Fiberglass Doors and Windows: Worry free and built to last

An attractive front entrance not only adds to a home’s curb appeal, but that added beauty and value can increase a home’s overall market price, according to a national industry study. When considering replacements, fiberglass windows far outperform and outlast wood, aluminum, and vinyl windows. Today’s fiberglass windows and doors are built to last a lifetime and beyond. Learn how they make a great investment by themselves or as part of a remodeling project.

When fiberglass doors were first introduced in the early 1980s, people couldn’t believe they weren’t made of wood. And when they learned fiberglass entry doors would last for decades without warping, rotting or painting, a new market was born. The company that introduced these promising products was Therma-Tru Doors. Over the past 25 years, no other material has matched the advantages of fiberglass for doors and windows: security, energy efficiency, years of use without replacement, and enduring beauty without a lot of maintenance.

Over the decades, fiberglass doors have become stylish and sophisticated. When your guests arrive at your front door, even at close range they will not be able to tell your fiberglass entry door is not made of wood. Leading-edge technology can imitate the grain and luster of wood to a tee. Quality companies such as Therma-Tru doors use a proprietary three-step process that creates an authentic wood texture by casting the fiberglass with actual natural wood impressions. Yet fiberglass doors won’t split, crack or rot like wooden doors and offer excellent energy efficiency that can be as much as three to seven times better than traditional wood doors. Besides fiberglass entry doors, fiberglass patio doors and French doors also offer beautiful style and require little or no maintenance to last for decades.

Also known as "composite," fiberglass varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. The first-to-market fiberglass window material with a track record for excellence is Ultrex® fiberglass, available in Integrity from Marvin windows and doors, and Infinity from Marvin replacement windows and doors. Ultrex® is not the average composite, offering the same strength as steel, excellent energy efficiency properties and long lasting beauty that never needs painting or staining. In fact, the manufacturer of Infinity replacement windows and doors backs them with a lifetime warranty, so Infinity could be the last windows you’ll ever need to buy.

After doing your research, here are some facts you’ll learn about how Ultrex fiberglass makes Integrity and Infinity windows such a worthwhile investment. Vinyl windows tend to crack and fade as they are subjected to temperature extremes on the exterior of a house. Plus, vinyl expands and contracts in those extremes at a much greater rate – in fact Ultrex expands and contracts 833% less than vinyl, so stress cracks and seal failures common to vinyl windows don’t happen with Infinity and Integrity windows.

Another quality that sets Ultrex apart from other brands of fiberglass is its patented acrylic finish, which is as much as three times thicker than competitors’ finishes. The Ultrex acrylic finish ensures your replacement windows will not scratch or dent as easily as vinyl - plus it resists UV fading up to five time longer than vinyl, even in dark colors.

Fiberglass windows also compare highly against roll form aluminum windows. Roll form windows are made from material than can be as thin as a typical soda can, tending to dent and conduct cold and heat easily. Homeowners with aluminum windows can find them extremely hot or cold to the touch, which in turn affects indoor comfort and energy bills. Integrity and Infinity windows and doors are 500 times less conductive than aluminum. And because of the strength of fiberglass, these windows can be made with a narrower frame, giving you a bigger glass area and a more beautiful view.

When considering your home improvement options, fiberglass doors and windows make a great choice. While reducing your energy bills and maintenance needs, you’ll enjoy beauty and peace of mind, knowing your investment will last.