NCC 2022 brought a big change to the minimum energy performance standards for new homes in Queensland and the impact on glazing was immediate. Single clear float glass used to be the standard go-to for new windows in Brisbane, but now it just doesn’t cut it it’s not good enough to get the 7-star NatHERS rating that’s required for new builds in Climate Zone 2. For anyone building or renovating a house in Brisbane today, that’s a pretty big deal it means the difference between a project that passes energy modelling and one that doesn’t.
Double glazing Brisbane is right at the heart of this conversation and not because it’s some fancy upgrade, but because it’s the absolute bare minimum you’re going to need if you want to get your new build or renovation past planning. Anyone who’s building a house in Brisbane right now needs to be thinking about double glazing as a compliance requirement, not a luxury extra.
- NCC 2022 says new homes have to have at least a 7-star NatHERS rating.
- Single pane windows just aren’t up to scratch in Brisbane’s climate zone.
- Double-glazed Low-E argon units are the standard spec for passing NatHERS assessments these days.
- If you live in a bushfire-prone area you’ll need BAL-rated laminated configurations.
- Bushfire Attack Levels (BALs) are rated from 12.5 through to 40, depending on the site classification.
The thing is, this all boils down to pretty straightforward maths for homeowners: if you’re trying to get a building permit today, you’re going to be assessed under the new rules which means you need to factor in the glazing spec from day one, not try and add it on as an afterthought.
How Tough Is Brisbane’s Climate on Your Windows, Anyway?
Brisbane’s heat is a real beast, and that means it presents a different problem from the cold climate glass issues you see in Melbourne or Canberra. The main thing you’re trying to do is stop the sun heating up your place in the summer not keeping the warmth in during the winter. Solar heat gain is a huge problem in Brisbane, and glass is basically the easiest way for the sun’s radiation to get in. Unshaded windows on the north or west side of your house can really drive up your cooling costs.
Low E coatings fix that problem. They’re a microscopic layer of metal that gets applied to the inside of your glass, and what they do is reflect some of that summer heat back out into the world. It’s a pretty big difference a standard single-glazed window lets in three or four times more heat than a good quality double-glazed unit with a Low E coating. If you’ve got 50 square metres of glazing on your house, that adds up to a big difference in your aircon bills over the course of six months.
Argon-filled units do better than air-filled ones. Argon is heavier, which means it slows down the heat transfer between the panes. If you combine that with a Low E soft coat and warm edge spacers, you get a U-value of around 1.2 to 2.5 W/m²K which is a lot better than the 6.2 W/m²K of a standard aluminium window.
What Brisbane Homeowners Really Pay for Their Windows?
Pricing varies on the type of window you go for, the glass you choose and how hard it is to get to the site, but basically for a fully installed uPVC double-glazed window in Brisbane you can expect to pay somewhere between 2 to 3.5 grand.
- For standard openings, you’re talking 2k to 3.5k per window, installed
- For a whole 3-bedroom house with 8 to 10 windows you’re at 20 to 32 grand
- For a whole 4-bedroom house with 12 to 15 windows, you’re looking at 30 to 45 thousand bucks
- And then there are all the silly, complicated windows like bi-folds and corners those can go up to 10 grand each
- And if you really need to block out the noise, acoustic glass can set you back up to 2.1k a square metre definitely worth it if you live in a place that’s really noisy
uPVC frames are way ahead of aluminium for Brisbane weather. The multi-chamber design stops the cold air making its way in and aluminium just can’t compete when it comes to this sort of thing. Plus uPVC is rust-resistant, which is a big plus for people living in coastal suburbs or areas with heaps of sea spray around.
When it comes to getting a quote, make sure to ask for a proper on-site quote with all the bits and bobs included don’t just go for some generic per-metre price. The guys will need to come and take a look at your place to give you any kind of decent price.
Why You Don’t Need to Worry About Payback?
It’s all about the long game with double glazing in Brisbane it’s the savings you get each year that add up, not some initial big upfront cost. You’ll most likely see a 20 to 30 per cent reduction in your heating and cooling bills each year, which is around 200 to 400 dollars off your power bill. Of course, this is all going to vary depending on how big your place is, how many people live there, and how energy efficient your heating and cooling systems are.
As for the payback period that’s when you finally break even on the cost. I reckon most people in Brisbane can expect to see a payback of 5 to 10 years. But after that, your windows just keep saving you money for another 20 to 30 years and let’s not forget about the fact that quality glazing upgrades can boost your property value by 3 to 5 per cent. Not a bad return on investment when you think about it.
When to Check with Your Local Council Before You Start?
Most people get away with replacing their windows without needing permission, especially if they’re just swapping out one old window for a new, similar one. But there are a few exceptions.
Properties that are heritage listed need permission for any exterior changes they make. And if you’re changing the size of a window or adding a new one, you’ll need a building permit no matter how good the glazing is. And in bushfire zones, you’ll need to make sure your windows meet the local fire rating, or else you could find yourself in a whole bunch of trouble. Just a quick phone call to the council or a licensed certifier will sort it out. It’s way better to get it right the first time rather than trying to fix it after the fact.
Leave a comment