Window Insulation Coating in Hawke’s Bay
Thermal Glass Coat keeps Hawke’s Bay homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer by insulating your existing windows — no double glazing, no window replacement. It’s a clear coating that bonds to your current glass, blocking up to 99% of UV and reducing heat loss by up to 50%. It’s the cost-effective double glazing alternative for Napier, Hastings, Havelock North and Central Hawke’s Bay — and it’s gentle enough for the region’s heritage and Art Deco homes.
Applied by local technicians in half a day to two days, depending on the size of the job. Guaranteed for 10 years. Call 0274 810 686 or email admin@thermalglasscoat.co.nz.
What it is (and what it isn’t)
Thermal Glass Coat is a liquid nanotechnology coating that bonds chemically to your existing glass, forming a durable, virtually clear layer. Some people call this “window tinting” or “insulating film,” but it isn’t film — it’s a bonded coating. That difference matters in Hawke’s Bay’s intense sun: unlike stick-on film, it can’t bubble, peel or lift at the edges over time.
It cuts the infrared heat and UV you can’t see, while letting natural light through. It’s virtually clear — you may notice only a very slight blue/green tinge, and never the dark or mirrored look of traditional tints — so it preserves the appearance of your windows and your view.
Why Hawke’s Bay homes need it
Hawke’s Bay is one of New Zealand’s sunniest regions, with over 2,200 hours of sunshine a year. That sun is beautiful, but year-round exposure fades interiors and overheats rooms in summer, while single-glazed windows in older villas and bungalows lose heat fast on chilly winter mornings.
Thermal Glass Coat is engineered for exactly this climate:
- Summer: blocks incoming infrared, so rooms stay cooler and cut down on air-conditioning.
- Winter: reduces heat loss through the glass by up to 50%, helping your home hold the warmth your heating produces.
- Year-round: blocks up to 99% of UV, protecting floors, furniture, curtains, artwork and treasures from fading.
- Condensation: can help keep the inner glass warmer, reducing morning condensation (though it won’t stop it entirely).
Ideal for Napier’s Art Deco and heritage homes
For owners of Napier’s world-famous Art Deco properties and Hawke’s Bay’s many character villas, changing the look of a window isn’t an option. Reflective or dark films can be restricted under heritage rules and detract from a building’s character.
Because Thermal Glass Coat is applied as a clear liquid and is virtually clear once cured — with only a slight blue/green tinge in some light — it delivers modern thermal performance and vital UV protection without altering the character of significant windows. It’s a non-invasive upgrade that respects heritage while making these homes far more comfortable. For any heritage-listed or covenant-controlled property, we always recommend confirming with the Napier City Council or your body corporate first, but in the vast majority of cases the coating is considered a discreet, non-structural improvement.
The technology behind it
Thermal Glass Coat was developed in Japan through years of research into building energy performance. After the Fukushima disaster, Japan invested heavily in nanotechnology to reduce energy demand in buildings, and advanced thermal-coating technology came out of that work. That proven technology is now applied here in Hawke’s Bay by trained local technicians.
Why choose us
- Truly local. We’re based in Havelock North — your neighbours, not a franchise. We understand Hawke’s Bay’s mix of coastal glare, hot summers and frosty winter mornings.
- A bonded coating, not stick-on film. A seamless, durable finish that outperforms and outlasts traditional adhesive film.
- Suited to single glazing. The older single-pane windows common in Hawke’s Bay’s character homes are exactly the ones that benefit most.
- Meticulous, low-disruption application. No dust, no noise, no building work — most homes done in one to two days.
