Contemporary City Home with uPVC Double Glazing

The Challenge:
Creating a Home Around Comfort and Performance

From the beginning, Hamish and Bruce had a clear idea of what they wanted their home to deliver. Passive house principles were being incorporated into the design, making the thermal performance and airtightness of the building envelope particularly important.

Windows and doors can represent a significant weak point in a highly insulated home, so the couple looked carefully at the different joinery systems available.

After comparing the available options, NK Windows stood out for the thermal performance and airtightness of its uPVC window and door systems, as well as the quality of a finished installation Hamish and Bruce had seen first-hand.

“We had decided to incorporate passive house features into our new home, so we were very impressed by the superior thermal and airtightness performance of the NK PVC windows compared to even the best aluminium options available.”

Their decision wasn’t based on performance figures alone. Having already seen NK Windows installed in another home, they were impressed by the quality and finish of the product.

Just as importantly, they wanted a supplier who could work collaboratively with them, their designer and builder as the details of the new home came together.

The Solution:
High-Performance uPVC Joinery with Local Support

From the initial enquiry, the NK Windows team worked closely with Hamish and Bruce to help develop the window and door package for their home.

Technical information and performance data helped inform their decisions, while visits to the NK showroom gave them the opportunity to see and operate different window and door options before making their final choices.

“It was great to be able to go back to their showroom a few times to look at sample windows and doors, confirm what the product we were choosing looked like, and ask questions.”

NK also worked directly with the builder throughout the project, helping ensure the joinery was successfully integrated into the build.

The home uses NK’s recessed frame solution, complementing the home’s focus on improved thermal performance by positioning the joinery more effectively within the insulated building envelope.

For Hamish and Bruce, the experience was refreshingly straightforward.

“The process felt seamless. NK helped us with information and technical data and worked with our builder throughout the build and installation.”

The Result: Warm, Quiet and Comfortable

Now living in the completed home, the benefits Hamish and Bruce were looking for on paper have translated into something they can experience every day.

The house feels warm and comfortable, with the windows and doors helping create a strong separation between the indoor environment and the conditions outside. The only exception is the aluminium-framed window between their living area and their outdoor room. While it’s still double-glazed, the owners have noticed a distinct difference in temperature and heat loss on cold mornings from that window compared to their warm and cosy uPVC windows.

“The house is warm and comfortable and you don’t hear any noise or feel the cold from outside.”

Airtightness and thermal performance may have been the primary considerations, but the quality of the joinery itself has also made an impression.

The substantial construction, smooth operation and quality of the mechanisms are apparent whenever a window or door is used, while the frames complement the contemporary architecture of the house.

“You can feel the quality of the construction and mechanisms every time you open and close the windows and doors. The frames look great and have made our new home look and feel great.”

Why Choose uPVC Double Glazing for your Christchurch home?

For Hamish and Bruce, choosing NK Windows has delivered the combination they were looking for: .

• Excellent thermal performance
• Airtightness
• Superior Quality
• Strong aesthetic and engineering design
• All backed by the support of a local company

Their experience has made them enthusiastic advocates for NK Windows — not just for new high-performance homes like their own, but for homeowners looking to improve existing properties too.

“We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend NK Windows to anyone building a new home or retrofitting joinery in an existing home.”

Looking back on the build, their view is perhaps summed up best by what they told NK after settling into their completed home: “We love our NK Wndows. It was one of the best decisions we made in building our new home.”

If you‘re building a home and want to balance performance, style, and affordability, NK Windows offers tailored solutions designed for New Zealand homes. Contact us now!