WOODSTONE WINDOWS

Getting Ready for the Holidays

2011-12-22T05:15:00.000-08:00

Let's talk about window and door maintenance. It’s a dull subject, perhaps, that architects and builders alike sometimes do not emphasize; but in reality, maintenance engineering is a significant cost saving device when done well. There is the satisfaction of beautiful results and environmental sensitivity, as well as the value retention of the product and the building in which the windows and doors are installed.

For example, windows and doors are always subject to damage over time from weather, sun light, accidental and or malicious disregard, as well as negligence, all resulting in diminished appearance, performance and value.

With the onset of winter, we see varying extremes. And while our first objective may be to match original landmark architecture, Woodstone engineers its products for ease of maintenance to better preserve original value, diminish risk, and protect its windows and doors from deterioration over the long haul. With Woodstone’s high resistant wood species, modern finishes, and traditional wood joinery, deterioration under most circumstances is not only limited, it is easily maintained and repaired. That’s why it’s wise, from time to time, to inspect your windows and doors for cuts, scratches and scrapes that may compromise the finish.

One thing leads to another. If a scrape penetrates the finish, eventually water penetrates into the wood, into the wood joinery and, perhaps, to the edge of the insulating glass. In the winter, freezing and thawing can cause movement in the various sash and door elements, and when the trapped moisture is heated by the sun, water vapor is forced deeper into the wood joinery mortises and rabbets.

If an individual True Divided pane of Insulating Glass (IG) seal fails, or the glass breaks, in a Woodstone window or door, it can be easily replaced. Not so, if it’s a Simulated Divided Lite window or door. SDL units that fail in almost any way must be replaced as a whole, and this can be a prohibitively expensive venture when matching original architectural details.

If the paint finish is damaged on a Woodstone window or door, repainting is easily managed with minimal preparation. Finishes and sealant can be spot applied without the need for stripping the entire window or door. Clad windows, on the other hand, obscure deterioration over time. Moisture that finds its way through the cladding often rots the wood beneath, creating pervasive damage before the deterioration is discovered. And, assuming a historically accurate clad window is available in the first place, once a clad window is damaged, it is very difficult to maintain and expensive to replace.

Remember: if a window or door is presented as being’ maintenance free’, it probably can't be maintained and it ultimately ends up in a landfill. Read the warranty. Compare the risks. As you will see in the following article, Maintenance Makes Cents _TM.

2011-12-22T05:13:00.000-08:00

The Queensbury Hotel

Glens Falls, New York

If it says "Maintenance Free"

2011-12-22T05:09:00.001-08:00

... then it probably can't be maintained.

There have been numerous articles, blogs and comments on this subject. Barbara Campagna, Director of Architecture for the National Trust’s 29 historic sites, wrote in Preservation Nation, the newsletter for the National Trust For Historic Preservation , a ‘tirade’ (her words) on Vinyl Replacement Windows. I suggest anyone contemplating an historic window replacement read the article.

Of particular interest is a comment in the article by Mike Jackson (Chief Architect of the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office); in which he characterizes replacement windows touting ‘no maintenance' as:

“No Maintenance required” really means
“can’t be repaired” – so they end up in the
landfill much sooner than say a wood window
which can be repaired and repaired and repaired, or recycled.”

If a new custom finished, hardwood window, with true divided light (not simulated)insulating glass, and the same details, appearance and function as the original, was available, and it provided energy efficiency, easy maintenance and a useful life longer than that of the original, wouldn’t it be worth considering?

If you purchase a window with a ‘no maintenance’ moniker designed to last for 20 years and compare it to the cost of a more expensive landmark historic wood window designed to last for 100 years or more with efficiently planned maintenance, what cost/benefit considerations come to mind? How many times can you afford to replace a ‘no maintenance window’ and still remain true to the landmark historic details of a property on the historic register?

2011-09-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

Westminster, Vermont
Greetings to our friends,

First, yes, we survived Irene. We were surprisingly untouched as the eye of the storm passed directly over us on its way up the Connecticut River to Canada. We can't say the same for our neighbors, many of whom lost driveways, outbuildings and in some cases, their homes. East of us were high winds and to the west of us, more rain than Vermont has seen in a century. You've seen the news.

Thanks to all who asked. If you feel like helping, Vermont Foodbank is a great cause to support.

This edition of the newsletter is about high performance glazing and things to be aware of. For your convenience, we will link you to the article on our web site and keep the email to a minimum so as not to fill your inbox.

