The original windows had wood framing and, for high-end leaded glass, metal grilles that held the glass securely in place. Within the last century, metal began taking the place of glass in many areas, with vinyl finally taking its place as a low-maintenance option. However, there’s not much argument that wood provides durable, solid beauty while vinyl takes the least amount of maintenance of the three – until now. With the advent of so many new building materials, is it that surprising that the experts at Andersen Windows have developed a new composite to give its customers the best of both worlds? Here’s a solid look at Fibrex, Andersen’s composite window material.
- Fibrex is a great green material.
- The composite material was developed to help eliminate some of the clear pine sawdust waste on Andersen’s production line. It uses about 40% wood waste by weight and 60% vinyl, some of which has been recycled from other sources. Fibrex waste can also be reprocessed into the material, preventing waste on the production line. This allows you to enjoy your beautiful new windows, knowing that they’re created from sustainable technology.
- Fibrex is Resistant to Thermal Transference
- The composite material’s unique properties include being about 700 times more resistant to thermal transference than aluminum windows. This means that you’ll lose less heat or cold through your window frames to the outside, making your home operate in a more energy-efficient fashion as a whole and giving you lower energy bills.
- Fibrex Forms a Finished Surface
Because Fibrex forms a solid, finished surface, there’s no need to paint or use wood sealing or finishing products, now or in the future. This lowers your family’s exposure to volatile organic compounds, otherwise known as VOCs. Many VOCs have been found to cause health problems, including triggering asthma attacks, causing chemical sensitivities and similar impacts to your health.- Fibrex Windows Have Great Compressive Strength
- Fibrex windows have twice the compressive strength of vinyl, which allows for a thinner frame and more glazing, allowing more light into the room for a window of the same size. At the same time, Fibrex has a third of the thermal expansion rate of vinyl, similar insulating properties to both pine and vinyl and about ten more degrees before thermal distortion can become a problem than vinyl (though at 173°F for Fibrex’ distortion point, what are you planning on doing with those windows?). At the same time, its price point is very close to the same as vinyl, despite its better performance.
- Fibrex is Extremely Resistant to Rot
- Because the wood used in the Fibrex compound is essentially completely coated in vinyl, it’s extremely resistant to rot. This means that it’s a very low-maintenance material, allowing you to treat it in a fashion very similar to vinyl in terms of maintenance needs. Fibrex has been designed to avoid blistering, flaking, fading or peeling, and the color is an integral part of the composite, providing long-lasting beauty.
Fibrex provides a wide range of benefits that make it a great choice when you can’t decide between wood and vinyl, while delivering a great price in the process. If you’re interested in finding out more about this dynamic new window material, the experienced associates at Poulin Lumber are always ready to help. Please feel free to contact us today with any questions about Fibrex or Andersen Windows, for further information on the product line or to get a quote on new windows for your home or business.
Sources:
https://brennancorp.com/blog/a-comparison-and-review-of-andersens-fibrex-material/
