Weather Shield Windows & Doors

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

For many years, sturdy steel reigned as king of the entry door because of its durability, low maintenance, and affordable price. But with the proliferation of lower-cost smooth-skin fiberglass doors and cheaper fiberglass imports from China, the price differential between steel and fiberglass has nearly faded away. 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