CONTRIBUTORS | WINDOWS/DOORS
Vinyl Windows and Doors Rise to the Occasion
PAM BARRETT
Premium vinyl-framed windows are the perfect fit for high-rise buildings and condominiums
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hen we started manufacturing vinyl windows in Hawaii in 1990, we were not all that surprised that there was a need to educate people about the benefits of these “new” vinyl-framed windows and doors that we were bringing to the industry. Even though they had already been a proven building material throughout Europe and the Mainland for decades, we knew that vinyl-framed windows were still an underutilized building material in Hawaii. What does surprise us today, however, is that after 30 years of education, manufacturing and installing windows, we still run into building industry professionals who believe the outdated myth that vinyl windows and doors cannot be installed in high-rise buildings. While that may be true of lower-end, mass-produced products, there are many grades of vinyl windows available. Premium vinyl windows and doors that are custom manufactured to your exact specifications are not only acceptable, they are a significantly better building material.
Why Vinyl? Windows and doors are one of the most complex—and most expensive— components of the building envelope. They are also one of the largest contributing factors when it comes to energy loss and, all too often, costly spall repair. Therefore, the quality of the products you choose, along with the materials that they are made of, determines how effectively the building is insulated against air, water, heat, light and noise transfer. The significant benefit of using vinyl windows in high-rise and commercial building applications
Before
After is their unique blend of energy efficiency, insulating properties, durability, design flexibility, ease of maintenance and superior value. Changes in the International Building Codes (IBC) have resulted in an increasing demand for higher performance standards.
Mass Produced vs. Custom Manufactured As with most building materials, when choosing vinyl windows that will last, quality matters. Mass-production stock windows are created in large quantities of common window sizes, in
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a short amount of time. It is important to keep in mind that stock windows will not necessarily fit into stock-sized openings due to fluctuations in the way walls are built and shifting that can occur as a building ages. In addition, many mass-produced vinyl windows are often made with lower-grade materials, adversely affecting their performance and longevity. This lower-grade vinyl can warp, bend or otherwise fail to perform in just a few years. As a result, they are usually only rated for low-rise residential use. Customized design and manufac-
