The « VERDUN Warranty »

PVC COMPONENTS

VERDUN warrants white PVC frames and shutters against rotting, cracking and warping for a period of twenty-five (25) years.

VERDUN warrants coloured PVC frames and shutters against rotting, cracking, warping, unequal discoloration (more than five (5) Delta-E units) and disintegration for a period of ten (10) years.

ALUMINUM COMPONENTS

VERDUN warrants aluminium extrusions and aluminium profile cladding against scaling, cracking, peeling and crazing for a period of twenty-five (25) years.

WOOD COMPONENTS

VERDUN warrants all of its wood products and components for a period of five (5) years and all of its aluminium clad wood products for a period of ten (10) years against all manufacturing defects.

For the purposes of this warranty, the natural variation in the colour of the wood is not considered to be a defect.

The present warranty becomes void if the windows, doors or wood components are not regularly maintained and protected by the application no later than thirty (30) days after delivery to the customer.

STAIN AND PAINT ON WOOD

VERDUN warrants the paint or stain applied by the manufacturer against scaling, cracking, peeling and crazing for a period of three (3) years.

Before painting or staining a wood product, please consult the manufacturer's documentation or contact a paint and stain professional for recommendations.

Any wooden part replaced during the repair of a defective product remains in its natural state. VERDUN cannot be held responsible, throughout the period of the warranty, for the paint or stain (or other coating), or for its application. Certain conditions, such as excessive humidity or condensation, may invalidate this warranty.

FIBERGLASS COMPONENTS

VERDUN warrants fibreglass profiles against cracking, peeling and crazing for a period of twenty-five (25) years.

GLASS (SEALED OR INSULATING)

VERDUN warrants double sealed insulating glass units and low emissivity (Low E) glass units installed in its products for a period of twenty-five (25) years. The warranty provides for replacement of the insulating glass if a film forms on its surfaces, which appreciably obstructs vision, due to a fault in the sealant that maintains the air tightness between the glass surfaces. However, spontaneous breakage is warranted for a limited period of one (1) year.

According to Canadian industry standards, all manufacturing defects on the glass or the moulding that are invisible to the naked eye at a distance of more than one metre (3 feet) will not be considered as defects in terms of this warranty.

HARDWARE

VERDUN warrants the hardware incorporated in the products for a period of ten (10) years against any manufacturing defect and any fault in the material that renders it unusable under normal conditions.

Fittings (hardware) that have been painted, varnished or coated with a substance that could negatively affect the operation of the product are not covered by this warranty.

SCREENS

VERDUN warrants that the frames of the screens supplied with the products have no manufacturing defects attributable to the material or to the labour for a period of one (1) year. This warranty does not apply to screen mesh that has been slashed, pierced, scratched or perforated.

WEATHERSTRIPPING

VERDUN warrants window weatherstripping for (10) years against all material defects under normal use conditions. Be sure to check that weatherstripping retains its suppleness and flexibility. Make sure that it has not been painted or stained, which would negatively affect the air tightness and general performance of the product. This is part of normal and necessary maintenance.

Painting, varnishing or coating the weatherstripping with a substance that could negatively affect the operation of the product will void this warranty.

PAINT

VERDUN warrants paint applied in the factory for a period of ten (10) years against blistering, flaking, bubbling and significant discoloration (more than five (5) Delta-E units) that is not attributable to exposure to chemical products, corrosives or excessive atmospheric conditions.

The VERDUN Warranty includes the labour required to replace defective components for a period of one (1) year. If this period has expired, charges may be incurred.

All doors used under normal conditions, i.e. residential use, are warranted (parts and labour) for a period of one (1) year against any manufacturing defect, beginning at the date of manufacture of the product. Under this warranty, we commit to supplying replacement parts and assuming the costs of the necessary labour either through the expertise of one of our employees or distributors, or with an equivalent credit for the value of the service in accordance with our rate evaluation grid applicable in the market.

The first year of the warranty will cover parts and labour. For subsequent years, if necessary, VERDUN accepts to supply the panel or the replacement component only. The costs of labour, transportation and all on-site repair and/or finishing work are therefore excluded.

DOOR, SIDELITE AND DECORATIVE PANELS

VERDUN warrants steel doors for a period of twenty (20) years against any manufacturing defects, delamination and warping. Warping of a panel that is less than or equal to one-quarter inch (1/4") or six (6) millimetres is not considered to be a manufacturing defect in terms of this warranty.

DOOR COMPONENTS

VERDUN warrants components (frame, weatherstripping, sill, thermal break, door sweep, PVC cladding and hinges) for a period of one (1) year against all manufacturing defects.

