The western suburbs sit in a distinct corner of the Perth
metropolitan market. Higher property values, older housing stock with
more heritage character, closer to the coast and the river, and a
demographic that increasingly prioritises noise and thermal comfort
alongside the standard energy story.
This guide covers the double glazing considerations specific to
Perth’s western suburbs: the housing stock by era, the council heritage
overlays, the BAL coastal proximity question, and how the spec choices
differ from a standard 1990s brick-veneer Perth window replacement.
Drawn from confirmed local government area data, the WA Heritage Council
(inHerit), DFES BAL mapping, and 2025 council heritage list updates.
The Housing Stock
of Perth’s Western Suburbs
The western suburbs span roughly four eras of residential
construction, each with its own window replacement implications.
Federation and Edwardian (pre-1915): Strong
representation in older streets of Claremont, Nedlands and Cottesloe.
Typically limestone, brick or rendered brick walls, timber-framed
windows with multi-pane sash configurations, deep eaves, generous
proportions. Property values are typically high and the streetscape
character matters to owners.
Interwar (1920 to 1945): Californian Bungalow and
Spanish Mission styles dominate. Smaller window proportions than
Federation but still timber-framed sash or casement. Lots of original
brickwork and rendered facades.
Mid-century to 1980s brick veneer: A large body of
1960s to 1980s housing across Nedlands, Mosman Park and parts of
Cottesloe. Brick veneer construction, aluminium-framed sliding windows
or louvres, simpler eave detail. The most straightforward window
replacement candidates: aluminium-to-aluminium frame swaps with double
glazed IGUs.
Contemporary (post-2000): New builds on subdivided
western suburbs blocks, often replacing older homes. NCC-compliant from
build, but the legacy of older NCC standards in homes built 2005 to 2020
means many “newer” homes still have single glazed aluminium. Post-2025
builds are 7-star NatHERS compliant per WA’s NCC 2022 adoption.
Each era has its own spec answer. For homeowners doing a wider double glazing services Perth
refurbishment, the conversation usually starts by identifying the era of
the home and the orientation profile of the rooms.
Federation
and Interwar Homes: The Sightline Challenge
The defining technical challenge in upgrading Federation and
Edwardian homes is the sightline. Original timber sash windows have
visible frame members of 35 to 50 mm. Standard aluminium double glazed
frames sit at 65 to 80 mm. The visual change is significant: a wider
aluminium frame in a sash-style window opening reads as “modern” rather
than “heritage”.
Two paths to manage the sightline question:
Premium architectural aluminium systems.
Slim-profile architectural aluminium systems offer sightlines in the 45
to 65 mm range, accepting 24 mm double glazed units. The visual gap is
narrower than standard aluminium, though still slightly wider than
original timber.
Wood-alu hybrid systems. Premium European-style
wood-alu hybrid frames offer timber-on-the-inside /
aluminium-on-the-outside construction that preserves the timber
sightline interior while delivering double glazed thermal performance.
The cost premium is significant but the visual match to original sash is
the closest available in modern construction.
Custom restoration. For State-registered heritage
properties, the path is sometimes timber restoration with secondary
glazing applied internally, preserving the original sash entirely. The
performance is less complete than full replacement but the heritage
match is exact.
The decision varies by property. The Penot Double Glazing free in-home
assessment walks through which path the home and the council
approval profile actually allow.
1960s
to 1980s Brick Veneer: The Most Straightforward Window Replacement
For most homes built between 1960 and 1990 in Nedlands, Mosman Park
and outer parts of Claremont, the window replacement is mechanically
simple. Existing aluminium-framed single glazed windows come out, new
aluminium-framed double glazed windows go in. No sightline match problem
because the original windows were aluminium. No heritage approval issue
unless the street is in an overlay area.
The spec choice for these properties is the same as for any modern
Perth window replacement: thermally broken aluminium frame,
solar-control low-e on west and unshaded north openings, standard double
glazed on south. Per the does double
glazing keep Perth homes cooler in summer guide, SHGC matters more
than U-value for these properties.
Project size for a typical 1970s brick veneer in this band runs 10 to
15 windows plus 1 to 2 doors, $25,000 to $45,000 supply and install for
a quality thermally broken specification.
Contemporary
Builds: Where Triple Glazing Starts to Make Sense
Newer homes in Dalkeith, parts of Peppermint Grove, and newer builds
in Nedlands increasingly feature very large glass areas: full-height
glass walls on alfresco connections, picture windows on river views,
glazed entries with sidelights both sides. For these homes, the cooling
load through the glass dominates.
Triple glazing makes sense when:
- The glass area exceeds 25 per cent of the floor area on west or
north elevations - The NatHERS target is above 7 stars
- Acoustic performance is also a priority (river road traffic, flight
path) - The home is built or being built post-2025 under NCC 2022 7-star
requirements
Our triple glazed
windows Perth cost guide covers when the 30 to 50 per cent premium
over double pays back.
Cottesloe
and Swanbourne: Coastal Proximity and BAL
The DFES
Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas (2023 V7.0) covers all of Western
Australia. Most inner western suburbs (Claremont, Nedlands, parts of
Cottesloe) sit outside the BPA designation. Some streets in Swanbourne
and the parts of Cottesloe closer to remnant bushland reserves do sit
inside the BPA.
