Fibrex™ Material

A better alternative, a better window

Reinventing the window

It used to be that all windows were made of wood. Beautiful, durable, and a great insulator, wood was the material of choice for homeowners. But over the decades, changes in consumer needs led Anderson Corporation to search for new materials with which to make windows. Andersen pioneered the use of vinyl in windows in the 1960's when we introduced our low-maintenance Perma-Shield® cladding for wood windows. Andersen's experience in working with vinyl and in designing windows has let us to recognize the limitations of vinyl.

Introducing Fibrex™ material

After years of intensive research and development that included over two dozen patents, Andersen introduces Fibrex™ material-- a revolutionary composite that combines the strength and stability of wood with the low maintenance features of vinyl. Revolutionary in every sense of the word, Fibrex material not only consistently performs to exacting specifications, but saves raw materials by utilizing reclaimed wood fiber from our 65 acre Andersen Corporation manufacturing operations in Bayport, Minnesota.

What is Fibrex material?

Fibrex material is a blend of wood fiber and a specially formulated thermo plastic polymer. Over seven years in development, Fibrex material is a whole family of materials--each formulation customized to meet the unique needs of many window products and components. For Renewal by Andersen windows, we incorporate over 40% reclaimed materials from out other window manufacturing operations into the formulation.

The first Fibrex material part used in an Andersen product was the sill support for out Frenchwood® hinged patio door. Incorporated into the patio door in 1993, the Fibrex material sill support has performed exceptionally well in this demanding role.

The "material" difference

Renewal by Andersen® replacement windows made of Fibrex material offer several clear advantages.

Strength - Because Fibrex material is strong we can make our sash and frames narrower and allow up to 20% more glass area than many competitor's windows.
Insulation - Fibrex material has superior thermal insulating properties which, combined with Anderson High Performance™ glass, help keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
Low Maintenance - Since Fibrex material never needs scraping or painting, your windows will continue to look beautiful for years to come.
This "material" difference makes Renewal by Andersen windows the best replacement windows you can buy.

Why Fibrex™ Material?

Durable and reliable
Thermal expansion is the degree to which a given material expands and contracts with changes in temperature. Pine has a very low thermal expansion rate. With a rate of 1.57, Fibrex material, like aluminum, expands and contracts very little. Vinyl, however, with a higher thermal expansion rate of 3.42 expands and contracts markedly. In your home, that means windows made of Fibrex material will perform better in winter and summer than windows made of vinyl.
Stable and predictable
Modulus is the scientific term for a material's stiffness. The higher the number, the stiffer the material. The average modulus for Fibrex material is twice the average for vinyl, making it a far more stable and rigid material for windows. And though wood's average stiffness is higher, it is far less predictable than Fibrex material since wood possesses natural variations such as grain, knots and moisture content. All of which means we can make Renewal by Andersen® window frames and sash narrower than competitive windows--gaining more glass area and more light from the same size space in you wall.
An excellent insulator
To a window engineer, insulating value is measured by a material's thermal conductivity. Simply stated, it's how well the window material prevents heat or cold transfer into or out of your home. Fibrex material has a very low thermal conductivity ratio--or in other words, excellent insulating properties--that put it on a par with pine or vinyl. Unlike aluminum, Renewal by Andersen windows, made of Fibrex material, won't transfer heat out of your home or allow cold temperatures out-doors to chill the widow areas inside.
Decay-resistant
Eventually without maintenance, even treated wood can be subject to decay. Fortunately for busy homeowners, Fibrex material is not. Our special polymer formulation surrounds and coats each wood fiver in the manufacturing process, providing exceptional resistance to rot, and does not promote fungal growth. And Renewal by Andersen windows made of Fibrex material are warranted not to flake, rust, blister, peel, crake, pit or corrode.*

* See the renewal by Andersen Limited Warranty for details.

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ALL DATA VERIFIED BY AN INDEPENDENT LABORATORY USING INDUSTRY STANDARD METHODS.

Northwoods Windows
6640 Highway 13 South
Wisconsin Rapids WI 54494

Phone: 715.325.2520
E-mail: windows@northwoodswindows.com