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CA 100 AD: The first fixed glass window was

likely produced in the Egyptian city of Alexandria under Roman occupation.

532: Stained glass was introduced into cathedrals

and mosques by using marble frames to hold the glass, and then framed in wood.

1100’s: Stained-glass became more refined by

using lead to separate the pieces of glass.

1400’s: Fixed windows began to be replaced by

hinged glazed sashes, or casement windows. Rec-tangular openings became standard in buildings.

1600’s: Glass windows became common in all

homes as glass become more available and afford-able. Glassblowing techniques limited the size of the panes to small leaded lites.

The vertical gliding window and the double-hung window were developed in England

1700’s: A new technique for making window

glass allowed larger panes to be produced. 1800’s: The invention of more accurate metal

casting birthed the iron window.

Processes were developed to allow the mass-production of even larger panes of glass, allowing windows without lites.

1930’s: The birth of the aluminum window.

Double pane glass invented to increase energy efficiency.

1950’s: The birth of the vinyl window

1983: Cardinal glass introduces LoĒ™ coatings

to produce triple-pane performance in dual-pane windows

1992: First Ultrex Fiberglass window released

Welcome To The Evolution Of Windows We wrote the Evolution of Windows, because shopping for windows can be a daunting task. This

guide will help you wade through the various window materials available on the market, and choose

what’s right for you.

I’m a picky man, (my staff calls me a finicky craftsman) and I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I

didn’t tell you what my 25 years in the window industry has taught me: not all windows are created

equally. I’ll be upfront and admit that there’s only one window that we’d recommend, because it per-

forms the best. Don’t believe me: See for yourself as you explore The Evolution Of Windows.

Sincerely,

John Schwager Owner of Accurate Window & Door

The History of Windows Windows have changed a lot over time. Since the beginning of houses, window openings have been filled with small grilles made of stone, wood, iron, or glass. Sometimes other translucent materials such as paper, mica, or paper were also used to cover the opening. As glass advanced, modern windows were born, and various window materials were used to meet the demands of the market.

Wood

Pros

The standard for beauty & traditional craftsmanship

Can be painted & stained

Cladding on wood slows deterioration

Cons

Usually the most expensive option

Very high maintenance

Labor-intensive finishing

Can rot, mold, or swell

Easily damaged

Difficult to change the exterior color of wood cladding

Dark colors fade quickly

Cladding can hide deterioration until it’s too late

Modern wood is less weather resistant

New Lumber Vs. Old

Wood became the standard frame material as glassmaking devel-oped and the modern window was born. Today, wood windows re-mind us of the days when homes were built by highly skilled crafts-men who took pride in their work. Beautiful profiles, narrow frames, and warm tones give a traditional, old-fashioned look to any home.

New Lumber Shortens the Lifespan of a Wood Window

The unavailability of old lumber guarantees that modern wood windows aren’t the same as they were 100 years ago. Every year, a tree surrounds Itself with rings of weather-resistant sap to help fight the elements. New lumber has significantly less rings, and can’t stand up to the weather as well as your great-grandfathers wood windows.

Moisture And Maintenance Are Guaranteed

The weather and wood are mortal enemies, guaranteeing a lot of maintenance to keep the window from rotting. The battle begins when you first install the window. If you don’t paint or stain any one of the many wood surfaces, the wood will begin the journey to deterioration. There’s a lot of scrapping, sanding, and painting needed to keep a wood window looking beautiful throughout the years . When you think about having to do that with ALL of the windows in your home, it can be an overwhelming and expensive project. In fact, it’s so overwhelm-ing that few homeowners dedicate the time or resources needed to keep their wood windows looking great.

Aluminum-clad helps, but it’s not perfect

After seeing the weaknesses of a wood window, manufacturers started covering wood windows with aluminum to help protect the exterior from the elements. Unfortunately, moisture still finds ways to get in as the wood moves with the metal, and opens up seams. The high-temperatures of the metal absorbing the heat of the sun acceler-ates the deterioration process, but you can’t see it happening be-cause it’s hidden behind the aluminum. Before you know it, the win-dow is falling apart, and you’re taken by complete surprise. If you do get an aluminum clad window, ensure it’s extruded and not roll-form aluminum. Roll form is as thin as a coke can, is easily dinged up, and fades quickly.