For properties inside the BPA, a BAL assessment is required when
building or substantially renovating. Penot Double Glazing supplies up
to BAL-29 compliant glazing. For BAL-40 or BAL-FZ rated properties (rare
in the western suburbs but possible in pockets close to coastal
vegetation), specialist bushfire glazing systems are required. The
decision sits with the building surveyor and the BAL assessor at the
project planning stage.
For most western suburbs properties, BAL is not a controlling factor
in the double glazing decision. The thermal, acoustic and heritage
considerations matter more.
Nedlands and
Claremont: Heritage Overlay Streets
Each council in the western suburbs maintains a Local Heritage Survey
(mandatory under the Heritage Act 2018 WA) and a Heritage List in its
Local Planning Scheme (the legally enforceable register).
Heritage-listed properties can be searched via the Heritage Council WA inHerit
register.
Town of Claremont: Updated Heritage Inventory in
2014. The Claremont Crescent Commercial Heritage Precinct is on the
Heritage Council WA State Register. Swanbourne has State Register
listings. Window changes on listed properties require a development
application; window changes in heritage areas may require council
approval depending on the precinct.
City of Nedlands: Adopted Heritage List under Local
Planning Scheme. 2025 heritage review in progress. Streets and
properties under heritage protection are listed on the council’s
heritage register.
Town of Cottesloe: Local Heritage Survey updated
2025. Properties on the Survey do not carry legal protection from the
LHS itself but the LHS informs the Heritage List in the Local Planning
Scheme, which does have legal force.
For homeowners on a heritage-listed property, the council development
application process is part of the project from the start. Our heritage
homes double glazing Perth guide covers the application process and
how to specify a glazing system that satisfies both the council and the
energy performance brief.
Why
the Western Suburbs Demographic Prioritises Noise Reduction
The western suburbs sit close to two noise sources that drive
acoustic glazing demand. The Perth Airport main flight paths run
east-west, and the western suburbs catch parts of the approach pattern
depending on wind direction. Coastal road traffic on routes like
Stirling Highway and Marine Parade carries significant volume.
For homes on or near major roads or under flight approach paths,
acoustic laminated double glazed units delivering Rw 37 to 42 (per
Australian Glass Group Technical Bulletin 1012) are the standard answer.
The Penot Double Glazing flight
path noise reduction page and our double glazing
near Perth Airport and busy roads guide cover the acoustic
specifications in detail.
The acoustic case often runs alongside the thermal case in these
suburbs. A homeowner doing the upgrade for one reason typically benefits
from the other simultaneously.
How
to Book a Penot Double Glazing Assessment for a Western Suburbs
Property
The standard route:
- Call 1300 121 603 during business hours
- Online booking via the free in-home assessment form
on penot.com.au - Showroom visit to 92 Beechboro Rd S, Bayswater WA
6053 (open Mon-Fri standard hours, Saturday by booking)
From most of the western suburbs, the Bayswater showroom is 15 to 25
minutes by car depending on traffic and exact origin. All consultations
happen at the home rather than at the showroom, so the assessor sees the
actual rooms, orientations, and existing window conditions before
quoting.
For homeowners weighing up a partial vs whole-house project, the
assessment is the place to map the rooms by priority and decide the
staging.
Where Penot Double Glazing
Fits
Penot Double Glazing is a full AGWA member based at 92 Beechboro Rd
S, Bayswater WA 6053, supplying double glazing across Perth metropolitan
including all western suburbs. The windows and doors range covers premium
architectural sightlines for heritage and Federation properties,
standard aluminium systems for 1970s and 1980s window replacement
projects, and full triple glazing for new builds and high-spec
renovations.
For a quote on a western suburbs property, book a free in-home
assessment. Compare projects across the wider Penot Double Glazing
project gallery, call 1300 121 603, or visit the Bayswater
showroom.
Do
Perth’s Western Suburbs Need Special Double Glazing Considerations?
Yes, in three areas. First, heritage overlays in Town of Claremont,
City of Nedlands and Town of Cottesloe affect what is approved on listed
streets. Second, coastal proximity in Cottesloe and Swanbourne creates
BAL bushfire considerations on properties close to bushland reserves.
Third, the demographic typically prioritises noise reduction (from
coastal traffic and aircraft) alongside thermal performance.
Can
You Double Glaze a Federation Home in Nedlands or Claremont?
Yes. The technical challenge is matching the slim sightlines of
Federation timber sash windows with a modern aluminium frame. Premium
architectural systems with 45 to 65 mm sightlines come closest. For
heritage-listed properties, the council development application process
is part of the project, not an afterthought. Penot Double Glazing
handles this as part of the consultation.
Which Council
Areas Cover the Western Suburbs?
Town of Claremont covers Claremont and Swanbourne. City of Nedlands
covers Nedlands and Dalkeith. Town of Cottesloe covers Cottesloe. Town
of Mosman Park covers Mosman Park. Shire of Peppermint Grove covers
Peppermint Grove. Each has its own heritage and planning provisions.
How
Do You Book a Penot Double Glazing Assessment from the Western
Suburbs?
Call 1300 121 603 or book a free in-home assessment online at penot.com.au/free-quote. The
Bayswater showroom at 92 Beechboro Rd S is approximately 15 to 25
minutes from the western suburbs depending on traffic and exact origin.
All consultations happen at the home, not at the showroom, so the
assessor sees the actual rooms and orientations.
