Arbo Windows

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓pH-neutral glass cleaner and microfibre cloth with rubber squeegee on all glass surfaces.
• ✓On timber and timber-alu windows, dry the glazing rebate area carefully after glass cleaning to prevent water tracking onto timber or between aluminium cladding and timber core.
• ✓Inspect glazing compound or glazing tape seals on timber windows annually - cold climate thermal cycling cracks compounds faster than in temperate conditions.
• ✓Check glazing gasket condition each autumn before winter - a failed gasket entering a Baltic winter will cause ice-related damage at the glass edge.
• ✓Triple glazing is the norm at premium tier in Baltic climate - failed triple IGU seals mean higher energy loss and should be replaced promptly.

Frames

• ✓External aluminium cladding (timber-alu): pH-neutral detergent solution, soft cloth, rinse, dry, apply paste wax twice yearly.
• ✓Timber interior faces: wipe with a barely damp cloth. Do not use wet cleaning solution on interior timber faces.
• ✓Solid timber exterior faces: inspect paint or stain condition annually. Address failing areas before winter.
• ✓Clear all drainage holes and weep slots in early autumn before freeze season. This is the most important single seasonal maintenance action.
• ✓Check perimeter frame-to-masonry sealant in spring after freeze-thaw has acted on it. Re-seal any cracked sections with neutral-cure silicone.

Hardware

• ✓Lubricate all hinges, pivot points, and multipoint locking bars with a lubricant rated for low temperature operation, applied in autumn before the first frost.
• ✓Standard summer lubrication with PTFE or light machine oil in spring.
• ✓Check hinge fixing screws in timber frames annually - timber movement through seasonal humidity cycles loosens fixings over time.
• ✓On entrance doors, check and adjust multipoint locking geometry each spring - winter thermal contraction can shift locking point alignment.
• ✓Replace any hardware showing corrosion before winter - frozen corroded hardware is very difficult to address in sub-zero temperatures.

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 Arbo Windows installation.

1. 1

   Seasonal timing assessment

   The most important Arbo window maintenance visit of the year is in early autumn (September in Latvia). All drainage must be clear before freeze season.

   Spring is the second priority visit - inspect sealant after freeze-thaw, check hardware after thermal expansion return, assess any winter water ingress damage.

   Summer visits address glass cleaning and surface protection without the urgency of the seasonal transition checks.

2. 2

   Drainage clearance - priority task

   Clear every drainage hole and weep slot on every window before the first expected frost.

   Pour a small amount of water into each outer frame channel and confirm it exits freely through the drainage holes.

   On timber-alu units, also check that the drainage path between aluminium cladding and timber core is not blocked by debris or sealant.

3. 3

   Glass and glazing inspection

   Clean glass with pH-neutral cleaner and squeegee, drying rebate areas carefully.

   Check glazing compound or tape condition on solid timber windows - any cracking needs repointing before winter.

   Inspect triple IGU perimeters for condensation or edge seal failure.

4. 4

   Frame inspection and cleaning

   Clean external aluminium faces with pH-neutral detergent, rinse and dry, apply paste wax.

   Inspect interior timber faces on composite units for moisture staining or surface coating failure.

   Check solid timber exterior paint condition across all faces. Record condition status.

5. 5

   Hardware lubrication and inspection

   Apply low-temperature rated lubricant to all hardware in the autumn visit. Standard PTFE in the spring visit.

   Check hinge fixing screws in timber frames and tighten as needed.

   Test full operating function on every window including any emergency escape window functions.

6. 6

   Sealant and final check

   In spring, inspect and re-seal any cracked perimeter sealant joints found after the freeze-thaw season.

   In autumn, check all sealant is intact before freeze season begins.

   Record all service actions, condition ratings, and any items requiring follow-up.

Pro Tips

• ★ Pre-winter drainage clearance on Arbo windows in Latvia is the single most important maintenance action of the year. Blocked drainage combined with freeze-thaw causes frame damage that no amount of spring cleaning fixes.
• ★ Interior timber faces on timber-alu composite windows should never be cleaned with wet cloths or spray products. Interior condensation on the aluminium face of the frame (room-side) should be dried with a cloth as soon as noticed - persistent condensation here means inadequate room ventilation.
• ★ Factory paint systems on Arbo solid timber windows are high-specification. When they need replacing, use a specialist timber window paint system and follow the full strip-prime-undercoat-topcoat sequence. Short-cutting this destroys the investment in good timber.
• ★ Low-temperature hardware lubricant is a small investment relative to the cost of a frozen multipoint locking mechanism in a Baltic January. Use it in the autumn service visit on all locking points, hinges, and pivot pins.
• ★ Spring inspection after the Baltic winter often reveals sealant cracks that were not present in autumn. Re-seal in spring before the summer rainfall season.
• ★ Timber windows in Latvian conditions last for decades when properly maintained. The economics of correct care are compelling - a well-maintained premium timber-alu window can be in service for 40 years with appropriate periodic recoating.
• ★ On export Arbo installations in central Europe or Scandinavia, the climate context shifts but the maintenance principles remain. The pre-winter drainage and lubrication protocol is still the priority regardless of how mild the destination climate is relative to Riga.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass cleaning: Every 6-8 weeks (Plus a thorough clean and rebate drying check in autumn before freeze season.). External aluminium face cleaning and wax: Every 3-4 months, wax twice yearly (Spring and autumn wax application around the seasonal service visits.). Hardware lubrication: Twice yearly - spring (standard PTFE) and autumn (low-temperature lubricant) (Critical timing around seasonal temperature transitions.). Timber interior inspection and solid timber paint assessment: Annually (Timber paint recoat every 8-12 years depending on condition and exposure.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Baltic timber window manufacturing is serious engineering. Arbo windows built for Latvian winters are overbuilt relative to what most central European climates demand - this is a quality indicator, not a mismatch. The interior timber face on composite windows is the early warning system for any moisture management failure in the window. Any discolouration or surface coating deterioration on the interior timber face warrants investigation before it progresses. Export Arbo windows in Scandinavia are well-placed - the climate is similar to Latvia and the timber window maintenance culture is strong in those markets. Export to warmer central European climates means the maintenance protocol can be somewhat less intensive, but the pre-winter drainage check is always worth doing regardless of climate.”

Justin Orloff