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AUGUST 2017 | 37 PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY MILGARD WINDOWS & DOORS Residential Windows Y O U ' V E B E E N F R A M E D There are plentiful innovations happening in the world of frames, too. Zola Windows will soon be bringing not one but two aluminum product lines to market. The Thermo Alu75 will be available in a Panoramic View version, featuring an invisible operable sash: "This allows consistent glass lines across fixed and operable units," explains Speier. There's also AluMinima, which allows for fixed frames narrower than 1.5-inches, while providing Passive House-style efficiency. Cascadia's Universal Series, new this summer, will be the first complete line of fibreglass Passive House-certified windows and doors. "The interesting thing about the design is that it includes every hardware option that exists in our other products in one platform," says Bousfield. "Yet, it's stronger and much less expensive. We're anticipating the design to sell very well, and we've doubled the size of our facility to accommodate that." It's one example of a larger industry trend towards fibreglass. "Fibreglass is defi- nitely huge right now," says Bousfield. "It's got that unique blend of energy efficiency plus commercial grade quality, which means strength and longevity. Those two characteristics were previously never one in the same." These products are incredibly energy efficient, which is why Bousfield is hoping larger commercial buildings will start opting in. In the past, energy efficiency has been most prominent on smaller residential projects. But now schools are select- ing triple glazing, and other institutions are starting to follow suit, and big private developments, too. "The most good, in terms of energy efficiency, happens on a larger scale." VA R I E T Y I S K I N G Whatever the material or size, consumers continue to crave choice for their finishes, and the leading window companies are providing plenty of options in response. For Milgard's Essence series of in-swing and out-swing French doors, for example, there are 16 exterior powder coat finishes available, as well as three wood interior options and nine hinge finishes. Aluminum continues to be incredibly popular for those consumers looking for a wide range of finishes. "A variety of colour options for window frames is desirable and has always been available in aluminum," says Harrison. "At Starline Windows, for example, we powder coat all of our profiles in house and offer 16 standard and semi-standard colours to choose from, along with options to custom colour match, if the project warrants the time and investment." Vinyl offers plenty of opportunity for customization, too. If a unique finish is what you're after, Westeck can paint their vinyl extrusions (for interior or exterior) any colour under the sun. Beyond finishing options, simulated divided lite bars (SDLB) are another way consumers are creating one-of-a-kind window designs. While residential buildings used to primarily feature single or twin windows, SDLBs allow homeowners to turn one pane of glass into a two-by-two or two-over-three grid. "We're getting a ton of requests for this feature," explains Neukirchner. Year after year, the window industry continues to grow and evolve. And with ever-improving technology and impressive efficiencies, the options for an elegant and effective window design are nearly limitless. A Essence Series Swing French Patio Doors. Cascadia Windows.indd 1 2017-07-13 1:01 PM

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