June 2005

SHELTER
Building a Future for Distributors and Dealers of Building Products

Volume 44, Issue 5 June 2005

THE FUTURE IN FRAMES
Coming Trends in Windows and Doors

When you get right down to it, windows and doors are all about facilitating movement and providing a view of what’s out there. Well, consider SHELTER your window—or door—to the new items and trends in both of these categories. We’ve taken a look at what issues have moved into the spotlight for manufacturers and are now offering you a look at just some of the options available.

MAi Completes Biltmore Estate Collection with Ten Designs
Wylie, Texas-based Moulding Associates Inc. (MAi), a manufacturer of wood doors, stair parts and millwork, has added seven new designs to the Biltmore Estate® For Your Home collection. The 8-foot collection is now made up of ten exterior doors plus one for use in the interior. Finishes and framing are in progress for the door line offered in partnership with the Biltmore Estate® of Asheville, N.C.

Inspired by elements of the estate built by George Vanderbilt in 1895, the collection features the exclusive hardwood Malaga Cherry™ as well as an American white oak hardwood. Carved details and beveled and decorative art glass embellishments are featured in the designs.

Massive paired door sets (2 Ľ-x-42-96 inches or 1 ľ-x-96 inches) feature arched radius tops, peaked gothic style or square top rails. Door design features include carved linen folds, cross bucks and reversing rope twists. Pre-finishing and pre-hanging is offered and recommended.

In addition, MAi and the Busi Co. of Sedrina, Italy, have plans to design an expanded line of stair parts to be marketed under the For Your Home name. The stair parts will be designed in Italy by Mr. Busi after a visit to the North Carolina estate for information and inspiration.

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TruStile Expands Authentic Designs Collection
TruStile® Doors, based in Denver, has announced the addition of three new door series to its Authentic Designs™ collection. The new series—Art Deco, Farmhouse and High-Country—add to TruStile’s extensive collection, which now includes 12 door lines.

The Art Deco series features flat-panel doors with square or beveled sticking and applied mouldings. This line offers a blend of design extremes, pairing the exotic with minimalist styles. The Farmhouse series features both historically accurate door styles and updated interpretations of time-honored designs; the line includes flat-panel doors with quarter-round or quarter-bead sticking profiles. Offered with panel and glass door options, the Farmhouse series is available in medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or any standard wood species.

The High-Country door series was designed to reflect natural materials and styles, and is comprised of beveled or square sticking options with flat or V-groove panels. The series features panel applications in a variety of wood species. Combinations of glass, V-groove and standard panels offer design flexibility.

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FrameSaver Introduces Rot-Resistant Wood Frames for Garage Doors
FrameSaver, based in Nacogdoches, Texas, has announced the expansion of its FrameSaver product line. Known for its rot- and moisture-resistant wood door frames, the company now offers the same technology for wood garage door frames.

Featured in primer colors of white, grey or tan, the new FrameSaver garage door frames are available in lengths of 8- and 10-feet with dimensions of 2-by-6 inches, 2-by-8 inches and 2-by-10 inches. According to a company news release, these new frames could eliminate the need for special installation techniques currently used for garage door frames.

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Honduran Mahogany Doors
Solid Honduran mahogany is the preferred material for many of the world’s most prestigious portals, specifically those made by Borano Inc. of Miami Beach, Fla. Carved from the species, swietenia macrophylla, revered down through the ages and popularized by fine mahogany Victorian furniture, Borano entry doors are custom-made, like fine furniture for the entryway, according to a company release.

Door jambs are cut to a generous 1-3/4-inch thickness. Borano’s on-line customer service is unique and easy to access. Quotes can be viewed, and orders, tracked on-line, via Borano’s easy-to-use website. Finally, the doors arrive prefinished within 45 days of the original order.

Borano hand-crafts each door to the customer’s unique design—limited only by the customer’s imagination—or from an ever-expanding selection of exquisite patterns, from classic to avant-garde, according to company information.

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JELD-WEN® Fiberglass Door Collection Imitates Real Wood
Klamath Falls, Ore.-based JELD-WEN’s IWP® Aurora™ custom fiberglass collection offers high-end fiberglass entry systems designed to imitate real wood. The Aurora doors are cast from real wood, then hand-painted with details such as knots and distressed at the factory so that each piece is unique. Each door has a PolyMicro polyurethane core to provide a dense, solid feel. The doors are pre-finished with the company’s PermaGlow™ system, in which layers of specially formulated grain filler and UV-protective stain coats are applied. Each door then gets a final protective top coat, created to withstand extreme environments.

