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Hi everyone, I'm sure you all have an immediate answer/preference here, but can I ask what is recommended when looking at replacement windows and how window fitters seal the windows into the opening. I've just visited a site where a well known window company used Wurth expanding window foam, I was looking at the can being used and it's clearly designed for windows, has a fine cell structure and of course will fill every gap, especially around the spacers used to ensure a square mounting. On the other hand I was under the impression that expanding tape such as compriband was recommended but then I notice a number of forum posts which indicate difficulties with the tape, particularly if the gap is not consistent and how it works when butting up against the window spacers/packers and how to maintain an airtight seal with the tape. I wonder do some companies choose one method over the other based on installation speed and cost, and there's also the question of how well foam or tape perform over the 20 year lifespan that you would expect from the window itself. I would appreciate any feedback here from those more knowledgeable than me in this area, Best regards Richard.

We have an issue with how our windows are to be sealed into the window frame. Today I got round to reading the instructions on how to seal our windows in and was surprised to read the following; The instructions (highlighted in yellow translated above) show that Compriband should have been used between the window and the frame. It wasn't. The installers simply foamed them in, like this; The point made by the installer is that Durisol isn't air-tight enough - and importantly smooth enough - to make a proper seal between the window and the wall with Compriband. The fact that this should have been picked up before is no longer relevant. Shit happens. I have asked for help from Durisol: none forthcoming yet.... This can't be the first time someone has faced this issue. Which products would be likely to compensate for the leakiness and roughness of the Durisol / window interface? I don't want to get to to air-tightness testing to find that the windows are allowing a gale through..... I will have paid for them by then - and nobody will be interested in helping solve the issue at that stage. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [PS . Craig from Ecowin the Gaulhofer agent) has just rung to say that if there is any air leakage round the windows, then Ecowin would would indeed be responsible, he also suggests that I get a company rep to observe the air tests. That would mean they'd sort any problems out on the spot. Can't say fairer than that now can he? ]

Our window fitters left the site without having fitted the Compriband sealing tape. Today they returned to fettle our door (sticky lock mechanism) and , so I thought, to fit the Compriband. They explained that the Durisol surface was too rough for the Compriband to adhere to - and would therefore not act as an efficient seal; so they hadn't fitted it. The day they were fitted, nobody said anything to me about it. This YT video makes me wonder whether the information I have been given this morning is quite as comprehensive as one should expect. Here's a representative example for how the job has been finished ..... The Durisol is indeed rough. The senior fitter says that we need to make sure that the reveal is a lot smoother before the Compriband will adhere to it. Presumably all I need to do is lay on a smoothe parge coat on the window reveal - or is there another easier quicker way of doing it? Clearly, I need to trim back the expanded foam before I coat the reveal with something. Another instance where simple communication has failed. it would have been easier if they had told me either at the pre-fitting meeting or on the days that the windows were fitted or during the week I have waited for them to return - and I should have asked why the Compriband was not being fitted. That said I'm super-pleased with the windows and doors themselves: Gaulhofer. There's just one niggle. It'll be sooooo easy to lock ourselves out. The doors lock automatically when shut.