Frosted and Obscure Glass Replacement in Wellington
Glass and Window Repair Wellington replaces frosted, patterned and obscure glass across the city. Bathrooms, ensuites, toilets, entry sidelights and internal doors. We carry the common current patterns and can match or closely match most older ones.
- Common patterns stocked, older ones matched where possible
- Bathroom glazing goes back as safety glass
- Applied film as a fast, lower cost alternative
Get your free quote
Four quick questions. Most quotes come back the same day.
There is a catch that catches people out. Bathrooms and wet areas are safety glazing positions under NZS 4223, so obscure glass in those rooms has to be toughened or laminated. Plenty of Wellington homes still have plain patterned annealed glass in the bathroom because it was fitted before the rules tightened. When that pane breaks, it does not go back the same way.
Matching old patterns
Obscure glass patterns come and go. Satinlite, Spotswood, Cotswold and the current textured range are all readily available. Some 1960s and 70s patterns are long discontinued and no supplier in the country holds them.
Where an exact match is gone we show you the nearest option and, if the window is part of a matched pair or a run, discuss whether replacing more than one pane gives a better result than an obvious mismatch in the middle.
Obscure glass and privacy levels
Patterns are rated for obscurity. A level 5 pattern gives near total privacy, which is what you want at eye level in a shower. A level 2 pattern diffuses light but you can still make out shapes, which suits a hallway or a front door sidelight where light matters more than privacy.
Getting that wrong is the most common complaint about a bathroom reglaze, so we ask before we order.
Applied film as an alternative
If the existing glass is sound and you simply want privacy, frosted film applied to the inside face is cheaper and quicker than replacing the pane. It looks good when it is applied properly and it can be removed later.
It is not a substitute for safety glass. If the pane is in a wet area and it is annealed, film does not fix that, and we will say so.
Choosing the right level of privacy
Obscurity is rated, so ask for a number
Patterns are rated for how much they obscure, from a light diffusion that still shows shapes through to near total privacy. A level that works in a hallway will not do at eye level in a shower.
Getting that wrong is the most common complaint about a bathroom reglaze, so we ask what the window looks onto and how close the neighbour is before ordering.
Film as an alternative, and its limits
Where the existing glass is sound and safe, applied frosted film gives you privacy for a fraction of the cost and can be removed later. Applied well it looks like patterned glass.
What it does not do is turn annealed glass into safety glass, so in a wet area with an unstamped pane it is not a substitute.
Frosted and Obscure Glass at a glance
- Stocked patterns
- Common current obscure and textured patterns
- Obscurity levels
- Level 1 through 5, chosen for the room and the sight lines
- Wet areas
- Toughened or laminated required under NZS 4223
- Older patterns
- Matched where a supplier still produces it, nearest match otherwise
- Alternative
- Applied frosted film where the glass is sound and safe
Frosted and Obscure Glass in Wellington: common questions
Can you match my old bathroom glass?
Often. Common patterns are still made. Some 1960s and 70s patterns are discontinued, and we show you the nearest match before ordering.
Does bathroom glass have to be safety glass?
Yes. Wet areas are a safety glazing position under NZS 4223, so replacement obscure glass there is toughened or laminated.
Is frosted film as good as obscure glass?
For privacy on sound glass, it is a good and cheaper option. It does not turn annealed glass into safety glass.
Recent Wellington jobs
Got three quotes for retrofitting the front of the house. Only ones who measured every opening and explained why the north facing rooms needed different glass. Eleven windows over two days, and the road noise dropped more than I expected.
Landlord here. Had four properties assessed for the Healthy Homes ventilation rule and two needed openable sashes freed up rather than new joinery, which saved me a fortune. Straight answers, written report, no upselling.
Ranch slider had been jamming for years and we assumed it needed replacing. Turned out to be rollers and a bent track. Two hours, a fraction of the price we were braced for.
Fogged unit in the lounge, measured on the Tuesday and in by the following Monday. Fair price and they cleaned up after themselves.
Get a price for frosted and obscure glass in Wellington
Free measure, fixed written quote, and a straight answer on whether it needs repairing or replacing.
Start your quote
Four questions and you are done.