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IN DEPTH: Doors and Windows

Jeld-wen-Architectural-Fiberglass-Exterior-DoorJeld-Wen’s Architectural Fiberglass All-Panel Exterior Door comes in Mahogany (shown) and Walnut woodgrains ready to paint or stain. Panel options comprise raised moulding, craftsman flat-panel and planked-panel designs. Two typical sizes are offered as well as options for Energy Star qualification. It also comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

Casement windows also are growing in popularity, says Thermo-Tech’s Cook. “They generally shut tighter and seal better than other designs when the wind blows. That’s attractive to homeowners, but they still often want the more traditional look of the double-hung windows.” The desire to retain a traditional look also has helped sales of trim, he notes. “Brick moulds have done very well as an accessory piece. Homeowners want a traditional look even when they have more high-tech windows.”

More design attention also is being paid to patio doors, notes Therma-Tru’s Contat. “Outdoor living is more popular, and homeowners want the transition to be more seamless. That makes the patio-door choice more significant. The back of the home and the patio door are often seen and used more than the front door by guests, so more attention is being given to it.”

Less Decorative Glass
Entry doors, however, are seeing glass size reduced. “Smaller windows are more popular on doors, because they provide a sense of privacy,” says ODL’s Fowler. “We assumed in the past few years that the choice was being driven by cost, but now that the market is picking up, we’re still seeing it as popular choice. So there’s
more to it.”

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Decorative options are being minimized in windows, too, says Weather Shield’s Koester. “There are fewer grilles being used, to open up the viewing area. At most, they’ll use a grille pattern at the top of the door as a decorative piece outside of the sight lines. There aren’t as many uses of grilles through the window as there used to be in old-style windows.”

Interior-door options also are evolving, says Jeld-Wen’s Brosterhous. “With interior doors, the market is gravitating toward smooth rather than textured styles, with clean lines. Paint-grade doors also are growing versus stain-grade models. In some cases, homeowners are combining stained doors with paint-grade trim to make doors ‘pop.’ Primed wood doors are becoming more popular, because they are easier to paint and have a very smooth surface, which makes for better finishing results.”

Privacy Concerns Grow
Therma-Tru’s Contat sees more emphasis being put on privacy with entry doors. “Privacy and security are a balance with letting in light,” she says. “Often, smaller lites are being chosen to address it. They’ll use a craftsman door or a fan at the top to let in light while retaining privacy. The light sizes vary quite a bit in that position. They’ll also go with different opacity options. You have to find that sweet spot for each customer between clear glass and a lot of [glossary]caming.[/glossary]”

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