The Window That Will Not Stay Put
Push a uPVC casement window halfway open and it should stay roughly where you leave it.
A worn window slowly creeps shut instead. Another gets caught by a gust and flies towards its full opening position.
The hinge may look completely intact. Nothing needs to be visibly bent or snapped for the window to lose control.
The Friction Stay Does More Than Hinge
Most outward-opening uPVC casements use friction stays rather than basic hinges.
Metal arms connect the opening sash to a sliding mechanism running along a stainless-steel track. Friction inside that mechanism creates enough resistance to hold the weight of the sash at different opening positions.
That resistance reduces as the friction components wear. The sash then becomes increasingly free to move under its own weight or wind pressure.
The Small Adjustment Screw
Many friction stays include an adjustment screw for altering the amount of resistance in the mechanism.
Open the window and inspect the stay for the friction adjuster. Use the correct screwdriver and make small adjustments, testing the sash movement after each one.
The window should move smoothly but remain in position after you let go.
Do not keep winding the adjuster tighter to compensate for a badly worn stay. Excessive friction makes the window unnecessarily heavy to operate and puts extra load through the hinge mechanism and surrounding fixings.
Adjustment or New Hinges?
A small adjustment can bring a serviceable friction stay back under control.
A worn slider, damaged track, excessive play around the pivots or an adjuster that no longer changes the resistance points towards replacement instead.
Replacement stays need to match the window properly. Length, stack height, opening type and sash weight all matter. Fitting whatever hinge happens to be the same length can leave the sash sitting incorrectly against the frame.
Trade Counter Supplies
A window that refuses to stay open does not automatically need a complete new window.
Bring the old friction stay or clear measurements into DWC Trade Windows at 78 Alma Road, Bournemouth. Our trade counter team can help identify the correct replacement hinges and hardware for the job.
Call us on 01202 533126 for help with uPVC window hinges and friction stays in Bournemouth.
