Palm Gables, Palm Beach

• Location: Gold Coast, QLD
• Scope: Full aluminium window replacement, 36-unit development
• Duration: Staged across three phases, January 2025 to May 2026

The Challenge

Built in 1986, Palm Gables was showing its age. The original windows had begun to corrode; several no longer operated properly, and water was seeping in through multiple points around the building. Left alone, that ingress was only ever going to get worse, bringing a real risk of mould and ongoing disruption for residents. Tight access around the site added another layer of complexity, with scissor lifts, knuckle booms and scaffolds all needed to reach the work safely.

Our Approach

We replaced every window across the development, and did it with a Building Approval in place from the outset. It’s a step that similar projects skip, which leaves the work non-compliant. We brought in an independent Building Certifier early in the planning phase to check our proposed installation method against the performance requirements set out in the National Construction Code, and worked through how a 1980s wall type would need to be treated to take a modern aluminium window.
The result was an installation method built to hold up in a coastal environment, meeting an N3 wind classification and keeping the building watertight. A series of flashings and trims made sure a current-generation window could sit properly in a 40-year-old opening, and careful programming around the weather kept the work on schedule. Residents were given notice roughly two weeks ahead of each stage, with the building manager and affected owners kept in the loop throughout. Weather was the one real threat to progress, and where it looked like causing an issue, we installed hoarding protection to stop water from finding its way into occupied units mid-project.

“A lot of window replacement projects proceed without a Building Approval in place. We didn’t take that shortcut, and it shows in the result.”

The Outcome

Palm Gables now has a full set of new windows, fitted with Diamond grille security screens that add both weather protection and peace of mind. The building looks noticeably sharper, and the work was completed within the original timeframe. Every window installed now carries a Certificate of Classification from the Building Certifier, confirming the project meets its compliance obligations in full.

Facing similar issues with an ageing building envelope? Get in touch with Urban Reach to talk through your project.