Available in Old World and Craftsman styles as well as the traditional classic collection, these wood-looking doors offer the aesthetic appeal of wood. According to the company, these hurricane-rated entry systems stand up to the harshest weather conditions, require very little maintenance and won’t swell, fade or warp in extreme temperatures. They are durable, energy efficient and strong. The doors come with a variety of glass and window options, three woodgrain options and 19 pre-finished color choices. JELD-WEN IWP Aurora doors are available prehung.

The company also offers a selection of door hardware, including speakeasy grilles, clavos and other customizable options that help carry out a personalized look.

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LCS Precision Molding Introduces Door Skid
LCS Precision Molding of Waterville, Minn., has introduced the LCS600 door skid.
The LCS600 door skid protects door side jamb bottoms during transportation and generally is more economical than wood bracing. Because this door skid is made of plastic it slides easier than wood, and side jamb splintering is rarely a problem prior to installation.

These door skids can be stapled or screwed to side jams and will raise a door more than ˝-inch off the floor. Information and samples are available from LCS Precision Molding.

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Fiberglass Options Available from Milgard
Milgard Windows of Tacoma, Wash., brings new function and performance to the traditional double-hung window with the introduction of a new double-hung tilt sash window to its fiberglass Ultra™ and WoodClad™ lines. The new windows feature a sturdy fiberglass frame and sash design and the company’s standard SunCoat™ low-E glass for energy efficiency.

The windows are available in a choice of five standard exterior colors and interior treatments of either a pre-finished white with the Ultra model, or in WoodClad clear vertical-grain Douglas fir. Custom colors are also available. Custom sizes can be ordered in 3 Ľ- and 4 Ľ-inch frame depths compatible for both new and replacement construction applications.

In addition, the company is offering a new French door in both its Ultra and WoodClad fiberglass lines. The doors are designed to resemble painted wood and to offer versatility by offering a similar look in sliding glass, out-swing and in-swing models.

Each of the lines provides a traditional French door look with 4 Ľ-inch stiles and top rail and an 8 ˝-inch bottom rail. Standard features include stainless steel locking hardware on all doors, while a choice of hardware finishes and grid options are also offered. The French door systems are available in 2-, 3- and 4-panel models.

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Great Lakes Vinyl Windows Unite Performance and Design
Great Lakes Window, headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, is offering its new PlyGem Lifestyles™ window line to provide homeowners with energy-efficient, low-maintenance and durable windows.

PlyGem Lifestyles windows have been tested to withstand wind loads in excess of 170 mph, and windows featuring the optional Maxuus 7.6 triple glazed dual-chamber insulating system are nearly four times more energy efficient than clear insulating glass.

This performance has been certified by the Window and Door Manufacturer’s Association and the National Fenestration Ratings Council, and earned the Energy Star® label from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The window’s performance is coupled with a multitude of design options, providing opportunities to create a custom fit with virtually any home décor. PlyGem Lifestyles is available in 13 color combinations with numerous designer glass and decorative grid options.

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Kolbe & Kolbe Introduces Ultra Series
Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co. Inc. of Wausau, Wis., has introduced its Ultra series extruded aluminum clad raised panel doors. According to a company news release, the doors are designed for aesthetics, but can also withstand unforgiving environments due to an exterior covered with extruded aluminum cladding and a 70-percent fluoropolymer finish.

The new series features 4 17/32-inch stiles and top rails and a 7 9/16-inch bottom rail as standard, with optional 6-inch stiles and top rail and a 12 5/8-inch bottom rail that meets Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. Exterior panels are embossed and inlaid into the doors at Kolbe & Kolbe, allowing for quality control. The series is available in numerous interior wood species and 22 standard exterior clad colors, as well as custom colors. It is available with removable grilles, grilles-in-the-airspace or performance divided lite, as well as a multi-point locking hardware system for added security.

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Enhancements Made to the Botanica Garden Door
FEN-TECH Inc., a Superior, Wis.-based company, has added enhancements to all its Botanica garden door lines at no additional cost to the customer.

The garden doors are manufactured from virgin vinyl compounds to create a low-maintenance, high-strength door. The multi-hollow, fusion-welded design adds structural integrity to resist warping, bowing and twisting. Botanica’s unique rain shed weatherstripping design, full height gear hinge and the addition of a warm-edge spacing system make the door energy efficient and practical, according to the company.

The doors are available in single patio, French or center hinged, with three colors to choose from. They come standard with stainless steel operator hardware. They now are also offered in 6 9/16 jambs for 2-by-6 construction.

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Two New TremGlaze Sealants Give Users Options
Tremco of Beachwood, Ohio, is offering its TremGlaze U1600 polyurethane sealant, a high-performance, low modulus, quick curing, polyurethane sealant with a proven track record of durability and long-term weather resistance. TremGlaze U1600 applications include new construction and replacement window and door installations.

