Aluminco

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Use pH-neutral glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth with rubber squeegee finish.
• ✓In coastal locations, increase glass cleaning frequency to monthly - salt deposits etch glass over time if left.
• ✓Check glazing gaskets annually for UV-induced hardening, particularly on south-facing elevations.
• ✓On large-format sliding panels, work one panel section at a time to prevent rapid drying of cleaner in Mediterranean summer heat.
• ✓Inspect structural silicone bonds on facade and curtain wall systems every 2 years for UV discolouration or bubbling.

Frames

• ✓Clean powder-coated aluminium frames with pH-neutral detergent and water on a soft microfibre cloth.
• ✓In coastal locations, clean frames monthly and apply paste wax after each clean to protect against salt deposition.
• ✓For anodised frames, use only pH-neutral products. Never apply bleach or caustic products to anodised aluminium.
• ✓Check for chalking on dark powder-coated frames on south-facing elevations at each service - Qualicoat Class 1 degrades faster in extreme Greek UV.
• ✓Inspect perimeter sealant at masonry joints twice yearly, and after any seismic event regardless of timing.

Hardware

• ✓Lubricate all hinges, pivot points, and multipoint locking hardware with PTFE-based lubricant three times yearly in Mediterranean climates.
• ✓On sliding systems, clean tracks with stiff brush and vacuum before applying silicone track lubricant - do this every 3 months in dusty Greek environments.
• ✓In coastal locations, use a marine-grade lubricant on all hardware to resist salt air corrosion.
• ✓Inspect roller condition on sliding panels annually - coastal salt accelerates roller degradation.
• ✓Hardware showing rust bleed (brown staining from steel components) needs immediate professional attention in coastal environments where corrosion progresses rapidly.

Step 2 of 2: The Orloffs Protocol

The Orloffs Protocol

Pro Tools

My daily tool list. This is what I carry to every job.

Follow these steps in order. Each one builds on the last. This is the same sequence I use on every Aluminco installation.

1. 1

   Assess the installation environment

   Determine coastal proximity - within 5km of the sea requires monthly cleaning and salt-specific protection protocols.

   Note the elevation - south and west-facing in Greek summer need more intensive care than north-facing.

   Check whether the installation is in a seismic zone and whether any movement has occurred since the last service.

2. 2

   Track and drainage clearing

   On sliding systems, brush and vacuum the full track length before any wet cleaning.

   Clear drainage holes on all window frames with a soft brush.

   On coastal installations, check for salt crystal accumulation at drainage exits and in track channels.

3. 3

   Glass cleaning

   Apply pH-neutral glass cleaner to a damp cloth in sections - Mediterranean summer heat causes rapid drying.

   Squeegee each section before moving to the next.

   In coastal locations, a final rinse with demineralised water reduces salt residue on glass surfaces.

4. 4

   Frame cleaning and salt removal

   Clean with pH-neutral detergent solution and soft cloth, top to bottom.

   In coastal locations, pay particular attention to concealed frame channels and shadow areas where salt deposits accumulate unseen.

   Rinse with clean water and dry. Apply paste wax to outer frame faces after drying.

5. 5

   Hardware lubrication

   Apply marine-grade PTFE lubricant to all hardware in coastal locations. Standard PTFE for inland locations.

   Sliding system tracks get silicone lubricant after track cleaning.

   Operate through full cycles and wipe excess from frame faces.

6. 6

   Sealant inspection and documentation

   Check perimeter sealant on all windows. In seismic zones, also check for any new cracks in the masonry adjacent to frames.

   Apply paste wax to all outer powder-coated frame faces as the final step.

   Record service date, climate zone notes, and any faults for follow-up.

Pro Tips

• ★ Greek coastal installations within 2km of the sea need monthly frame cleaning and waxing. Salt deposition on aluminium is invisible until it starts attacking the powder coat adhesion, by which point repair is expensive.
• ★ Dark powder-coated Aluminco frames in Greek summer reach temperatures where standard gasket rubber compounds begin softening. Annual gasket checks in these locations are essential, not optional.
• ★ After the seismic events common in Greece and the Aegean, check perimeter sealant on all windows before checking anything else. Frame-to-masonry joint integrity determines whether water ingress has started.
• ★ Aluminco bioclimatic pergola louvre systems need separate lubrication - the louvre pivot pins and gear mechanism are specific products, not standard window hardware. Use the Aluminco pergola maintenance guide for these systems.
• ★ On large Greek villas with extensive sliding glass facade systems, track cleaning is a significant job. Budget 45 minutes per large sliding door for proper track preparation before lubrication.
• ★ Qualicoat Class 2 powder coat is the correct specification for south-facing Greek facades. If you see chalking on frames within 5 years of installation, this suggests Class 1 was applied. Flag this to the building owner.
• ★ Anodised Aluminco frames (often preferred on heritage buildings or where a metallic finish is specified) need marine-grade protection products in coastal locations as the anodic layer, while corrosion-resistant, is not immune to salt attack over time.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass cleaning: Monthly in coastal zones, every 4-6 weeks inland (Salt and dust loads in Greece justify shorter intervals than northern Europe.). Frame cleaning and wax: Monthly coastal, every 3 months inland (Wax application at every clean in coastal locations.). Hardware lubrication: Three times yearly (Pre-summer, mid-summer, and post-summer given extreme seasonal range.). Full service inspection: Twice yearly (Plus post-seismic event check on sealant and frame-to-masonry joints.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Greek coastal window installations are among the most demanding maintenance environments in European residential work. Salt, UV, and heat combine in a way that makes the difference between maintained and unmaintained aluminium windows very visible within 3-5 years. Aluminco systems at premium tier are well-engineered for the Mediterranean context. The limiting factor in long-term performance is almost always maintenance frequency, not product quality. The bioclimatic pergola product range from Aluminco is a growing category. Louvre systems require specialist maintenance knowledge that differs from window and door system care.”

Justin Orloff