Face And Secret Drainage
What Is The Difference Between Face and Secret Drainage?
When installing aluminium doors and windows clients need to consider the use of face or secret drainage. The difference between the two is in where the water that builds up inside the frames is released back to the outside and away from the wall.
One of the aspects to which drainage method to use depends on the building construction. Generally a building with narrow walls or stone cills will use face drainage whereas deep walls of brick and block-work will use secret drainage (often referred to as concealed drainage) with aluminium sub-cills.
Face Drained (Front or Exposed Drainage)
Face drained aluminium doors and windows have the drainage holes for any water to escape on the front face of the frame. Face drained is where the water that is designed to enter the frame through the gaskets travels down the frame at set points draining outwards and away from the building.
As the rain comes in to contact with the aluminium door or window the design allows some of the excess water to enter through the gaskets and in to the door or window. Typically a door or window that has a stub cill, extension cill or sits on a stone cill will be face drained. The water will travel down through the vent frame and onwards toward the drainage holes as shown above by the blue line with the vertical rain drops.
Secret Drained (Base or Concealed Drainage)
Secret drained doors and windows sit on a sub-cill of varying projections. As the rain comes in to contact with the aluminium door or window the design allows some of the excess water to enter through the gaskets and in to the door or window. The difference between face and secret drainage is in where the water is drained outwards.
The drainage path differs in that the excess water drains through the bottom of the outer frame and in to the sub-cill through specifically designed drainage holes. This allows any water to be drained away from the building. See drawing above.
To Summarise
Drainage of water is an important consideration when deciding on the type and aesthetic appeal of your aluminium doors and windows. Choosing wisely requires an understanding of building construction and face and secret drained aluminium doors and windows.
By getting this right at the start you can alleviate any expensive mistakes such as damage caused by water entering the building which ultimately could damage the fabric of the building and its interior décor.
Hopefully this article has helped give you some idea of what you need to consider when it comes to face drained and secret drained aluminium doors and windows. Further information is available from our team of professionals at Reveal Doors and Windows.
If you would like further help and advice on the various drainage options or to book a free consultation why not call us on 0113 386 9207. We are always happy to discuss your requirements in further detail and to offer our professional opinion.