The sealant’s quick strength and cure characteristics are designed for efficient exterior perimeter glazing of residential windows and doors. It adheres to window substrates including wood, vinyl, aluminum and glass and is easy to apply with conventional hand-caulking and air gunning equipment. According to company information, the paintable, odorless sealant also features low VOCs, high UV stability and movement capability and compatibility with commonly used flashing materials. Its tack-free time is three to four hours, with a skin time of 30 to 90 minutes.

TremGlaze U1600 conforms to AAMA 808.3 and has been extensively tested to verify its compatibility with commonly used flashing materials.

The company has also introduced its TremGlaze low expansion polyurethane foam sealant—a multiple purpose, UL-classified, one-component polyurethane foam designed specifically for window and door installation and retrofit applications.

One advantage of the foam, according to the company, is its low pressure build during curing. The product forms a strong air seal that, in turn, prevents heat loss and noticeable drafts and is suitable for a variety of application areas. Dispensed through any professional one-component dispensing unit, the product can be applied onto any clean surface to fill, insulate and seal around windows, door frame joints, beneath base plates, mud sills, T-joints, top plate penetrations, corner joints, exterior cracks, around utility panels, pipes, duct penetrations, etc. The product conforms to AAMA 812-04.

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SecureElegance Designed for Aesthetics and Strength

The new SecureElegance storm door from Larson Mfg., a storm door manufacturer based in Brookings, S.D., combines innovative design, durable components and KeepSafe® laminated glass manufactured by Solutia Inc.

According to company information, SecureElegance storm doors are impervious to blows from crowbars, baseball bats and even sledge hammers, but are still aesthetically pleasing. In addition to functioning as a deterrent to burglary, the KeepSafe impact-resistant glass offers protection from severe weather and shards of shattered glass. The laminated glass also minimizes exterior noise and protects carpets and other valuables from fading by providing 99 percent ultraviolet ray blockage. The line of doors also features a tough metal frame, hidden hinges and the Guardian 3 triple locking system, which secures the door to the jamb at the top, middle and bottom of the door.

GADCO Garage Doors Offer Freedom from Maintenance

General American Door Co. (GADCO) of Montgomery, Ill., has introduced its Country Freedom series 9004 garage door, which was designed to create the traditional feel of country living while freeing homeowners from traditional maintenance. Unlike standard wood, steel and overlay-style carriage house doors, the durable, high-density polyethylene Country Freedom garage doors never needs painting and retains its architectural beauty for many years through all types of weather, according to information provided by the company.

Each section of the energy-efficient door is insulated with a vinyl-backed, CFC-free expanded polystyrene core that is reinforced with a corrosion-resistant aluminum framework. Each door also features insulating vinyl between panels and sections, as well as a U-shaped vinyl bottom in an aluminum retainer. The doors are available in swing-out and folding styles and come standard with four traditional Colonial window lites.

Available in white or sandstone, the garage doors are offered in widths of 8, 9, 16 and 18 feet and heights of 7 and 8 feet.

Wausau Presents New Single-Slide Windows
Wausau, Wis.-based Wausau Window and Wall Systems® has presented its new 410i-HS series single-slide windows. Manufactured with Insulbar® thermal barrier, the windows provide weathering characteristics for time- and budget-sensitive projects such as high-rise residential towers.

Configurations for the new 410i-HS series include half-slide, center-slide and end-slide, all with airtight fixed exterior glazing. Tested to meet the industry’s most stringent requirements for air infiltration, water resistance and structural integrity, the windows are engineered for energy efficiency and can accommodate up to one-inch insulating glass.

The 410i-HS exhibits an excellent U-Factor when glazed with low-e insulating glass, to address new Model Energy Code requirements for buildings with substantial glazed areas.

The series can be painted with dual color finishes to match both exterior and interior color schemes. Half screens and applied, between-glass grids are also available, as are panning and trim, which can be specified with contoured shapes.

REHAU Introduces Its Triple-Seal Window Designs

REHAU® Inc., based in Leesburg, Va., has introduced its System 1400 triple-seal casement, awning and picture window designs for the high-end prime and replacement window markets.

The custom-built venting window features a contoured sash and glazing stop. All of the window’s functional elements, such as hinges and drainage systems, are concealed for clean sight lines. Three seals provide excellent insulation, as well as air- and water-resistance, and the multi-point hardware offers a high level of security.

All of the company’s windows are manufactured using high-quality PVC. The window features a patented ˝-inch drywall channel for a smooth interior finish in 4-by-6-inch construction, and its solid, one-piece 4 5/8-inch frame requires no add-on extensions in 2-by-4-inch construction. A 3 Ľ-inch frame depth design with identical features is available.

