Simonton Windows

By the end of next year, heavy-duty, impact-resistant windows will come standard in all new WCI Communities homes along the hurricane-prone Florida coast ;even though local codes allow builders to substitute less-expensive accordion or roll-down shutters. More

Indeed, aluminum cladding has been embraced by builders and consumers for its reliable performance and low-maintenance characteristics. "It's crisp, stable, and it doesn't expand and contract like other materials", says Engerman. Unfortunately, it is also a good conductor of heat and cold. To compensate, manufacturers are engineering their newest models with the highest-performing glazings, such as argon-filled low-E2, and other insulating materials. Consequently, products such as Caradco's Tradition Plus and Pella's ProLine double-hung aluminum-clad wood windows meet or exceed the DOE's tough Energy Star requirements. More

Simonton. Online tools include PDFs of the company’s Energy Star–qualified glass options across all product lines by climate zone and of those that qualify for federal tax credits. The site features a description of the components employed to achieve efficient windows and a downloadable consumer brochure about Energy Star’s window certification program. Pictured: ProFinish Brickmould 600 series. 800.746.6686. www.simonton.com. More