Andersen Windows Company Timeline

Information taken from Anderson website

The privately owned business was founded in 1903 by Danish immigrant Hans Andersen and his family in Hudson, Wisconsin, where logs arrived via the St. Croix River. Today, Andersen Corporation is an international enterprise employing over 9,000 people at more than 20 locations with headquarters in Bayport, Minnesota, a 2.8 million-square-foot facility that covers 65 acres. Andersen annually manufactures more than six million wood windows and doors, with sales worldwide.

Explore the legacy of Andersen with our interactive Historical Timeline.
Highlights:

1905: Andersen originates the "two bundle" method, which streamlines the window construction process. By standardizing sizes of frame pieces, then packaging them in separate horizontal and vertical pairs, units can be assembled on the job site in as little as ten minutes. It was nicknamed the Ten Minute Window.
1932: The Andersen® master casement window becomes the first completely assembled window unit in the industry — sash, frame and hardware. It quickly becomes an industry classic.
1952: Andersen begins fitting its windows with a first-of-its-kind new Welded Insulating Glass to provide protection against condensation and frost. It also eliminates the need for a removable storm panel.
1966: The Perma-Shield® Cladding System makes its debut. The patented, tough vinyl exterior for wood windows is developed with the help of Italian inventor, Luigi Zanini. The low-maintenance, vinyl-cladding system revolutionized the window industry and created an entire category of wood windows: clad-window.
1991: Development of Fibrex® material: a revolutionary composite made of wood fiber, reclaimed from Andersen manufacturing, and vinyl. Among its features are resistance to rotting, excellent insulation and low thermal expansion rate in extreme temperatures.
1995: Renewal by Andersen is founded — a subsidary that offers a fresh approach to window replacement by serving "do-it-for-me" homeowners who want simple, reliable solutions for replacing old windows with low-maintenance, energy-efficient, custom-made windows.
2003: Andersen Corporation celebrates 100 years in business and launches its 100 Years/100 Homes project with Habitat for Humanity pledging to build 100 homes over 5 years - a $5 million commitment.

Milgard Fiberglass Windows

Fiberglass itself is nothing new. It's been floating boats and adding strength to ladders for years. But until recently, the complex profiles required for window designs such as bay windows have been impossible to attain with fiberglass. Milgard's R&D team faced this challenge and engineered a window and door system that's impervious to water, cold, heat, insects, salt air and ultraviolet rays. The end result: energy efficient fiberglass windows and doors that maintain their beauty in every season, in any climate.

FIBERGLASS WINDOW CHOICES
Milgard gives you two distinctive choices when it comes to fiberglass windows and doors: Ultra™ and WoodClad™. When you look at a Milgard Ultra series, you might think that it's painted wood. Or in the case of our WoodClad series, you might even think it's made out of solid Douglas fir.

The truth is, Milgard's fiberglass windows give you the beauty of a wood window and the durability of a fiberglass frame. Make no mistake, their fiberglass windows will not crack, peel, warp, or stick. A statement no wood window manufacturer can make.

Milgard Company History

Information taken from Milgard website

MILGARD COMPANY PROFILE
In 1958, Maurice Milgard, Jr. and his son Gary started Milgard Glass Company in a small building in Tacoma. Gary's brother, Jim, joined the company in 1961. Within a short time, the Milgards diversified into aluminum windows.

In 1962, Gary Milgard left the glass company to start a new aluminum window fabricating company called Milgard Manufacturing. The company's objective from the start was to provide a reliable source of quality aluminum windows and doors. They had to be styled and crafted to meet the unique architectural requirements of the Western United States. Milgard's original commitment to quality and service has continued to be a key to the company's success.

Innovations in Aluminum and Vinyl Windows and Doors Drive Growth
In 1968, Milgard Manufacturing started producing sliding glass doors. Two years later, aluminum frames were redesigned to fit both single-pane and insulating glass. The Milgards developed a type of aluminum frame that was suitable for cold weather areas where only wood frames had been effective. The year 1989 marked the introduction of the first Milgard windows with vinyl frames. WoodClad, a dramatic new line of fiberglass windows, was introduced in 1990.
Growth is the norm at Milgard. In addition to the Tacoma operation, the company now has window manufacturing plants in Marysville, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Las Vegas, Nevada; Sacramento, Hollister, Simi Valley, Temecula and Dixon, California; Denver, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; Phoenix, Arizona; Chicago, Illinois; and our latest plant in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Expanding into Tempered Glass and Vinyl Extrusion
In 1980, Milgard Tempering, Inc. was started in Tacoma to respond to a demand for high quality tempered glass in the Northwest. In 1992 a second Milgard Tempering plant was opened in Dixon, California. Modern equipment and skilled employees have enabled Milgard Tempering to become one of the most respected tempered glass suppliers in the country.

