Europe · Window Manufacturer
LEIAB Windows
🇸🇪 Sweden · Last reviewed by Justin Orloff
Quick Facts
founded
1982
hq
Mariannelund, Sweden
primaryMaterials
Aluminium exterior with Scandinavian pine interior
glazingPartner
Own glazing production
marketTier
Mid-market
Brand at a Glance
- Founded: 1982
- HQ: Mariannelund, Sweden
- Market position: Scandinavian specialist in bespoke composite timber/aluminium inward-opening windows
- Frame materials: Aluminium exterior with Scandinavian pine interior
- Key ranges: Stil, Haga, Epok, Royal
- Glazing options: Double (2+1 coupled) and triple glazed. U-value from 0.8. Sound reduction up to 69 dB. Anti-condensation, solar control, and self-cleaning glass options available.
- Where they sell: Sweden and the United Kingdom (30+ years of UK exports)
- Warranty: 10-year functional warranty; 10-year condensation warranty; 25-year finish warranty; 50-year rot warranty. All conditional on following LEIAB's installation and care instructions.
- Website: leiab.se
- Official care documentation: leiab.se/eftermarknad/skotsel/
Product Range
- Stil
- Haga
- Epok
- Royal
Why This System
Two materials, two sets of care rules - aluminium exterior and Scandinavian pine interior sit right next to each other, and what is safe on one is not always safe on the other. The aluminium exterior must never see solvents or caustic agents - these damage the powder-coat finish that carries a 25-year guarantee. A protective wax coat ships on every new LEIAB window and must be removed with a diluted alcohol solution before normal cleaning begins. Inward-opening mechanics need hardware lubrication 1-2 times per year to operate correctly. The 50-year rot warranty is real and documented - but it is explicitly conditional on following LEIAB's care instructions.
Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations
Official Care Guidance
Step 2 of 2: The Orloffs Protocol
The Orloffs Protocol
This is how I clean LEIAB Windows windows. The tools and technique below come from 25 years of daily professional work on the glass. Every step has been tested on real installations and adapted specifically for LEIAB Windows systems.
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 LEIAB Windows installation.
- 1
Remove the Factory Wax (New Windows Only)
Mix 1 part denatured alcohol (t-sprit) to 3 parts water. Apply to the outer glass with a cloth, wipe away the wax, then rinse with clean water before starting the standard cleaning process.
Only do this step once. After the wax is removed all subsequent cleans use the standard method below.
- 2
Detail the Frame First
Wipe down the frame edges - both the aluminium exterior and the timber interior - with a damp microfibre cloth and mild soapy water.
When the squeegee runs across the glass, the rubber contacts the frame. If there is dirt on that frame, the squeegee picks it up and drags it across clean glass as a streak. Clean the frame first, every time.
- 3
Agitate the Glass
Dip your T-bar applicator into the soapy water and apply the solution across the whole glass area with overlapping strokes. The goal is to dissolve the dirt so the squeegee can remove it cleanly.
Do not clean in direct sunlight. The soap water dries before you can squeegee it off.
- 4
Detail the Frame Edge Again Before Squeegeeing
Run a dry corner of your cotton rag along the top and both side frame edges. This removes pooled soapy water before the squeegee reaches it.
This step takes ten seconds and prevents most streaks.
- 5
The Three Squeegee Turns
Side to side: start at the top edge with a dry rubber. Tilt so water spills from one side only. Wipe rubber dry after each pass. Overlap into the next line down.
Top to bottom: same principle in vertical lines. Start at the top corner with a dry rubber. Tilt to direct water downward. Wipe dry after each pass.
The J tune: top to bottom in one smooth, continuous motion. Your thumb guides the rotation at the end of each pass. The fastest method for any LEIAB window size.
- 6
Edge Detailing
Fold a dry cotton rag to a clean corner and detail the bottom edge and sides in one smooth pass.
Work your finger into the edge where glass meets the frame seal. Residue left to dry shows up as a line the moment sunlight hits the glass.
- 7
Hardware Lubrication
Once or twice per year, apply silicone spray or light oil spray to all hinges, locking points, and the holes around the lock mechanism.
For 2+1 coupled windows, open the coupling hooks with a small screwdriver and lubricate the coupling points as well. Do not use motor oil.
Pro Tips
- Never use solvents on the aluminium exterior - the powder coat carries a 25-year guarantee and solvents damage it permanently.
- The wax removal step on new windows is easy to miss - skip it and you smear the protective coating across the glass rather than removing it.
- Use separate cloths for aluminium and timber surfaces to avoid carrying aluminium grit onto the timber or timber residue onto the powder coat.
- Silicone spray for hardware lubrication, nothing heavier - aggressive lubricants attract dirt and cause mechanisms to gum up over time.
- The 50-year rot warranty is real but it is conditional on care. Keep records of your annual lubrication and cleaning routine.
What NOT To Do
- Do not use solvents on the aluminium exterior - solvents damage the powder-coat finish and may void the 25-year finish warranty.
- Do not use caustic agents on any painted or coated surface, including the aluminium exterior frame.
- Do not use aggressive oils such as motor oil for hardware lubrication - use silicone spray, belt spray, or light white oil spray only.
- Do not close integrated blind slats while they are wet - the slats must be fully dry before closing.
- Do not saturate the interior timber frame with water - use a damp cloth, not a wet one.
- Do not use abrasive pads, steel wool, or scouring materials on glass or frame surfaces.
- Do not use ammonia-based cleaning products near the seals or painted frame surfaces.
- Do not skip the wax removal step on new windows - cleaning over the factory wax with a squeegee smears the protective coating across the glass rather than removing it.
- Do not neglect the annual hardware lubrication - inadequate maintenance is listed as a warranty exclusion in LEIAB's warranty terms.
- Do not clean in direct sunlight - soap water dries on the glass before you can squeegee it off.
Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations
Bundle Kit
Tool Recommendations
T-bar applicator with a clean microfibre cover
View on Amazon [coming soon]Professional squeegee with a fresh rubber blade
View on Amazon [coming soon]Bucket with lukewarm water and one drop of pH-neutral dish soap per litre
View on Amazon [coming soon]Cleaning Frequency
Glass: 2x per year minimum (Inside and out.). Aluminium exterior frames: Once per year minimum (With window cleaner and cloth or chamois.). Urban or coastal locations: 4x per year (Quarterly cleaning recommended.). Hardware lubrication: 1-2 times per year (Hinges, locking points, lock mechanism holes.). Coupling hooks (2+1 systems): Once per year. Seal inspection: Once per year (Or after heavy storms.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Field Notes
“Glass: minimum twice per year inside and out. Aluminium exterior frames: minimum once per year with window cleaner and cloth or chamois. Urban or coastal environments with high pollution or salt air: quarterly cleaning recommended. Hardware lubrication (hinges, locking points, lock mechanism holes): 1-2 times per year. Coupling hook lubrication on 2+1 systems: once per year. Seal and weatherstripping inspection: once per year, or after heavy storms.”
Justin Orloff
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