A word about High Performance Glass
Terms such as Low Emissivity, Heat Mirror, Pyrolytic, Sputtered, Argon Filled, Double Sealed, SuperSpacer and others are being used with increasing frequency. Trade magazines are featuring articles on high performance glazing in one issue after the other. And why not? Energy conservation is serious business. Unfortunately, and as with any new, high-tech products, the relevant details are usually complex. Miscommunication, misunderstanding, mistakes and misuse come with the territory of high performance glazing as well. While we do not profess to be expert in physics or chemistry, we have had significant and increasing experience with the testing and use of several of these new products and would like to take this opportunity to share the following thoughts with you...

Made in USA Matters

2011-05-19T17:52:00.000-07:00



While we all purchase products made around the world, and that brings flavor and diversity to life, we must also keep in mind the benefits of buying products that are made here in the United States, and in many cases, very close to home. Our economy depends on it and so does the environment.

The cost of transportation is not just money. Long range shipping uses expensive fossil fuel and takes time. Fuel costs are rising and much of the supply is on foreign soil. The time spent in transit can delay a project. Moreover, if more product or replacement is needed during the project or after, the lead time is often prohibitive.

Woodstone manufacturers wood windows and doors here in New England. Our work force is local people who then spend their money in the local communities, bolstering the local economy. We can use native species of lumber such as cherry and white oak, both very suitable for doors and windows, with good resistance to decay and durability.
Is LEED certification a part of your project? Locality is important. Oak and cherry are grown in the Appalachian forests of the northeast. These sustainable forests not only can provide a nearby raw material but also provide jobs for local workers.

Finally, local service is important.

Salespeople in the region may represent imported products, but then it comes to maintenance and repair, this work may be referred back to the manufacturer. Woodstone’s 20-25-20 year warranty is backed by nearly 35 years of service and our ability to respond to needs on the job site promptly. Our reputation is built on that kind of service.

So when comparing prices, consider a product that is “Made in USA.”

For more information about Woodstone, please take a look at our video, or examples from our gallery.

How is Woodstone different from other window and door companies?

2011-05-19T17:49:00.000-07:00

Price control, predictable scheduling and upgraded performance are assured with historic replication vs. the unknowns of restoration. We understand these are important issues on any job, but for some jobs, these considerations are essential. Woodstone strives to provide consistent prices and concise specifications to eliminate surprises. Our Timelines schedule tasks so everyone, including our vendors, and you, our customer, know what is required to meet a deadline.
Woodstone provides performance, even when matching historic details.
Woodstone customers don’t pick from a catalog. We manufacture exactly what is required. Whether we are producing the detailed designs of an architect or reproducing elements of the past, Woodstone does not impose typical manufacturing limitations.

Woodstone provides one of the longest limited warranties in the industry; our products are that good… 20 years on the joinery, 25 years on the finish, and 20 years on the insulating glass.

Technology = Service and Value
Nearly three decades ago, Woodstone pioneered the application of CAD-CAM design and fabrication, previously used only in mass-production, to its custom products and virtually created an industry. Our use of proprietary software programs controls every aspect of the design for the hundreds of elements in each window and door. This allows Woodstone to respond quickly to our customers’ needs for fast quotes, no-hassle change orders, and precise production and delivery management. Our business systems were designed around the needs of our customers, to create an emerging business of 21st century products - truly custom window and door manufacturing for historic replications and properties of distinction.

The True Divided Light Advantage

When most manufactures settle for the illusion of individual panes of glass by installing a grill over one large piece of glass (Simulated Divided Lights), Woodstone’s quality standards require True Divided Light construction. A True Divided Light is an individual piece of insulated glass installed and sealed between precisely joined wooden muntins. The advantage of false-grills is ease of manufacturing. True Divided Light fabrication allows the use of specialty glass with less weight, lower maintenance costs and lower cost of ownership. Remember, if a window is ‘maintenance free’, it can’t be maintained.

Woodstone does not compromise on quality or meeting your customization needs. We are the kind of custom manufacturer you should entrust your building project to.

But Where to Find This Insulating Glass?

