Terms and Conditions
These Terms & Conditions apply to all quotations, orders and products supplied by Patios Southwest. By placing an order, the purchaser confirms acceptance of these Terms & Conditions.
Installation
The Company is not responsible for the incorrect installation of, or for providing installation instructions for, any products supplied.
Limitation of Liability
The Company accepts no liability for:
- Damage caused by accident, storm, flood, neglect, misuse, faults, or premature deterioration resulting from the Purchaser’s failure to comply with the Company’s maintenance instructions.
- Damage resulting from subsidence caused by soil shrinkage, underground movement, or mining activity.
- Damage or deterioration arising from normal wear and tear.
Product Guarantees
The following guarantees apply from the date of purchase:
- Aluminium Powder Coating – All painted aluminium products are finished using a polyester powder coating. The powder coating bonds only to aluminium. As a result, any thermal PVC sections separating aluminium sections may display minor overspray. This is normal and is not considered a manufacturing defect. The powder coating is covered by a 10-year guarantee.
- uPVC Coloured Foil – Covered by a 10-year guarantee.
- Sealed Glass Units – Covered by a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty, including sealed units with integral blinds.
- Hardware – All hardware supplied with our products is covered by a 1-year warranty.
The aluminium extrusions and powder coating are guaranteed by the aluminium extrusion manufacturer. Bifold door hardware is guaranteed by the hardware manufacturer, and glass units and integral blinds are guaranteed by the glass manufacturer. These manufacturer warranties are provided directly by the relevant supplier and not by the Company.
Weather Performance
All products are manufactured and tested to the Company’s standard weather performance specification and are intended for use in normal environmental conditions. Products are not suitable for installation in extremely exposed locations or coastal environments unless the Company has provided prior written approval.
It is the Purchaser’s responsibility to disclose the intended installation environment before placing an order. The Company shall not be liable for any loss, damage, or failure in weather performance arising from the installation of products in environments that have not been disclosed or that fall outside the approved operating conditions. No claims relating to weather performance will be accepted where products have been installed contrary to these requirements.
Warranty Conditions
The warranty will be invalid if:
- Door tracks are not kept free from debris.
- Products are not installed in accordance with the supplied installation instructions.
- Products are not properly maintained.
Drawings
All drawings are viewed from the outside.
The Company accepts no liability for any misinterpretation of drawings.
Structural Requirements
Where a lintel is shown as existing but is found not to be present during survey, the customer must arrange for a suitable lintel to be installed by another contractor. Alternatively, the customer may cancel the order. In such circumstances, a charge of £250 will apply to cover costs already incurred.
All bifold doors are supplied on the basis that they are to be installed at ground floor level unless the Company has confirmed in writing that the products are suitable for an alternative location and the applicable wind loading.
Any structural calculations required are the sole responsibility of the customer.
All bifold doors should be installed beneath a suitable steel or Catnic lintel. Timber lintels may only be used at the customer’s own risk, and no warranty claims relating to the performance of the doors will be accepted where a timber lintel has been used.
Installation Tolerances
All folding doors must be installed with an installation gap of between 8 mm and 15 mm around the frame.
Installation outside these tolerances will invalidate the warranty. The use of additional packing materials to compensate for incorrect measurements or excessive tolerances will also void the warranty.
Folding doors are designed for installation into brickwork reveals only and within the tolerances stated above. Installation into any other type of opening is undertaken entirely at the customer’s own risk and is not covered by the warranty.
Intended Use
All folding doors supplied are intended for domestic use only.
Planning and Building Regulations
The customer is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable planning permission requirements and Building Regulations imposed by the relevant local authority.
Glass Standards
Any defects relating to sealed glass units shall be assessed in accordance with the guidelines published by the Glass and Glazing Federation.
Toughened low-emissivity coated glass units may display natural colour variation, pattern variation, or a slight misting effect. These characteristics are normal and are not regarded as manufacturing defects.
Low Threshold Doors
Low-threshold doors do not provide the same level of weather resistance at the bottom of the door as standard rebated threshold doors.
It is therefore essential that the design and construction of the opening incorporates suitable drainage immediately in front of the threshold to prevent water ingress. Eco drainage systems are recommended.
Claims for water ingress will not be accepted where suitable drainage has not been installed.
The primary purpose of a low threshold is to provide level access by removing the rebated upstand. Airtightness at the bottom of the door is achieved using brush seals, which provide satisfactory draught protection under normal conditions.
If the doors are not installed or aligned correctly, draughts may occur. During severe weather conditions, some draughts may also be experienced around the threshold. This is considered normal and is not a manufacturing defect.
Customers concerned about draughts or water ingress should specify a standard rebated threshold.
Handles and Hardware
Handle finishes may vary slightly in colour. Chrome and silver handles may include a combination of silver and chrome components and may be supplied in either lever or flat designs.
The Company accepts no liability for minor colour variations.
The Company reserves the right to amend or change the design of handles and hinges without prior notice.
Customer Responsibilities
By placing an order, the customer agrees that either they or their appointed installer possesses appropriate knowledge and experience in carpentry, window and door installation, or the construction industry, and will install and maintain the products strictly in accordance with the supplied instructions.
Products may be installed on a DIY basis. However, the Company provides no technical support beyond the written installation and maintenance instructions supplied with the products.
Requests for assistance by telephone, email, or in writing will be answered by referring the customer to the original installation instructions or by supplying another copy.
Warranty Claims
All warranty claims must be submitted in writing to sales@patiossouthwest.co.uk.
Telephone claims will not be accepted.
Claims must include the order number and full installation address.
The Company aims to respond to all warranty claims within 3–5 working days.
The Company does not provide an emergency response service and accepts no liability for financial loss or consequential loss arising from any defect or delay.
Customers may be asked to provide digital photographs in support of any warranty claim, regardless of whether the products were supplied only or supplied and installed.
Where products have been supplied without installation, all warranties cover replacement parts only and do not include labour costs.
Site Inspections
Where a site inspection is requested to assess a warranty claim or investigate a third-party issue relating to products supplied, a pre-paid inspection fee of £250 applies for mainland England and Wales.
If the warranty claim is found to be valid, the inspection fee will be refunded in full.
The inspection fee is fixed regardless of travel distance or the time spent on site.
If the Company concludes that the warranty claim is not valid, a written report will be provided, and the inspection fee will be retained.
This does not affect the customer’s statutory rights.
The Company will not carry out any repair work or labour during the inspection visit.
Transfer of Warranty
The warranty is not transferable