The Grandfather Of Craftsmanship

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Metal

Pros

Very strong, allows narrower frames and more daylight

Low maintenance

Easily painted

Inexpensive

Cons

Can pit, corrode, & rust

Conducts high rates of cold & heat, driving up the cost of utilities & making rooms uncomfortable,

Unattractive industrial look

Darker colors fade

High seal-failure rate

The first metal windows were made from wrought iron by highly-skilled medieval blacksmiths, and were most commonly used in ecclesiastical buildings and expensive homes. New metal casting techniques in the mid-18th century allowed the manufacturing of iron frames, creating an inexpensive alternative to wood. The natural strength of iron made them popular in lunatic asylums, workhouses, and schools. In 1856, Sir Henry Bessemer pioneered a new process for hot rolled steel, and steel replaced iron as the metal of choice. Steel windows became most popular after the First World War, as the country demanded homes fit for the heroes returning from battle. They were also commonly selected for skyscrapers and commercial buildings due to their low-cost, narrow sashes, and futuristic look. Aluminum windows have been around since the 1930s, and be-came more commonly used in the construction industry after World War II. By the 1970’s, they became the primary metal window, over-taking steel, and rivaling the dominate wood window industry; espe-cially in commercial and institutional construction.

Metal Creates Higher Energy Bills

The biggest pitfall of metal windows is the amount of heat and cold they transfer into the home. Metal is the least energy-efficient window material, and is guaranteed to create higher energy bills and uncom-fortable rooms. Exposure to the sun can also cause dark exterior col-ors to fade.

Seal-Failures Bring Foggy Glass

The amount of heat transferred also increases the rate of seal-failures. As the seal of a double pane glass unit heats up and cools down with the .aluminum, it starts to weaken, until it finally fails. Any argon gas used to insulate the window escapes, and the window becomes permanently foggy.

The Strength of Industrial Chic

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Vinyl

Pros

Cheapest up-front cost

Low maintenance

Energy Efficient

Cons

Lowest quality option

Short lifespan

Becomes pliable at 120-140 degrees

Major expansion & contraction

Big, bulky frames with less glass

Excessive weather-stripping

High seal-failure rate

Ugly welded corners

Can’t be painted

With the rise of heating and cooling costs in the 1970’s and 1980’s, manufactures started looking to vinyl windows as an alternative to metal’s poor energy performance and wood’s high maintenance. Vi-nyl windows became popular in Europe after World War II, but took longer to be embraced in the United States because consumers were weary of windows made from plastic (PVC). Vinyl’s popularity in the USA was fueled by low prices, and govern-ment rebates encouraging the purchase of energy efficient windows through the Energy Star program.

Less Strength Means Bigger Frames

Companies have manufactured wood, aluminum, and fiberglass ladders, but no one has made a plastic ladder because vinyl isn’t very strong and has way too much flex. You can see the lack of strength by looking at vinyl's big, bulky frames. Vinyl needs bigger frames to have enough strength, leaving less space for glass than other win-dows. If you do purchase a vinyl window, we recommend getting one with a bulky frame, because it’ll last longer.

Vinyl Deforms In The Sun

Vinyl frame extrusions are made by heating up PVC and pushing it through a mold that forms the frame. Because vinyl melts with heat, it can be recycled and turned into other products. Unfortunately, a vinyl window can also start to deform at 120 to 140 degrees. During a hot sunny day, the frame can easily reach 120 as the surfaces soak up the heat, and the glass magnifies the temperatures of the sun.

Expansion And Contraction Is an Issue

Out of all of the window materials, vinyl expands and contracts the most. In fact, a south-facing, six-foot window can move up to 3/8 of an inch a day. Manufactures plan for deformation, expansion, and contraction with very basic window designs that hide the shifts, big gaps in- between the sash and frame, and a lot of weather-stripping. risk for seal-failure as the ever-shifting vinyl puts pressure on the glass.

