| Hybrid/Composite
Hybrid
Manufacturers are increasingly turning to hybrid frame designs that use
two or more frame materials to produce a complete window system. The wood
industry has long built vinyl- and aluminum-clad windows to reduce exterior
maintenance needs. Vinyl manufacturers and others offer interior wood
veneers to produce the finish and appearance that many homeowners desire.
Split-sash designs may have an interior wood element bonded to an exterior
fiberglass element. We are likely to see an ever-increasing selection
of such hybrid designs as manufacturers continue to try to provide better-performing
products at lower cost. It may be important for a homeowner to learn about
these materials from the perspective of maintenance requirements and options
for interior finishes. However, it becomes increasingly difficult to estimate
the thermal properties of such a frame from simple inspection. The best
source of information is an NFRC label that provides the thermal properties
of the overall window.
Composite
Most people are familiar with composite wood products, such as particle
board and laminated strand lumber, in which wood particles and resins
are compressed to form a strong composite material. The wood window industry
has now taken this a step further by creating a new generation of wood/polymer
composites that are extruded into a series of lineal shapes for window
frame and sash members. These composites are very stable, and have the
same or better structural and thermal properties as conventional wood,
with better moisture resistance and more decay resistance. They can be
textured and stained or painted much like wood. They were initially used
in critical elements, such as window sills and thresholds in sliding patio
doors, but are now being used for entire window units. This approach has
the added environmental advantage of reusing a volume of sawdust and wood
scrap that would otherwise be discarded.
|
