Aluminium blends with uPVC.

Sharper outlines and smooth finish associated with aluminium windows has led to the material being used for casement and awning windows in homes all over New Zealand.

However, aluminium is an effective heat conductor, which means that heat produced by heaters or heat pumps inside your home travels towards a colder environment through aluminium frames. This often leads to condensation building up all over aluminium frames and sometimes even on double glazed glass. While this phenomenon can be improved by using thermal breaks in the aluminium window frames, this can also lead to further issues. For example, if the thermal breaks are not installed properly or are not positioned correctly, the energy rating of the window will still be low. If you are looking for a healthy and dry home this is not a perfect scenario.

Although, uPVC windows and doors are well known from their high insulation attribute, they are not commonly offered by building companies or even considered by home owners. New Zealand’s geographical location isolates it from the rest of the World resulting in supply constrains, which causes that we have limited access to the innovative and technologically advanced products. This is especially noticable in the building sector. The customers often easily accept what’s available on the market or sometimes just go with their builder’s recomendations. Another important restrain may lie behind a difference in surface finish between aluminium and uPVC frames. A very commonly asked question by our customers is how can upvc windows be matched with existing aluminium joinery or cladding. We have listened to our customers and brought the European technologies and materials and have made them available to Kiwis through our company.