The windows in these blocks are mostly original, and a fair number are now genuinely past repair rather than merely worn. So this is one of the few areas where replacement really is the right answer more often than not, and the useful conversation is about what to put in rather than whether to.
Aluminium or uPVC, decided by the opening
Both are good and they suit different situations, and the honest answer depends on the opening rather than on preference.
uPVC seals better and insulates better, and its frames are thicker, which eats into the glass area on a small window.
Aluminium has slimmer sections, so a small opening keeps more light, and it handles a large span better. So on a small window we usually suggest aluminium and on a bedroom window facing noise we usually suggest uPVC. We will say which applies to each opening rather than quoting one material throughout.
What a replacement actually disturbs
Taking an old window out affects the plaster and paint around the opening, and that is the part people are not warned about.
A neat removal limits it to a band a few centimetres wide around the frame, which is easily made good.
We cut the old frame out rather than lever it, precisely to keep that band narrow. It is slower and it is the difference between touching up around a window and replastering a wall. We include making good in the quote rather than leaving it as your problem.
Doing a flat in stages
Replacing every window in a flat at once is a large cost, and it does not have to happen at once.
The windows that matter most are the ones facing weather and noise, and those are usually a minority of the flat.
So we would list them in priority order and let you do two or three a year if that suits. The only thing to fix at the start is the specification, so that the last ones match the first. That costs nothing to decide now and cannot be corrected later.
Score each opening before deciding to replace it
We test closing pressure, corner movement, drainage, locking and visible seal gaps. Each opening gets a short condition note rather than one verdict for the whole flat. A failed handle can be repaired. A sound frame with tired gaskets can be resealed. A distorted or loose frame belongs on the replacement list.
The score prevents age alone from deciding the work. It also exposes the windows that look acceptable but no longer lock or drain. The first phase can then address safety, water and noise in that order. Serviceable openings remain in place until their turn arrives.
Keep the occupied rooms usable during phased work
A replacement sequence should follow how the flat is used. Finish one bedroom completely before opening another. Protect the floor, cut out the old frame and seal the new one on the same day. The opening should not be left unsecured overnight.
We note curtains, furniture, air-conditioner pipes and access before scheduling. Dust stays within the active room, while the rest of the home remains closed. Making good follows the frame instead of waiting until every phase is complete. This approach takes more planning and causes much less disruption for a family living inside.
Maintain a matching schedule for later phases
The first order creates a permanent window schedule. It records profile series, finish, glass, mesh, handle and pane division. Later phases follow the same document, not a photograph or somebody's memory.
If a component stops being available, alternatives can be compared against the recorded specification. The owner approves any visible change before manufacturing. This matters when phases are months apart, because suppliers and small details change. A simple schedule keeps the finished elevation consistent even when the work is spread across several budgets.
How the job works
- Tell us about the jobSend a few photos, rough sizes and what you need. Use WhatsApp or the form. For a repair, a short video of the door moving helps a lot.
- We call you back in about 2 minutesWe confirm what you need and a time to visit. Where we can, we give you a rough price on the call.
- We come and measureWe measure the opening and check the walls, floor and ceiling around it. Anything made to size is made to these measurements, so they must be right.
- You get a written priceIt lists each item, with GST as its own line. If anything about the job changes, we tell you before we go ahead.
- We fit itYou approve the price and pay the advance. Our own team fits the work, checks that every door and window opens and closes properly, and clears up. Most jobs are done in 3 to 4 days.
