Fiberglass siding looks up

f ooxrNc rowARD increased remodeling activity and I-lnew-home construction, Marvin is spreading the word about its newest product: fiberglass siding with the look of wood, without the maintenance.

Named Apex, the siding is made of Ultrex, a fiberglass material developed and patented 20 years ago for Marvin's Integrity- and Infinity-brand windows and doors. Produced in Marvin's 110,000-sq. ft. manufacturing plant in Fargo, N.D., the fiberglass siding represents the company's first expansion into other building products.

"Innovation is the key to growth in today's business world," says president Susan Marvin. "Apex represents an innovative use of a proprietary technology that's already been proved in tens of thousands of homes across the U.S."

Apex's story began in 1990, when Marvin partnered with John Jambois to form Tecton Products in Fargo. Once Ultrex proved itself in Marvin's windows and doors, it was time to look toward other product categories. In 2006, Tecton launched its structural siding line.

Three years later, Tecton became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marvin and the new product-now named Apex-was formally introduced. Despite the economic downturn, the product received notice as a good-looking alternative to traditional wood siding or other alternative siding materials.

According to Marvin, Apex is the first fiberglass siding that can be installed in overlapping boards, like traditional wood siding. The product is available in 10 colors, two widths-4" and 7"-and in either a smooth or woodgrain finish. Other pluses: fiberglass doesn't expand, so pieces can be butted tightly together for a pencil-thin joint the durable, acrylic finish is four times thicker than paint, for increased resistance to fading and chipping

. a built-in water management system lessens susceptibility to mold and rot it is lighter than other siding materials, which makes it easier to work with and install

"It truly looks like a mill-finished piece of wood," says Bruce Peter, owner of Just Exteriors Plus, Wappingers Falls, N.Y. "It captures the appeal of wood, without having the maintenance."

Peter also appreciates that Apex is environmentally friendly. "Fiberglass is made of sand, just like glass is made of sand," he notes. And unlike vinyl, it's not petroleumbased so VOC gases aren't released during manufacture and all leftover materials are ground up and reused. "With fiberglass, there's nothing but advantages."

Currently, Apex is distributed by United Products Corp., St. Paul, Mn. (in Mn., N.D., western S.D., and Wi.); Parksite, Batavia,Il. (in Me., N.H., Vt., Ma., Ct., R.I., and eastern N.Y.), and Universal Supply, Hammonton, N.J. (N.J., southeastem Pa., and northern De.).

By Carla Waldemar