Start with accurate dimensions
A structural or approximate opening size is not necessarily the dimension required for manufacture. Existing openings can be out of square, concealed linings may affect the available space and finished floor levels can influence door heights and clearances. Before an order is placed, it should therefore be clear who is responsible for taking the final dimensions and what allowances are required for installation.
Detailed drawings provide an opportunity to confirm proportions, opening arrangements, profiles and key dimensions before the joinery enters manufacture. These should be reviewed and approved by the appropriate person responsible for the project. If site conditions change after approval, the drawings and dimensions should be checked again before manufacture proceeds.
Be clear about what is being supplied
The specification should set out exactly what will arrive on site. This includes whether glazing is factory fitted or supplied separately, which ironmongery is included, the level of factory preparation and finishing, and any components to be provided by others.
For projects involving several windows or doors, clear identification of individual items also makes delivery and installation considerably easier. Once delivered, timber joinery should be stored carefully, protected from moisture, damage and ongoing building work until it is ready to be installed.
Define the installation responsibility
With a supply-only order, the quality of the finished result depends on both the joinery and its installation. The appointed installer is responsible for setting the frames correctly, fixing and sealing them appropriately and completing the surrounding making good. These details can affect the operation, weathering and longevity of even very well-made joinery. For that reason, the boundary between manufacture and installation should be understood before the order is placed.
The joinery should also be inspected promptly on delivery so that its condition, dimensions, glazing and finish can be checked before installation begins. STILE supplies made-to-measure timber windows and doors for architects, builders and homeowners, with drawings and specifications agreed before manufacture so that everyone involved is working from the same information.