Europe · Window Manufacturer
Skaala
🇫🇮 Finland · Last reviewed by Justin Orloff
Quick Facts
Founded
1970s (50+ years)
HQ
Ikaalinen, Finland
Materials
Wood-aluminium composite
Specialty
Tilt-and-turn, balcony and sliding systems
Market
Scandinavia and Baltic states
Brand at a Glance
- 50+ years of Finnish window engineering
- Wood interior, aluminium exterior construction
- Engineered for extreme cold, frost and ice cycles
Product Range
- Tilt-and-turn windows
- Balcony glazing systems
- Sliding patio doors
Why This System
Skaala combines a warm timber interior with a durable aluminium exterior shell - giving thermal performance on the inside and weather resistance on the outside. The result is a composite system that handles Finnish freeze-thaw cycles well, but the transition zone between materials needs careful attention when cleaning.
Water can track into the aluminium-to-timber junction if sprayed at pressure. In winter, ice can form in rebates and seals. In spring, heavy pollen loads settle into the sliding tracks. Orloffs approach these frames with low-pressure application, thorough detail work in the joints, and seasonal track cleaning as a standard service step.
Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations
Official Care Guidance
Step 2 of 2: The Orloffs Protocol
The Orloffs Protocol
This is how I clean Skaala 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 Skaala 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 Skaala installation.
- 1
1. Rinse frames top-to-bottom with pure water to dislodge frost residue, pollen or salt deposits
- 2
2. Clean sliding or tilt-and-turn tracks with a stiff detail brush - remove grit before operating hardware
- 3
3. Apply glass cleaning solution and work the squeegee in overlapping strokes from top to bottom
- 4
4. Detail the aluminium-to-timber junction line with a damp microfibre - never force water into the joint
- 5
5. Dry sills and frames with a lint-free cloth and inspect seals for winter damage before leaving
Pro Tips
- Never use a pressure washer - water forced into the aluminium-timber joint causes swelling and seal failure
- In spring, treat pollen removal as a separate rinse step before any soap or squeegee work
- In winter, check that tilt-and-turn hardware moves freely before applying any lateral pressure
What NOT To Do
- Do not use abrasive pads on aluminium exterior profiles - they scratch the anodised or powder-coated finish
- Do not leave standing water in sliding tracks in freezing conditions
- Do not use solvent-based cleaners on the timber interior surfaces
Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations
Bundle Kit
Tool Recommendations
Pure water system for frame rinsing
View on Amazon [coming soon]14" or 18" squeegee for glass
View on Amazon [coming soon]Detail brush for tracks and rebates
View on Amazon [coming soon]Cleaning Frequency
Twice yearly as a minimum - spring (post-pollen, pre-summer) and autumn (pre-frost). Coastal or high-traffic sites benefit from quarterly cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Field Notes
“Skaala balcony glazing systems often have horizontal sliding panels stacked in a top-hung track. Clean the top track first - debris falls onto already-cleaned glass otherwise. The aluminium profiles on older units may show white oxidation; a specialist aluminium restorer handles this before standard cleaning.”
Justin Orloff
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