Milgard Vinyl, located in Tacoma, began extruding quality frame material in 1988. A state-of-the-art extrusion and injection molding plant in Tacoma produces vinyl window and doorframe material and components for Milgard windows.

Employees Are the Key to Our Success
Milgard's history of growth and success is due to the dedication of our employees. Our more than 4,500 employees work hard each day to deliver high quality products and superior customer service. In fact, both of these are so important to Milgard that they're part of the Milgard Corporate Philosophy.

Milgard Philosophy
In Order To Be 'Clearly The Best' In Our Business, We Are Committed To These Principles:
The Individual Must Be Respected.

• The Customer Must Be Given The Best Possible Service.


• Excellence And Superior Performance Must Be Pursued.

Installing Vinyl Windows

Vinyl is becoming increasingly widespread in the windows' industry. The reason behind the augmenting popularity of Vinyl is its unique features that make it more valuable and durable than other window materials. Vinyl gives you unsurpassed flexibility in choosing your window's color and design. Moreover, it is very durable in that it endures any scratches and does not need painting or staining because the color diffuses in all the material layers. Hence, any scratch would do absolutely no harm. Moreover, Vinyl is sublime when it comes to noise and dust reduction and they are totally impervious to water, unlike wooden windows. All of these genuine traits are coupled with very affordable prices relative to other windows materials. If you want to choose your house windows for aesthetic reasons or budget reservations, vinyl windows possess this combination. Hence, in other words, if you are searching for an ideal and affordable package you should opt to installing Vinyl windows at home. Installing Vinyl windows is relatively quick and facile.

When installing vinyl windows at your house you should make sure that those who are going to be installing them are trained and quite experienced so as to guarantee that your vinyl windows will be installed properly to grant you the best performance. You should choose a reputable company that has good customer service as well.

Before installing your vinyl window you ought to scrutinize it in order to make sure there are no deficiencies in it because vinyl windows are meant to stay for long periods of time without maintenance. Hence, you would not want to have a deficiency in your vinyl window for years. If you find any flaw or deficiency in the window ask the company to replace it or fix it for you. The installation process of the vinyl windows is actually more important than the framing and painting because a small flaw might make the vinyl window perform poorly, for instance an opening that is too large, flashing that is improper, anchorages that misfit and unbalanced space between the fasteners are all critical flaws that would make the vinyl window lose its major, core value. The vinyl window would not be as cost effective as you expected. Moreover, a lot of dust and noise will leak inside of your apartment. Also any mistakes in framing and welding are too detrimental because they should remain for years to come without problems and maintenance hassle.

Your vinyl window installers, if well-trained, will start by taking all your window opening measurement in order to be positive that the vinyl window will cater a perfect fit. After they finish the installation process they should examine your vinyl window attentively and make sure that the installation has been done flawlessly and that your window sustains the ideal performance. A proper installation process would put you at ease with regards to your vinyl windows for a very long period of time. So do not underestimated the installation process and be selective with regards to the workers who do the job for you.

How to Choose Vinyl Replacement Windows

If you want to know how to choose vinyl replacement windows, then you must first be aware that there are quite a number of features to be aware of. I cannot provide them all here but I will make an attempt to provide you with the key features.

Look for those that are tested for wind load
Making sure that the potential windows have been tested for wind load should be at the top of your mind. Statistically this refers to the load on a structure due to pressure of the wind. The best replacement window is one that that can withstand wind no matter which direction it is coming from.

Consider the structural load
This may seem a bit complex but it isn't really. Structural loads refer to the forces applied to a component of a structure or to the structure as a unit. You need to make sure that the structural load is proper. Some replacement windows have been rate to a DP50 structural load, which in my opinion should be your start off point as you enquire in store or when discussing with the replacement window contractor.

