Weathering the Storm With JELD-WEN's Impact-Resistant Windows and Doors

CHARLOTTE, NC--(Marketwired - Jul 7, 2015) - Severe weather can cause major damage to a home, sometimes with little warning. With the start of hurricane season this month, residents in Florida, the Gulf Coast and some areas of the East Coast are all too familiar with the horrific aftermath of damaged homes and property from major storms.

A home's windows and doors are susceptible to damage from rain, wind and windborne debris unless designed to address these vulnerabilities. Water intrusion can reach the interior of a home, damaging interior finishes, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Local Official's Guide to Coastal Construction.

But there is technology available for homeowners to help protect their homes. As the only company to offer ImpactGard® protection for custom wood, vinyl and aluminum windows and patio doors, JELD-WEN offers a wide range of products designed to meet the toughest building codes and a 10-year warranty on the impact glazing. Windows with ImpactGard protection are built to withstand the impact of windborne debris during most storm conditions.

"Impact-resistant windows operate the same way as other windows," said Jim Parello, vice president of marketing for JELD-WEN. "They offer increased protection against storms, and unlike shutter systems, they are easy to operate in the event of an emergency. While we recommend that homeowners always follow instructions from local agencies regarding safety, ImpactGard protection helps homeowners rest assured that their windows will work hard to protect the home."

ImpactGard protection features laminated glass technology, where an interlayer is sandwiched between two sheets of glass to deliver extra impact resistance. It helps prevent wind damage by resisting impacts from debris and keeping the building envelope intact during storms. Even if the glass cracks on impact, the inner layer is designed and built to remain intact under most storm conditions.

JELD-WEN offers a full line of windows and patio doors available with ImpactGard protection, and other options designed to meet a wide variety of building codes, features, budgets, and warranty considerations. Windows with ImpactGard protection are available throughout the Eastern Seaboard and along the Gulf Coast in the United States.

To help stand up to the worst of Mother Nature, JELD-WEN offers additional storm-tested features, including:

• Products that meet stringent performance grade (PG) ratings. In severe storms, certain weather conditions may exceed the PG ratings for products. Windows and doors are rated by how resistant they are to the positive and negative air pressure, generated by the wind as well as water infiltration form these storms. The higher the PG rating, the greater the protection. JELD-WEN® Premium Atlantic aluminum sliding patio doors feature a standard PG 80 rating, even for openings that are up to 16 feet wide. Selected styles of JELD-WEN® Aurora® Custom fiberglass exterior doors carry a PG 50 rating.
  
  
• Exterior doors for strict Zones 3 and 4. Areas of the country subject to strong winds or hurricanes are categorized into four zones. The zone in which you live determines the types of windows and doors required to meet building codes. Zone 4, where wind speeds can exceed 160 mph, has the most stringent requirements and mandates exterior building products that can stand up to wind pressure and impacts. JELD-WEN offers exterior doors that meet strict Zone 4 requirements for windborne debris and impact resistance.
  
  
• Wood windows and patio doors that can withstand extreme moisture. It's important to consider material that holds up well in storm conditions by choosing windows that can stand up to long-term moisture. Made from solid pine, JELD-WEN windows and patio doors with AuraLast® -- The Wood That Does Not Rot are manufactured using an innovative vacuum pressure treatment process that helps protect the wood all the way through to the core, and comes with a Lifetime Limited Warranty. Coupled with a 10-year warranty for ImpactGard protection and a 20-year warranty for the rest of the window, JELD-WEN wood windows are durable choices for homeowners considering extreme weather solutions.
  
  

About JELD-WEN
JELD-WEN -- a leading global manufacturer of windows, doors, and treated composite trim and panels -- operates in more than 20 countries with $3.5 billion in revenues; half of which come from outside the United States. The company provides products that enhance the beauty and functionality of homes and commercial buildings. JELD-WEN's full breadth of products has earned numerous awards and endorsements for dependability, innovation and excellence. With a strong commitment to sustainability, JELD-WEN is a recognized leader in manufacturing energy efficient products -- providing solutions that deliver exceptional value for builders, architects and homeowners around the world. JELD-WEN has been an ENERGY STAR^® Partner since 1998. For more information about JELD-WEN, or to find a dealer, visit www.jeld-wen.com or call 800-877-9482.