Misted Double Glazing Repair in Wellington
Glass and Window Repair Wellington replaces failed double glazed units in homes across the city. If your window has a permanent haze between the panes, white streaking that will not wipe off, or a view that has gone milky, the seal around the edge of that unit has failed. We measure it, order a new unit and fit it into the frame you already have.
- Failed sealed units swapped, frames and sashes stay put
- Most units replaced within about a week of measuring
- Upgrade to Low E or argon at the same time
- About $350 to $800 a unit for standard sizes
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Four quick questions. Most quotes come back the same day.
The mist is not on the glass, which is why cleaning never works. A double glazed unit is two panes bonded to a spacer bar with a desiccant inside to keep the cavity dry. Once the perimeter seal breaks down, damp air gets in, the desiccant saturates and moisture condenses on the inside faces. Wellington's temperature swings and constant wind loading work these seals harder than a sheltered inland climate does, and units installed in the 1990s and early 2000s are now reaching the end of that life.
Why the fog is permanent and cleaning cannot help
Both foggy surfaces are sealed inside the unit. Nothing you can reach with a cloth touches them. Over time the trapped moisture also leaves mineral deposits etched into the glass, which is the white streaking you see running up from the bottom edge.
There are drilling and drying services that vent the cavity. They clear the visible fog for a while, but the unit is no longer sealed and the insulating value does not come back. We do not offer it, because the honest fix is a new unit.
What it costs and how long it takes
A replacement sealed unit generally runs $350 to $800 supplied and fitted for a standard size, and up to about $1,200 for oversized panels. Ranch slider and large picture window units sit at the top of that range because of glass weight and handling.
Units are made to order, so allow around a week from measuring to fitting. The window stays usable in the meantime, since the old unit is only removed when the new one is on the van.
Worth upgrading while the unit is out
You are paying for a new unit either way, so the marginal cost of a better one is small. A Low E coating cuts heat loss substantially. Argon fill improves it again. Laminated glass on the outer pane cuts noise, which is worth it on a main road or under the flight path through Miramar and Strathmore.
If it is a bathroom or a ground floor window in a walk into position, this is also the moment to bring the glass up to NZS 4223 with toughened or laminated safety glass.
Why a unit fails early, and how to make the next one last
Water sitting in the bottom of the rebate is the main killer. The edge seal of an IGU is not designed to be submerged, and blocked drainage slots leave it standing in water every time it rains. Poor packing that loads the glass edge does the rest.
So when we fit the new unit we clear and test the drainage slots, replace the setting blocks, and check the sash sits square. That is the difference between a unit that lasts twenty years and one that fogs again in six.
Misted Double Glazing Repair at a glance
- Typical cost
- About $350 to $800 a unit, up to $1,200 oversized
- Lead time
- About a week from measure to fit
- Cause
- Perimeter edge seal failure, usually accelerated by standing water
- Not offered
- Drilling and venting, which does not restore the seal or the R value
- Upgrades
- Low E, argon fill, laminated acoustic, toughened safety glass
- Included
- Drainage slots cleared, new setting blocks, sash checked square
- Frames
- Existing aluminium or timber frames retained
Misted Double Glazing Repair in Wellington: common questions
Can a fogged double glazed window be cleaned?
No. The moisture is sealed between the two panes where nothing can reach it. The unit has to be replaced.
Do I need a whole new window?
Not usually. The sealed glass unit is replaced and your frame, sash and hardware stay exactly as they are.
How long should a double glazed unit last?
Twenty years or more when it is installed with working drainage and correct setting blocks. Units sitting in water at the bottom of the rebate fail much sooner.
Is it worth upgrading the glass while you are there?
Often yes. You are buying a unit regardless, so Low E, argon or laminated acoustic glass costs only the difference instead of the whole job.
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 misted double glazing repair in Wellington
Free measure, fixed written quote, and a straight answer on whether it needs repairing or replacing.
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Four questions and you are done.