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Selecting Wood Windows

There are many features to look at when selecting a quality wood window.  Manufacturers may focus on many features and benefits that could overwhelm the average buyer.  However, there are a few key issues to focus on for the long term performance of your window product.  These issues should take precedence over any other features you may find attractive as they are crucial to the durability and integrity of the window.

Wood Stock

The first point to look for in a quality wood window is good sturdy stock material.  A custom wood window will have a 5/4 stock (1-1/4").  This thicker stock material gives the window a sturdier structure and makes installation easier.  This is particularly true if you have a stucco house with bull nose corners.  The extra stock width allows the bull nose to be returned to the window edge more easily and more aesthetically.  The thicker stock also allows for more attractive mill work to be provided for the interior design of your home. Thinner stock materials are available and may be satisfactory for your particular design.  Let your Williams Consultant review the design to offer suggestions for proper stock selection.

Wood Treatment

All wood windows are pressure treated in some manner to prevent moisture absorption, decay and insect infestation.  However, most of the wood is simply dipped into a chemical vat and then kiln dried.  This process only allows the treatment to penetrate about 1/8" into the wood. When the window is fastened to the rough opening nails or screws undoubtedly penetrate this wood surface and thus compromise the front line defense against decay.

All Jeld-Wen wood windows use a patented process called AuraLast that eliminates this problem.  Instead of dipping the wood, the stock is instead placed into a vacuum chamber.  The chemical treatment is therefore allowed to penetrate 100% of the stock.  This means that your wood window will be protected for life from water, insects and rot. sure that you ask how a wood window was treated so as insure that the stock is completely protected.

Cladding Finish

The aluminum cladding on a wood window is essential in protecting the window from the elements for the life of the product.  All claddings receive special paints to improve performance.  However, in the strong sun of the South West we need to take extra precautions against chalking and fading over the life of the window.  The only paint that can provide this level of durability is a Kynar 500 70% finish.  Other paint finishes are either polyester or silicone polyester and will not provide long term durability.  A Kynar finish however has been tested and proven to keep your windows looking like new even in the hot New Mexico sun.  Kynar is based on the inclusion of the mineral fluorospar, also known as fluorite. This igneous rock was formed over 200 million years ago from molten lava pushed to the earth's surface.  The mineral is a transparent or translucent material that when ground into a powder and included with paint, creates a tough outer coating.  This power when combined with resins create the Kynar finish. The special paint used on our wood window cladding is a combination of 70% Kynar, 10% pigment, and 20% binder agent.  Combined it forms the toughest paint finish available on the market.  While some manufacturers offer a 50% Kynar finish this does not perform as well as the 70% option.  Only a Kynar 500 70% finish can quality for the American Architectural Manufacturers Association 2605-98 specification. The highest specification for durability of the paint finish. While many manufacturers may offer the Kynar 500 70% finish often they will charge more for this as an upgrade.  All Jeld-Wen Custom Windows provide the top line finish as a standard feature of their windows. 

Glass

Warranty

Warranties on the products we sell vary, and different industries have different types of warranty coverage.  In choosing our suppliers and the products we represent, we favor suppliers who stand by their products.    Here are some tips on evaluating manufacturers’ warranty coverages and some good questions to ask. 

How long does the warranty last?   For glass warranties, is it a full product replacement warranty for the full period, or at some point does it only give the consumer a right to buy replacement glass at a discount off list?  Is this right to buy glass at a discount off list of any value or can a consumer buy at discount off list anyway, whether or not there is warranty coverage?   Does the warranty on exterior cladding cover fading and chalking or just flaking, blistering, lack of adhesion, etc.?  Does the full warranty on exterior cladding apply as a standard feature, or must a paint upgrade be specified?  Are custom colors and certain reds excluded from the warranty?  Regarding wood and structural components, are specially constructed or designed items excluded from the warranty?  Are wood components specifically warranted to remaining free from rot, decay and termite damage?  Does your local window supplier administer the warranty or does the consumer have to communicate with the factory?   How long has your local supplier been in business?  What length of service, experience and expertise do the local supplier’s techs have with the product you are buying if repairs are needed?  We think you conclusions about warranties on the products we sell will be favorable.

to Last modified: 05/02/08