Ambiance by STÄRKE uPVC windows and doors are 48% more thermally efficient than thermally broken aluminium. In a New Zealand home that means fewer cold mornings, fewer temperature swings from room to room, and a house that holds its warmth through the seasons instead of leaking it outside.
And it isn’t only about winter. The same qualities keep the house cooler through summer and free of the condensation that plagues so many New Zealand homes. So how do Ambiance windows and doors get there? Comfort isn’t the job of any single part. It comes from the frame, the glazing, the sealing and the installation all pulling in the same direction. Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes:
It starts with the frame
Not all frames are created equal. We measure how well a frame insulates using its R-value: the higher the number, the better the insulation. Standard aluminium frames sit at just R0.26, offering very little insulation. Thermally broken aluminium improves on that, lifting the R-value to R0.50. Ambiance uPVC goes further again, reaching an average R-value of R0.74. That’s a 48% improvement over thermally broken aluminium, and it’s the difference you feel on a cold morning.
No thermal bridges
Aluminium is an excellent conductor of heat. On a cold day an aluminium frame draws that cold straight through to the inside, and you feel it in the room. uPVC does the opposite. It’s a natural insulator (roughly 0.17 W/mK, against around 160 W/mK for aluminium), so when it’s cold outside the frame doesn’t carry the cold in.
Sealing and airtightness
An airtight home is a warmer, more efficient home. When cold air can’t sneak in and warm air can’t escape, you rely far less on heating and cooling to stay comfortable. Several features work together to make Ambiance frames exceptionally airtight:
-
- Welded corners. Our frame corners are welded into a single, permanent joint. Many aluminium frames are screwed and glued, which can loosen over time and let air, water and sound through as the joins age.
-
- Co-extruded gaskets and dual sealing. Both are built into the frame profile during manufacturing, so there’s no path for air, water or sound to leak through.
Installation done right
How a window is installed matters as much as the window itself. We recommend recessing our windows into the wall framing rather than sitting them flush with the exterior cladding. This lines the frame’s insulation up with the wall’s insulation, creating one continuous thermal barrier. It’s basic building science, and it’s why every Ambiance system includes a four-sided recessed flashing kit as standard.
Traditional flush installation leaves a gap in the insulation layer around the window. Heat escapes and cold gets in through that gap, no matter how good the window itself is.
High-performance glazing
The glass does plenty of the work too. Across the Ambiance range, high-performance glazing is standard:
- Low-E glass controls heat loss and solar gain while keeping the glass clear.
- Argon gas fills the gap between the panes, slowing heat transfer.
- Warm-edge spacer bars separate the panes at the edge of the glazing unit, holding the thermal barrier right to the edge of the glass.
- Solar heat gain control can be tuned by elevation. Standard Low-E glazing lets in around 55% of the sun’s heat, whereas a low solar gain option cuts that closer to 35%, helping to prevent overheating on sun-facing north and west windows while still keeping the home warm in winter.
- Laminated glass is the best option for cutting UV and protecting interior furnishings from fading, and it improves acoustic performance at the same time.
- Triple glazing is available as an upgrade for even higher performance, particularly in colder regions or homes targeting Passive House certification.
Cool in summer, not just warm in winter
The same properties that keep heat in over winter keep it out over summer. An insulating uPVC frame doesn’t conduct heat, so it stays cool to the touch on a hot day and won’t radiate warmth into the room the way a sun-baked aluminium frame does. And because our Tilt & Turn windows tilt inward for secure ventilation, you can purge warm air overnight without leaving the house open. It matters more than ever: recent BRANZ research found more New Zealanders now feel too warm in summer than too cold in winter, so a good window must work both ways.
Say goodbye to condensation
Cold aluminium frames are a magnet for condensation. When warm, moist indoor air meets a cold frame or glass edge it turns to water, the pooling and mould so many New Zealanders wipe away on winter mornings. uPVC changes that. Because the frame insulates rather than conducts, its interior surface stays warm and above the dew point, so condensation doesn’t form on it. The result is a drier, healthier home, and no more wiping down windows every morning.
Multi-point locking: security and a tighter seal
Look closely at how an Ambiance window or door closes and you’ll see the locking does more than keep intruders out. Turn the handle and multiple locking points engage right around the sash, drawing it evenly and firmly against every side.
That even compression is what makes the frame airtight. A typical aluminium window locks at a single point near the handle, so the sash can bow away from the frame, leaving gaps for air, water and sound to slip through. Multi-point locking closes those gaps all the way around.
A tighter seal reinforces everything else the system is built to do: it holds warm air in through winter and hot air out through summer, keeps draughts and moisture at bay, and lifts acoustic performance. And with premium multi-point hardware, Ambiance systems reach burglar resistance ratings up to RC2. The same mechanism that secures your home is what locks in its comfort.
Year-round comfort is the sum of the parts
No single feature does it alone. It’s an insulating frame, a sealed and airtight build, considered installation and high-performance glass, all working together. That’s how Ambiance by STÄRKE reaches its R0.74 average and delivers a home that’s warm in winter, cooler in summer, quiet and free of condensation, whatever the weather is doing outside. Our entire range is built around the same goal: year-round comfort and energy efficiency.
Want to know which Ambiance system is right for your project? Get in touch at hello@ambiance.co.nz or call 0800 AMBIANCE, or download the Specifier Design Guide for the full technical detail.
