Double Glazing Recommendation

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samgdan

160 posts

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#272397 23-Jun-2020 13:37

Hi All,

I planning to do some double glazing around the house.

Base on experience, can someone please suggest some companies in Christchurch that will do a good job at a fair price?

thanks 😇

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#2510554 23-Jun-2020 14:42

Use the GZ Search function and search for

homerit

You'll see my enthusiastic posts about their product and my installation experience. I'm sure they will have Chch installers. Note they do window replacement, not just glass.

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timmmay

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#2510569 23-Jun-2020 14:56

I've used ThermalFrame. Product is pretty good, service is ok, installation is ok.

Also used Advanced UPVC for a couple of doors, with a third party installer who went bust. One door was never quite right, the handle broke off, it gets difficult to open sometimes. Their service has been fantastic - they've replaced the locking mechanism twice, they've just been back to fit something over top of the door to prevent water getting in, so despite the door having a problem I still recommend them.

TeaLeaf

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#2510574 23-Jun-2020 15:03

Just make sure you get the window wedges and window rubber making a solid seal when shut and noise control is quite good.

But after living in triple glazing, I can say it was dead quiet.

My ppor is only double glazed too, but if I had the chance to build it I would have gone triple (depending on budget of course).

Im presuming temp control down there is one of your main concerns over noise? Are you going with ducted air con or an HRV? If you are going HRV, panasonic now do a system that uses the existing HRV ducts, so no ugly doubling up. Thats our next purchase. Comes with smart features which is good too.

Although nothing beats the blast of the Rennai fire place, really powerful fans to get half our house heated. So Im not sure how much I will use the central air con/heating. Have a heat pump But is in a room the fire place heat spreads too and is 7kw so a total waste and not able to be converted to ducted. Mistubishi into the skip, well recycling likely.

samgdan

160 posts

Master Geek

#2510576 23-Jun-2020 15:04

timmmay:

I've used ThermalFrame. Product is pretty good, service is ok, installation is ok.

Also used Advanced UPVC for a couple of doors, with a third party installer who went bust. One door was never quite right, the handle broke off, it gets difficult to open sometimes. Their service has been fantastic - they've replaced the locking mechanism twice, they've just been back to fit something over top of the door to prevent water getting in, so despite the door having a problem I still recommend them.

looks like they are based at the north island and not in christchurch.

thanks for the suggestion anyway :-)

TeaLeaf

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#2510589 23-Jun-2020 15:18

Im in the North but I will check for you if they are in the south too. Im happy with the glazing aside from some latch wedges falling off, but to be expected over 12 years. I recommend you get extra ones if the stick on type with the little flimsy clips, as colour coding later is a pain Ive found, had to go to Exceed to help out.

TeaLeaf

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#2510591 23-Jun-2020 15:22

First windows, go to their site for their tech stuff. But they recommended a guy in Timaru strangely for Canterbury

https://www.firstwindows.co.nz/find-an-expert#canterbury

timmmay

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#2510598 23-Jun-2020 15:32

samgdan:

timmmay:

I've used ThermalFrame. Product is pretty good, service is ok, installation is ok.

Also used Advanced UPVC for a couple of doors, with a third party installer who went bust. One door was never quite right, the handle broke off, it gets difficult to open sometimes. Their service has been fantastic - they've replaced the locking mechanism twice, they've just been back to fit something over top of the door to prevent water getting in, so despite the door having a problem I still recommend them.

looks like they are based at the north island and not in christchurch.

thanks for the suggestion anyway :-)

They probably have installers around the country. They mentioned yesterday they have customers in Timaru. Alternately they supply, your builder fits.

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rscole86

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#2510681 23-Jun-2020 17:35

Hopefully Homerit have finished our install today.
We tried getting quotes for several companies, most never replied and Thermal frame took so long to get back to us we had already signed up with Homerit.
Very happy with the process, a few unnecessary delays IMO, but that's just part dealing with builders etc. Even with lockdown things went smoothly.
If you were going to use your own builder to install make sure they have previous experience on installing uPVC double glazing.

I never bothered with getting aluminium quotes, so no feedback on that product sorry.

timmmay

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#2510873 23-Jun-2020 20:04

rscole86: Hopefully Homerit have finished our install today.
We tried getting quotes for several companies, most never replied and Thermal frame took so long to get back to us we had already signed up with Homerit.
Very happy with the process, a few unnecessary delays IMO, but that's just part dealing with builders etc. Even with lockdown things went smoothly.
If you were going to use your own builder to install make sure they have previous experience on installing uPVC double glazing.

