Buying Aluminium Windows from China: The 12-Point Checklist We Use

Windows are the most technical thing most buyers put in a container, and the item where a vague specification costs the most. This is the checklist we run through with every factory in Dali before a client pays a deposit.

  1. System and series – the factory’s system name and frame depth (e.g. 65-series casement, 120-series lift-and-slide). Different series are not interchangeable.
  2. Alloy and temper – 6063-T5 or T6.
  3. Wall thickness – ≥1.4 mm windows, ≥2.0 mm doors; 1.8–2.2 mm for large panes or high wind.
  4. Thermal break – PA66 GF25 polyamide strip; width stated. Not PVC.
  5. Glass build-up – e.g. 6 Low-E + 12A argon + 6 tempered; laminated where safety codes require.
  6. Hardware brand per function – hinges/friction stays, handles, locks, rollers. Locking points per sash.
  7. Gaskets and seals – EPDM, three seals on casement, brush + EPDM on sliding.
  8. Finish – powder coat RAL number, thickness (≥60 µm), salt-spray hours; PVDF or anodising for coastal sites.
  9. Shop drawings – every opening with size, opening direction, handle side and height, sill detail. Signed by you.
  10. Performance – air, water and wind test reports for the system (ask for them; large factories have them).
  11. Packing – frames in foam and film on A-frames or in crates; glass separate for large units; ISPM-15 timber.
  12. Installation pack – anchors, sealant recommendation, installation manual in English; supervisor available for large projects.

Price ranges and system descriptions are in the doors & windows guide.

Planning to buy building materials in Foshan?

Tell us what you need and when you plan to come. We aim to reply the same business day with a realistic plan, price ranges and which markets to visit.

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