Today’s windows offer a wide range of functional and design possibilities. Energy efficiency, smart home integration, and aesthetic appeal now play key roles in choosing the perfect solution.

The search for the right window can raise many questions: What makes a window energy-efficient? What properties and features should the new window have? And where can you find the right window?

Start with the Basics

If you have decided to get new windows, there are a few factors to pay special attention to. But before thinking about apparent aspects such as the suitable material and visual appearance, you first must determine the fundamental requirements:

How many windows do you need?
What should their function be? (Light, ventilation, view)
Should they open or remain fixed?
What are your goals for indoor-outdoor flow?

It is also beneficial to have some measurements available. Even if they are only rough to begin with, they will allow us as a supplier to provide you with a quick estimation and give you a first idea of the expected costs for your building project.

Choosing the Right Material

The next step is to determine and select the suitable material for your windows.

But which one is the right choice for your house? There is not an easy answer to that question. The decision depends primarily on the location of your house, environmental constraints, the budget, and of course your personal taste.

However, it is certain that the frame material must be:

Weather-resistant
Structurally stable
Lightweight and easy to operate
Easy to install
Compliant with modern energy-efficiency standards.

Here is a breakdown of the most popular frame materials. As you will see, each of them has its specific strengths and benefits.

Wood

Wood is the classic window material, and it has been rightfully used as such for centuries.

Wood is easy to process, offers high stability and has good natural insulation. It also has a comparatively low weight and convinces with a beautiful, warm, and natural look.

Timber windows made of pristine and robust spruce, larch, and oak timbers with multilayer laminated profiles, are providing the best quality and outstanding durability for your home.

However, to ensure a long-lasting perfect fit, it is important to maintain your timber windows by thoroughly cleaning and repainting them on a regular basis.

Wood-Aluminium

This window frame is enjoying increasing popularity in New Zealand, a hybrid solution combining beauty and performance.

Exterior: An aluminium shell on the outside enables excellent resistance to the elements and effects of the weather. Aluminium is stable, light, and requires low maintenance.

Interior: The wooden frame windows on the inside are robust, have excellent thermal insulation properties and create a warm, cosy, and homely atmosphere.

PVC

The reason for the continued popularity of PVC windows is their outstanding energy efficiency, affordability, and durability. PVC windows offer exceptional thermal insulation and a long lifespan, paired with low maintenance requirements. Up until today, PVC windows are the most common window types used in Germany, where very stringent regulations for housing and construction apply.

These window frames demonstrate excellent weather resistance and durability, making them a perfect choice for the rough and varying climate here in New Zealand.

Modern PVC windows are treated with an advanced composite material, which protects the frame from the sun’s high radiation levels and prevents unwanted discolouration and degrading. ECOWINDOWS arcylcolor frames from GEALAN offer semi-matt coloured outer profile surfaces that withstand the effects of the weather with ease. Acrylcolor is a surface of acrylic glass that is inseparable from the basic body, giving PVC windows a long-lasting finish and extra protection.

ECOWINDOWS PVC windows are manufactured with a high proportion of recycled material and are also fully recyclable at the end of their life span. Old PVC is processed and converted to pellets, which allow it to be reused without loss of quality or material structure.

Aluminium

Aluminium windows offer high functionality at an affordable price.

One unbeatable advantage of aluminium is that the material is the third most abundant element found on earth and the most abundant metal worldwide. However, the complex production process of these window frames involves a reasonable amount of energy and recourses. Despite this, the installation of aluminium windows is accompanied by many long-term benefits. In the long run, the carbon footprint of an aluminium window is balanced by its extraordinary performance and energy efficiency.

Aluminium is very stable while having a low weight. It is also extremely weatherproof and resistant to rust. The material is excellent for recycling and can be designed in almost any colour with various paint finishes.

Design Considerations

Now it is time to think about the visual aspects of your new windows and decide if they should reflect any specific aesthetic features.

Today’s windows are both functional and architectural features. Think about:

Shapes: Round, square, oval, or custom
Styles: Contemporary, traditional, Passive House-ready
Handles: Subtle, sleek, or bold statement pieces

Whether you are building a designer house, a future-oriented Passive House, or a modern residential building – we offer suitable windows for every architectural style. Round, square, oval, contemporary, or historic with glazing bars – you can choose from a myriad of options.

Energy Efficiency

With energy prices continuously rising, energy-efficient windows are also becoming an increasingly important element in the house. Typically, windows are the weakest part of a house because they can generate high heat loss rates. Therefore, it is crucial for a well-functioning, energy-efficient building that the windows are equipped with high insulation features.

Key Metric: U-value

The most crucial criterion to measure the energy efficiency of windows is the heat transfer coefficient, the U-value. The U-value measures the heat permeability of building elements and indicates the heat flow through the window.

Even though internationally the U-value is used as the standard unit, in New Zealand, the R-value is still widely used because it is the reference measure used in the building code and all related standards. In contrast to the desired high R-value, a lower U-value indicates better performance and insulation. The R-value is the reciprocal of the U value and vice versa (R = 1/U and U = 1/R).

High-performance double- or triple-glazed windows are standardly equipped with Low-E-Glass to minimise energy losses through windows and facades. Low-Emissivity-Glass is an insulating glass that has a thin metal layer applied as a thermal coating. This procedure reduces the emissivity of the glazing, improves its insulating power, and contributes positively to the overall thermal resistance of the window.

Smart Home Features

Smart home features can make your home more comfortable, safer and enhance your house’s overall efficiency.

Especially in sun shading systems, the demand for intelligent and automated smart home solutions are steadily increasing. Roller shutters, awnings, or external venetian blinds can be integrated into secure, high-performance systems. These systems are easily installed and enable convenient and effortless operation via transmitters, smartphones, or voice control. Automatic functions, such as raising shutters at sunrise, or retracting the awning at high winds, are also available.

Smart home features for entry doors, such as fingerprint scanners, keyless automation, and many other applications make your home more comfortable, safer and enhance the overall efficiency of your house. ECOWINDOWS product range offers a full range of these features.

Additional Features

When you have made up your mind about all the basics listed above, there are some additional features to consider:

External Shading: Plan for shading solutions early on and include them in the design process. A reliable shading system made of blinds or other fixed shading structures, such as roof overhangs, will protect your home against overheating on hot summer days.

Noise Protection: When it comes to sound insulation, the better and higher the glazing, the quieter it is inside the house. Soundproof windows can reduce the volume more than twice as much as conventional windows.

Security: Finally, you can think about burglary security and other features such as security protection glass for your new windows. A security upgrade of your hardware system will provide maximum protection for your home. Amongst others, we are offering systems from renowned and market-leading German brands such as SIEGENIA or MACO.

Get a First-Hand Experience

While online resources are helpful, nothing beats the in-person experience.

You are welcome to visit our Hamilton showroom to see and test a wide range of windows, doors, shading systems, and ventilation solutions. Our expert team will guide you through every step of your project.

Get in touch today – we’d love to help you bring your vision to life.

Resources

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