Thermally Broken Window Installation in Wellington

This is the upgrade that matters most in a Wellington bedroom. Plenty of homeowners retrofit double glazing, solve the water on the glass, and then find the aluminium frame is still running wet on a June morning. Glass and frame are two separate problems. Double glazing fixes the first one. Only a thermally broken frame fixes the second.

What the thermal break changes

Plain aluminium conducts heat extremely well, which is exactly what you do not want in a window frame. The frame sits close to outdoor temperature, and room air touching it drops below its dew point, so water forms on the metal.

The polyamide strip splits the frame into an inside half and an outside half that are no longer metallically connected. The inside half stays warm. The condensation stops and the whole window performs better thermally.

Where it is worth the money

South and west facing rooms, bedrooms with an existing condensation problem, and any home being renovated for warmth instead of just repaired. It costs more per opening than standard double glazed aluminium.

On a sunny north facing lounge that already runs warm, standard double glazing usually gives you most of the benefit for less. We will say so instead of quoting the dearest option everywhere.

Wind zone still comes first

Thermal performance does not override structural performance. The joinery still has to be rated to NZS 4211 for your site wind zone, and on the Wellington hills that regularly means an Extra High rating with thicker glass and closer fixing centres.

We check the council wind zone for your address before ordering, because a beautiful warm window that leaks air at 55 metres per second has solved the wrong problem.

Where the thermal break earns its money

Rooms where it matters most

South and west facing rooms, bedrooms that already run with water on the frames, and any room that is heated in the evening and closed overnight. Those are where the temperature difference across the frame is largest for the longest.

On a sunny north facing living room that gains heat all day, standard double glazed aluminium usually gives you most of the benefit for less, and we will say so rather than quoting the dearest option everywhere.

What it does not change

A thermal break in the frame does nothing about moisture load, ventilation or an uninsulated ceiling. It stops the frame being the coldest surface in the room, which is a specific problem with a specific fix.

If every surface in the house is wet, the frame was never the limiting factor.

Thermally Broken Windows at a glance

How it works

Polyamide strip separates the inner and outer halves of the frame

Fixes

Condensation forming on the aluminium frame itself

Best for

South and west elevations, bedrooms, warmth focused renovations

Cost

Higher per opening than standard double glazed aluminium

Wind rating

Still specified to NZS 4211 for the site wind zone

Glass

Double glazed as standard, Low E and argon available