Frequently asked questions
For homeowners
How much does a balustrade cost?
Every build is different, so the price depends on factors unique to your project - the substrate, site access, the style of balustrade, and how many lineal metres you need. The best way to get an accurate idea is to get in touch early in your project. We can look over your plans and provide feedback that can save you time and money later.
How much does a glass pool fence cost?
The cost of your pool fence depends on the style, fixing method, number of gates, and lineal metres involved. Checking in with us early also means we can spot potential compliance issues in your design - such as gate placement, toe holds, or climbing points - before they become expensive to fix.
How long does installation take, from quote to completion?
Lead times vary throughout the year, so we recommend checking with us at the time of quoting. We pride ourselves on completing our jobs on time.
Do you handle the whole process, or do I need to manage sub-trades myself?
We handle the entire process for you. It's helpful to have experts in your corner when technical details come up with your builder or architect - we're there for those conversations too.
Is aluminium a good alternative to glass or timber?
Absolutely. Aluminium requires very little ongoing maintenance and will look as great in ten years as the day it was installed. Every Viewtec aluminium balustrade is backed by the 10-Year Viewtec Assurance - when you install Viewtec, you're installing quality that lasts.
How much maintenance does a powder-coated aluminium balustrade need?
Very little. Cleaning the glass is just like cleaning the windows in your home. Most residential balustrades in mild conditions or interior installations should be cleaned at least once a year. In areas where pollutants are common - industrial or geothermal areas, and all sites within 1 km of the sea or in any sea spray zone identified by Section 4.2 of NZS 3604:1999 - cleaning must be carried out more frequently as required, but not less than every three months.
What colours and finishes are available?
Our balustrades and screens are finished in Dulux Duralloy® powder coat, available in a wide range of colours. View the colour options in our
technical details sectionIs your glass safe?
Yes. We use only 10mm and 12mm toughened glass for our balustrades and pool fences. Toughened glass withstands strong direct impact, and if it does break, it breaks into small blunt granules rather than sharp jagged pieces, making injury far less likely. It's rated Grade A safety glass under AS/NZS 2208. Where the design calls for it, we also use laminated safety glass, which carries the same Grade A rating.
What's included in the 10-Year Viewtec Assurance?
The 10-Year Viewtec Assurance is our commitment that what we install will perform and keep looking sharp for the long term. It covers: -Your system - warranted against defects in design, materials and fabrication.Your finish - the Duralloy® powder coat, protected against flaking, peeling and colour degradation. Our workmanship - if a defect arises from how we made or installed it, we put it right at no cost.One number to call. If anything is ever not right, we handle everything, including any manufacturer warranty process, on your behalf.
- The balustrade system itself — every Viewtec system is warranted against defects in design, materials, and fabrication under normal use.
- The Duralloy® powder coat finish — protected against flaking, peeling, and colour degradation when maintained in line with the care guidelines above.
- Our workmanship — as an authorised UNEX fabricator, every system we supply is fabricated and installed to the manufacturer's specification, and we stand behind that installation.
Coverage runs for ten (10) years in residential applications and five (5) years in commercial applications, from the date of delivery, and sits alongside your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.
Are you locally based, or do you subcontract the install?
We're based in Wanaka with our own installation team working across Wanaka, Queenstown, Cromwell, and Central Otago. When you deal with Viewtec, the people who quote your job are the people who stand behind the install.
Do you offer site visits and measure-ups?
Yes - free of charge.
How do I get a quote?
Get in touch here — and if your project is still at the plans stage, even better. That's when we can add the most value.
For Architects, Builders & Developers
Can Viewtec be involved at design stage, before a project goes to tender?
This is actually the best time to involve us. At design stage we can review your plans and provide feedback on layout, fixing methods, substrate and structural requirements, and compliance - including the details that commonly cause problems later, like gate placement and climbable zones on pool fencing. We can also provide budget guidance so the balustrade and screening package is priced realistically before tender. Early involvement means what's specified is what gets built - without redesign, re-pricing, or delays partway through the project.
Do your products meet NZ Building Code requirements?
Yes. All Viewtec systems are engineered and installed to meet NZ Building Code requirements, including the barrier performance requirements of Clause F4. As an authorised UNEX fabricator, every system we supply is fabricated to the manufacturer's tested specification. All products are additionally warranted against defects in design and manufacture - ten (10) years residential, five (5) years commercial, from the date of delivery - and comply with the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.
Are you an authorised UNEX fabricator? What does that mean for a specified project?
Yes. Viewtec is an authorised UNEX fabricator. In practice, that means every UNEX system we supply is fabricated and installed to the manufacturer's specification, by a team certified to do so, not adapted or approximated by a third party along the way. For a specifier, that's the difference between what's on the drawing and what actually gets built matching, with the backing of an authorised supply chain rather than an informal one.
What makes commercial projects different from residential ones, and how does Viewtec handle that?
Commercial projects carry a different risk profile - higher contract values, more sub-trades on site, and less room for anything to go wrong. They also come with demands a residential project doesn't have: balustrade and screening systems that need to interface precisely with the façade design, tight program constraints, and contractual obligations. Delivering on that takes more than a good product. It takes on-site project management that keeps pace with the wider build, and installation carried out by people who've done it before.
What's your capacity for larger developments (townhouses, retirement villages)?
We have the capacity - and the systems - to deliver multi-unit developments across Wanaka, Queenstown, Cromwell, and Central Otago. Recent work includes the Northlake mixed-use development with Cook Brothers Construction and the Northbrook Retirement Village with CDL Building. For staged developments, we coordinate fabrication and installation around your program so balustrades and screens land when the build needs them, not before or after.
Do you provide specification documents, CAD details, or product data sheets for architects?
Yes. As an authorised UNEX fabricator we can supply manufacturer specification documents, BIM files, DWG drawings, B2 compliance information and more, along with powder coat colour and finish information. If you're specifying for an upcoming project, get in touch and we'll put together the documentation you need - and we're happy to review the relevant details on your drawings at the same time.
How do I get a quote or arrange a site measure-up?
Contact us here. Site visits and measure-ups are free of charge across our service area.
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