Window installation - faulty sealing tape or wait?

Hi,

First of all, you have to see whether there is actually a technical defect. At the moment, this is still a bit difficult to judge from the pictures. Then you have to see whether the defect can be remedied in an equivalent way by other means. Depending on how the sealing principle was chosen, e.g., additionally tape from the inside (as it has been done classically otherwise). Replacing the tape is not possible with the window installed. I think dismantling the window is not proportionate. There are definitely good ways to fix the defect, provided it actually exists. Don’t worry.

I may need to look at the pictures more closely on the computer tomorrow, as the extent and reason for the mounting foam are not yet clear to me. It is a bit difficult to see on the phone.

Best regards, Jann

Oh, of course you have the right to complain. You can't see the defect during installation. Depending on what your contract looks like, I can also help you report the defect correctly so that there is a clear situation.

Hey do you know how firm the mounting tape actually has to be in the finger-press test? There are different hardness levels. In some places, it is really firm - but also some where it is relatively soft and the mounting tape quickly comes off the reveal with finger pressure. Regards.

Hi,

So this is a bit hard to explain. It should not feel like an open-pored foam, but rather firm. I would say something like pressing against the relaxed muscle under the thumb.
If the strip detaches from the reveal, it is not firm enough, or the gap was too large for the strip thickness.
If this only happens in smaller areas, I do not see it as critical.

You could measure the joints at the strongest points and maybe you will find a box from the manufacturer somewhere.

Best regards, Jann

To me, this does not look like professional work. The base tape must be firmly attached to the frame and masonry; no foam should come through. I am well familiar with the issue of professional window sealing. We have had 4 window sealings so far, of which 3 were useless. The first had only minimal sealing tape on the inside, foam on the outside, complained about it, then sealing tapes were stuffed between the reveal and frame from the outside with the windows installed. Complained a second time. Now everything was scratched out again and completely foamed from inside and outside. Complained again. A final deadline was set, and a 3-layer sealing was demanded. I begged a local window installer to take over the work, but he didn’t want to do it at all because of warranty acceptance for windows and shutters, but ultimately he did it. Costs for windows: €18,000; installation and sealing no. 1: allegedly €10,000; sealing no. 2: €3,000; sealing no. 3: €5,000; and the 4th and last nearly €7,000 again. The 4th, however, also took 7 working days with 3 workers. Now it is done properly. To your question: No, the sealing tapes cannot be changed on installed windows because they must be attached/glued to the window frame and must be continuous. This is not possible when installed.

Images 1 to 3 show the current sealing. This is how it has to be. The other pictures show the previous attempts and a look behind the scenes when you remove the pretty tapes that were quickly slapped on to hide the botched work behind. The amount of expensive material used here alone is insane. But if you have no clue, even the best material won’t help.