Must be water resistant
If you really want to know how to choose vinyl replacement windows then know this, water resistance is critical. Almost all vinyl windows are water resistant but you need to double check with the contractor before forging on.

Other features to consider:

Like I said, there are many features to looking for when choosing a replacement window. Below I highlight some few more hopefully this will be enough to get you to your next step i.e. finding the perfect and affordable contractor who lives within your area.

So you must also consider the size, the color and the style should not clash with your current or rather existing windows. Consider such things as e-glazing. Note that different parts of your home require different levels because of the different directions.

This is really all there is to it on how to choose vinyl replacement windows. One last point I should probably stress out though is that you need to make sure the vinyl replacement window has passed quality standards.

You don't need to stress out about some of the technical features discussed here. Simply find a replacement window contractor who lives in your area and find out all that you want to know.

Fixing the Sticky Window & Door

By: Ray Walberg

If you're like me, I'm sure at some time you've tried to open your door or a window only to have it stick. The first time you just ignore the problem. Many times after a year or so, you find yourself telling your guests, "turn the knob the other way or it will stick". We all have a tendency to put things off as long as they still work somewhat. Windows and doors can stick for a number of reasons. Sometimes wood expands and contracts, parts may have been painted over two parts may be get fused together. Once you determine the cause, you can fix it yourself.

After a recent installation of a bay window, I found that the contractor had painted the windows closed. If paint is the culprit, you can scrape or cut it out with a putty knife or window zipper. Hold it flat against the sash, push it into the joint, and draw the zipper along the surface. If there is year's accumulation of paint, remove the excess paint with a paint scraper. Make sure you get all the parts that have excess paint, opening and closing the window throughout the process. You may have to remove the window to scrape paint off the sash. If this doesn't work, you may have to strip the paint down to the bare wood and repaint them. A commercial painter remover will do the job well. Make sure the paint is thoroughly dry before you reinstall the window or you'll have the same problem.

If the problem is too much friction, you can use candle wax or talcum powder to lubricate the channels of the sash. If weather-stripping is in the sash channels, flatten the weather strip with a hammer and block of wood.

If you can't seem to find what's causing the problem, you may have to just jar it loose a little with a rubber mallet or the palm of your hand. Gently tap the sides of the sash. You may want to install new friction channels. You'll need to remove the sashes, weights and pulleys before you begin. Push some fiberglass insulation in the openings of the weigh cavities, starting at the top and working down. Put in the ends of the top strip to make new friction channels. A sharp chisel and hammer works well for this. Replace the sashes in the window frame between the two new channels. You can then reinstall the interior stops the way you would if they were new. You may have to increase or decrease the tension on the window.

Doors usually stick for similar reasons except for the additional problems hinges may cause. Occasionally the door will rub against the jam, in which case, you need to shim the hinges out. If the rubbing is on a side where there are no hinges, you may need to readjust the door. Remove the door and use a plane to shave some of the door until it fits. Other simple problems such as loose screws or hinges can be easily fixed by tightening them.

Installing Replacement Windows

Installing replacement windows in old homes is a great way for homeowners to save money on their energy bills. The old style single-pane windows are just that...a pain! They waste energy and require a lot of maintenance to look after them.

New windows are so much easier to maintain. Installing replacement windows in old homes usually involves replacing old wooden windows for the newer vinyl style. New types of windows are much more energy efficient and are usually almost maintenance free. In addition, they will operate without much difficulty for many years.

Installing replacement windows will usually not take very long if you have the right tools and the expertise. You can find replacement windows in many different shapes and styles. The most common material is vinyl. However, some uncommon materials used include wood, aluminum and fiberglass. Some windows include combinations of different materials such as an aluminum exterior and wood-grained vinyl on the interior.

Before you begin installing replacement windows, make sure you are getting a quality product. A good quality window will undergo a variety of tests by independent certification organizations. All the materials that are used must be of a high quality. Each manufactured window must follow the strict guidelines so that the window lasts for many years.

Installing replacement windows should involve the installation of Energy Star windows. If the window has the Energy Star label then it has passed a test to ensure that it meets the minimum standards needed for an energy efficient window. If you are not replacing your old windows with new ones that will save on your energy bill then that is not a wise investment.

