Jun 3 2005
JELD-WEN, the world’s leading manufacturer of reliable windows and doors, is putting some major muscle behind fiberglass this year, and the results are proving to be powerful. JELD-WEN has spearheaded a massive research and development effort into creating the next generation of exterior fiberglass doors – a collection that has the appearance of wood, but is engineered to last longer with less maintenance.
The result is the company’s new Premium Fiberglass Doors line with PURfiber™ technology.
The company considers the launch of this new line to be its biggest initiative of the year, revolutionizing the way U.S. homeowners and builders traditionally have thought about fiberglass doors. Currently, fiberglass accounts for only about 12 percent of the exterior door market. JELD-WEN believes that percentage can and should be much larger, but that growth can only come with major product advancements and improvements.
The company plans to roll out its new Premium Fiberglass Doors with PURfiber technology nationwide this summer. New fiberglass technology is what differentiates JELD-WEN® Premium Fiberglass Doors from ordinary fiberglass doors. This technology allows JELD-WEN to offer a beautiful, yet durable door with long-lasting curb appeal. JELD-WEN will offer 32 standard styles of Premium Fiberglass Doors, with much more pronounced, realistic looking woodgrain including new Mahogany and Alder grains.
Premium Fiberglass Doors will feature AuraLast™ wood by JELD-WEN on the edges – the internal stiles and rails. AuraLast wood protects against wood decay, water absorption and termite infestation. Because AuraLast is real wood, it allows customizable sizing if the door must be modified to fit a particular opening.
According to JELD-WEN, achieving the look of wood along with exceptional performance features is the result of PURfiber technology, which is a completely different process from how fiberglass doors currently are being manufactured.
JELD-WEN Premium Fiberglass Doors have more than twice the amount of fiberglass than is common in the industry (35 percent fiberglass content versus 10 – 12 percent), making them stronger than other fiberglass doors for added security and giving them the ability to stand up to hurricane-force winds and wind-borne debris.
“With our new Premium Fiberglass doors, homeowners and builders have a beautiful option that will last and require the minimal amount of maintenance even in hot, cold, wet or dry weather,” said John Monfore, product marketing manager for JELD-WEN fiberglass doors. “JELD-WEN is taking not only strength, but the look of fiberglass to a whole new level. Our new line far exceeds anything else that is out on the market today.”
Manufacturers have tried for years to mimic the look of wood with fiberglass. As a very strong material, fiberglass is extremely long-lasting and stable, making it a perfect choice for regions that experience harsh weather. With JELD-WEN Premium Fiberglass Doors, homeowners and builders can now come much closer to achieving the rich look of wood– and reap the benefits of low maintenance and high security – with an affordable fiberglass option.
“The advantages for homeowners and builders are huge,” said Monfore. “We’ve come up with a product that not only delivers all the benefits fiberglass offers, but goes well beyond them when it comes to strength, reliability and the variety of styles.”
Already, JELD-WEN has taken fiberglass where many never thought it was possible to go. The company’s IWP® Aurora™ Custom Fiberglass Door line is so realistic when compared to wood, that many homeowners and builders are unable to tell the difference. This top-of-the-line specialized door line has brought fiberglass to a new level of elegance with realistic “woodscaping” technology, and authentic custom designed woodgrains and knots.
While Aurora is a truly custom product, JELD-WEN’s new Premium Fiberglass Door line gives homeowners and builders a more affordable fiberglass door option that also does an exceptional job delivering style and beauty.
In fact, Monfore says that while very different when it comes to styles, performance and manufacturing processes, JELD-WEN Premium Fiberglass Doors with PURfiber technology will be competitive in price to other fiberglass door products on the market. JELD-WEN’s major emphasis on developing advanced fiberglass door technology rounds out the company’s exterior door offerings, which include hundreds of steel, composite and solid wood styles and options.