Product News

  • Series 3050 Fixed Panels: We are now offering fixed panels on the Series 3050 in all three sill options. The fixed panel will be made with rollers instead of blocks, typical bottom rail, top rail and interlocker. However, the jamb side vertical will be a lead stile extrusion instead of the typical fixed stile. A head closer will be provided to secure the top of the panel and security screws.

  • Bent Sliding Doors: Until recently, the tightest radius we could produce was 12' (=24' diameter). With custom modification to our Mammoth Roller, we are able to make systems as tight as 10' radius (=20' diameter). This is available in the Series 3050 (all three sill options) and in the Series 3070-EX (no sill pans).

  • Frost/Condensation: Aluminum has been the product of choice for extreme climates because of its strength and longevity. Over fifty years ago the window industry began using thermal break as a means of bridging the exterior half and interior half with polyurethane or other non-conductive material. Despite the addition of "thermal break", condensation and frost can occur. We interviewed an energy consultant and offer some of his suggestions below:
    1. New homes are notorious for condensation problems since they are filled with components that are still "drying out" and thus outgassing moisture into the home. It typically takes a few years to dry out.
    2. HVAC considerations are playing a major part in reducing or adding to the product propensity toward frost and condensation.
    3. Airflow around the product is helpful.
    4. Thresholds are typical places for collecting moisture in that cold air "falls" onto the lowest surface.
    5. Metal straps on the building structure, which have not been isolated, can cross over the thermal break bridge from inside the wall.
    6. Locating forced heat ducts near the window/door is helpful. Hydronic or radiant heat does not have the same affect.
    7. Humidity control devices can keep the room below the dew point.
    8. A new technology called ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) removes moisture from the dwelling and replaces it with fresh air. Approximate cost: $1,500.
    9. Other technologies exist and in all cases, a professional energy consultant should be hired BEFORE the dwelling is completed.

    We have provided a link to our website that might also assist you: Condensation

  • Finish Upgrade: Several months ago we began the process of upgrading our clear anodized stock to Class I material. This project is now complete. Not to be overlooked in this upgrade is an additional proprietary process. This new sequence helps matte the aluminum cooling lines and defects for a more homogeneous finish. This new process accentuates the natural character and beauty of aluminum, providing our customers a higher quality and more uniform finish.

  • FSB Sliding Door Pulls: We are now offering optional pulls for our sliding doors. We have chosen FSB because of the product quality and the number of contemporary styles. These pulls can be seen in the Hardware link on each product page, just like the Pacific 3500 lever choices. Your next download of Snapshot will contain the ability to price these pulls.

  • Alfresco Living: Our customers are always eager to see pictures of our products, once installed into the house. The link below will take viewers to an example of true indoor/outdoor living that is made possible with the large sliding door systems offered by Fleetwood. Alfresco Living

  • Little Things: Consider for a moment your favorite luxury automobile. What makes that car better than the other choices? More than likely, your reasoning is not limited to one thing but rather several little things. We therefore encourage our dealers to know the little things about each product we make. Here are a few of the little things:
    • Fleetwood uses the best aluminum extruders: This assures a reliable alloy and fewer cooling lines that are especially visible in clear anodizing.
    • Fleetwood uses the best aluminum finishers: This is an area where copycat products save money but the longevity of their product is under suspicion.
    • Fleetwood owns the best history: We have earned 50-years of experience in manufacturing sliding doors. We owe much of our success to listening to our dealers as well as design and building professionals. Copycat products might boast "in business for many years" but is their experience in making the products they are promoting equal to Fleetwood?
    • Fleetwood uses the best weather-stripping: It costs more to use the best but it lasts a lifetime. Competitors will skimp here too since it saves thousands of dollars with inventory.
    • Fleetwood uses the best locking hardware: The industry continues to marvel at the exceptional Archetype Hardware.
    • Fleetwood uses the best rollers and track system: These two components are engineered to work together in ideal harmony. Fleetwood is the only manufacturer that assembles these in the USA and uses authentic Swiss precision bearings.
    • Fleetwood uses the best glass: We have partnered with the cream of the crop in the industry to assure the best-looking and performing product. This is another area the posers will pocket money that should have gone toward a better component.

