It takes a lot for me to get excited about a new product, but when a sample of the Comfort Line Fiber Frame window arrived, I knew I'd seen the ultimate in window construction and design. This window system provides the best of both worlds: a frame constructed of pultruded fiberglass with real oak veneer applied to the interior (Figure 8-4). It's just a good-looking window! And it gives you the flexibility to match the surrounding environment.

Figure 8-4: Fiber Frame window with oak veneer

Photo Courtesy of: Comfort Line, Inc.

What makes this window special is the pultrusion technology. Pultrusion is a process in which several thousand high-strength glass fibers are saturated with a specially-blended resin formulation and pulled through a heated forming die. This proprietary process produces fiberglass lineals that won't split, splinter, shrink, warp, swell, or bow. The Fiber Frame lineals are thermally nonconductive and have relatively the same coefficients of expansion and contraction as insulated glass. That is to say, it's virtually nil. The result is an energy-efficient, virtually indestructible framing material. Built around double-insulated glass with low-E and argon gas, this is the ultimate window for year-round comfort and efficiency. Optional solid oak grilles add to the overall quality.

The entire system is available in double-hung, casement, awning or picture window styles. If you need dynamite patio doors, they're available as well. I always look for an almost maintenance-free window for my customer. It looks to me like this is the answer. A fiberglass system is the next step up from a vinyl window. In general, a fiberglass window will cost about 40 percent more than a good quality vinyl window. Your customer will see the value once you point out the benefits:

• Superior structural strength

• No flexing or bending

• No thermally inefficient (metal) structural reinforcement required

• Superior dimensional stability

• Virtually unaffected by heat, cold, or moisture

• Low maintenance

• Paintable and stainable

Comfort Line has manufactured and supplied windows and patio doors for the building products industry since 1959. In 1964 they pioneered the use of vinyl for storm window and storm door fabrication. Fiber Frame technology revolutionized the window industry again in 1988. How did I let such a window slip by me for so long? For you professionals who haven't seen this system yet, call Comfort Line for a sample to check it out for yourself.

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