NorDan

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Inspect sealed units annually for water vapour between the panes or damage.
• ✓Clean with mild products and soft cloths.
• ✓Do not use abrasive cleaning agents or tools on glass.
• ✕Check for internal condensation - this indicates sealed unit failure, not a cleaning issue.

Timber Frames - Exterior (Painted)

• ✓Inspect painted surfaces at least once a year.
• ✓Look for blisters, cracks, flaking, or a matte surface finish.
• ✓Clean with water and a mild cleaning agent.
• ✓Brush away loose dirt and dust before wet cleaning.
• ✓Use only microporous paints for touch-ups or repainting (Sikkens or Dulux Weathershield).
• ✕Repainting schedule: opaque bright colours every 7-10 years, opaque dark and transparent colours every 3-5 years.
• ✓Do not use acrylic paint on exterior touching surfaces - it causes adhesion and sticking.

Aluminium Cladding

• ✓Normal environment: clean at least every 12 months.
• ✕Coastal or industrial areas: clean every 3 months.
• ✓Wipe with a soft brush to remove loose dust first.
• ✓Wash with warm water and a small amount of neutral detergent.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly after washing.
• ✓Dry with chamois leather to prevent smears.
• ✓Do not use hard water - mineral content can cause discolouration and permanent coating damage.

Hardware

• ✓NorDan recommends silicone spray or similar for lubrication of ironmongery.
• ✓Apply lubricant with the window in the open position.
• ✓Avoid timber contact when applying lubricant to prevent staining.
• ✓Check handles move freely and smoothly at least annually.
• ✓Tighten loose components: T15 torx for ventilators, T20 torx for handles.

Seals and Drainage

• ✓Inspect seals annually for cleanliness, dryness, continuity, and damage.
• ✓Never get any paint on the weather seal or gasket.
• ✓Keep thresholds clear of debris build-up.
• ✓Ensure weep holes remain unobstructed.

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 NorDan installation.

1. 1

   Brush down first

   Before any wet cleaning, brush down the timber and aluminium frame surfaces with a soft dry brush. NorDan's microporous paint finish and anodised aluminium cladding both benefit from removing loose dust, grit, and pollen before introducing water. If you skip this step, you turn the grit into an abrasive paste that scratches both surfaces.

2. 2

   Detail the frame edges

   Dampen a cotton rag in your soap water and wipe down the frame edges around the glass. On NorDan's timber/aluminium systems, the exterior is aluminium cladding and the interior is painted timber. Clean each material with the appropriate cloth and technique.

   This removes the grime sitting where the glass meets the frame. When you run the squeegee across the glass, the rubber edge contacts the frame. If there is dirt on that frame, the squeegee picks it up and drags it across the clean glass as a streak.

3. 3

   Agitation

   Dip your T-bar applicator completely into the soap water on both sides. Apply the solution across the whole glass area using overlapping strokes. The purpose is to dissolve the dirt so the squeegee can shave it away cleanly.

   NorDan's triple-glazed units have a firm glass surface that responds well to thorough agitation. Never clean in direct sunlight - NorDan states this explicitly for their aluminium cladding, and it applies equally to the glass.

4. 4

   Detail the frame again before squeegeeing

   Run a dry corner of your cotton rag along the top edge and both side edges. This removes pooled soap water from the frame so the squeegee will not pick up dirty residue.

5. 5

   The three squeegee turns

   Side to side: start at the very top edge with a dry rubber. Work across in a straight horizontal line. Tilt at a slight angle so soap water spills from only one side. Wipe dry after each line. Overlap slightly.

   Top to bottom: same principle in vertical lines. Start in the top corner with a dry rubber. Tilt to direct water to the lower side. Wipe dry after each line.

   The J tune (continuous motion): from top to bottom in one smooth movement with no stops. Your thumb guides the rotation. NorDan's NTech and StormGuard frames have clean profiles that let the squeegee rubber meet the glass edge without catching, making all three turns straightforward.

6. 6

   Final edge detailing

   After squeegeeing, detail the bottom edge and sides with a dry cotton rag. Get your finger into the edge where the glass meets the frame seal. Remove any pooled soap water.

   Rotate the rag so you are only ever using a clean, dry section. Replace the rag every few windows.

7. 7

   Aluminium cladding rinse and dry

   After cleaning the glass, rinse the aluminium cladding thoroughly with clean water to remove any soap residue. Dry with chamois leather to prevent water spots and smears. NorDan specifies this chamois drying step - do not let the cladding air-dry, especially in hard water areas where mineral deposits cause permanent discolouration.

Pro Tips

• ★ Brush down timber and aluminium surfaces before wet cleaning - grit plus water becomes an abrasive paste.
• ★ Dry aluminium cladding with chamois leather after rinsing - do not let it air-dry in hard water areas.
• ★ NorDan recommends silicone spray for hardware - adjust your approach if you are used to brands that ban it.
• ★ If paint looks matte or chalky, flag repainting - do not scrub harder. Dark colours need repainting every 3-5 years.
• ★ The 30-year warranty requires demonstrable maintenance records - keep a log of every cleaning and maintenance visit.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: 1x per year minimum (NorDan baseline) (Twice yearly recommended for optimal appearance.). Aluminium cladding - normal environments: At least every 12 months (Wipe with soft brush, wash with neutral detergent, rinse, dry with chamois.). Aluminium cladding - coastal or industrial: Every 3 months (Salt, sea air, and industrial deposits accelerate corrosion if left.). Hardware: 1x per year (Silicone spray or similar for ironmongery. Avoid timber contact.). Painted timber inspection: 1x per year minimum (Look for blisters, cracks, flaking, or matte finish.). Seals and drainage: Every cleaning session (Keep weep holes clear. Inspect seals for cleanliness, dryness, and damage.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: minimum once per year, twice recommended. Quarterly for aluminium cladding in coastal or industrial areas. Aluminium cladding: rinse thoroughly and dry with chamois - do not air-dry in hard water areas. Painted timber: annual inspection for blisters, cracks, flaking. Repaint bright colours every 7-10 years, dark colours every 3-5 years. Hardware: annual silicone spray lubrication with the window open. Avoid timber contact. Seals and drainage: inspect every cleaning session. Keep weep holes unobstructed.”

Justin Orloff