Pro Installer December 2014 - Issue 21 | Page 32

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.