Hy-Lite Block Windows Now Operable

Hy-Lite Products Inc., based in Beaumont, Calif., now offers operable acrylic block windows for casement, awning and basement hopper style windows. Built with durable white, tan or driftwood vinyl frames, the operable windows are made-to-order with customer features such as diamond block design styles and eight decorative muntin finishes. Made with either 6- or 8-inch sized acrylic blocks, the windows are available in clear wave, frosted wave and cross rib, and in green wave. In addition, casement windows may be specified with either left or right hinges.

All of the company’s acrylic blocks are made of scratch-resistant, durable acrylic. The airtight blocks are sealed to help prevent condensation, and window units offer similar thermal benefits to traditional, dual-glazed units, according to information from the company.

Seal-O-Matic Window Awarded Energy Star Rating

Seal-O-Matic Industries Inc. of Ocean, N.J., has announced that its series III double-hung vinyl window has been awarded both the National Fenestration Rating Council label and, when paired with low-E glass, Energy Star status.

“We are exceedingly proud of having received such recognition,” said Lawrence S. Krompier, president. “It adds another dimension of success to our fully-welded Series III product line, which has been showing wide acceptance in the marketplace.”

Republic Adds New Glass Breakage Warranty

Republic Windows & Doors, based in Chicago, is offering a lifetime glass breakage warranty with Enhancement window systems that have a low maintenance and safety glass package option, which includes the company’s tempered T.U.F. glass and Stay Clean glass . The manufacturer warrants the glass of its Enhancement windows against breakage or cracking for as long as the purchaser owns the window, with one transfer to another owner.

“We’ve backed each moving part, each piece of hardware, the glass and even the performance options with a lifetime warranty,” said Amy Zimmerman, vice president of marketing.

CertainTeed Expands Size of New Castle Windows

CertainTeed, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., has expanded the size range of its New Castle XT™ DP50-rated windows to help East Coast builders meet homebuyers’ demands for larger windows while adhering to stringent building codes. CertainTeed’s DP50-rated windows are classified by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), meeting air, water and forced entry requirements as well as structural requirements as designated by AAMA 101 specification.

In total, the expansion includes 24 new larger sizes that meet the DP50 structural rating, including windows as large as 36 by 80 inches for single-hung and double-hung, 72 by 76 inches for twin single-hung and double-hung and 108 by 76 inches for triple single-hung and double-hung.

Available in white or tan, New Castle XT windows feature a fusion-welded sash and frame, a tilt-in sash for easy cleaning from inside the home and a balance system for trouble-free insulation. The windows come with a lifetime limited warranty and exclusive CertainTeed five-year SureStart™ protection for both materials and labor.

New Options Available for Sunrise Windows’ SunBlinds

Sunrise Windows of Temperance, Mich., a company that offers SunBlinds, mini-blinds between the lites of glass, is now expanding its offerings to double-hung, sliders and tilt-in slide windows.

While lift-and-tilt SunBlinds are available for casement, picture windows, bays, bows and sliding patio doors, the mechanism for this style was incompatible with the nature of double-hung and slider operation. To adapt this technology, the company focused on using SunBlinds’ tilt-only operation style, since the easy-to-use lever was located at the top of the sash. This allows the blinds to tilt either way by sliding the lever left or right.

The windows are available in a variety of colors, including wood grains, and other options.

Window Technologies Releases Two New Finishes

Window Technologies of Lincoln, Neb., has released two new proprietary finishes for its window product lines. The first is textured rust, a finish that features a textured appearance with a clear coat over it. The second is a five-year patina on copper clad. This roll-formed copper cladding is available on the company’s energy model product. The patina is put on in the plant to reduce the potential of handprints and unequal weathering that can appear on normal copper.

New ODL Skylights Designed for Severe Weather

For homeowners living in the Atlantic states who want to protect their homes during future hurricanes, ODL Inc. of Zeeland, Mich., is offering several products specifically designed to stay strong even in the most damaging weather conditions.

ODL’s severe weather tubular skylight is made of a polycarbonate dome and offers seamless aluminum flashing. It meets the wind load and hurricane-impact requirements for Florida and most of the Caribbean islands, according to information from the company. Recommended for use in areas with hail or hurricane exposure, the tubular skylight also meets the Florida Building Code and Miami-Dade County, Fla., impact requirements.

The first tubular skylights to be Energy Star®-qualified nationwide, ODL’s tubular skylights have a U factor of 0.44 and a solar heat gain coefficient of 0.24. These criteria allow for less heat flow and may reduce heating and cooling bills for homeowners.