  • High Performance: Most of our products are manufactured for basic weather performance, but we offer options for extreme weather performance needs. For example, the standard 3/4" sill pan height for the Norwood 3070-EX should not be used in high-rise applications. We would recommend a taller sill pan, e.g. 3", as well as HP verticals. Additionally, we would recommend that same door in a configuration that allowed sill and head closers on all tracks to minimize water and air infiltration, e.g. OXXX instead of XXXX.

  • Quality Control Department: Working with IT, the QC Department is creating several inspection stages during the production cycle. Each stage includes online production worker signatures that will make us more accountable to our customers and allow us to pinpoint areas needing attention. Additionally, we are creating software flags to identify products of exceptional customization. These products will be inspected and approved by a QC Manager before the products are packaged for shipment.

  • Westwood & Newport Block Frames: For the past several years we have only stocked nail fin frames in the projected window products. With the increase in orders for block frames, we have cut new dies and are now stocking nail fin and block frames.

  • Screen Mesh Improved: Beginning on all screens shipped in November, we are making Ultra Vue screen mesh our standard mesh. We have selected this product because of its high quality and improved vision characteristics. We continue to believe that there are consumers who see value in improvements such as this and we therefore continue to make our products better, not cheaper.

  • NEW Kona Glazing Stop: The stop used to secure inserts into the Kona is one that required removal of part of the shape. Because inserts have become so popular we have developed at stop that will be used solely for 2 1/4" glazing. This new shape will be in stock this month and will start to be seen in products shipped in October.

  • Optional Hardware: All of our products come with a standard hardware style and this is noted in the respective brochures and product pages online. Optional hardware will be noted in the "options" section of the printed quote where as standard hardware will not.

  • Stainless Steel Roto Option: Fleetwood is now offering stainless steel roto hardware arms for the Westwood and Newport windows. This is just another example of how Fleetwood is distancing itself from the copycat products. We are stocking this hardware so lead-times will not be affected.

  • Quality Control: Most of our customers are unaware of the QC procedures that take place in our factory. Every production day is filled with periodic testing to make sure each department is producing the highest quality product possible. The tests include; frame corner fit; sill corner fit; sill corner seal integrity; glass defects & overall esthetic appearance.

  • Window Latch Re-Design: The new stainless steel latch for sliding and single hung windows has received exceptional praise. We did, however, receive some constructive criticism to make a good latch even better. Our design team incorporated this input into a new design. The improved version will be phased into production in the next few months.

  • Factory Glazed HI Doors: The factory is now offering factory wet glazed door panels. The lead-time is extended by two weeks to allow some curing of the silicone.

  • Ease Of Rolling: Our precision sliding door rollers work MUCH better than other products on the market because we have not cut corners. When we state 'precision' bearings we mean the bearings are authentic precision bearings, not cheap knock-offs making a similar claim. The proof is in the operation. We have added a new link to each door product page for one of our technical sheets. It is titled " Mammoth Roller Tech Sheet". In this document you can read that a 300 lb panel only takes 2 pounds of pressure to move it.

  • Are You Green or Sustainable:  There is much buzz these days about being 'green' but what does that really mean? Producing a 'green' product is easy to do because most companies can claim some basic benefits such as some energy efficiency or some reduction in pollution. However, according to John D. Wagner (Green Editor-Qualified Remodeler) the construction industry is more keenly interested in products that are "sustainable" because by definition these products lower pressures on the environment through the use of source materials that are renewable. In our industry, aluminum products combine for some of the most sustainable and green building products available in the world. We invite you to read more about our features in Green & Sustainable.

  • Upgrading Casement Strikes:  We are now providing stainless steel strikes for all casement windows. In the past the standard was painted steel but we think the quality of the stainless steel is better in the long run. This is another example of Fleetwood's desire to do things 'better not cheaper'.

  • New Sight-line Extender:  With the advent of the Archetype and its wider lead-stile, dealers have been requesting a wider sight-line extender. The new extrusion is 3-1/2" wide and is available at a 6 week lead-time. Typical use of this option is for the pocket interlocker to achieve vertical symmetry at each jamb.

  • Doors "Prepped" For Automation:  We offer this feature when customers are considering adding a motor in the future. Fleetwood will fabricate the head & jambs (if applicable), install the I-Gress Lever in the lead panel interlocker, drill the header for the mounting plate and notch the head & jamb closers and attach the Collector Plates. No other components for the system will be provided until the motor itself is purchased.

