Capral Aluminium

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Pre-rinse glass with clean water before applying any cleaning solution - coastal salt and inland dust must be flushed, not scrubbed.
• ✓Use pH-neutral glass cleaning solution. Avoid acid-based cleaners near aluminium frames and avoid alkaline cleaners near anodised profiles.
• ✓Squeegee from top to bottom with overlapping strokes. Wipe rubber blade after each pull.
• ✓Inspect glazing seals at every visit. Cracked or separating silicone on Australian aluminium windows is a common pre-existing defect - document and report.

Powder-Coated Frames

• ✓Wipe with a soft cloth dampened in pH-neutral solution. Never use abrasive pads - powder coat on chalked frames is already compromised.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly after cleaning. Cleaning solution dried onto powder coat in Australian summer heat leaves residue that requires abrasive removal.
• ✓Check for chalking on north-facing and west-facing elevations. White, powdery residue on the frame surface indicates UV degradation of the coating.

Anodised Frames

• ✓Use only pH-neutral cleaners on anodised aluminium. Alkaline cleaners dissolve the anodised oxide layer - damage is irreversible.
• ✓Do not use abrasive pads, steel wool, or scouring compounds on anodised surfaces. The oxide layer is harder than powder coat but not scratch-resistant.
• ✓Rinse anodised frames thoroughly. Salt residue left in contact with anodised aluminium causes pitting corrosion in coastal conditions.

Tracks and Hardware

• ✓Clear track channels with a brush before introducing water. Australian dust and organic debris in tracks forms an abrasive slurry when wet.
• ✓Apply silicone lubricant to sliding track surfaces after cleaning. Avoid petroleum-based lubricants that soften rubber gaskets.
• ✓Check weep holes are clear at every service. Blocked weep holes combined with Australian summer storm rainfall cause water ingress.

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 Capral Aluminium installation.

1. 1

   Pre-rinse

   Rinse all glass and frames with clean water before applying solution. This is non-negotiable on coastal and inland dust-affected properties.

2. 2

   Track and hardware prep

   Brush and clear all sliding track channels. Check and clear weep holes. Do this before any water cleaning.

3. 3

   Glass cleaning

   Apply pH-neutral solution, agitate with window washer, squeegee top to bottom with overlapping strokes. Wipe rubber after each pull.

4. 4

   Frame wipe-down

   Wipe powder-coated frames with pH-neutral dampened cloth. Use pH-neutral only on anodised frames. Rinse thoroughly.

5. 5

   Inspection and close-out

   Inspect glazing seals and gaskets. Apply silicone lubricant to sliding tracks. Document chalking, seal failure, or hardware issues.

Pro Tips

• ★ Clean Australian aluminium windows before 10am where possible - cleaning solution applied to sun-heated glass in the afternoon dries before you can squeegee it off
• ★ On first visits to properties not recently maintained, budget double time - Australian neglected windows have hardened salt scale, silica deposits, and organic staining that needs multiple passes
• ★ Spring is the best time to flag seal replacement to property managers - glazing seals have just come through peak summer UV and are at their most degraded state

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Coastal QLD, NSW, WA (within 5km of ocean): Every 4 to 6 weeks (Salt air and UV combine for fast surface degradation). Inland residential: Every 8 to 12 weeks (Dust loading but lower salt exposure). Tropical north (Darwin, Cairns): Every 4 to 6 weeks (Wet season organic debris and year-round UV)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Queensland and NT properties on north-facing elevations show the fastest powder coat degradation - budget for shorter cleaning intervals and more frequent seal inspections on these elevations. Coastal properties within 5km of the ocean in WA, SA, and NSW accumulate salt film within 2 to 3 weeks of cleaning in windy conditions. These clients need more frequent service than inland equivalents. When a Capral-stamped window has seal failure or water ingress, the cause is almost always the fabricator's assembly work, not the Capral extrusion. Check the glazing bead fit and silicone application before concluding the frame itself has failed.”

Justin Orloff