Coating vs window film — the honest comparison
Both are treatments applied to your existing glass, and on single glazing both work the same way: they cut radiant heat and UV, though some heat still transfers by conduction through the glass itself. The difference is durability and finish.
| Thermal Glass Coat (bonded coating) | Stick-on window film | |
|---|---|---|
| How it attaches | Bonds chemically to the glass | Adhesive laminate stuck on top |
| Edge failure | Won’t bubble, peel or lift | Can bubble and peel over time — worse in strong sun |
| Look | Virtually clear, slight blue/green tinge | Often tinted or reflective |
| Hardness | ~4.5H, scratch-resistant | ~3.5H, softer |
| Guarantee | 10 years against cracking, bubbling, peeling | Typically shorter; often replaced |
If you want dark privacy tint or a removable option for a rental, a film may suit you. If you want a permanent, near-invisible upgrade to the glass that won’t peel in the Hawke’s Bay sun, that’s where the coating wins.
Where we work in Hawke’s Bay
We serve Napier, Hastings, Havelock North and Central Hawke’s Bay, and travel further afield — including the Manawatū, Wellington and Auckland — for larger jobs. Based in Havelock North.
Frequently asked questions
It sounds like a contradiction, but it isn’t. The coating works like a mirror for infrared heat, reflecting it back toward where it came from. In summer, the sun’s heat is near-infrared coming from outside, so it’s reflected away and rooms stay cooler. In winter, your home’s warmth is long-wave far-infrared radiating off your heater, walls, furniture and the people inside, and the coating reflects that back inside instead of letting it escape — the low-emissivity behaviour that keeps rooms warmer. It’s one consistent behaviour; the season just changes which direction the heat is coming from. Some heat still passes through the glass by conduction, so it reduces heat transfer rather than stopping it completely.
Yes — and these benefit the most. The single-pane windows in Hawke’s Bay’s villas, bungalows and character homes are usually the biggest source of heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer. Applying Thermal Glass Coat is far more affordable than replacing them. It works on most glass types (clear, tinted, annealed, toughened); the main exceptions are damaged laminated glass and plastics like acrylic or polycarbonate. We confirm suitability at a free on-site consultation.
No. Once cured, the coating is virtually clear, with only a slight blue/green tinge that’s barely noticeable from inside and only sometimes visible from outside in certain light. You keep your view — including sea views along Marine Parade and country views in Central Hawke’s Bay — and the exterior character of the property is preserved.
In most cases, yes. Because it’s clear rather than dark or reflective, it avoids the issues that can make traditional tints unsuitable in heritage precincts. For any heritage-listed or covenant-controlled building, confirm with the Napier City Council or your body corporate first, but the coating is generally treated as a non-invasive upgrade.
There’s no dust, noise or building work, and most homes are done in one to two days. Be aware there is a noticeable odour during application and for a few hours afterwards while the coating sets — it clears as it cures. We’ll set your expectations before we start, and for businesses we can often work outside operating hours.
Just clear a space of about 1–1.5 metres in front of the windows being treated by moving furniture, lamps and plants. There’s no need to pre-clean the glass — we use our own preparation products and clean each pane meticulously before applying the coating.
Curing is when the coating fully bonds and reaches its final clarity and strength. It takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on the weather — warmth and sun speed it up. During this time it’s important not to touch or clean the inside of the glass, as contact can disrupt the bond. We provide full aftercare instructions.
Wait at least 60 days after installation, then clean with a microfibre cloth and warm water, and dry with a clean microfibre cloth. Avoid chemicals, paper towels, scrapers, blades and abrasive pads, which can scratch the coating. Treated well, it stays clear and effective for the life of the product.
Because it bonds to the glass rather than sticking on like film, it won’t degrade, bubble or peel the way adhesive film can in strong sun. It’s backed by a 10-year guarantee against cracking, bubbling and peeling, and the expected lifespan is longer still. It’s a “fit and forget” upgrade — no reapplication for years.
Get a free quote
Ready for a warmer winter, a cooler summer and protected interiors — without replacing your windows? Contact your local Hawke’s Bay specialists for a free, no-obligation consultation.
- Call: 0274 810 686
- Email: admin@thermalglasscoat.co.nz
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM