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TECHNOLOGY AND YOU

Fiberglass replacement windows the best


New fiber glass windows have the best overall quality.

Q: We want to install the very best replacement windows available. I am willing to pay extra for quality. What do you think of new fiberglass windows as compared to vinyl and will they block road noise? - Marshall G.

A:• If you want the very best windows, fiberglass windows are clearly the choice you should make. Twenty years from now, your fiberglass windows will glide open and seal like when they were new. Also, by selecting low-e glass, curtain and furniture fading will be greatly reduced.

In addition to your utility bills savings, you will definitely notice the reduced noise from outdoors. The fiberglass itself tends to deaden noise and the quality airtight seals are effective sound barriers. By selecting optional inert gas (argon or krypton) filled glass, even more noise is blocked.

Even though fiberglass windows cost a little more initially than vinyl or aluminum windows, they are the best long-term investment. This is because they will never need to be replaced again and seldom caulked or painted. They remain airtight and, with their high insulation value, your utility bills will be lower and you will be more comfortable.

Fiberglass is the most versatile and functional of all window frame materials. Window frames use a pultruded fiberglass process instead of a laid-up process used in boats and bathtubs. Long, very strong, continuous glass fibers provide the strength to the maintenance-free resins used.

With the extreme strength of fiberglass, narrower window frames can be used without sacrificing rigidity. This provides room for more glass area and a larger clear view window area than your old windows. In the winter, this is a real plus if you want free passive solar heating and natural lighting.

My favorite fiberglass window designs have natural wood interiors. From indoors, they have a rich elegant look, yet the outdoor fiberglass portion is maintenance-free. The super-strong fiberglass exterior provides the strength and stability to resist gale-force winds and driving rains.

Some of the most beautiful designs (Comfort Line and Fibertec) use real oak interior surfaces that can be stained. If you prefer matching stainable grilles for a Colonial look, they are held in place with hidden brass clips. You can snap them out quickly

18 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING NOVEMBER 1999


when cleaning the windows.

Fiberglass replacement windows are available in many decorator colors. Since fiberglass resists high temperatures, durable paint can be baked on. Unlike vinyl windows, fiberglass frames can be painted anytime you decide to change the decor of just one room or your entire house.

Another key advantage of the fiberglass frame material is that it expands with temperature changes at almost the identical rate as the window glass. This results in a consistently airtight fit no matter what the season or time of day is. In contrast, vinyl expands about seven times more than glass and aluminum expands about twice as much as glass.

With their superior strength, fiberglass frames offer the possibility of more unique shapes and styles of windows. For example, some of the new sliders (Thermotec) also completely rotate inward for easy cleaning. Typical sliders can be heavy and difficult to remove for cleaning.

Two other unique styles, popular in Europe, are burglar-resistant combination hopper/ casement and tilt-turn windows. On the former, the hopper sections are located above and below the casement. The hoppers are secure, yet provide ventilation. With the turn of a handle, tilt-turn windows can pivot in from the side, like a reverse casement, or pivot at the bottom like a hopper.

Fiberglass windows are tops in energy efficiency. Many of the fiberglass window frames offer optional foam insulation filling (up to R-10). This is more effective than insulated vinyl frames because the strength of fiberglass does not require all the interior webs in vinyl frames.

Since glass comprises the majority of the total window opening area, it has a great impact on the overall window efficiency. At the minimum, select dual-pane low-emissivity (low-e) glass. Any of the frame styles that use compression-type seals, like awning, hopper, casement, etc., are generally the most efficient.

As with custom-sized vinyl windows, installing fiberglass windows is not difficult for do-it-yourselfers. Measure your windows carefully (all the manufacturers have detailed measuring instructions) and order the windows. No detailed fitting will be needed to install them.

Write for (or instantly download - www.dulley.com) Update Bulletin No. 405 - buyer's guide of the 10 best whole-house and plug-in surge suppressors, designs, reaction times, max. surge, clamping voltage and features. Please include $3.00 and a business-size SASE. Mail to: Jim Dulley, Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787. Springfield, IL 62708.

James Dulley is a mechanical engineer who writes on a wide variety of energy and utility topics. His column appears in a large number of daily newspapers.

Copyright 1999 James Dulley


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