Folks ask us where do we get the small pieces of insulating glass that we use in our True Divided Light (TDL) wood windows and doors? The answer is that we make them in our own shop. Our skilled fabricators know how to use high quality components to fabricate small, precise units that will last many years. As you can see, we make them in many shapes and sizes. We also make rectangles to fit sash with narrow bars and muntins, some of the thinnest in the business. Every piece in this sash is an individual unit (including the tiny half inch triangles in the upper corners!). That is why Woodstone is known for detail.
We also make our insulating glass for resale to contractors and homeowners who need to repair or replace hard to find pieces for windows in their homes. Our insulating units may be fabricated with a variety of glass types as well. We use clear, tempered, laminated, obscure, antique, tinted, Low-E, and more… virtually any type of glass. Of course there are considerations when it comes to unusual combinations of glass types, but our experienced staff will help you, our customer, determine what is the right glass for your project, taking into consideration the cost, warranty, and use.

See how we make our True Divided Light insulating glass by hand in our special clean room by watching the video on our web site: www.woodstone.com

So before you accept that it just can’t be done, ask Woodstone…

Hope springs eternal. There is life on earth!

2011-05-19T17:42:00.000-07:00

Westminster, Vermont February 25, 2011

While the weather has turned back to winter for a while, you must be hibernating if you haven’t noticed signs of spring and economic recovery. After all, everyone has been cautious about new projects and this has been a difficult time for everyone in the construction business.

However, Woodstone continues to serve a special niche of the wooden window, door and millwork business. True Divided Light, Pegged Mortise and Tenon sash and doors. We are members of the New Hampshire Green Building Council and can provide LEED evaluations for your projects, ranging from individual units for landmark projects to new homes and large projects for churches, universities, municipal buildings and other institutions. From CAD engineering, material management and scheduling through production, tailored delivery and follow up, we leave nothing to chance. Our team will continue to work with your team providing personal attention to detail.

True or Simulated … that is the question?

2011-05-19T17:32:00.000-07:00

Woodstone provides only True Divided Lite windows & doors. The others don’t.

True or Simulated … that is the question?

Consider this:

If any glass breaks or cracks, only the glass need be replaced with True Divided Lite windows.
If the Insulating Glass seal fails, only the damaged piece of glass need be replaced with True Divided Lite window.
Restoration and artistic glass is available only with True Divided Lite windows.
There is a 20 year limited warranty against seal failure on almost all Woodstone Insulating Glass.

Woodstone fabricates windows and doors that are designed to last longer than the historic windows they typically replace – and some of those windows are more than 100 years old. When our clients invest in architecturally correct, historically accurate, period reproductions, the last thing they want to hear when confronted with a broken piece of glass is that they have to buy an entirely new sash replacement………

… glass, wood, finish and all!

Woodstone's commitment to environmental responsibility is made possible by the uniquely flexible nature of our product. Our manufacturing process is virtually waste free. Our lumber is used in energy efficient windows and doors that are designed to last longer than the trees from which the wood is harvested. Program optimization techniques insure that wood waste is reduced to the lowest volumes possible.

Furthermore, all remaining wood waste is processed into fuel that powers our shop more cleanly and efficiently than oil or natural gas. The trees that are harvested and used in our windows and doors have converted more carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis than is released into the atmosphere through Woodstone's biomass gasification process actually reducing the effect on global warming.

If you are concerned with the depletion of tropical rain forests or our old growth western forests, Woodstone offers a variety of indigenous species including Northeast White Pine, Cherry and White Oak. The flexible use of wood species offers a wide range of beauty, hardness, strength, resistance to decay, economy and sustained availability.

If you have environmental concerns, do not hesitate to request alternatives.

A New Year

2011-05-19T17:28:00.000-07:00

Westminster Vermont January 12, 2011

A new year is upon us and, in many ways, it seems better than last year already! In spite of the gloomy news, there seems to be a buzz (do I hear skill saws) of new work out there and many are suited to the work Woodstone does. Woodstone is all about custom woodwork. We specialize in made to order doors and windows, but it isn’t all about historic work. Woodstone also makes contemporary windows, even tilt and turn, and in fact, we will build pretty much whatever you need.

Doors and windows, customized to your needs, which allow your designs to stand out from those of your competitors.

Woodstone can match existing elements, such as: wood species; custom glass; finishes; and molding profiles. We can accommodate your dimension requirements, and execute your fenestration plan when a project is just too important for the “off the shelf” look.

We don’t just make awesome wooden windows and doors, we provide products and service backed up by our 20/25/20 Guaranty, the longest and most complete warranty in the industry.

Contact us for any type of associated millwork as well! Custom paneling to match your doors; moldings and trim; pretty much any piece of woodwork you might need. Our estimating department will provide you with a clear, prompt quote.

For more information about Woodstone, please take a look at our video, or examples from our gallery.

Best wishes for a prosperous New Year!