Finally, a Window That Does Everything You Want

What you want out of a window is simple: Good looks, smooth operation, energy efficiency. Most of all, you don't want to have to replace it again.

That's why FIBREX windows from Andersen and Mr. Rogers Windows are designed with your wants in mind.

No longer do you have to worry about rotting wood, drafts, fogged glass, or difficult-to-open windows. Say goodbye to fears that you'll have to replace your windows again in five to ten years. FIBREX windows are made to look great and operate perfectly for life.

The Secret to Better Windows

FIBREX window frames are durable, energy efficient, and 100% resistant to rot.

FIBREX, a patented material, is a composite made of reclaimed wood fibers and vinyl PVC made by Andersen Windows, the window maker that has been around since 1903. They know a lot about the strength of wood and the possibilities of vinyl. They introduced the first vinyl windows in 1959, and the first wood windows wrapped in vinyl (vinyl-clad wood) in the 1960's.

The logic is simple. Wood: strong, but rots. Vinyl: doesn't rot, but needs reinforcement. Put the two together—problem solved!

Andersen spent decades and millions of dollars researching a way to combine wood and vinyl perfectly. Finally, in 1991 Andersen unveiled its newest innovation: FIBREX.

How Wood and Vinyl Protect Each Other in FIBREX

Wood and vinyl team up to protect each other in FIBREX.

Andersen makes FIBREX by taking reclaimed wood fibers and vinyl PVC, then applying tremendous heat and pressure. This bonds the two materials together. The vinyl can't peel away from the wood's tough structure. And the vinyl keeps water from getting to the wood. They protect each other.

Examine how wood and vinyl work together in FIBREX:

1. Wood gives it strength—maximizing glass area and protecting your home.
2. Vinyl prevents the wood from rotting, ensuring that it will last.
3. Wood stops the vinyl from warping in changing temperatures, making sure it fits your home perfectly despite the passing of the seasons.
4. Vinyl keeps it maintenance-free.
5. Wood gives it that classic look that matches your home.

Nitty-Gritty Numbers

Only FIBREX provides superior performance in every area of testing.

You're going to be hit with some big terms and numbers, so if you don't care about technical details, skip to the next section for something a little bit lighter.

Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE): In hot and cold weather, both your windows and your house expand and shrink. How much a material shrinks or expands is called the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion. Different materials have different CTE's.

Houses are made of wood or brick, which have low CTE's. Vinyl windows, however, have much higher CTE's. Since they expand and shrink at different rates, vinyl windows tend to pull away from the house, leaving gaps or cracks. This can cause drafts and fogged windows.

FIBREX has half the CTE of vinyl. Since FIBREX's CTE is closer to that of wood or brick, FIBREX windows expand and shrink with your house. No gaps or cracks will appear, so your windows stay airtight and unfogged.

Thermal Conductivity:
Thermal Conductivity measures how much heat a material transfers. Some materials, like metal, transfer massive amounts of heat. That's why you use metal pans to cook. So it makes sense that an aluminum window would transfer a lot of heat, right?

How much heat does FIBREX transfer, though? Barely any. Aluminum windows transfer so much that they're off the scale. FIBREX, meanwhile, lets in virtually nothing.

So with FIBREX, your warm air stays inside during the winter, and all that hot air stays outside in the summer. You're home is cooler and more comfortable, and you as a bonus you save money on energy bills.

Stiffness:
Glass is heavy, especially when you're dealing with modern double-paned windows, which have two pieces of glass for energy efficiency. Window frame materials must be strong to support all that glass.

Vinyl, though, is not very stiff. Unsupported, vinyl windows will bow or warp under the weight of the glass.

In an attempt to fix this, vinyl windows have larger frames, or are reinforced with rods of metal. This leaves you with a big, bulky window that has less glass.

FIBREX, however, has nearly three times the stiffness of vinyl. Since it's so strong, you get more glass. And more glass means an amazing view.

Heat Deflection Temperature:

FIBREX resists surface temperatures of up to 221 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Heat Deflection Temperature refers to how well a material can deal with heat. At high temperatures, materials begin to distort and deform.

The outside of your home can get very hot in the summer. Put your hand on it on a sunny day. It burns, right? The surface of an average home can reach up to 175 degrees in the summer.

Yet, vinyl begins to break down at only 156 degrees. Eventually, the window is just going to fall apart. Because of this, vinyl windows only come in white or off-white colors. Lighter colors reflect heat, so vinyl windows don't distort as much.

FIBREX, though, can withstand temperatures up 221 degrees—which the surface of your house will probably never reach. So FIBREX windows will last throughout the years. And FIBREX you can get FIBREX windows in bold, dark colors like Sandtone, Terratone, or the warm, relaxing Cocoa Bean.

Rot resistance:

Rotted wood windows provide poor protection and release dangerous mold into your home.

So far we've only talked about how vinyl and aluminum compare to FIBREX. But how does wood perform? While wood performs comparably to FIBREX in some test, it has a glaring drawback: it rots.

When water gets on wood, it encourages the growth of fungi. The fungi break down the wood. Eventually a wood window can lose anywhere from 10-50% of its total mass. The window literally falls apart.

FIBREX, though, is 100% resistant to rot. It will never deteriorate or disintegrate. FIBREX is also 100% resistant to termites.

FIBREX—Saving the Planet... and Saving You Money

FIBREX windows are the only windows that have been awarded the earth-friendly Green Seal.

FIBREX is the only window that has been awarded the Green Seal. This award speaks specifically to Andersen's commitment to protecting the environment.

Andersen does this by using reclaimed wood from their factories. This is wood taken from other windows and products. Trees are saved and deforestation is curbed because Andersen does not need to harvest wood for their FIBREX windows.

And since the materials are reclaimed from their own plants, there is no cost in shipping long distance. Andersen saves tons and tons of fuel this way—and passes the savings on to you!

North Carolina:
Northlake Village: 7010 Smith Corners Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28269 • 704-319-5400  |  Arboretum: 8020 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28277 • 704-909-2400

Virginia:
Chesapeake: 1019 Eden Way North, Chesapeake, VA 23320 • 757-436-2200  |  Yorktown: 209 Village Avenue, Yorktown, VA 23693 • 757-833-2200