Is it time to replace these windows?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Is it time to replace these windows?

1 | 2

mattwnz

20157 posts

Uber Geek

#3228824 10-May-2024 17:51

neb:

Another thing with alu windows is that once they start failing you can end up throwing a neverending stream of money at them to try and fix things without permanently fixing them. We had one window in particular where over a period of a couple of years we probably spent the cost of a uPVC window replacement trying to patch it up. In the end we got it replaced with uPVC, as well as several others that we knew were problematic but had no idea how bad they really were until we used the moisture meter on the walls below them.

How old are the windows? These days I think they are installed with a concealed corner joiner at the corners. Also if they do leak, they have an internal drainage system. Thermally broken can also help with condensation. The benefit of aluminum is that it is very durable, especially the old anodised ones. The OPs ones are probably a good 40 years old and a building is only designed to last 50 years.

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3228888 10-May-2024 22:47

mattwnz: The OPs ones are probably a good 40 years old and a building is only designed to last 50 years.

A building in NZ is only designed to last 50 years. There are also people from Europe on this site.

sidefx

3712 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3228931 11-May-2024 08:37

We have pretty much identical windows to the OP and moisture issues around some of the windows. Not major but still noticeable when repainting. Had a builder in to look at them who recommended just replacing them with new similar aluminium ones, which apparently have better designed drainage, etc. uPVC looks interesting though - can anyone recommend a good place north of Auckland for them?

/subscribe

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

tweake

2391 posts

Uber Geek

#3228950 11-May-2024 10:37

sidefx:

We have pretty much identical windows to the OP and moisture issues around some of the windows. Not major but still noticeable when repainting. Had a builder in to look at them who recommended just replacing them with new similar aluminium ones, which apparently have better designed drainage, etc. uPVC looks interesting though - can anyone recommend a good place north of Auckland for them?

/subscribe

the builder is not telling you the whole story.

windows always leak, even new ones. the problem is old houses never had sill protection and drainage. so water leaks from the window and sits on the wood, which soaks into it and rots etc. when you replace the windows you will need to repair any damage and protect the sill and add drainage (slope). its not the new window thats solving the problem, its fixing the poorly built wall under it that fixes it. btw if its bad you may have to repair the studs and even the bottom plate.

one of the major factors in leaky home syndrome is thinking you can keep all of the water out. you can't, you must let it drain and dry.

sidefx

3712 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3229183 12-May-2024 09:09

tweake:

the builder is not telling you the whole story.

windows always leak, even new ones. the problem is old houses never had sill protection and drainage. so water leaks from the window and sits on the wood, which soaks into it and rots etc. when you replace the windows you will need to repair any damage and protect the sill and add drainage (slope). its not the new window thats solving the problem, its fixing the poorly built wall under it that fixes it. btw if its bad you may have to repair the studs and even the bottom plate.

one of the major factors in leaky home syndrome is thinking you can keep all of the water out. you can't, you must let it drain and dry.

Sorry he did also mention some of that, but also recommended replacing the old windows with new at the same time. Do you disagree with that recommendation?

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
8859 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#3229189 12-May-2024 09:37

MoseTheBushpig:

We've just moved into this house and the noise that leaks through these windows is too much.

Every window is the same deteriorating alu joinery with the same issues. Is it worth fixing all of these small issues or better to invest in double-glazing?

We moved into a brand new house some years ago which has has good-quality double glazing. We had previously lived in villas and bungalows with wooden joinery.

The best single thing we like about this place is the double-glazing. Not just for thermal insulation - it's also quiet and being well-sealed, it keeps dust and crap out of the house. I don't think I could live in a place without it now.

TBH your existing joinery looks pretty stuffed and even if it's fixed up, it's unlikely to ever be right. Depending on your circs - budget, how long you intend to stay in your house etc - I would seriously consider investing in double-glazing. You will probably never regret it - it will transform the house.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

tweake

2391 posts

Uber Geek

#3229191 12-May-2024 09:47

sidefx:

tweake:

the builder is not telling you the whole story.

windows always leak, even new ones. the problem is old houses never had sill protection and drainage. so water leaks from the window and sits on the wood, which soaks into it and rots etc. when you replace the windows you will need to repair any damage and protect the sill and add drainage (slope). its not the new window thats solving the problem, its fixing the poorly built wall under it that fixes it. btw if its bad you may have to repair the studs and even the bottom plate.

one of the major factors in leaky home syndrome is thinking you can keep all of the water out. you can't, you must let it drain and dry.

