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Thermally Broken Aluminium Joinery
Aluminium conducts heat, and a thermal break is the way to slow that down in the frame. Here is what it is, what it does and does not do, and how to choose between it and our standard joinery, which is still our biggest seller.
What a Thermal Break Is
A standard aluminium frame is one piece of metal running from the outside face of the window to the inside face. Aluminium conducts heat very well, so some of the warmth in the room flows out through the metal.
A thermally broken frame is made in two halves, an outer and an inner, joined by a strip of reinforced polyamide (a tough plastic) that runs the full length of every section. The polyamide barely conducts heat, so the inner half of the frame stays closer to room temperature. The frame looks the same from inside and out, is just as strong, and takes the same powder coat colours.
What It Does
- Reduces heat lost through the frame. The frame stops being a cold bridge around every pane of glass.
- Feels warmer to the touch. The inside face of the frame sits closer to the temperature of the room.
- Can help a new home meet the Building Code. The current H1 energy efficiency requirements set window performance targets for new homes, and we specify the glazing and frames to the pathway your designer has chosen.
- Allows two colours on some ranges. A different colour inside and outside is available on some of our thermally broken ranges only.
What It Does Not Do
A thermal break will not stop condensation. New windows still get condensation, thermally broken or not, because it is a ventilation issue rather than a window issue. Our guide to condensation on aluminium windows explains where the moisture comes from and what to do about it.
Frame and Glass Together
The glass is most of a window, so the glazing matters in any frame. A thermal break is usually paired with Low E double glazing, where a coating on the inner pane reflects heat back into the room and an argon fill slows heat crossing the gap. Together they are the warmest window we make. For sound, add a laminated outer pane.
Standard or Thermally Broken?
Thermally broken joinery costs more than standard, and we quote both side by side so you can decide. Our honest guidance:
- Standard joinery is still our biggest seller. A lot of people do not bother with a thermal break and decide it is more than they need.
- Thermally broken joinery is there if you want it: for extra insulation in the frame, for a different colour inside and out on the ranges that offer it, or because your designer has specified it.
- You can mix them. Some customers choose thermally broken frames for a few rooms and standard frames for the rest. On a full window replacement we will talk through where the budget is best spent.
Available Across the Range
Thermally broken frames are available on our awning, sliding and bifold windows, and on bifold, sliding and stacker, French, hinge and entrance doors, in any of the colours on the colours page, as an authorised OMEGA fabricator.
Contact Us
Tell us which rooms and we will quote standard and thermally broken side by side. Call 09 278 4089 or use the form below for a free measure and quote.
Thermal Break Questions
Can I see the thermal break?
Only if you look for it: a thin line of polyamide between the inner and outer halves of the frame, powder coated the same colour. From a metre away the frame looks identical to a standard one.
Will thermally broken windows stop condensation?
No. New windows still get condensation, thermally broken or not. It is a ventilation issue, not a window issue: airing the house, using the extractor fans and heating the rooms you use are what make the difference.
Is it the same as double glazing?
No. Double glazing is about the glass; the thermal break is about the frame. You can have double glazing in a standard frame or in a thermally broken one.
Can I thermally break only some windows?
Yes. You can specify thermally broken frames for some rooms and standard frames for the rest, and we quote both so you can compare.
Glass, Hardware, Colour and Thermal Performance
The frame is only part of the decision. The glass decides how warm and quiet the room is, the hardware how it works every day, and the colour how it looks from the street.
Glass
Double glazing, Low E and laminated safety glass, plus Cathedral, Mislite, Stippolite and Etchlite obscure glass for privacy. Explore
Hardware
Handles, stays, restrictors and single, two or four-point locking, including keypad and app-controlled smart locks. Explore
Colours
The full Dulux Duralloy +Plus Solid Range as standard, other ranges on request, anodised finishes and eight woodgrains. ExploreFurther Reading
Aluminium vs Timber Windows: An Honest Guide
How the two frame materials compare for warmth, upkeep, strength and looks in a New Zealand home, written by a company that makes one of them. Read the guide
Condensation on Aluminium Windows: Causes and Fixes
Why the windows are wet on winter mornings and what to change. Condensation is a ventilation issue, not a window issue, and new windows still get it. Read the guideSend Us Your Plans, or Book a Measure
One window or a whole house, new build or replacement, residential or commercial. Tell us what you are looking at and where, and we will come back with a clear price or a time to visit. Quotes usually take a few days, a week at most, and there is no obligation.
09 278 4089- info@nustyle.co.nz
- 29 Grayson Avenue, Papatoetoe, Auckland - factory and office
- Open Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm
Have plans? Email them to info@nustyle.co.nz and we will price the whole joinery schedule for free.