If you plan on installing replacement windows yourself then it may be advisable to test the procedure on a small window in an inconspicuous area of the house. Like any home improvement job, measure all your measurements two or three times to ensure accuracy. Follow all the instructions and if you have any problems put the old window back in if you can and then hire a professional.

If you did not have any problem installing your first replacement window then go ahead and try some more. One of the most important steps in the installation process is to make sure that your window fits squarely into the frame.

If you have any questions about replacement windows or fiberglass windows, Give Prestige Window & Door a call: 303-647-5439

Replacement Window Information

One thing is for sure, getting your home improved is not as cheap as it may seem. This is especially true if you are looking for the best top class undertaking that will make you feel like you live in a palace. Similarly, finding the best replacement windows is not as easy and often not as easy but there is a way. Let me quickly provide a review on the important aspects of Denver replacement windows to help stir you towards the right direction - for both yourself and your wallet.

For starters get rid of the notion that vinyl or aluminum replacement windows will never need repainting. Most dealers will tell you that these will always be shiny and looking new - let me say it right now - that's a lie!

Secondly, you need to choose windows that have different low-e glazing. This is because your home has different sides that face different directions. However, it may be quite difficult to find a contractor that is willing to customize them for you mostly because they get bulk discounts from their suppliers so when you ask them to custom make it means buying a single window, which reduces their profit margins. For example, If you want or need a different low-e glazing, you will be charged extra, providing that they offer this option.

Anyway, my point is, have low-e glass for the southern part of your home and the northern part should have the lowest u-value windows installed. There is usually no fuss about the east and western part as they may have the same U-value as the northern windows.

One of the types of windows to consider are sound proof windows. Who does not know the value these windows can bring to someone in search of peace and quiet? They are simply placed inside of the home rather than the exterior. What keeps the sound off is the airspace between the soundproof window and the other window that is normally attached along. Interestingly you do not have to replace your current window when you decide to install soundproof windows in your home.

When it comes to Denver replacement windows, you need to find only the best. Sometimes it calls for calling up a replacement window contractor in your area to get a quote - the more the merrier - it will work to your advantage.

Increase The Value Of You Home

There is no better way to increase the value of your home than to replace your windows with new fiberglass replacement windows. The installation of fiberglass windows will add to the resell value of your home and improve the appearance from inside and out. Another great benefit you get from installing replacement windows in your home is the added energy efficiency windows provide. If you live in Denver, replacement windows with improved energy efficiency are a must. Heat loss through windows is one of the leading causes of high energy bills.

Prestige Window & Door has the highest quality fiberglass windows in Denver. The fiberglass windows carried by Prestige Windows are very affordable. Their professional, knowledgeable staff of window & door consultants can design the right custom solution for your unique needs. Denver residents can click the following link to submit a Request for Estimate and a sales representative will come right to your door.

About Prestige Window & Door

Prestige Window & Door was founded with a single purpose - to provide Denver homeowners with a better choice in a replacement window & door company. To do this, we knew that we had to offer better quality windows at fair prices, and back them with a higher level of service.

That's why we developed our commitment to you:

• 
  To offer QUALITY, LONG-LASTING FIBERGLASS WINDOWS that will serve you up to 600% LONGER than vinyl windows
• To sell them to you at a fair price
• To provide them in a variety of finishes, including REAL WOOD interior veneer
• To back them with our Prestige Level Sales & Service

Better windows, better value - all delivered in our no-pressure sales enivornment.

Prestige Windows & Door is a local company that exists to provide a clearly superior option in the Colorado window market.

• Here is what you can expect when you choose Prestige Window & Door:
• To be dealt with honestly in a no-pressure sales environment
• To be treated with integrity at all phases of the process
• To receive a quality product that will meet your needs
• To be completely satisfied with your new windows, sales, installation and service

Over the last 3 decades working in all phases of the Denver window industry, we've seen the good and bad of window sales and service. With Prestige Window & Door, our value promise is simple - you'll get quality, long-lasting windows at a fair price. We'll demonstrate them to you in a no pressure sales environment and back them with personal service that is far superior to other providers.

If so, it's time to think about replacing your windows, give Prestige Window & Door a call. They can help you design a solution using high-quality, long-lasting fiberglass windows for less money than you might think. Click here to schedule your no-pressure, no-obligation in-home consultation today!