Plastic Paradise

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Fibrex

Pros

Strong frame

Low maintenance More resistant to heat than vinyl

Cons

High price-point

Experimental hybrid

Expansion & Contraction

Darker colors fade

Fibrex is an experimental composite released in 1992 by Andersen Windows. They combine 60% vinyl shavings and 40% wood flour to create a material that attempts to get the best out of both vinyl and wood.

Untested Waters

There isn’t a whole lot to say about Fibrex, simply because it’s a fairly new composite that hasn’t had a whole lot of time to prove how it performs. The manufacture knows this, and only warranties the non-glass components of their window for 10 years. Better But Not The Best

The mixture of vinyl and wood does help to overcome some of the disadvantages of each material, but when you look at the numbers on the next page, you’ll see, it still acts much like a vinyl window.

The Vinyl / Wood Experiment

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Fiberglass Fiberglas is manufactured by forming strong cables of glass and saturating it with resin. You’ll find fiberglass on boats, airplanes, fishing poles, and even the auto body of the Chevrolet Corvette. We recommend this material be-cause it’s strong, durable, and ready to hold up to anything the Pacific Northwest has to throw at it.

The Cons Of Fiberglass

Due to the high cost of manufacturing, fiberglass is one of the more expensive options, and lead times are usual-ly longer because windows are often custom ordered to size. Some fiberglass manufacturers also have an ugly bumpy, matted finish to the window.

Ultrex Fiberglass

Ultrex is a pultruded fiberglass designed by John Jambois, an innovator who wanted a material that would per-form exactly the way he wanted it to. He meticulously designed the best mix of roving and matting, and a patented resin to make the fiberglass as strong and durable as he possibly could. Marvin introduced Infinity Replacement Windows in 1992, creating a new line of fiberglass windows designed specifically for replacing old windows. There are several advantages to Infinity from Marvin windows that allow us to wholeheartedly rec-ommend them for your home.

Description

We recommend windows by Infinity from Marvin, because they are built by people who really care. Although it’d be

cheaper for Marvin to move their main factory and headquarters to a city closer to highways, they maintain committed

to the small town of Warroad, Minnesota. During the economic downturn in 2008, they were determined to avoid lay

offs at all costs, because their greatest concern is people, not profits.

Their strong commitment to people translates into one of the best windows out there. Instead of using cheap

hardware to cut costs, they selected some of the most expensive (but some of the best). That’s just one example of

why we love the Marvin family ethos. I think you’ll discover the same thing when you compare this window side-by-side to any other out there.

Compariso

n Chart

Ultrex Withstands Extreme Temperatures

500x Less Conductive

Than Metal

Vinyl Can Deform at

120° 140°F

Most Infinity windows are rated DP-30,

performing well with winds up to 132 MPH (a level 3 hurricane), and remaining watertight when exposed to 8” of rain per hour with 42 mph winds.

Infinity Casements are rated DP-40,

performing well with winds up to 155mph (a level 4 hurricane), and remaining water-tight when exposed

to 8” of rain per hour with 50 mph winds.

Description

8x Stronger Than

Vinyl

3.5x Stronger Than

Fibrex

3x Stronger Than

Wood

Ultrex’ Tensile Strength Means 1 Sq. Inch

Can Hold 41,000 Lbs. 1 Elephant!

The Strength Of Steel

Vinyl Ultrex

833% Less Than

Vinyl

Expansion & Contraction Of Vinyl Causes:

Warping Hard or impossible operation Basic window design & A lot of weather-stripping

Description

But Unlike Vinyl, it’s Paintable

Infinity from Marvin only uses Cardinal Glass, the premier glass on the market

to keep your home comfortable, and make your window last a lifetime.

Save Up To 30% Off Your

Heating And Cooling

Bills

With The LoE Silver Coating, Summer Sun Is Filtered, And Reflected Back Outside.

