Extremely Distorted / Warped Double Glazing

[CGoodge]

Hi All

 

We are installing some timber casement style, toughened and double glazed windows. 

 

The reflections in the glass are incredible distorted and warping. we find it incredibly ugly: 

 

please take a look at the video below or follow these links to a youtube / google photos video: 

https://youtu.be/nL4GE2H9B10
And some more on google photos:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/AvvSsvkgk69mhm9P6

We're pretty devastated and keen to work out if this is poor manufacturing etc? the joiner and glass company claim this is normal. but ive never seen anything like this and im sure i would have noticed. 

Is this normal? Is it poor quality? Any advice would be a huge help. thank you., 

Many thanks for your time!

Charlie

 

Edited October 22 by CGoodge

[Redbeard]

Hmm,

 

I have some double and some triple, and as far as I know I have never had anything that distorts like that. I did have one bit of 'fluting' to one pane which was noted by the installer and the unit replaced. I would say that does not appear normal in my experience. Does it distort the same at different angles?

[Mr Punter]

Of course they claim it is normal because they are unwilling to accept responsibility and they would rather lie.  It looks wrong to me.  Where did they source the glass?  Find out who manufactured it.  Get it replaced.

[Alan Ambrose]

That's curious. I think it's normal ... for Elizabethan pubs

 

I wonder - with a small straight edge e.g. a metal ruler, whether you can see whether it's the glass that is wavy or the frames are all over the place?

 

Is it one sheet of glass with mullions stuck on or many smaller panes?

[JamesP]

I had roller marks on the supplied and fitted 3G windows which the installer did eventually replace.

Can you compare them to another installation? 

[Iceverge]

@craig might have some insight.

 

I wonder is something to do with the toughening. 

 

 

[Iceverge]

I've just had a look at our windows. 

 

The sliders that are toughened have a very slight ripple effect Vs the non toughened ones.

 

It's not easy to see unless you are observing a distant reflection. Ours are much larger though, the 3g units are 900x2200. 

 

 

[craig]

Not looked at video yet but I would guess roller wave a common occurrence when treating the glass.

 

Will come back to you once I watch video/view pictures and if it is, supplier should have glass replaced.

[craig]

Yip, roller wave.

[CGoodge]

Thanks so much for the replies. So frustrating. From what we gather the glass is: 

 

Toughened Double Glazed Slimite Sealed units with Low E coating. 

 

The manufacturer is claiming this is normal which is crazy! BUT apparently the Glass Federation only label glass as defective if you can see distortions from head on, in diffused light, from 3 meters and from inside the house. So specific and to be honest its quite hard to see defections in this specific scenario. 

 

We've spoken to some other manufactures who agree the distortion is excessive. Convincing the glass manfactuerer to replace them all seems unlikely and the cost to us would be huge! there are 200 panes. 

 

AAAAHHHH

 

Thanks again for all the help 

 

 

[CGoodge]

Thanks @craig but surely this is not a normal amount of roller wave? Why is it so bad in this case? Poor quality? 

[craig]

The rule is looking through the glass not at the glass, it is excessive roller wave tbh. It is during toughening process that is caused. The heat-treating process can reduce it but issues must be addressed such as conveyor, furnace temperature, quench.
 

However, it cannot be completely eliminated, only reduced. In my opinion, it appears excessive.

Edited October 24 by craig

[Alan Ambrose]

Any idea which glass manufacturer this is? I just installed 8 off 1.7 x 0.8m toughened DGUs - can’t see a trace of that kind of wave.

[CGoodge]

Thanks for this @craig do you think there are any grounds for the glass company to replace these units? Or get any money back? As you say the GGF guidelines are quite specific and at 3 meters directly ahead of the glass in defused light you dont see that much distortion. BUT in every other condition you see crazy distortion. 

 

 

[Redbeard]

12 hours ago, CGoodge said:

there are 200 panes. 

Arggggghhhhhhhh!

 

Oww! I thought it might be just the window pictured. Like you I cannot see the manuf'r/installer taking that in their stride.

 

I wonder if you can get an 'expert witness' who will not appear biased in the installer's eyes.

[gc100]

That’s terrible. I definitely would be fighting my arse off about this. Window companies are just the worst IMO - cowboys through and through.

 

It fine if you are going for the 300 year old pub look but no way would I accept that. 
 

 

[craig]

It’s a case of get your point across, ask for a review and from glass supplier and if no movement, check if they are GGF nembers . Get in touch and make the complaint to them.

 

They will assist, they’re good. If that fails, arbitration from 3rd party industry experts. If the supplier is good, they’ll pass on any cost savings for expert witnesses.

 

If that fails, it’s the legal route. All of this is pretty subjective and could go either way. 
 

if it was us, I’d not be happy and I would fight your case with glass supplier.