Product News

Wicket Screen Improved: We are about 4 weeks away from completing a new screen to replace the wicket screen. The new screen will become the standard screen for all Westwood and Newport casement/awning windows when cam handles are selected. We will provide more information during the next few weeks.

Series 1000 Roller Improved: As soon as existing inventory is depleted, all Series 1000 doors will be made with improved bearings. The roller housing and wheels will be the same stainless steel, but the bearings will be “sealed” instead of typical ball bearing construction. These bearings noticeably increase the rolling performance of the Series 1000 but still fall short of true precision bearings which are standard on all other Fleetwood sliding door products. Fleetwood remains the only United States door manufacturer that uses authentic Swiss precision bearing rollers.

Series 1000, 1070-EX & 1050 Improved Hardware: All quotes generated after June 1, 2011 will come with new standard locking hardware. This new, higher quality hardware consists of a brass (base metal) flush pull & actuator which operates two stainless steel latches. This hardware is better suited for coastal applications, easier to latch and the deeper pulls make it easier to move. The pulls and actuator will be available in either black paint or brushed copper nickel plating. The current Series 1000 hardware will continue to be offered as an option as long as the market desires it, and the current 1070-EX and 1050 hardware will be offered as an option for at least a couple of months.

OPTIONAL Series 3070-EX Sub Sill: This option is becoming popular because it allows water performance with a completely flush threshold. We are currently offering it on the Series 3070-EX only but have plans to offer it on the Series 3070-CR before the end of the year. In its current offering, customers have two choices: factory staggered sills or full length sills. In the case of staggered sills, the header will be provided in full lengths because there is not an effective way to finish the ends. Upon request we will ship individual header tracks so field staggering can be accomplished. We only suggest this in cases where the head is buried into the ceiling.

Water Pressure Increases: A customer recently asked "Why does water pressure increase at higher elevation projects when the atmospheric pressure hardly changes from the ground floor to, for example, the 20th floor?" In fact, the atmospheric pressure is actually LESS at higher elevations. This seems to make even less sense that higher water performance is required at higher elevations. A plain explanation is that wind speed is faster, on average, at higher elevations. Wind speed is directly related to pressure. A wind speed of 90 mph is equal to a design pressure of 20 psf (pounds per square foot). When the wind contacts the exterior side of a door or window, a differential in pressure occurs since the interior side is a controlled lower pressure. This differential creates a vacuum effect, which essentially pulls water from the exterior (high pressure) into the interior (low pressure). Fleetwood suggests high water thresholds or sub sills any time that our products are in high elevations, e.g. high rise buildings or even houses on a bluff.

Greener Boxing: Fleetwood has applied new processes during the packaging stage to reduce the amount of waste at the jobsite. Specifically, the perimeter cardboard will now be isolated from the spray foam. The change will allow the cardboard to be recycled.

3070-EX Flush Installation: We want to draw your attention to a new feature noted on page 6 of our brochure. The feature is a sub floor pan that allows the 3070-EX to be installed flush with the finished floor. This custom installation offers more water performance than the standard threshold.

New Pacific Option: Coming soon - The Pacific hinged door will be offered with a hopper insert. It will be offered for inside or outside swing configurations and is limited to six square feet. The only hardware we are offering is the spring loaded latch.

Adding More Hinges: Orders placed after May 31st for the Pacific 3500 series doors that exceed 72" in height will be made with four hinges.

Bulb Vinyl Upgrade: We often tout "the little tings" because we believe you cannot have an authentic quality product unless the details are exceptional. In keeping with our relentless pursuit to "build it better, not cheaper" we are upgrading all bulb vinyl from PVC to Santoprene.

Bottom Rail/Top Rail: We are now offering the option to use the bottom rail extrusion as the top rail. This is only being offered on the 3070-EX, 3070-CR and 3050 product series.

Black Fin-Seal: Within four weeks, all products provided with fin-seal weather-stripping will undergo a cosmetic improvement. The translucent "fin" is now going to be black. We know this will greatly improve the look of the door/window by not drawing undo attention.

Discontinuing Replicated Wood Grain: Effective for all new quotes, we are not offering this finish option any longer. Our supplier has recently changed their warranty and will not cover this product near the coast. Since most of our products are sold in proximity to salt air, we cannot offer this finish. We will honor all existing quotes as long as orders are placed before September 1, 2010. Additionally, we will warranty all products, regardless of location, for one year, as stated in our warranty.

Custom Anodize Shade Difference: We are changing the language on our Aluminum Finishes sheet to help customers understand the inherent shade difference in anodized extrusions. New sheets will be ready in two months but share this with your customers on current projects being ordered:

"The anodizing process reveals the natural beauty of aluminum. Fleetwood's propriety blending process limits undesirable characteristics such as cooling lines; however shades can look lighter or darker depending on lighting and angles. Customers can expect shade variations within two shades. For example, it is acceptable to have F3 and F4 on the same project".

New Product: Pivot Door: We have started to softly promote our latest new product, which is an aluminum framed pivot door. The Phoenix 3400-P will formally be introduced in our new brochure, which should be ready in June. Contact your Region Manager or Inside Sales for cross section details and more information.

Bi-Folding Door Product Page: Fleetwood is now offering an aluminum bi-fold door with panel sizes as large as 39" X 120". We are preparing a brochure but during the meantime, customers can gather information from the new product page online: Terrace 3600 .

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.