Still in the Frame

Wood Window Makers Focus on Their Products’ Unique Properties

B Y T R E Y B A R R I N E A U

ood windows are much less

common than they used to be,

but they’ve maintained their

W

timeless appeal—and respect-

able market share—by evolving along

with consumer demands.

Over the decades, wood has lost a

lot of ground to more affordable vinyl

products, which now represent about

7

0 percent of the U.S. window market,

according to the 2015/2016 Study of the

U.S. Market for Windows, Doors and

Skylights from the American Architectural

Manufacturers Association. (Wood is

about 15 percent of the market.)

However, because there is a lot of

older housing in the U.S., wooden prod-

ucts are still common. About 42 million

homes have wood windows, according

to the most recent Residential Energy

Consumption Survey from the U.S.

Energy Information Administration.

By comparison, about 25.3 million

homes have vinyl windows, despite their

much higher sales numbers in recent

years.

“Not too long ago, a wood window was

theﬁrstchoiceofupper-endtrackandcus-

tom homes builders,” says Ryan Schwartz,

the president of Fenster Components in

Noblesville, Ind. His company special-

izes in aftermarket replacement sashes

for obsolete brands and models of wood

and wood-clad windows. “Wood was eas-

ily accessible, and the efﬁciency require-

ments were suited for a wood window’s

performance.”

Schwartz thinks wood-window manu-

facturing will eventually shrink down to a

highly specialized market segment.

“I think we’ll see the large manufactur-

ers be replaced by smaller, boutique-type

manufacturers focused more on a hands-

on, customizable approach to customer

service and a highly optioned product,”

he says. “The wood window in a sense

Marvin’s Ultimate Double Hung Next Generation window has a wood interior

(shown here) and an aluminum exterior.

continued on page 54

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Door & Window Market

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Matt Aro of the University of Minnesota says this kiln can turn low-value wood into a stronger product for doors and windows.

Researchers Bake In Some Innovation

B Y J U N E B R E N E M A N

The University of Minnesota has kets for thermally modiﬁed wood in ity to conduct new product research

a unique research organization—the high-end products like doors, windows, and development on thermally modiﬁed

Natural Resources Research Institute siding and ﬂooring.

wood, such as prototyping, performance

(

NRRI)—with a unique mission. The sci- “Over the last eight years, we have testing and market assessment. A col-

entists and engineers work to make the been testing thermal modiﬁcation on laboration with industry partners has

best use of the state’s resources for a range of Minnesota wood species to created the American Wood Protection

economic prosperity and environmental standardize its performance for manu- AssociationGuidanceDocumentN,which

sustainability.

facturing,” said Matt Aro, a wood-uti- provides an avenue for listing thermally

In the wood products arena, in par- lization scientist with NRRI. “We are modiﬁed wood. NRRI also conducted a

ticular, they are focused on making working to address the opportunities in unique study to evaluate the particle size

Minnesota’s low-value tree species into this process, as well as concerns.”

high-value lumber with expanded mar- Basically, the wood is heated at processing thermally modiﬁed wood on

ket potential. NRRI’s researchers are high temperatures, from about 320 to an industrial table saw.

of airborne wood dust generated when

testing a process of thermal modiﬁca- 365 degrees Fahrenheit, while being

Aro says variations of this process are

tion on a variety of wood species in a protected by steam. NRRI has received starting to catch on with the industry.

pilot-scale kiln. This process of cooking grants from the USDA Forest Service, For example, Masonite offers thermally

the wood in an anaerobic pressure the National Science Foundation and modiﬁed doors under the Lemieux line. y

cooker makes species like birch, ash others to fund the research on the

and red pine more dimensionally sta- mechanical, physical and chemical June Breneman is the senior communications

ble and warp-resistant in moisture-rich properties of thermally modiﬁed wood. specialist with the University of Minnesota

environments. The goal is to open mar-

NRRI recently established the abil- Duluth’s Natural Resources Research Institute.

www.dwmmag.com

August/September 2017

53

S_c_ot_ni_tl_il_n_ui_en_d_ft_rh_o_me_pF_ar_g_ea₅m₃ e

will become a niche product for high- windows work well in milder climates. new heights and lengths with the least

ly discriminating homeowners and The latter is also a good choice for interruption of view.”

luxury home builders.”

hurricane-prone areas. They’re easier

to keep up as well.