Granite sills cannot we warranted against cracking.

BUMPS AND SCRATCHES

Any bumps and scratches must be pointed out at the time of installation, before the installation team leaves the worksite.

This warranty does not apply to defects caused by incorrect installation, abusive use or damage during transportation.

Laminated doors are warranted for one (1) year against delamination of the door.

PAINT

VERDUN warrants the finish of panels and components painted at the factory for a period of ten (10) years against unprovoked flaking. Please note that some wear marks (mainly around the handles) are considered normal and are not covered by the warranty.

PVC parts (excluding door sweeps) are warranted against flaking of the paint for a period of ten (10) years.

The colour of the replaced parts could be different due to a gradual discolouration caused by exposure to the sun's rays and to common air pollutants. This is a normal phenomenon for which the warranty does not apply.

DOORGLASS (SEALED OR INSULATING)

VERDUN warrants commodity-type doorglass (venting units, glass with grills, clear glass, integrated blinds) for a period of five (5) years against the formation of condensation or dust deposits on the interior surfaces due to a lack of airtightness in the joints and resulting in an appreciable reduction of vision. However, unprovoked breakage is warranted for a limited period of one (1) year.

VERDUN warrants sealed units with decorative glass inserts installed in steel doors for a period of ten (10) years. The warranty provides for the replacement of the insulating glass if a film forms on its surfaces, which appreciably obstructs vision, due to a fault in the sealant that maintains the air tightness between the glass surfaces. However, spontaneous breakage is warranted for a limited period of one (1) year.

Given the specific and crafted characteristics of the types of glass used, it may have visible and acceptable imperfections. According to Canadian industry standards, all manufacturing defects on the glass or the moulding that are invisible to the naked eye at a distance of more than one metre (3 feet) will not be considered as defects in terms of this warranty.

According to Canadian industry standards CAN CGSB 12.3-M91 and CAN CGSB 12.8 M97, visual defects are inspected against black background with fluorescent lights on both back sides, and a 500 watt halogen light shining downwards to provide indirect lighting. The unit is positioned at the height at which it is normally installed in a door. The unit is then inspected, standing upright at a distance of three (3) feet for the TRIPLE-GLAZED models. For the other models, the centre is inspected at three (3) feet and the periphery at five (5) feet. The unit’s frame will be inspected at a distance of five (5) feet, since it is not in the direct line of sight. If a visual defect is not visible from these distances, the unit is considered acceptable and within the industry’s quality standards.

Please note that this inspection method and this glass quality standard are based directly on generally accepted industry quality verification criteria.

Units with visual defects must be returned to us within the month following its installation. The defects must be circled.

PVC MOULDING

VERDUN warrants the PVC mouldings used to hold the sealed glass units in the steel doors for a period of ten (10) years against weld faults, excessive undulation, yellowing, crazing, and water infiltration.

HINGES

VERDUN warrants regular hinges, ball bearing hinges, and decorative ball bearing hinges against rust for a period of one (1) year. The finish on stainless steel ball bearing hinges is warranted for life.

MULTI-POINT HANDLE

VERDUN warrants multi-point handles installed at the factory for a period of ten years against manufacturing defects, five (5) years against malfunctioning of the mechanism, five (5) years on the finish of polished brass, antique brass, nickel and antique nickel handles and one (1) year on the finish of antique bronze handles.

COMMERCIAL SILLS AND SILLS FOR WHEELCHAIRS

Due to the design of these sills intended for specific uses, no warranty can be offered against water infiltration.

The VERDUN Warranty includes the labour required to replace defective components for a period of one (1) year. If this period has expired, charges may be incurred.

PVC AND ALUMINIUM COMPONENTS

VERDUN warrants white frames and shutters for a period of twenty (20) years against cracking and warping.

VERDUN warrants coloured frames and shutters for a period of ten (10) years against cracking and warping.

WOOD COMPONENTS

VERDUN warrants all its products and components made out of WOOD for a period of five (5) years and all its products made out ALUMINIUM CLAD wood for a period of ten (10) years against all manufacturing defects.

VERDUN warrants the paint and stain applied at the factory against scaling, cracking, peeling and crazing for a period of three (3) years. The present warranty becomes void if the wood components are not regularly maintained and protected by the application no later than thirty (30) days after delivery to the customer. The primer applied at the factory has no protective qualities.

SEALED UNITS

VERDUN warrants sealed units and aluminium grills for a period of ten (10) years against the formation of film or dust deposits on the interior surfaces of the glass due to the lack of airtightness in the joints and against unprovoked breakage of the glass appearing as a crack rather than as a point of impact.

