Installer guidelines

A Gecko Glazing installer will accompany Installation Partners to first installations for training. For a partner’s first 3 installations, for quality control customer satisfaction purposes we require a circa 15 second video of all windows providing an overall view and focus on corners and replaced window furniture. Details on how to submit this will be discussed on an individual basis (WhatsApp or similar).

Contact denny@geckoglazinstg.wpengine.com or call 033 0133 5570 for ad hoc problem solving and customer service advice.

Equipment

Equipment

Our installer onboarding pack includes:

• Alcohol cleaning & de-static spray 
• Microfibre cloths
• Installation tool (carpet tucker)
• Installation knife
• Replacement window furniture (slimline swing and Brighton closers, and replacement top loops) 
• Draught-proofing tape

Installers to self-supply:

• Shoe covers
• Protective eyewear
• Protective gloves
• Cordless screwdriver/drill (e.g. Makita 18V cordless)
• Rotary tool (Dremel) with cutting discs (for removing window furniture) and sanding heads for making good
• Smal chisel or paint scraper for removing paint and widow furniture
• Stepladder and/or ladder
• Screws, washers, drill bits (good supply – removing window furniture is much easier with sharp bits)
• Self-priming white timber paint (e.g. The One Paint & Primer), small paint brushes and wood filler for retouching
• Kitchen roll for drying damp windows
• Utility knife
• Sandpaper
• Measuring tools (Bosch GLM 40 or better + GatorTape top reader tape measure – e.g. as included in surveyor onboarding pack) 
• Replacement window furniture (some included in Onboarding Package):
  • Sash Eye option 1 or option 2
  • Fasteners option 1 or option 2,
• (Optional) Cordless hoover for tidying (or ask customer)

Installation process

• Introduce yourself and have the client show you around
• Mention roughly how long it will take you and ask in which room to star

Installing Gecko Panes can seem fiddly at first, but with practise they can be installed a matter of minutes each.

Check whether any obstrutive window furniture (handles, sash closers or finger loops) need to be removed. If yes, see ‘Removing Window Furniture’ section below.   

Clean windows using alcohol cleaning spray and microfibre cloth and dry. Especially if rooms are initially quite warm, to reduce the chance of misting between glass and Gecko Pane on cold days, prior to installation open windows, close doors, turn off heating and allow room to cool.

Normally windows need no other preparation and even frames with poor paintwork usually work well with Gecko Panes.

Remove the protective film from the glass-facing side of the Gecko Panes. This can generate static, so make sure you don’t hold panes near dusty surfaces.

Hold the Gecko Pane so that the frame faces the glass. Gently but firmly insert the bottom of the Gecko Pane into the bottom of the window frame, pushing down until the sponge surround meets the frame.

Holding the top edge of the Gecko Pane, push downwards and forwards firmly but gently to insert the top of the Gecko Pane into the window frame. You’ll have to squeeze it in a bit – Gecko Panes are designed to fit tightly to ensure a good seal and grip:

The sponge surround will tend to bulge out at corners. Simply use the included table knife or insertion tool to push the bulging surround back towards the glass to tidy it up:

Work your way round all sides of the pane, using your fingers to push the frame back in until it touches the glass (don’t push hard against the glass)! The Gecko Pane may spring back out a bit, which is fine.

Then, while gently holding the frame against the glass with your fingers, use the knife or insertion tool to push the outside edge of the sponge surround back towards the glass pane all around. This tidies the surround and delivers a good seal between the Gecko Pane and the window frame:

You may have to release air from the cavity to insert your Gecko Pane fully. To do so, insert the knife between window frame and surround on one side. Depress the sponge against the Gecko Pane frame to open a channel to the cavity. Gently press against the acrylic to slowly expel some air, then remove the knife.

Tidy surround once more and remove remaining protective film.

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Removing window furniture

Gecko Panes fit behind most window furniture, but occasionally there’s insufficient space. Finger pulls or handles can often be bent outwards slightly to make space, but be careful not to damage the window.

Even if a Gecko pane will JUST fit behind an existing closer, check that the window will still open and close properly after installation. If the Gecko pane is too tight against the closer, such that the closer can’t open and close fully, it can sometimes impede the window.  

Sash closers are the most common obstruction. If there is less than 11mm behind one and the closer is in good condition, repositioning it is a reasonably straightforward task.

Minimum space: 11mm

Some pieces only need to be removed temporarily to fit Gecko Panes.

If window furniture to be moved or removed has been painted over it may have to be cut off or drilled out. Moving will at least take significantly longer than usual.

Discuss the proposed removal process with the customer.

Ask whether customer wants to retain existing window furniture or whether replacement with new is OK. 

Consider attaching a small piece of acrylic to the glass behind the window furniture to protect it from the cutting tools. 

In first instance, scrape away paint covering screws, with screwdriver, scraper, chisel or Dremel, to see if they can be removed conventionally, but often screws will be too rusted to remove. Other means to remove window furniture include:

• If customer wishes to retain, drill out screws (small diameter bit first, then larger). When re-installing, window furniture will have to be re-sited slightly to avoid remaining screw shanks.   
• If replacement window furniture is OK, use dremel with cutting disc to cut cross pattern on screw heads and prise off window furniture, or just to cut around screws. 

– VIDEO TO FOLLOW –

The frame of some windows is too narrow to fit both Gecko Panes and conventionally sized closers. These can be replaced with slimline fasteners included in onboarding packs.

If you have refitted the window furniture in a different location, prepare the initial location with sandpaper, wood filler and paint to reseal the wooden window surface.

Tidy up all materials, including hoovering up dust and other debris. 

Key messages for customers

Once installation is complete:

• Give the customer the Gecko Glazing Welcome Pack (branded box) and show contents
• Advise that they read the included leaflet
• Always show the customer how to remove and re-install a Gecko pane – show how easy it is
• Advise that misting may occur on cold days. Ignore unless it persists. Wipe away if it’s persistent. If recurrent, it may indicates re-painting of frames required. See our website for guidance.  
• Advise to clean with damp included microfibre cloth and NOT with aggressive cleaners or abrasive cloths
• Explain how to use draught-proofing tape tack on seals
• Leave promotional leaflets/cards
• Advise customer to contact Gecko Glazing if they have any problems
• If any windows/frames are in particularly bad condition, draw customer attention to it
• Stress that as a small company we really appreciate their custom, and please let friends and neighbours know about us

Always spend 10 mins leafleting neighbours after installations.

Find our full FAQs here