  • Double Corner Doors:  In the past we have only offered one style for corner door fabrication. Dealers were not able to choose which locking stile would carry the latch. This limitation became a problem in applications where two corner doors were part of the same system, e.g. "U" shaped corner door. We have implemented the tooling that allows our customers to choose left or right locking; Please specify at the time of order.

  • Meeting Stiles:  Fleetwood automatically includes meeting stile stiffeners for all doors 120" or taller but this option is available on doors of any height. We strongly recommend using this option in situations where the windloads are severe. The new part is called the HP Adapter and a detail can be found on each door product page in our CAD details link.

  • HP Adapter Replaces Windload Adapter: The new HP Adapter will replace the current Windload Adapter used for improving the windload performance of meeting stiles. The two extrusions have similar performance but the new HP Adapter has a narrow sight line. Snapshot automatically adds these parts in sizes over 120" (Customers have the option to order doors without these HP Adapters with the understanding that the door will not meet a minimum windload performance.) Because this extrusion works as a full-length pull, we will ONLY be installing the Archetype Actuator and not the recessed pulls. We will continue to offer the Windload Adapter as an option.

  • Meeting Stile Sight-line Reduction: With the NEW HP Adapter we have reduced the meeting stile dimension, compared to the previous Windload Adapter arrangement. We are also offering an even slimmer arrangement by offering a 'Non-Archetype Lead Stile' instead of the Archetype Lead Stile. See the detail below that compares both side by side. This slimmer arrangement is an option and ONLY comes with the MS-Latch/Thumb Turn. No flush pulls will be provided because the extrusion gives a full-length pull.

  • Custom Lock Locations:  All sliding door actuators or thumb turns will be located at 54" as the standard location. We are offering three custom locations upon request: 24", 36" and 48". There will NOT be an extra charge for this option. We also want to remind our customers to make sure they consult local building codes for hardware height requirements.

  • Series 1000 Hardware Location:  To be consistent with the other sliding door products, the thumb turn for the Series 1000 doors will be located at 54" unless otherwise requested (custom heights are optional.) Check your local code requirements because some require specific heights for certain locations.

  • YOU TUBE Video-International Builders Show 2009: We have posted a video and several still photographs of the booth. These can be found by selecting the Dealer tab or Home tab from our website. Products of the highest interest are the Pacific doors with a replicated wood grain finish and a 15' tall sliding door. The video and pictures can be viewed by selecting this link: IBS 2009

  • Pacific Door Lever Choices: We are now offering several more lever choices for the Pacific 3500 hinged door. Under the Door Hardware link on the product page, you will find a new link titled FSB Hardware. Many of these levers are available within standard lead-times but some might take a little longer. Verify costs and lead-times with Inside Sales.

  • Sliding Door Handle Choices: Customers are enthusiastic about the new Archetype Hardware for several reasons. One of those is the ability to purchase this hardware with the optional Actuator only and to buy after market pulls to use instead of the standard recessed pull. We show an example on the Series 3000 sliding door that is in our traveling display.
    One of our favorite hardware suppliers is FSB and we recommend many of their door pull choices. You can view the choices from the website at www.FSBusa.com.

  • Hardware Height: Every Fleetwood window and door has a default hardware height location. We again want to draw attention to the height of the Archetype actuator. We have located it at 54" for a few reasons but the main reason is this height complies with pool access requirements. Some federal and state building codes however, establish maximum heights. In fact, the UBC can be interpreted as requiring a maximum height of 48" on sliding doors. Before placing your order, please verify all applicable code requirements for your door and window package(s).

  • ADA Products: With the introduction of our new ADA Lever that retrofits over the Archetype Actuator we now have two sliding products that meet stringent ADA requirements. Please contact your dealer or Inside Sales for more information.

  • Stainless Steel Parts: Even though stainless steel is a fantastic metal, it still must be maintained, especially in high corrosive environments. Please make sure your customer maintains all Fleetwood products from the moment these products are exposed to harsh elements. Our Care & Maintenance Instructions are posted on our website and are easily accessible to the public. If through neglect some parts are rusted or some aluminum is corroded, contact our Customer Service Department immediately so we can suggest some remedies.