The field guide
Reading before you ring around
NZ-specific writing on double glazing — without the installer-marketing gloss or the heat-pump-influencer hype.
Field guide · 7 min · 26 April 2026
Retrofit vs full-frame double glazing in a NZ villa
Routing IGUs into the original timber sashes versus ripping the joinery out. What costs more, what looks better, and why the answer is usually retrofit — for a villa.
Read the chapter →
Field guide · 6 min · 26 April 2026
Will double glazing actually fix condensation on your bedroom windows?
Short answer: usually yes, but only if you also fix the underlying humidity. The longer answer is more useful — here's why some double-glazed windows still drip.
Read the chapter →
Field guide · 6 min · 26 April 2026
What does double glazing actually cost in NZ in 2026?
A real cost breakdown for the three common NZ scenarios — single-room retrofit, whole-house retrofit, whole-house full-frame replacement — with the line items installers don't always volunteer.
Read the chapter →
Field guide · 6 min · 26 April 2026
What the 2022 H1 building code actually requires for windows
The H1 update split NZ into six climate zones with stricter glazing U-value minimums. Here's what it means for new builds, major renovations, and ordinary retrofits.
Read the chapter →