Retrofit double glazing in Melbourne: is it worth it?
Melbourne’s four-seasons-in-a-day weather is hard on single-glazed homes: hot west-facing rooms in summer, cold draughty ones in winter. Replacing every window frame is expensive. Often you don’t have to.
What “retrofit” means
A double glazed unit (DGU) is two panes of glass sealed together with a gap between them. In many existing timber and aluminium frames, we can remove the single pane and fit a slim DGU in its place, sometimes with new beads or adaptors. Your frames stay; the glass gets an upgrade.
The benefits
- Comfort: the sealed gap slows heat moving through the glass, so rooms hold temperature better.
- Noise: a noticeable drop in traffic and neighbour noise, especially with a laminated pane in the unit.
- Condensation: the inner pane stays warmer, so less condensation forms on cold mornings.
Double glazing vs Low-E
Low-E glass has an invisible coating that reflects heat. A single Low-E pane can be a budget-friendly upgrade for a hot room; Low-E inside a double glazed unit is the best of both. Compare them in the energy-efficient glass guide.
What does it cost?
Pricing depends on the size and glass, not guesswork. Put your window size into our instant quote and select one of the double glazed options to see the supplied-and-installed price straight away.
Will my frames take it? Most will, but very thin or damaged frames may need a different approach. We check on site and tell you before starting.