Cardinal’s Optional i89 Coating Reflects Indoor Heat Back Into The Home During The Winter.

Industry Low Seal-Failure Rate Cardinal Glass

.2%

Industry Standard

9% The XL Stainless Steal Spacer Guarantee’s Long-Lasting Performance. In Fact, Cardinal Is The Only Manufacturer To Offer A 20 Year Warranty On Their Glass.

LoE blocks

95% of UV Rays

That Fade Your Rugs, Artwork, Furniture, Ect.

Energy Efficient, High Tech Glass

Outside -20°F +20°F

Inside

Double-pane, clear 37°F 51°F

Ordinary Low-e (air fill) 46°F 57°F

LoE 366 (air Fill) 49°F 58°F

LoE 366 (Argon Fill) 52°F 60°F

Outside & Inside Glass Temperatures

During The Winter, The LoE Coat-ing Draws The Heat From The Sun To Keep The Home Warm.

Description

Competitor Ultrex

Smooth Acrylic Finish

Competitor

Ultrex

3x Thicker Than Competitive Finishes

Low Maintenance

No Scraping, Sanding, Or Painting Required...

Ever

Unlike Vinyl, It’s Paintable

Acrylic Works If you go into a scrapyard, you’ll find old cars that have

been beat up by time. The body is rusting, the interior is torn

up, but the acrylic light covers usually look just as amber or

red as the day the car was manufactured. Acrylic has been

proven the test of time.

AAMA 623-10 certified; listed for 624-10 and

625-10

Only Finish To Be Listed For All

3 Rigorous Tests.

Pried, soaked, and boiled with no loss of adhesion Beaten up with no film removal Roughed up to test abrasion resistance Doused with muriatic, mortar, and nitric acid with no blistering Soaked in detergent with no loss of film adhesion or blistering Soaked in window cleaner with no loss of film adhesion or blistering Tested against humidity Brought to really cold temperatures and quickly heated up again to test

resilience against the weather Baked in an oven to test resilience against heat

Description

Designed Like A Traditional Wood Window Infinity from Marvin was created by the same engineers that designed the premium Marvin

wood windows, giving it the look and feel of a beautiful wood window. They even have a special

interior finish called Everwood, an inorganic material de-

signed to look like wood, without having to worry about

the maintenence and possible deteriation.

AAMA 623-10 certified; listed for 624-10 and

Easy To Use The one-handed tilt

mechanism for the double-hung, ease of operating the

window, and Easy Wash

Hinges for the casement

makes Infinity easy to use

and clean.

Vinyl Ultrex Strong, beautiful corners with

no ugly weld

Description

Family-Run Company – Built To Last

It isn’t just windows that I think should be built to last – it’s also how I have

built Accurate window & Door. My company has been in business for 25+ years

and the next generation is now involved, too. I am passing on my skills, experi-

ence, and my values so that this company continues on as a family business we

can always be proud of.

Our Pledge:

We Offer Lifetime Value: ONLY THE BEST WINDOWS

Don’t Choose Us Because We’re The Cheapest... (Because We Probably Aren’t).

Choose Us Because We Deliver The Best Long-Term Value.

To us, planned obsolescence is a dirty word; we won’t pretend to “save” you money by offering inferior products, knowing that you’ll have to pay more later when they need to be replaced again.

We Are Fussy Craftsmen

If It’s Worth Doing, It’s Worth Doing Right…

It Should NOT Be Rushed… Short Cuts Are Unacceptable… AND We DO IT RIGHT Or We DO IT OVER.

If a problem develops, we take care of it on the spot. No covering it up. No hoping you don’t notice. We put the customer above our profit margin.

We Aren’t Slick Salesmen

No Sales Or Pricing Games. Only A Low-Key, Honest Approach That Edu-cates you on your options.

We won’t hold you hostage in your own home and apply high-pressure sales tactics to bully you into buying, and we don’t believe in price games or deceiving discounts. When you schedule a consultation, we’ll simply measure your windows, and tell you about the lifetime fiberglass window we offer.