Retrofit Double Glazing

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cshwone

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Topic # 220202 31-Jul-2017 10:55

Hi All.

My second winter in the Wairarapa and it is convincing me that I need to change out the windows for double glazing.

So I am requesting GZ recommendations (or the ones to avoid) for a company, ideally local but obviously including Wellington who can retrofit DG to existing wooden frames which are sound and attractive.

Thanks,

timmmay

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Reply # 1834195 31-Jul-2017 11:44

I used ThermalFrame, based in Lower Hutt. Great product, good people, good installation, but for everyone I know who used them they tend to run really late - like 3 months.

I have Advanced UPVC doors. Good product, good service and support. The company I used to install them was only ok, and they've gone out of business, but the manufacturer backs their products.

There's also Homerit in Auckland. They build, your builders install.

Prices seem to be similar. Doors and double doors are $325000 to $4000, from memory. Windows from memory were around $1200 each for around 3m wide and 2m high.

We had the uPVC windows installed before winter. My wife is home with our son, the heat pumps are on all the time (which is different) but the house feels a lot warmer. Another friend just replaced old leaky doors and windows with uPVC windows and doors, they say before the heat pump never shut off, now it does.

You should have really good ceiling insulation in first, above what the building code says, that makes a huge difference. You may also want some kind of ventilation system, or leave the windows on lock sometimes. We have a cheap ventilation system that we only run part of the time because they just pump cold air in.

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cshwone

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Reply # 1834212 31-Jul-2017 11:53

Thanks for that. What I am trying to do is to just get the sealed units installed into the existing frames rather than going down a UPVC or new frame route.

jonathan18

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Reply # 1834221 31-Jul-2017 12:08

Sash or casement?

My brother had this done to some of his sash windows in his home in Wgtn. I think he just had his bedroom done in the end, as the cost was pretty damn high - they live on a busy street so it was more about noise reduction than heat insulation.

If you want I could ask him who he used and what he thought of them. (I'm pretty sure it was a mixed job, as the rebate wasn't stunningly done; their finishing wasn't great.)

cshwone

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Reply # 1834223 31-Jul-2017 12:14

Casement windows.

And yes, from the sound of it he wasn't too impressed but from my perspective it's good to know who to avoid.

premiumtouring

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Reply # 1834225 31-Jul-2017 12:15

We have a 1920's home in Auckland CBD. It has those old two-piece windows that have counterweights in the frames. Terrible at everything, from sound through to airflow. They basically let all the cold air in (along with emissions) and all the hot hair out. They do nothing to dampen noise.

I shopped around, contacted Magnetite, got a quote for $7k, then hit up HRV got a quote for $2500 which was much more reasonable. We needed four big windows done. So it worked out to be about $625 per window.

HRV had it turned around (quoted, measured, installed) in 2.5 weeks. Huge difference. Installed into the frames as one giant removable panel (instead of two parts). It has kept the heat in and more importantly muffled the external sound dramatically. Apparently we could have gone a few steps thicker for more $$ but I'm happy with the level we got.

I'll be fitting some switches to the frame to stop it from blowing out in a strong gust of wind.. That's the only disadvantage of these old style windows is they let way too much air through so it can cause the panels to pop out if the gust is strong enough.

Anyway, can safely attest to the quality of these panels, they work and they're relatively affordable.

rp1790

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Reply # 1834227 31-Jul-2017 12:17

A guy who sits beside me at work highly recommends http://doubleglaze.co.nz/. I have asked them for a quote but thats a few weeks away yet.

They put double glazed windows into your existing frames.

mdf

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Reply # 1834268 31-Jul-2017 12:46

Pete at Window Revival s a good guy. His base is in Wellington but he lives in the Wairarapa (as I found out. He does have the gift of the gab).

www.windowrevival.co.nz

On the downside, even though his name *is* Peter Parker, I couldn't see any sign of him being Spiderman! 😔

I don't think it will be cheap though. From what I gather, each frame had to be disassembled and new rebates routed out. They double glazed units are much heavier too and so you might need to upgrade your hardware and hinges.

The DIY plastic add on double glazing could be another option?

timmmay

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Reply # 1834278 31-Jul-2017 13:02

I had old wooden frames in my very old house. I couldn't replace just the glass, they have to go into properly designed frames, uPVC. You probably need to get one of the vendors in to give you advice and estimates.

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FineWine

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Reply # 1834406 31-Jul-2017 16:11

I have a 1999/2000 build in Tauranga that used the now defunct window company LYTE Aluminium Windows, anyone know of a company in Tauranga that could retrofit. I have a mix of 1 x double sliding door and awning & sliding style windows.

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