Sorry he did also mention some of that, but also recommended replacing the old windows with new at the same time. Do you disagree with that recommendation?

if your fixing all that then certainly replace the windows. there is some good upvc windows from a crowd down south thats massively cheaper than aluminum.

however be aware that if there is major repairs required it may mean cladding or gib removal to fix the timber. need to allow for that cost. also look at the size of the windows. depending on how hard it is to match the cladding, fitting smaller windows is not a bad idea. a lot of kiwi homes have ridiculously oversized windows and you get a decent increase in insulation level by fitting smaller windows. also keep away from sliding doors and windows.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3229403 12-May-2024 20:28

tweake: depending on how hard it is to match the cladding, fitting smaller windows is not a bad idea. a lot of kiwi homes have ridiculously oversized windows and you get a decent increase in insulation level by fitting smaller windows. also keep away from sliding doors and windows.

We had a case of that, the living room had a 2m x 2m starts-at-the-floor single-glazed window with alu frame, facing south, in permanent shade and looking out onto the neighbour's basement. It's now been replaced with a well-insulated wall and a small head-height uPVC double-glazed frosted-glass window that lets enough light in and very little heat out. I can't imagine what the builders were thinking when they put the original in.

If anyone wants a large window of the type described above, I can point you to the Trademe listing.

tweake

2391 posts

Uber Geek

#3229406 12-May-2024 20:36

neb:

We had a case of that, the living room had a 2m x 2m starts-at-the-floor single-glazed window with alu frame, facing south, in permanent shade and looking out onto the neighbour's basement. It's now been replaced with a well-insulated wall and a small head-height uPVC double-glazed frosted-glass window that lets enough light in and very little heat out. I can't imagine what the builders were thinking when they put the original in.

If anyone wants a large window of the type described above, I can point you to the Trademe listing.

i have the same here. if i get the funds, a whole lot of windows are going to get replaced and downsized.

the stupid thing is a lot of new homes are still built like this. you can save a lot of cost and increase insulation level, by having smaller windows. the trick is having the right ones the right size to give you good views and light.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79285 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#3242361 29-May-2024 17:10

neb:

mattwnz: The OPs ones are probably a good 40 years old and a building is only designed to last 50 years.

A building in NZ is only designed to last 50 years. There are also people from Europe on this site.

I'm unsure if this is only premises built in the last 50 years.

As part of the exterior painting, we had our house stripped to the wood, removing old lead-based paint. Also, due to the new roof, we had a good look at the ceiling cavity. The house was built in 1950, and the whole structure is rimu. This house will last for a few more years.

MikeB4:

There is a company called Exceed. The do excellent work with windows and doors. We have used them three times and their workmanship is very high and prices are reasonable. Maybe before making a decision get them to have a look and quote for repair.

https://www.exceed.co.nz/

During the painting work, we found some of our windows were not closing properly, probably due to earthquakes over the years but mostly because of old hinges.

As suggested above, I contacted Exceed and we had a guy from this company here yesterday. We counted twelve windows needing hinges replaced and a couple needing new stays. Other than this, the wood is pretty solid.

Quote a quote today, and the price is reasonable.

tweake

2391 posts

Uber Geek

#3242367 29-May-2024 17:28

freitasm:

The house was built in 1950, and the whole structure is rimu. This house will last for a few more years.

thats why they tend to last quite well despite some poor designs. native timber that doesn't rot fast. no insulation, so lots of heat bleed which aids drying. wooden windows are reasonable good at insulation, better than many aluminum windows, as long as they shut and seal well.

MadEngineer

4281 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3242457 29-May-2024 23:01

It may not rot, but it gets very hard at that age. It'll catch out unsuspecting tradies when they ram a square drive screw into the wood only to find it destroys the screw or splits the wood.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

1 | 2