Why a Checklist Before Ordering
Aluminium windows and doors are made to measure. Once profiles are cut and glass is ordered, changes become expensive and slow. Whether you are building a villa in Muscat, Salalah, Dubai or Abu Dhabi, a clear specification protects the budget, the programme and the final quality. Use the sections below in order; each depends on the one before it.
1. Drawings and the Opening Schedule
Start with coordinated architectural drawings: plans, elevations and sections that show every opening. From these, prepare an opening schedule, a single table listing each window and door with:
- A unique reference (for example W-01, D-05) shown on the drawings
- Location, room and elevation
- Structural opening size and the required finished size
- Opening type: fixed, casement, tilt & turn, sliding, lift & slide, folding or pivot
- Opening direction and handing (left or right, inward or outward)
- Sill height and any threshold requirement, such as a flush threshold for terraces
The schedule becomes the reference for quotation, shop drawings and site measurement, so keep it updated with revision numbers.
2. Performance Targets
Define what each opening must achieve rather than only how it looks:
- Thermal: thermal break profiles and double glazing for air-conditioned rooms
- Acoustic: higher sound insulation for rooms facing roads or neighbours
- Air and water tightness: important for exposed elevations and dusty sites
- Wind resistance: confirmed by calculation for large panels and coastal or elevated sites
- Security: multi-point locking and laminated glass for ground-floor openings
Ask suppliers to state catalogue ratings for each system and to confirm suitability for your sizes. For example, Alminyar's S11 window is catalogued at air tightness Level 7 and wind resistance Level 9, with about 35 dB sound insulation.
3. Glass
Specify the full glass make-up, not just "double glazing":
- Outer and inner pane thickness, cavity width and gas fill (for example 5+20A+5 or 5+27A+5)
- Tempered or laminated glass where safety is required: doors, low-level glazing, balustrades and large panes
- Low-E coating and tint, approved on a physical sample under daylight
- Obscured or frosted glass for bathrooms and privacy
4. Hardware
Hardware decides how a window feels every day. Confirm:
- Brand and series (for example MAIBAHO, CMECH, VBH or GU, depending on the system)
- Handle style and finish, matched across windows and doors
- Locking type: single point, multi-point, keyed or child-safe
- Restrictors for upper-floor windows
- Door closers, floor springs or pivot hardware where relevant
5. Finishes
- Profile finish: powder coating, fluorocarbon (PVDF), anodised or wood grain
- Colour, approved on a physical sample rather than a screen image
- Same or different colours inside and outside (dual colour)
- Coating suitability for coastal locations within sight of the sea
6. Samples and Mock-Ups
Request a corner sample of the profile with finish, a glass sample and hardware samples. For larger villas, a full-size sample window installed on site is the best way to confirm appearance and operation before mass production.
7. Shop Drawings
Shop drawings translate the design into fabrication details. Review them for:
- Elevations of each opening matching the schedule references
- Profile sections, glass make-up and hardware positions
- Fixing details, sill details, drainage and the frame-to-wall junction
- Structural calculations where required
Do not release fabrication until shop drawings are approved in writing by the consultant and owner.
8. Site Measurement
Final dimensions should come from site measurement of finished openings, not only from drawings. Openings must be complete, plastered or ready for cladding, with finished floor levels established so thresholds are correct.
9. Installation
Agree the installation method statement in advance: fixing type and spacing, perimeter sealant, protection of finished profiles and glass, and the sequence with other trades such as plastering, painting and flooring.
10. Handover and Snagging
At handover, inspect every opening against the schedule. Check operation, locking, alignment, gaskets, glass for scratches or chips, sealant lines and finish damage. Record snags with photographs and agreed completion dates. Collect operation and maintenance guidance and warranty documents.
Printable Checklist
| # | Item | Responsible | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coordinated drawings issued | Architect / consultant | ☐ |
| 2 | Opening schedule complete with references | Consultant | ☐ |
| 3 | Performance targets defined per room | Consultant | ☐ |
| 4 | Glass make-up and safety glass confirmed | Consultant / supplier | ☐ |
| 5 | Hardware brand, handles and locks approved | Owner / consultant | ☐ |
| 6 | Finish and colour approved on sample | Owner | ☐ |
| 7 | Profile, glass and hardware samples approved | Owner / consultant | ☐ |
| 8 | Shop drawings approved in writing | Consultant | ☐ |
| 9 | Site measurement of finished openings | Supplier | ☐ |
| 10 | Installation method statement agreed | Contractor / supplier | ☐ |
| 11 | Snagging inspection completed | Consultant / owner | ☐ |
| 12 | Warranty and maintenance documents received | Owner | ☐ |
Alminyar Recommendation
Share your drawings and opening schedule with us as early as possible, ideally before finishes and hardware are fixed. Alminyar can review the schedule, suggest suitable systems for each opening, prepare shop drawings and carry out site measurement, so that what is ordered matches what is built.