Bridge Homes Property Developer - Wakefield Yorkshire - External Features: Windows & Doors

External Features: Windows & Doors

Windows & Doors

All doors and windows comply with Part Q of the building regulations, which requires a set standard of security.

All external doors are fitted with a multi-point locking system combined with a high security handle and cylinder.

How do I maintain my external doors?

  • To keep hinges and paint finish in good shape, wipe them down regularly with a soft cloth and some warm, soapy water.
  • Lubricate door mechanisms with a light oil now and then, and watch out for scratches from rings and keys.
  • Repaint doors as part of your usual home decorating to keep them looking nice. Just don’t paint the frame weather strip, and let the door fully dry before closing it to avoid any marks.
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Did you know?

Why does my front door not require a key to be opened internally?

  • It is a regulation that main entrance doors should allow occupants to exit the home without the use of a key in the event of an emergency.
  • Your main entrance door will include a thumb turn lock or a hood over the letterbox. This is to help protect against intruders entering your home.

Some of my windows don’t have locks – why is this?

  • These are likely to be fire escape windows, designed to allow an easy exit in the unlikely event of an emergency. They are clearly marked with either a green fire escape label or a green dot on the non-locking handle.
  • These windows open and close in the same way to standard windows but, when released, open wider to allow you to leave the property in the event of an emergency
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Troubleshooting

Why can I see daylight around external doors?

  • For a proper seal, make sure the door lock is fully engaged. Do this by closing the door and lifting the handle as far as it’ll go, activating the multi-lock system. Sometimes, there might be resistance because of weather or fit.

My French doors won’t close, why is this?

  • In very hot weather, leaving doors open for a long time might cause French doors to expand and be hard to shut. If this happens, just pour some cold water on the door to reverse the expansion.
  • Occasionally, the doors might need some adjusting because of regular use or natural settling.

What are the vents at the top of my window for?

  • These are known as trickle vents, which allow airflow and help to reduce condensation.
  • These should be left open when possible, especially to assist the drying out process of your home.

Depending on your house type, the walls to the stairwell are to provide a protected stairway. All walls forming a protected stairway or separating a garage from the main dwelling will achieve a minimum of 30 minutes fire resistance (integrity and insulation), with all cavities, joints and junctions sealed to achieve the above rating.

Dependent on your house type there may be windows installed to the habitable rooms on the first floor which are fitted with fire escape hinges. This means the windows will fully open manually to 90 degrees in the unlikely event of a fire. In most instances they can also be adjusted to allow self cleaning, where the hinges attached to the window sash adjust allowing them to slide forward creating a gap for you to reach the external side safely.

Where the window is classed as a fire escape, the handles are NONE locking. All other windows including the ground floor are fitted with lockable handles. All of your glazing units will have been inspected upon legal completion.

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  • Non fire escape windows are fitted with locking handles. Bridge Homes makes sure that all of our properties meet these requirements.
  • Windows have an insurance backed 10 year warranty for frames and a 5 year warranty for glazing.
  • Your ironmongery and locks are covered by your 2 year builders warranty.
  • For homes with bi-fold patio doors, you can prolong their life by regular wiping with a soft cloth and lubrication with light oil.
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