Gisborne is a small, isolated market for double glazing, so the field of genuine local operators is narrow. We found four long-established local glaziers and joinery firms with real Gisborne premises, registered companies, and Window & Glass Association New Zealand (WGANZ) membership, rather than a large field of national franchises fronted by generic landing pages.
This page highlights the top 4 double glazing installers in Gisborne, based on independent research into reputation, accreditation, service quality and overall reliability.
The top 4 double glazing installers in Gisborne are 1. Kevin Hollis Glass, 2. Gisborne Glass Ltd, 3. Fisher Windows Gisborne, 4. Glenn's Glass & Aluminium. Below we explain why each made the list, compare them at a glance, and share how to choose.
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Gisborne's longest-running independent glazier, trading since 1991 as Kevin Hollis Glass Limited (NZBN 9429037625573, incorporated 24 March 1999, still run by founder Kevin Hollis and family). Holds the deepest independently traceable review base of any Gisborne glazing business (around 93-95 Google reviews, 4.6 stars) and is a current WGANZ member.
A 100% locally owned glass specialist (NZBN 9429037156589) at 383 Childers Road with the strongest star rating of the group, around 76-77 Google reviews at 5 stars, and current WGANZ membership. Offers double glazing for both existing homes (retrofit) and new builds alongside general glazing work.
Trading as Fisher Aluminium Gisborne / Traue Joinery, part of the Traue Corporation with roots in Gisborne aluminium joinery going back to the 1950s-60s. It is the official regional supplier of the established Dualglaze retrofit double-glazing system, is a current WGANZ member, and is Registered Master Builders affiliated. Google review volume is thin (around 3 reviews) despite the long trading history, which we've weighted down accordingly.
A registered multi-branch glazing company (Glenn's Glass & Aluminium Limited, NZBN 9429038213540) with a genuine staffed Gisborne branch at 127 Grey Street, alongside its Cambridge, Rotorua and Whakatane branches. Current WGANZ member offering retro double-glazing purpose-built for existing homes. Independently traceable review volume specific to the Gisborne branch is limited, which is the main gap against the other three.
A quick comparison of our Top 4 picks. Select up to 3 businesses above to compare their strengths side by side.
| Double Glazing Installer | Best for |
|---|---|
| Kevin Hollis Glass | Homeowners wanting the most reviewed, longest-standing local glazier |
| Gisborne Glass Ltd | Homeowners wanting the highest-rated local specialist |
| Fisher Windows Gisborne | New-build joinery and full frame replacement, or the established Dualglaze retrofit system |
| Glenn's Glass & Aluminium | Homeowners wanting a wider regional company with local Gisborne staff |
Independent, editorial, and reviewed regularly.
TopChoice rankings are editorially curated by our New Zealand team and reviewed periodically. We don't host our own reviews. Our shortlists draw on public reputation signals from Google and other platforms, alongside our own research into each double glazing installer. We weigh up a combination of:
We don't accept payment in exchange for a place in the Top 4. Featured placements are separate and always clearly labelled. Rankings may change over time as businesses evolve.
Since May 2023, the NZ Building Code's Clause H1 has required a minimum window and door R-value of R0.46 in Gisborne's climate zone (up from R0.37 previously), and windows remain the weakest thermal element in most older Gisborne homes. Any glazing work should also meet NZS 4223, the New Zealand standard covering glass selection and design (Part 1) and human-impact safety glazing within 2000mm of floor level (Part 3). Checking that an installer is a current member of WGANZ (the Window & Glass Association of New Zealand, formerly WANZ) is one of the few independently verifiable signs that a business is a genuine, accountable operator in the trade, rather than a generic landing page.
There are two genuinely different ways to add double glazing to a Gisborne home: full frame replacement, which swaps out the entire window and frame for new double-glazed aluminium or timber joinery, and retrofit or secondary glazing, which fits a new glazing unit into your existing frames without replacing them. Retrofit is usually cheaper and faster and suits homes with sound existing joinery; full frame replacement suits older or damaged frames, or a wider renovation. It's worth noting there is currently no EECA grant for double glazing in New Zealand; unlike insulation and heat pumps, which are funded through the Warmer Kiwi Homes scheme, windows and glazing are excluded from that programme, so any quote should be treated as full self-funded cost.
Costs vary by property and approach, but retrofit double glazing across a typical run of 5-10 windows commonly starts from around $3,500-$4,000, while full frame replacement costs more due to the new joinery. Get a fixed quote from a WGANZ member installer, as pricing depends heavily on window count, size and glass specification.
No. Unlike insulation and heat pumps, which are funded through EECA's Warmer Kiwi Homes scheme, windows and double glazing are explicitly excluded from that programme. There is currently no national government grant that covers the cost of double glazing in New Zealand, so budget for it as a self-funded home improvement.
Full frame replacement removes your existing window and frame entirely and installs new double-glazed aluminium or timber joinery. Retrofit (or secondary glazing) fits a new glazed unit into your existing frame, leaving the original joinery in place. Retrofit is typically quicker and less disruptive; full frame replacement suits homes with old, damaged or draughty frames.
Retrofit double glazing on an average Gisborne home is often completed within a couple of days on site, though lead time from order to installation can run 4-6 weeks depending on the installer's workload and glass supply. Full frame replacement projects generally take longer due to joinery manufacturing and building consent requirements.
Yes, for most older Gisborne homes, since single glazing is the weakest thermal element in the house and windows built before the 2023 Building Code update fall well short of the current R0.46 minimum. Retrofit double glazing is usually the most cost-effective way to lift comfort and reduce heat loss in an older home without a full joinery replacement.
Editorial disclosure: TopChoice is an independent editorial platform. Some pages may include clearly labelled featured placements for additional visibility. Featured placements do not influence rankings within our Top 4 lists.
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