Sealed units comprising integrated blinds are not covered by the warranty.

HARDWARE

VERDUN warrants hardware incorporated in patio doors for a period of five (5) years against any manufacturing defect and any fault in the materials that renders it unusable under normal conditions.

The VERDUN Warranty includes the labour required to replace defective components for a period of one (1) year. If this period has expired, charges may be incurred.

DOOR PANELS

VERDUN warrants door panels for a period of ten (10) years against perforations due to rust resulting from cracking or peeling of the paint under normal atmospheric conditions, against loss of structural quality due to delamination of the insulating foam rendering the door inoperable, and against any cracking or rotting of the ends of the wood.

PAINT

VERDUN warrants the manufacturer’s standard colours for a period of ten (10) years and non-standard colours for a period of one (1) year.

VERDUN warrants the finish of panels and components painted at the factory in the manufacturer’s standard colours for a period of ten (10) years against unprovoked flaking. Please note that some wear marks will be considered normal and are not covered by the warranty.

VERDUN warrants the finish of panels and components painted at the factory with non-standard colours for a period of one (1) year against unprovoked flaking. Please note that some wear marks will be considered normal and are not covered by the warranty.

The colour of the replaced parts could be different due to a gradual discoloration caused by exposure to the sun's rays and to common air pollutants. This is a normal phenomenon for which the warranty does not apply.

SEALED UNITS

VERDUN warrants its sealed window units for a period of ten (10) years against the formation of condensation. However, unprovoked breakage is warranted for a limited period of one (1) year.

HARDWARE, MOTORS AND ACCESSORIES

VERDUN warrants garage door motors and accessories for a period of one (1) year against any manufacturing defect that renders them unusable.

The VERDUN Warranty includes the labour required to replace defective components for a period of one (1) year. If this period has expired, charges may be incurred.

Following the replacement of doors or windows, you will sometimes notice an increase in the condensation on the glass of these new doors and windows. The fact that this condensation did not appear before the replacement leads you to believe that the product or the installation may be the cause.

In fact, the increased air tightness of your new doors or windows is partly to explain for this change. The humidity present in the ambient air, which in the past had been able to escape, is now kept inside. Therefore, we must understand the exact cause of this condensation in order to take appropriate action to reduce or even eliminate it. It is for this reason that we have prepared this informative document, putting together all the pertinent information and objectives on the subject. We hope that you will find this document useful.

What is condensation?

Condensation will form on windows when the temperature of the surface of the glass (glazing), sash or frame is lower than that of the humid air surrounding it. The water vapour in the air changes to liquid when it comes into contact with these cold surfaces. Condensation appears most often around the edges of the glass since this is where cold air is most likely to infiltrate.

If your windows are subject to condensation, you should know that your windows and their installation are probably not at fault. Rather, it is the level of humidity in the house that is the cause, and it is important that you learn how to control it. Even if you buy the best windows and they are correctly installed, they will end up showing condensation if the level of humidity is too high.

By humidity, we mean the quantity of water vapour present in the air. You and the members of your family, and even your pets, produce water vapour by breathing in and out. Even your indoor plants produce water vapour. We add even more of it to the interior air through our daily activities, such as preparing meals, taking showers or baths, and washing clothes or dishes. Furthermore, water vapour contained in the soil can infiltrate your home through the basement or crawl space.

Diagnosing a humidity problem

Does your home have a humidity problem? Don’t worry. There is an easy, inexpensive way to measure the level of humidity in your home. What you need is an instrument called a hygrometer. This instrument will indicate whether the air in your home is too humid or not humid enough. This will allow you to determine if specific measures are necessary and, if so, what these measures should be.

Relative humidity

Humidity is usually measured in terms of relative humidity (RH). RH is a percentage that indicates the quantity of water vapour in the air relative to the maximum quantity of water that ambient air could contain at that temperature. When air, at a given temperature, holds all the water vapour that it can possibly hold, it has a RH of 100%. If the level of humidity exceeds 100%, water vapour begins to condense. If the air only contains half the humidity that it could contain, then the RH is 50%. Since warm air can contain more water vapour than cold air, the RH of a sample of air will vary with changes in temperature, even if the actual amount of water vapour in the ambient air remains constant. For example, if the ambient air gets colder, the RH will climb.

