance or silicone spray to all moving components three to four times a year.  We recommend avoiding oil based lubricants such as WD40.

 

Do my products need an annual service?

No, the only service works that is required for your products is to ensure that the tracks are kept clean of any debris and moving parts are lubricated with maintenance spray or a silicone based lubricant.

Order our maintenance products online

A range of maintenance products can be purchased online via expressbifoldsdirect.co.uk.

Products available include packs of glass cleaner, maintenance spray and a full maintenance pack that includes glass cleaner, maintenance spray, microfibre cloth and touch-up paint (available in standard colours only), click the logo below to visit our Express Bi-Folds Direct website.

Entrance Door Maintenance
Our Premium entrance doors are essentially locked when closed so be careful not to close the door behind you if you do not have keys or another way to access your property. When closed the door should still be locked with a key from the inside to engage the multi-point lock and ensure that your home is fully secure. The stainless-steel inserts on our entrance doors need to be regularly maintained and cleaned.
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Glass Roof Maintenance
Glass roofs need regular cleaning to prevent a build-up of dirt and moss that will attack the paintwork. Do not clean the glass with anything abrasive because of the self-clean coating on the outside of the roof glass. Self-cleaning glass on a roof only needs hosing with clean water.
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GLASS ROOF FAQ's

Can I fit a light fitting to my roof lantern?

The profile is not designed to be load bearing so we advise against doing this.

Why do I have a black film around the edge of my Skyview rooflight?

This is a protective tape that is applied to every Skyview roof.  Once your plaster work has been completed internally, the plastic tape can be cut with a sharp stanley blade and peeled away.  In the winter months, a small amount of heat may be required to soften the adhesive and allow the tape to peel away easily.

 

GLASS FAQ's

Why am I experiencing condensation on the outside of my glass?

Condensation on the external pane of your glass is indicative of a glass unit working very efficiently (keeping the cold on the external side of the property).  Where this occurs, this is not a fault with the glass unit.

I can see round marks in the condensation on my glass, is this normal?

When double glazed units are manufactured and transported, this is done with large suction cups. These cups contain a very small amount of oil that ensures the suction pad does not cause damage to the face of the glass.  Occasionally, some of this oil residue may remain on the glass and will not condensate at the same rate as the rest of the glass unit.  This residue can be cleaned with a good quality glass cleaner or will naturally weather away over time.

OUR MOST COMMON GENERAL FAQ's

Can I buy new/replacement keys?

We can obtain replacement keys at a cost, however it is often cheaper and far quicker to arrange for keys to be cut at a local hardware store.

Is it normal to have condensation building up on the inside of my products?

We do not expect to see this.  However where there is a build up of condensation we recommend managing the airflow within the property to allow moist air to leave the room.  Examples of doing this could be opening a trickle vent or leaving a a window on a night-vent.  The most common rooms that we see condensation are Bedrooms, Bathrooms and rooms with a lot of water and moisture such as kitchens and utility rooms.

Can I fit Alarm contacts or blinds into my products?

We do not recommend screwing any objects into the profile as this can cause unrepairable damage and invalidate your guarantee.  We would recommend attaching any external components with double sided tape.

Is it normal for my doors to feel stiff to operate when it is very warm?

As with any material, Aluminium will expand slightly in very warm weather.  Where this occurs, your product may feel slightly stiffer to operate until the weather cools down in the evening.  If this prevents you from operating your product, please contact our Aftersales team.

My key is stiff to turn, what do I do?

If lubricating the lock cylinder has not resolved this, it normally means that a small adjustment is required.  Should this occur, please contact our Aftersales team.

 

Anything else?

We hope the information above has been useful and answers any questions you may have.

If you have a question that isn’t covered above, or you have an issue with one of your Express products then don’t hesitate to contact us via aftersales@expressbifolds.co.uk and a member of our team will come back to you as soon as possible.

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