Window Construction

Construction

Why Do We Have Windows?
Homes built with solid walls would be pretty dark and uninviting. Windows have been added to homes to let light and fresh air in. At first these windows were just holes in the wall. Then came the idea of adding something that would let light in, but keep out the elements. Colonial homes only had single pieces of glass (single glazing) in their windows. Then storm windows were added for more comfort during the winter. Insulated glass combined the two panes of glass into one insulated glass (IG) unit. Today we want it all – a view with energy efficiency. And you can have it!

There is a Difference in Windows!
DuHadway offers windows from North Star because the window was designed for Canada’s cold climate. North Star’s double hung windows have a jamb stop that seals against the backside of the upper and lower sashes. This allows the addition of a third set of weather-stripping on the side of each sash. When the wind hits the outside of the sash, it has to make two right angle turns before it could ever reach the inside of the house. Look at other wood, vinyl, or aluminum windows, the weather-stripping on the side of the sash is the only barrier to air infiltration. It is a straight shot to the outside. These windows are missing the stop that North Star windows have.

North Star windows feature a non-metallic Super Spacer® in its insulated glass units. Metal spacers used by most manufactures rob your high performance glass of its high performance. The metal spacer transfers cold from the outside glass panel to the inside glass panel. Some companies advertise their "warm edge" windows. They are still using a metal spacer, but have cut part of the metal away or added a "thermal break". The warm edge windows still for all that they say are still using metal as their spacer. However, North Star has completely eliminated the metal spacer. The structural foam used in Super Spacer makes the temperature of the inside glass warmer. If the glass is warmer, you feel warmer. And warmer glass eliminates condensation on the glass.

North Star offers one of the strongest Warranties available on windows – Lifetime Limited Warranty.

Frame Materials
The window frame and sash can be made of several materials – WOOD, ALUMINUM, or VINYL.

WOOD

Good Qualities
- Insulates well
- Stainable / Paintable
Problems
- Usually only available in standard sizes
- Can not weather-strip tightly because wood expands & contracts
- Rots
- Needs painting or staining
- Hard to open or close

ALUMINUM

Good Qualities
- Little maintenance
- Durable
- Can be weather-stripped tightly
- Will not rot, peal, or crack
Problems
- Bad insulator
- Sweats or ices up
- Aluminum pits or oxidizes

VINYL

Good Qualities
- Insulates like wood
- Little or no maintenance
- Durable
- Can be weather-stripped tightly
- Will not rot or peal
- Made to fit your home at no extra cost

Homebuilders Using Vinyl Windows
Vinyl has been used for years to make durable and maintenance free siding. For all the reasons vinyl has been used successfully in siding your home, it is also a great material for making windows. Vinyl is a great insulator like wood. But since vinyl does not expand and contract like wood, vinyl windows can be weather-stripped to block cold winter winds. (If you weather-stripped a wood window so that it fits tightly during the winter, you would not be able to open it when it expands with moisture during the summer.) Many homebuilders have stopped using wood windows and are now installing vinyl windows. Remember not too many years ago, builders used to install wood exterior doors. Then they switched to the more efficient insulated steel entry doors. The builders are now making the switch to the more efficient vinyl windows.

Oak or pine jamb extensions are available for the interior. These jambs can be ordered when doing new construction or remodeling. When replacing casement windows or aluminum windows, these jambs are especially nice to use. The jambs trim out the area from the window to the edge of the drywall. They make each room look as if the new windows where the original windows.

In addition to nailing fins, North Star windows are also available with a welded brick mould. The brick mould adds detail around the outside of your windows. The brick mould also has a built-in J-channel. This eliminates the need to install a separate J-channel around the window. Besides giving a cleaner look, the built-in J-channel will save time and material when doing the siding work.

Tilt-In Cleaning
As the picture shows, North Star double hung and sliding windows can be tilted in for easy cleaning. All the cleaning can be done from the inside. No more climbing ladders or hanging out the window. You have half the glass panels to wash because there are no storm windows on the outside. You can have clean windows in less than half the time it used to take!

And Don’t Worry About Sizes
North Star’s modern computerized factory does not use the old terms of custom sizes or standard sizes. The computer looks at what windows need to be made each day. It then cuts the glass and vinyl so there is the least amount of waste. The computer doesn’t care whether it’s making one window or 100 windows the same size. Older, less advanced factories still charge extra for making a "non-standard" size window. We will at no extra charge make your new windows the size you want. We can eliminate expensive re-decorating on the inside and patching siding on the outside when trying to use a "standard size" fit your home.

Add Color
Available in five exterior colors- White, Ivory, Hickory, Sandalwood, or Chestnut Brown

DuHadaway Corp.
2214 Wayne Trace | Fort Wayne, IN 46803 | 260.426.2000