Buying a hygrometer

Two types of hygrometers are best suited to domestic requirements: mechanical hygrometers and electronic hygrometers. Either type will perform adequately in most homes provided they are calibrated and used correctly. Hardware stores, department stores, building material suppliers and electronics stores often sell hygrometers. In fact, you can usually find hygrometers wherever indoor thermometers are sold. Hygrometers and thermometers are often combined into a single piece of equipment.

Using your hygrometer

Your hygrometer will show the relative humidity (RH) in your house. Although the RH will not be exactly the same throughout your home, one hygrometer per house is usually sufficient. You should place it where the humidity symptoms are most obvious, in the room that you are most concerned about, or where your family spends the most time. Because hygrometers are small, they can be moved around in your house from time to time. Don’t place your hygrometer near a radiator, a heat register or a chimney, or in any other location where it could be affected by direct heat. Remember that a hygrometer does not produce instant results. It may take up to two hours to provide a stable reading in a new location or to adjust to sudden changes in relative humidity.

Controlling the relative humidity of indoor air

If there are signs of excess humidity in your home, increase the ventilation. If you only experience this problem once or twice a year, you can alleviate it or regulate it by avoiding the use of humidifiers in cold weather, by leaving the blinds open to favour air circulation, and by using the exhaust fan over the stove or in the bathroom.

When is humidity a problem?

We need humidity for our comfort and health. But too much or too little humidity can produce all sorts of difficulties for the occupants (see Table 1).

How do you know if you have too much or too little humidity?

Experts have developed rules of thumb to help homeowners make decisions regarding humidity levels in their homes. These limits should be used as guides only. Acceptable or comfortable humidity levels will actually vary from season to season, from house to house, and even between rooms in the same house. To prevent window condensation during the heating season, the recommended indoor RH is 20 to 40%, depending on the external temperature.

Humidity reduction tips

Disconnect humidifiers that are either fixed to your heating system or are portable. Make sure that the clothes dryer is vented to the outside. Use bathroom and kitchen fans that vent to the outside when bathing or cooking. If you have a crawl space under your house, cover the beaten earth with 0.15 mm (6 mil) polyethylene. The crawl space may have to be ventilated during the summer. Store your firewood outside. If you have a mechanical ventilation system, make sure that it is working properly and that it is turned on.

Taking action

Humidity can be controlled. If the relative humidity in your home is too high, you can reduce it; if it is too low, you can increase it. In summer, you can reduce house humidity levels by the use of a dehumidifier or by running an air conditioner.

In winter, a house that is too humid usually has some high moisture sources (for example, a damp basement, roof leaks, many plants). Deal with these problems first. If high humidity persists, you may need to make simple changes in your family’s habits, such as remembering to open or close doors or windows. You can also run the exhaust fans in your kitchen or in your bathrooms to remove excess humidity.

If your humidity levels are low, consider the use of a humidifier. Humidifiers — both stand-alone humidifiers and humidifiers attached to your furnace — will increase indoor RH levels. However, you should be aware that humidifiers can be a source of excessive moisture and, consequently, condensation.

In summary

Humidity levels in your home can be too high or too low. In either case, problems can result. A hygrometer can provide the information you need to determine whether you have a humidity problem, but it must be accurate to be useful. If you have a humidity problem, it can usually be controlled.

The "VERDUN Warranty" stipulated in this document is subject to the conditions set out hereafter, such conditions being an integral part of this warranty:

This document constitutes the entire warranty granted by VERDUN to the purchaser and invalidates any verbal or written agreement, communication or negotiation that took place prior to, or at the time of, the sale of the product by VERDUN or one of its representatives.

Any claim covered by the VERDUN Warranty must be addressed in writing to the VERDUN branch where the product was purchased, explaining in detail the reason for the claim and presenting the original invoice.

Any defect must be reported no later than ten (10) days after the problem is discovered by the user.

This warranty applies to all of our products delivered after October 1, 2010. VERDUN reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of this warranty in the future.

The warranty period begins at the date of the final payment of the order.

The VERDUN Warranty includes the labour involved in the replacement of defective components for a period of one (1) year. If this period has expired, charges may be incurred. Subsequent to this labour warranty period, VERDUN will assume, at its discretion and following the inspection of the returned material, the repair, replacement or reimbursement of the defective part still covered by one of the warranties, but limited only to supplying the part. If, during the initial period of one (1) year, a service call turns out to be unjustified according to the conditions of our warranty, travel expenses of at least $125.00 may be invoiced.