While many might associate mod-

ern high-end window designs with

A Lot of Opportunity

“The reason people are going with aluminum or steel, Higman says

Despite that, one industry expert aluminum clad is the low-mainte- wood’s characteristics can achieve a

says we could be entering a renais- nance part of it,” said Todd Metz, look he calls “warm contemporary.”

sance of wood windows, and that sales manager with Lincoln Windows,

could mean strong sales for home-im- during the 2016 International clean details, but with a wood interior

provement companies catering to Builders’ Show in Las Vegas. to soften the look of the windows and

upscale clients. Clad-wood windows offer out- take advantage of wood’s natural ther-

Architects, designers and cus- standing thermal performance and mal efﬁciency,” he says.

“That means narrow sight lines and

“

tomers are re-discovering wood as durability—but they’re also pricey.

a material that is both an attractive,

Technological Advances

environmentally-friendly, renewable

Wood windows have seen many

innovations in recent years. For exam-

ple, several companies are making

fenestration products out of acetyl-

ated wood, in which the part of

the wood that bonds with water is

replaced by acetyl groups. That yields

a product that resists rot and termites

and is less likely to shrink and swell.

Other innovations involve using

wood in curtainwall systems. Reveal

Windows & Doors’ product in this seg-

ment uses engineered wood mullions

on the interior and either wood or

aluminum caps on the exterior.

2

015 U.S. Window Market

resource, and one that can be engi-

neered to handle impressive structur-

al loads without necessarily adding

massive bulk,” says Ryan Higman,

the president of Reveal Windows &

%

WOOD

15

%

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Sales by

%

0

7

VINYL

a very healthy market for high-end

Material

wood window and door systems. With

the current strong economy, many

customers are ﬁnally moving for-

ward with their plans for their dream

remodel, and they want wood prod- Source: AAMA

ucts that give a luxury feel and pre-

mium performance without having to

“It’s going to last almost forever,”

“It’s really taking off in popularity

resort to the commercial or industrial said says Matt Risinger, a building right now,” says Higman. “The price

look and feel of metal systems.”

Sales are looking strong, too.

science expert who has a popular point is a bit higher than thermal-

YouTube channel. “But it’s probably ly-broken aluminum systems, but

“

The market has been fairly con- the most expensive window you’re those can’t compete with the natural

sistent for the last few years on a going to ﬁnd out there as well.”

solid growth track,” says Kris Hanson,

look, feel and thermal efﬁciency of

wood-based systems. Wood also gives

tremendous design ﬂexibility.”

senior manager, product management Designs Trend Modern

at Marvin Windows and Doors. “New

Like so many other aspects of

Sierra Paciﬁc recently introduced

construction continues to be strong; home design and construction, mod- a new architectural wall system that

the replacement and remodeling mar- ern looks are popular among custom- uses structural, laminated wood

ket is a business that also continues to ers who seek wood windows.

beams. These engineered wall sys-

be consistent. Overall market condi-

tions are good.”

“The rush toward contemporary tems offer all-wood interiors and are

designs that we’ve seen coming on also load-bearing.

“We’rehittingourstrideatrecord-set- strong in recent years continues,” says

And the company’s H3 window,

ting growth,” says Dominic Truniger, Truniger. “Hallmarks of contemporary which incorporates aluminum, vinyl

vice president of sales for Sierra Paciﬁc design relative to windows and doors and wood, is also getting a new

Windows. “This is a large market seg- include full vistas, minimal sight lines, enhancement: an accessory frame

ment with a lot of opportunity.”

Dealers interested in selling these 90-degree open corners. Massive

industrial styling, squared lines and with four available proﬁles.

“The innovative design approach

high-end products should know that ﬂoor-to-ceiling glass isn’t just an ideal has already received rave reviews

the type of clad-wood window you’ll anymore. It’s the starting point of the from builders for what it means for a

want to stock should match the cli- design of most of our projects. It takes smarter installation,” says Truniger. y

mate of your market. Vinyl-clad win- manufacturing windows and doors

dows can be a good choice in hot, that have the inherent structural Trey Barrineau is the editor of DWM

humid climates, while aluminum-clad brute strength that can carry glass to magazine.

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