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Residence featuring the 303 Series Compression Slider Door from Cascadia Windows & Doors; Vivacé Eurosystem Series featured in brown by Durabuilt Windows and Doors. The Designer Series by Starline Windows; Rollershades from Sun Glow Window Covering Products of Canada Ltd. augusT 2015 | 27 Residential Windows The latest window designs embrace modern style and technology by Stacey McLachLan I t's a time of big change for window manufacturers and dealers; new regulations, new technologies and consumer tastes are pushing the industry to evolve at a rapid rate. But these challenges have led to plenty of exciting innovations and creative solutions for meeting the needs of consumers, from fresh glazing offer- ings to designer finishes. "2014 proved to be a very interesting year with many challenges to face and overcome in regards to the implementation and enforcement of the North American Fenestration Standards Act into the B.C. housing market," notes Darwin Ortis, sales director for Westeck Windows and Doors. But the trend towards energy-efficient products isn't just coming from the regulators, argues Michael Bousfield, technical representative for Cascadia Windows; there's a consumer element to it, too. "In the past, that trend was started by owners who are cognizant of the fact of the building's performance on the environment and energy costs, so they've made choices to select higher performance systems." And thanks to those early adopters, the technology is now widely available. "With today's increasing cost of energy, homeowners and building profession- als are interested in products that provide superior thermal comfort and signifi- cant energy savings without sacrificing elegance or design," agrees Isbrand Funk, president and CEO of EuroLine Windows Inc. The company's ThermoPlus window systems – a high-performance vinyl-fibreglass hybrid that reduces energy loss and ensures long-term air tightness – are proving to be popular because of this. UPVC windows are in demand, notes Funk, for precisely that reason as well. "They're strong, low-maintenance and 100 per cent recyclable. People are looking for durable, easy to maintain and environmentally friendly choices when building new or renovating their existing homes." "The most significant continuing trend is the desire to achieve not only what the government is regulating in terms of thermal values, but also the homeowners desire to have that level of energy efficiency exceeded," says Mike Harrison, archi- tectural representative for Starline Windows. "People use that as a benchmark for the minimum, and more discerning customers might take their energy efficiency to another level if they can afford to." Starline's Designer Series is a thermally broken aluminum window with separate interior and exterior extrusions, knurled together to create a polyamide thermal break to provide rigidity. "It's structural in nature. We load test." says Harrison. It also happens to have an increased thermal bar that enhances energy efficiency – and with triple glazing, that efficiency is further enhanced. The company's Lift and Slide doors are now able to be triple-glazed, too, what Harrison calls a "significant improvement – it gives the homeowner an opportunity to meet that U-value." "Energy efficient, tripane windows are becoming a baseline offering and Low E solutions are a must-have to improve your home's overall performance ratings," adds Alison Smith, marketing manager for Durabuilt Windows. The company's new Alpha vinyl slider series is a real tripane solution with two half-inch airspaces between each glass surface. Alpha's design also offers three composite (monolithic) frame options for common new build and replacement requirements, that exceed performance codes by providing a more sturdy, air and watertight window. Clear Cut C U S T O M F I N I S H E S "Consumer demand for the latest and greatest in paint and colour options is at an all-time high for the industry," Ortis points out. "Simply put, a white vinyl window no longer achieves the esthetics to separate your home from your neighbours." To help a home stand out, Westeck offers 16 pre-applied stain options and 26 exterior paint colour choices, as well as anodized effect powder coat paint options, but they're not the only ones with plenty of choice. For example, Milgard's Essence Series' fibreglass exterior comes in 16 designer colours, and the interiors are avail- able in a variety of wood finishes which can be stained, sealed or primed. Custom layouts are desirable as well, so the industry is providing flexible options to consumers. Because of the Milgard Essence line's unique mulling system, "there's virtually no limit to window combinations," says Nichol Phillips, associate trade marketing manager for Milgard Windows & Doors. And Durabuilt's Vivacé window series offers a tilt-and-turn functionality and grand window wall capability that Smith notes has gained popularity in high-end estate construction and commercial applications precisely because "it has endless design possibilities" thanks to the line's laminate colour options for customizing inside and out. In terms of colours for window treatments, though, neutrals still rule. "Consumers are always looking for 'something new' in window treatments and in fabrics, yet the best-selling colours are still white, off-whites and greys," notes Vivian Kanargelidis, owner of Sun Glow Window Covering Products of Canada Ltd. Products that allow light to filter in, while offering a degree of privacy, balance the best of both worlds – like the transparent Sun Glow Interlude system, which pairs transparent fabric with darkening vanes.

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