Timber patio doors from the 70s and 80s were built well but they are now 40 plus years old, and the sill is usually the first thing to go. When a client rings for a patio door frame replacement Penrith swap from timber to aluminium, five things change. Some for the better, some worth thinking about first. This is the honest before-and-after.
What changes for the better
Aluminium frames do not rot, do not warp, do not need repainting every seven years and do not attract termites. For a Western Sydney home with hot summers and cold snaps in winter, that is a stack of maintenance you never do again. The sightlines are slimmer too, so more glass and more view for the same opening size.
What changes that people do not expect
Frame thickness is different. Timber patio door frames are typically 100 to 130 mm deep from architrave to architrave. Aluminium equivalents can be as slim as 60 mm or as chunky as 150 mm depending on the system. That changes the reveal against your existing internal trim and the fit against the external cladding. Plan for a small amount of make-good.
The thermal question
Untreated aluminium conducts heat and cold. A cheap aluminium frame is actually thermally worse than a good timber frame. Modern aluminium systems use a thermal break (a plastic strip inside the extrusion) to fix this. If you specify thermally broken aluminium with double glazing, you get a huge upgrade over the old timber. If you specify budget non-broken aluminium with single glazing, you can go backwards on comfort. Spec matters.
Hardware carries over, mostly
The locking hardware you used to have (usually a single hook lock) is not compatible with the modern aluminium frames we spec for a patio door frame replacement Penrith job. You get new hardware as part of the swap. Multi-point locking is standard in most modern systems. Roller design is different too. In practice this is a benefit because the new hardware is engineered together with the frame.
What a patio door frame replacement Penrith swap actually costs
- Two-panel slider, 2.1 x 2.4 m, standard aluminium single-glazed: $2,400 to $3,800 supplied and installed
- Same door, thermally broken frame with double glazing: $3,800 to $6,200
- Add-on: internal architrave make-good and paint touch-up: $280 to $650
- Add-on: external flashing update and silicone: $180 to $420
Heritage streets and council rules
If your Penrith home sits in a heritage conservation area, a patio door frame replacement Penrith swap from timber to aluminium usually needs council approval and may be refused outright. Some heritage streets in Penrith and along the Nepean are strict. Timber-look aluminium systems (with wood-grain finishes) are sometimes accepted as a compromise. Check with council heritage before committing.
Install day on a patio door frame replacement Penrith job
Removal of the old timber frame usually takes half a day. New aluminium frame set, plumbed, silicone-sealed and flashed in the second half. Glass installed once the frame is set. Silicone cure overnight. Handover the next morning with hardware operation and warranty paperwork. Home is dust-controlled with plastic barriers, floors protected, and everything hauled away. See our patio door service for the install sequence.
Old timber patio door on its last legs? Ring 02 4722 2787. We measure, spec the right aluminium system for the opening, and give you an honest before-and-after price comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep the timber architrave and just change the door unit?
Usually yes. The new aluminium frame installs inside the existing structural opening. Timber architrave typically stays with a small amount of packing behind it to bridge any gap. We plan this in on the site measure.
Does the swap need a builder as well as a glazier?
For a straight like-for-like swap where the opening size stays the same, glazier only. If the opening size is being enlarged or the timber sill needs replacement structural work, a carpenter or builder is worth engaging alongside us.
How long does the whole job take from quote to install?
Standard turnaround is 2 to 4 weeks. One week for the site measure and quote. Two to three weeks for the aluminium frame fabrication and glass. One day on site for the install.