I never bothered with getting aluminium quotes, so no feedback on that product sorry.

I think the industry is so busy the service they give is generally poor. It seems to take Thermalframe 3 months between when you call and when they come out to do a measure, then another 3-6 months to get the windows built and installed. Many in the industry, as you say, don't even reply to requests for a quote. I had three aluminium companies I asked for a quote - only one came around, and they didn't even bother to send the quote.

Installation seemed fairly straightforward. Rip the old frames out, screw the new ones in, put in some round stuff (not sure what it was, insulation or weather proofing?), silicone it up, spacers at the bottom, install the glass. Took them about 10 hours to do a whole standard residential house for us, with two guys doing it.

samgdan

160 posts

Master Geek

#2510924 23-Jun-2020 20:30

rscole86: Hopefully Homerit have finished our install today.
We tried getting quotes for several companies, most never replied and Thermal frame took so long to get back to us we had already signed up with Homerit.
Very happy with the process, a few unnecessary delays IMO, but that's just part dealing with builders etc. Even with lockdown things went smoothly.
If you were going to use your own builder to install make sure they have previous experience on installing uPVC double glazing.

I never bothered with getting aluminium quotes, so no feedback on that product sorry.

are you based in christchurch? from your experience from the date you accepted a quote, how long it took for all the job to be completed?

samgdan

160 posts

Master Geek

#2510964 23-Jun-2020 20:33

timmmay:

rscole86: Hopefully Homerit have finished our install today.
We tried getting quotes for several companies, most never replied and Thermal frame took so long to get back to us we had already signed up with Homerit.
Very happy with the process, a few unnecessary delays IMO, but that's just part dealing with builders etc. Even with lockdown things went smoothly.
If you were going to use your own builder to install make sure they have previous experience on installing uPVC double glazing.

I never bothered with getting aluminium quotes, so no feedback on that product sorry.

I think the industry is so busy the service they give is generally poor. It seems to take Thermalframe 3 months between when you call and when they come out to do a measure, then another 3-6 months to get the windows built and installed. Many in the industry, as you say, don't even reply to requests for a quote. I had three aluminium companies I asked for a quote - only one came around, and they didn't even bother to send the quote.

Installation seemed fairly straightforward. Rip the old frames out, screw the new ones in, put in some round stuff (not sure what it was, insulation or weather proofing?), silicone it up, spacers at the bottom, install the glass. Took them about 10 hours to do a whole standard residential house for us, with two guys doing it.

if you are in Christchurch what companies do you recommend to use? I know I can google it but i looking for people who has done this before and hopefully they can point me to the right direction.

rscole86

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#2510968 23-Jun-2020 20:38

No sorry, I'm based in Wellington.

They have finished today, so it's near enough exactly 7 months including the covid lock down period. So 4 months all up. Our install did take a little longer due to rain, shorter winter days and they were all 2nd story windows. Add to that the existing aluminium had a unique fitting into our brickwork, a standard install would be quicker still.

samgdan

160 posts

Master Geek

#2510988 23-Jun-2020 20:47

rscole86: No sorry, I'm based in Wellington.

They have finished today, so it's near enough exactly 7 months including the covid lock down period. So 4 months all up. Our install did take a little longer due to rain, shorter winter days and they were all 2nd story windows. Add to that the existing aluminium had a unique fitting into our brickwork, a standard install would be quicker still.

4 months! better keep looking for recommendation of someone local. I think 4 months is not acceptable in my view.

I was expecting 2 months at the very most.

rscole86

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#2510991 23-Jun-2020 20:54

Unfortunately I don't think you'll find anyone who can quote, manufacture, deliver and install within 2 months.

My uPVC frames and hardware all came from overseas, there was an extra delay due to their supplier not having double locking plates. Glass is from a 3rd party so you wait on them to supply too. Add to that the installer won't start work until everything is on site.

Wheelbarrow01

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Chorus

#2511108 24-Jun-2020 00:17

I'm in Christchurch and have used both Fisher Aluminium and Hagley Aluminium on various renovations. I found the service from both companies to be excellent and both very price competitive.

I agree with previous post - you won't get windows quoted, manufactured and installed within 2 months. 3 to 4 is probably a more realistic estimate.

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