Window glazing companies/brands for a new build

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EmmaOffshore

22 posts

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#218026 23-Jul-2017 11:56

Hey there

We are in the process of finalising the glazing for a new build home and have two companies we are comparing. One company has quoted for the Nulook All Seasons range and the other for the APL/Altherm Metro series.

The house is fairly exposed and in a very high wind zone and has some large panes in places split between sliders/stackers and bi-folds.

We are wondering if anybody has any comments or experiences of these specific brands and ranges (or anything else) they would recommend?

Thanks
Emma

timmmay

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#1827543 23-Jul-2017 12:44

Have you considered pvc? It comes in white only, price is similar, it's a better insulatior. It lets more noise in than our old wooden frames with retrofit double glazing, but the PVC keeps more heat in.

Jase2985

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#1827572 23-Jul-2017 13:13

timmmay: Have you considered pvc? It comes in white only, price is similar, it's a better insulatior. It lets more noise in than our old wooden frames with retrofit double glazing, but the PVC keeps more heat in.

PVC frames are also thicker/chunkier than aluminium

mattwnz

20164 posts

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#1827581 23-Jul-2017 13:34

EmmaOffshore:
Hey there

We are in the process of finalising the glazing for a new build home and have two companies we are comparing. One company has quoted for the Nulook All Seasons range and the other for the APL/Altherm Metro series.

The house is fairly exposed and in a very high wind zone and has some large panes in places split between sliders/stackers and bi-folds.

We are wondering if anybody has any comments or experiences of these specific brands and ranges (or anything else) they would recommend?

Thanks
Emma

Are you having sliding doors next to opening windows? If so some will not allow you to have an opening window next to a slider, as the slider slides on the outside of the frame and would hit the window. Check out Fairview as they have sliders that go on the inside. . Also I would suggest thermally broken frames, but for some reason they can add on 30% to the price.
I also probably wouldn't get bifold in a high wind area. I also think bifolds are very expensive.

eph

187 posts

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#1827730 23-Jul-2017 17:29

timmmay: Have you considered pvc? It comes in white only, price is similar, it's a better insulatior. It lets more noise in than our old wooden frames with retrofit double glazing, but the PVC keeps more heat in.

Both Rehau and Aluplast come in wide range of colours, can also be foiled (e.g. timber look imitation). But here it seems that most people go for the white anyway.

Ropata

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#1827745 23-Jul-2017 17:45

Eurowindows.co.nz do a product called Acrylcolor. It is Acrylic glass on the outside, no fade and no sag due to galv box section steel skeleton. I installed some a couple of weeks ago and I'm considering some for home.

Ropata

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#1827746 23-Jul-2017 17:46

timmmay: Have you considered pvc? It comes in white only, price is similar, it's a better insulatior. It lets more noise in than our old wooden frames with retrofit double glazing, but the PVC keeps more heat in.

Timber windows have a better R value than any other frame.

eph

187 posts

Master Geek

#1827749 23-Jul-2017 17:59

Ropata:

timmmay: Have you considered pvc? It comes in white only, price is similar, it's a better insulatior. It lets more noise in than our old wooden frames with retrofit double glazing, but the PVC keeps more heat in.

Timber windows have a better R value than any other frame.

They are also the most expensive of the lot :)

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Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Ropata

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#1827750 23-Jul-2017 18:00

eph:

Ropata:

timmmay: Have you considered pvc? It comes in white only, price is similar, it's a better insulatior. It lets more noise in than our old wooden frames with retrofit double glazing, but the PVC keeps more heat in.

Timber windows have a better R value than any other frame.

They are also the most expensive of the lot :)

Yes they are.

mattwnz

20164 posts

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#1827760 23-Jul-2017 18:12

Ropata:

timmmay: Have you considered pvc? It comes in white only, price is similar, it's a better insulatior. It lets more noise in than our old wooden frames with retrofit double glazing, but the PVC keeps more heat in.

Timber windows have a better R value than any other frame.

And they need maintenance. From my experience of anodised aluminium for example, they can last 40 plus years and still look good, with no maintenance. Would be a bit more wary of powder coated, as it can go powdery over time, some colours are worse than others. Apparently you can recoat, but the price isn't much less than replacing the frames, from a quote I got.

Scott3

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#1827793 23-Jul-2017 18:45

If going for Aluminium frames try to get "Thermally broken" ones.

If I was building a new house, I would be looking for the euro style ones. (They generally have a rotating handle on the side with three positions: hinge from bottom inwards, hinge from side inwards & lock solidly closed.) We had a like 6x train tracks just outside our window in Munich, and could barely hear the trains with the window closed. With it open, you couldn't hold a conversation.

Of course you need a balanced pressure forced ventilation system if you are going to have windows like that. Not possible to leave the windows open an inch for fresh air.

eph

187 posts

Master Geek

#1827892 23-Jul-2017 20:07

Scott3:

If going for Aluminium frames try to get "Thermally broken" ones.

If I was building a new house, I would be looking for the euro style ones. (They generally have a rotating handle on the side with three positions: hinge from bottom inwards, hinge from side inwards & lock solidly closed.) We had a like 6x train tracks just outside our window in Munich, and could barely hear the trains with the window closed. With it open, you couldn't hold a conversation.

Of course you need a balanced pressure forced ventilation system if you are going to have windows like that. Not possible to leave the windows open an inch for fresh air.

These are called Tilt & Turn here.

Aredwood

3885 posts

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#1828070 24-Jul-2017 02:37

I would regard thermally broken frames to be an essential feature if you are getting new Ali windows. I have recently replaced the corrugated plastic roof panels in my conservatory (those ones that are similar to plastic real estate signs in how they look end on). With double glazed glass. Often there won't be any condensation on the glass itself. But heaps on the Aluminium extrusions. It was a good upgrade for the crappy 80s conservatory, especially as I got the double glazing units for free (estimate 10 years old, but never previously installed). So was well worth my time to change the spacings between the roof support rails a little bit, to be able to get those panels to fit. + lots of silicone as there was no point in trying to track down new profile strips to suit the thickness of the double glazing. I have also sealed up alot of the air leaks on that conservatory. So I ironicly now have condensation problems that I didn't have previously. But the house definitely holds the heat better than before now. Due to less uncontrolled ventilation.

Also alot of the common Aluminium window types have very poor security. As the glass is held in by rubber strips and angled profile strips that just clip in to the main profile. Meaning they are easy to lever out, and remove the complete piece of glass without breaking it. And from what I have seen, PVC windows have far better locks, and profile designs where to remove the glass, you have to do so from the inside. So much more secure.

Aluminium is also an excellent conductor of heat. So supposedly even the thermally broken designs are still not that great.