Aluminium Windows & Doors, Answered.
Cost, performance, installation, compliance — the questions Melbourne homeowners and builders actually ask before specifying aluminium.
Cost & quotes
How much do aluminium windows cost?
Every project is different. The final cost depends on the window size, opening type (awning, sliding, fixed, etc.), glazing specification and finish. Once we have approximate sizes from your on-site measure, we can prepare an itemised, obligation-free quote so you know exactly what you're paying for.
How much does double glazing cost?
Double glazing is an upgrade to a standard aluminium window using an Insulating Glass Unit (IGU). The added cost depends on the glass specification and window size, but the improvement in thermal comfort and energy efficiency usually pays for itself over time. We'll itemise the double-glazing upgrade in your quote so you can compare.
Do you charge for quotes?
No. Alumina's site measure and itemised quote are free across our service area with no obligation.
Aluminium vs other materials
Are aluminium windows better than timber?
Aluminium frames are stronger, slimmer, dimensionally stable and effectively maintenance-free. With a thermal break (polyamide isolator inside the frame) they approach timber's thermal performance while supporting larger glass panes and never needing repainting.
Aluminium vs uPVC windows — which is better in Melbourne?
uPVC offers strong thermal performance but frames are bulkier and limit maximum pane size. Thermally-broken aluminium delivers competitive U-values with slimmer sightlines, which is why it dominates Melbourne's architect-designed residential market.
Performance & glazing
Is double glazing worth it in Melbourne?
Yes. According to YourHome (Australian Government) and Sustainability Victoria, up to 40% of a home's heating energy can be lost through single-glazed windows. Double glazing with Low-E coating roughly halves the U-value of standard single glazing, improves comfort near windows, and reduces condensation on the glass surface.
What is Low-E glass?
Low-E (low-emissivity) glass has a microscopically thin metallic coating that reflects long-wave radiant heat. In summer it reflects external heat away; in winter it reflects internal heat back into the room. Most of Alumina's double-glazed IGUs include a Low-E coating to lift the overall WERS rating.
Can aluminium windows reduce noise?
Yes. Acoustic laminate glass (with a PVB interlayer) inside a well-sealed double-glazed aluminium frame typically achieves an Rw rating in the low-to-mid 30s, a meaningful reduction over standard 4 mm single glazing. The exact result depends on glass thickness, air gap and the building envelope — we can specify to a target Rw where required.
Are your aluminium windows energy-rated?
Yes. Every system is WERS-rated (Window Energy Rating Scheme, administered by the Australian Glass & Window Association) with documented U-value and SHGC. Specifications meet NCC 2022 Volume Two Section 13 (formerly Part 3.12 / Section J for residential) and the 7-star NatHERS requirement for new homes and major renovations in Victoria.
Installation & process
How long does installation take?
A like-for-like residential window changeover is typically completed in one day per room. A full-home re-glazing on a 3-bedroom Melbourne house is usually scheduled across 3–5 days.
Will my walls be damaged during window replacement?
The honest truth is that wall damage is possible during any window replacement. We take the best of care to protect surrounding plaster, render and brickwork, and keep your existing wall opening intact. Minor make-good of the architrave or reveal is included on every job. If unexpected damage does occur, we will rectify it. Significant rendering, painting or external cladding repairs are quoted separately.
Do you remove and dispose of the old windows?
Yes. Removal, site clean-up and responsible disposal of old frames and glass are included in every Alumina quote. Aluminium frames are recycled where possible.
What is the lead time?
From signed quote, lead time is typically 4–6 weeks for custom AWS manufacture before installation. Larger architectural orders run 6–10 weeks.
Suburbs & service area
What areas of Melbourne do you service?
Alumina services three core areas: the Bayside corridor (Brighton, Hampton, Sandringham, Beaumaris, Black Rock, Cheltenham), Berwick and the surrounding Casey/Cardinia suburbs (Berwick, Narre Warren, Officer, Pakenham, Clyde, Cranbourne, Hampton Park, Hallam, Endeavour Hills, Beaconsfield, Lynbrook) and the full Mornington Peninsula (Frankston, Mornington, Mount Eliza, Mount Martha, Safety Beach, Dromana, Rosebud, Rye, Sorrento, Portsea, Hastings).
Do you service outside of those areas?
It depends on how far — jobs well outside the core areas can be done but would need to be confirmed during our initial call.
Standards, compliance & warranty
Do your aluminium windows meet Australian standards?
Yes. All systems we install are manufactured from the AWS (Architectural Window Systems) suite and comply with AS 2047 (Windows and external glazed doors in buildings) for structural, water-penetration and air-infiltration performance, AS 1288 (Glass in buildings — selection and installation) for glazing design, AS 2208 for safety glazing materials, and AS 5039 / AS 5040 for security screen doors and windows where specified. Installation follows the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 as adopted in Victoria under the Building Regulations 2018 and administered by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA).
Are your windows suitable for bushfire (BAL) areas?
Yes — where required, we specify AWS systems tested to AS 3959 for the relevant Bushfire Attack Level (typically BAL-12.5 through BAL-40). In Victoria the BAL for your site is determined by the building surveyor (or a bushfire consultant) under the Bushfire Management Overlay and the Building Regulations 2018.
Do you comply with the fall-from-windows requirement?
Yes. NCC Volume Two requires protection of openable windows in bedrooms and other habitable rooms more than 2 m above the surface beneath where children may be present — typically by limiting the opening so a 125 mm sphere cannot pass through, or by a compliant restrictor or screen. We supply and fit compliant restrictors as standard where the opening triggers the rule.
What warranty do you offer?
10 year workmanship warranty.