Under no circumstance, either during or after the labour warranty period, will VERDUN be responsible for defraying the costs of erecting and/or disassembling scaffolding, or any other costs or expenses related to or required to access a defective product, or resulting directly or indirectly from the removal or the reinstallation of a product or a part. Prior to any work involving labour covered by this warranty, the customer must confirm to VERDUN that a method that is safe and acceptable to VERDUN has been provided, at the customer’s expense, to allow VERDUN’s representatives access to the product.

Any product sold, transported or exported beyond a radius of 150 km from the VERDUN branch where the product was purchased is in no way covered by the warranty, parts and labour, unless a prior written agreement is entered into with VERDUN. Furthermore, in the absence of a specific agreement concerning travel and transportation charges, no labour services will be offered and only parts may be supplied to the customer having purchased the products under the conditions of this warranty.

Any replacement or repair of parts will continue to be covered for the period remaining in the initial warranty. However, if VERDUN proceeds with a reimbursement, it will be limited to the initial price of the product, less the applicable depreciation based on the age and wear of the product. If VERDUN proceeds with a replacement, it will be with a similar product.

VERDUN reserves the right to modify the design of its products and to make changes to them at any time without incurring any obligation to incorporate or add these modifications or improvements to units already manufactured and delivered.

Any clause or part of a clause contained in this warranty that could be judged to be illegal in whole or in part, or declared void insofar as it contravenes a law or regulation applicable in Canada, will not affect the validity of this warranty and its other clauses or parts of clauses. This warranty does not have the effect of depriving purchasers of whatever warranty they may take advantage of in accordance with a law that is applicable in Québec.

Condensation or the formation of frost on the exposed surfaces of the doors and windows resulting from excess humidity;

Uneven discolouration resulting from unequal exposure of the surfaces to the sun or to the elements is not covered by this warranty. Over the years, it is possible to detect a change in the lustre of a product.

The VERDUN warranty does not apply to any product that will have been repaired or modified, or attempted to be repaired or modified, by anyone other than authorized VERDUN personnel.

Possible sweating of the wood: Wood is a natural element that we cannot prevent from sweating.

Variation in the colour or texture of the wood is an inherent quality of natural wood and must not be considered a defect under the terms of this warranty.

Installation in a building that is incomplete or under construction, without heating or air conditioning, will void any warranty on the windows if this building remains without heating or humidity control for a period of more than ten (10) days after installation.

This warranty will be void if the product is used in an abusive manner, if it has been in contact with solvents or corrosive agents such as chemical products or sea salt, or if it has been painted or coated with a substance subsequent to its purchase, contrary to the recommendations of VERDUN in this warranty.

The defectiveness or breakage of any product or of one of its components that is attributable to abusive use, a lack of normal maintenance, an accident, a theft, minor scratches or other imperfections not affecting the integrity of the structure, or an installation that is noncompliant with current construction practices, or excessive thermal or mechanical constraints;

A problem resulting from the impact of some sort of foreign object, structural movement, distortion or failure of the foundation walls, damage caused by fire, accumulation of heat, explosion, excessive temperature, exposure to harmful chemical products, climatic conditions such as tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, landslides, effects of pollution, mildew or other alterations caused by climatic elements, or any other natural disaster;

Under no circumstances can VERDUN be held responsible or liable, during the installation or replacement of a VERDUN product, for any loss of profit or revenue or for any direct, indirect, fortuitous, special, secondary or accidental damage attributable to a defect in VERDUN’s products.

PVC, aluminium and fibreglass extrusions must be maintained. They must be cleaned using hot water, a mild detergent such as dishwashing soap, and a soft cloth or sponge—nothing firmer than a natural bristle brush.

To keep hardware in good working order, make sure that it is free of dust and dirt. It should be cleaned with a mild detergent and rinsed with water. Ensure that it is lubricated regularly; this is both normal and necessary. Use silicon-based products (e.g. JIG-A-LOO) or lithium grease (do not use products with a petroleum jelly base such as WD-40) or petroleum derivatives that could affect the rubber in the weatherstripping. Use of a light oil, or any other non-corrosive product, is also recommended.

If a glass storm door is installed in front of a steel door, it is important to allow for air circulation in order to avoid overheating between the steel door and the storm door.

A visual inspection should be made of the products once a year in order to detect any flaws or breakage. Normal maintenance, lubrication of the hardware and maintenance of the joint sealants must be performed. VERDUN cannot be held responsible for damages that may have been avoided if these inspections had been carried out.

The best way to prevent condensation is to control the level of humidity in your home. Appropriate ventilation and good air circulation are normally sufficient to solve this problem. The table below matches the external temperature with the internal relative humidity recommended by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. If you can reduce the internal level of humidity to the levels indicated below, it may help solve any surface condensation problems.