Why Does Cheap Hardware in New Apartments Wear Out Faster?

It is a question we hear constantly: "The flat is new, three years old, and the windows are already sticking." The reason is almost always the same — the construction hardware that came with the apartment was never designed for long service life.

How construction hardware is selected

Building developers choose window hardware based on purchase price, not service life. This is understandable business logic: what matters is selling the flats as quickly as possible, not the condition of the windows seven years later.

Standard construction-grade hardware in new developments is typically rated for 30,000–50,000 operating cycles. In theory this sounds like a lot. But laboratory tests differ from real-world conditions.

Why cheap hardware wears out faster than the specification suggests

In practice, construction hardware ages faster for several reasons:

• Installation quality — if the window is incorrectly installed (inaccurate levelling, frame deformation), the hardware operates under additional load with every opening.

• Building settlement — during the first 3–5 years a new building settles. This changes the geometry of the frames and the hardware begins operating outside its normal position.

• Poor tolerances — construction hardware is manufactured with wider tolerances. This "play" increases with every cycle until the component eventually fails to function.

• Corrosion — the protective coating on cheap hardware is thinner. A damp climate or coastal conditions accelerate the deterioration process.

What can be done

Sticking hardware is not something you have to put up with — and you do not have to replace the entire window straight away.

Adjustment — if the window has only just started sticking and the hardware is not yet damaged, adjustment often resolves the problem for 3–5 years.

Hardware replacement — if adjustment does not help, or the component is already worn or broken, it is worth replacing the hardware with a higher-quality alternative. Quality hardware differs from construction grade: it is made from better materials, withstands more cycles and can be adjusted in three planes.

The building settlement period usually ends within 3–5 years. After that the hardware no longer receives additional load — and quality fittings can last another 15–20 years.

Early warning signs that should not be ignored

• The window closes harder than it did a year ago.

• The handle has worked loose or turns slightly without engaging.

• A squeak is heard when opening.

• An air flow can be felt through a closed window.

The sooner you act, the simpler and cheaper the solution. Hardware diagnosis and a technician visit are free of charge.

Register for a free diagnosis and window technician consultation and we will get in touch with you.