SURFACE FINISHING

Powdercoating

New Zealand’s most popular surface finish for windows and doors. It’s a baked-on coating that’s tough and durable and comes in a wide range of colours. Powder options are as follows:

Duralloy: Used on most domestic and smaller commercial projects. Carries a 10-year film and colour integrity warranty. Suitable for applications more than 100m from high tide level. Mannex powder coatings from the Duralloy range have been introduced for use on entrance doors. These have a low-sheen surface highly resistant to marking and scuffing.

Duratec: A highly durable polyester system for more severe coastal and multi-storey exposures. For properties greater than 10m from high tide level. Carries a 20-year film integrity warranty (Colour integrity warranty will be less in duration and colour dependant).

Fluoroset FP: This is a 100% fluoropolymer powder coating with outstanding colour retention and film performance. It is designed for use on headline commercial-type projects in environmentally challenging locations. Fluoroset FP offers a 20-year warranty on colour, film integrity and gloss retention.

Popular Colours: A colour range is available which has 35 colours. These are more economical in price than lesser sought colours and have more readily available colourmatching hardware. A booklet of over 80 powdercoat colours is also available.

Chromate-free: APL has a chromate-free pre-treatment for the powdercoating of its aluminium extrusions. Toxic chromate formulations have been phased out and nonhazardous pre-treatments adopted. This upgrade is part of a wide-ranging APL strategy to reduce its environmental footprint.

Anodising

Anodising is a very durable and colourfast finish that has been proven over many decades. It is popular in high end residential developments where its durability and metallic sheen are seen as desirable attributes. APL offers the ‘frost’ finish as standard.

There are several options for colours and film thickness: Silver, in 12 and 25 microns. Bronze in light, medium or dark, 12 and 25 microns. Black, in 25 microns only. Champagne, in 25 microns only.

For properties in coastal, industrial or other corrosive environments, 25 microns is recommended, and may even be required to qualify for a warranty. (Note: the anodised coating has a 10-year warranty for 12 micron anodising, and 20 years for 25 microns.)

Glass selection usually balances light, heat and UV control. The greater the light transmission the less heat and fading from UV are controlled.

Building Code changes designed to enhance thermal efficiency mean that double glazing is the predominant format used in New Zealand. In addition to its thermal advantages double glazing offers good sound dampening.

An important option in glass selection is Low E (low emissivity) glass which enhances the insulation value of the double glazed unit. Argon gas fill is also available for extra thermal efficiency. See thermal and transmission characteristics of some common glass formats at right.

Thermal performance is becoming increasingly important to many homeowners. We offer a variety of performance glass options to suit most requirements.

Glass and Frame Thermal Efficiency

A useful tool for calculating the thermal efficiency of a window or door configuration, inclusive of glass choice, is the Window Energy Efficiency Rating System (WEERS) which is a 6-star system assessing the thermal performance of the whole constructed unit. WEERS combines the thermal performance of the frame and glazing, together with the size of the window, to calculate a rating between one and six stars, six being the system that offers the highest efficiency. Currently, the highest performing system is the Klima Series uPVC system when used with low-E double glazing.

For an indicative WEERS rating on a specific window or door configuration or house-lot of products consult your window manufacturer or the APL Technical Department.

Clear Single Glazed Glass

4mm clear

Clear float glass is transparent and offers high visible light transmittance. As such most Ultra Violet (UV) and solar heat passes through it. Economical but has a high heat loss in winter.

Clear Single, Glazed Glass

Clear Double Glazed Glass

Clear Double, Glazed Glass

4mm clear / 12mm air gap / 4mm clear

This is a common Insulated Glass Unit (IGU) and contains a thermally effective air gap between the panes. Also acoustically effective and greatly reduces condensation.

Tinted Grey, Double Glazed with Clear Glass

Clear Double, Glazed Glass

Double Glazed with High Performance

Tinted Grey, Double Glazed with Clear Glass

Double Glazed with High Performance Low E

4mm grey / 12mm air gap / 4mm clear

The tinted pane significantly reduces solar heat and UV transmission as well as light entry. Suitable for those windows receiving major summer sun.

Tinted Grey, Double Glazed with Clear Glass

OUTSIDE Clear Double, Glazed Glass

Tinted Grey, Double Glazed with Standard Low E

4mm grey / 12mm argon / 4mm Low E

The tinted pane significantly reduces solar heat and UV transmission as well as light entry. Suitable for those windows receiving major summer sun.

Tinted Grey, Double Glazed and Low E Glass

Tinted Grey, Double Glazed and Low E Glass

Tinted Grey, Double Glazed with Clear Glass

Double

Glazed

Double Glazed with High Performance Low E

with Standard Low E

4mm clear / 12mm argon / 4mm Low E

Low E (or low emissivity) glass enhances the insulation value of the double-glazed unit. Consider using with an Argon gas fill in order to gain maximum effectiveness.

Double Glazed with Standard Low E

Tinted Grey, Double Glazed and Low E Glass

Double Glazed with High Performance Low E

Double Glazed with Standard Low E

4mm clear / 12mm argon / 4mm Low E

This unit maximises the potential insulative properties of an IGU. It’s ideal for room heat retention in winter.

Double Glazed with High Performance Low E

Percentage reductions are indicative for comparison, technical performance numbers available on request

Tinted Grey, Double Glazed and Low E Glass