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Kevin Surace of Serious Windows
Lloyd Alter
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Fiberglass Frame Basics
Why we like it
Pultruded fiberglass is durable, h3 and a good insulator. That happy guy in the picture is Kevin Surace of Serious windows, manufacturer of probably the best window on the market when it comes to insulation. Pultrusion is defined by Wikipedia as:
| a continuous process of manufacturing of composite materials with constant cross-section whereby reinforced fibers are pulled through a resin, possibly followed by a separate preforming system, and into a heated die, where the resin undergoes polymerization. Many resin types may be used in pultrusion including polyester, polyurethane, vinylester and epoxy. |
None of which are as nice and natural as wood, but when you put fiberglass through this process you get a section that is incredibly h3 and long-lasting. Mix a fiberglass frame with the right glass and you have a window that will last, won't sag, and won't need much maintenance.
What we worry about
Cost- more expensive than wood or vinyl.
Eco-factor of Fiberglass Frames
The most thermally effective windows on the market are pultruded fiberglass, getting R-values up to R12, better than a lot of walls. More: Serious Materials Makes Serious Windows
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