Midwest winters can be relentless. Given biting cold, harsh winds and frequent snowstorms, Midwest homes are battered throughout the season. But contractors and builders can prepare their customers with innovative new building materials from Spahn & Rose.
Here are four products that employ state-of-the-art technology and new advances to help keep the heat inside this winter:
- Knauf Glass Mineral Wool with ECOSE Technology
One of the easiest ways to reduce your heating bill this winter is to add insulation, such as Knauf Glass Mineral Wool with ECOSETechnology. This innovative insulation won’t just help keep a home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer; it’s also formulated to be highly eco-friendly. Composed of up to 80 percent recycled glass, this Knauf insulation contains no added formaldehyde, artificial dyes or acrylics. This multi-use insulation offers a wide range of applications, ranging from cavity walls, pitched roofs and lofts to timber-frame, modular and prefabricated buildings.
- Bayer Built Aluminum-Clad Doors and Door Frames
Once a wooden door frame endures a few Midwest winters, you might notice peeling paint. Many wood frames sit directly on top of the door sill, too, which may allow water to wick up into the wood. As wooden frames pass through each season, their finish can degrade, and its ability to retain heat may decrease as well. There’s still time to install a new energy-efficient aluminum-clad door and door frame from Bayer Built, which does not require repainting. In addition, Bayer Built aluminum-clad doors and frames are easy to install, are available in eight colors and can coordinate with your existing window trim.
- LARSON Platinum Dominator Secure Glass Storm Door
The sleek, modern design of LARSON Platinum Dominator Secure Glass Storm Doors match their innovative features. The maintenance-free aluminum frame and heavy-duty weather stripping seals out harsh winter conditions. In addition to helping keep heat inside, these storm doors offer advanced security features, including a vault-like multi-point locking system that secures the door in three places. These doors are so strong that LARSON backs them with a $1,000 Break-In Protection Plan against forced entry. For contractors and builders, Platinum Dominator Secure Glass Storm Doors save time because they use a Unique Surface Mount that boasts an installation time of just 10 minutes.
- Marvin Windows with Low E1 Glass Coating
Marvin windows combine style with energy-saving functionality. While you can admire the elegant Marvin window hardware and marvel at the clean lines, the technology that keeps your heating bill low is a little harder to see—and it’s meant to be. Marvin windows can include Low E coating— a low-emissivity metallic material that boosts windows’ energy efficiency. (Emissivity is the ability of a given material to radiate energy.) Low E coatings are usually applied to the inside layers of insulating glass and manage the heat and light conducted through or reflected away. Depending on where in the country they’re used, different Low E ratings are more optimal. For homes in Iowa, Wisconsin and most of Illinois, the ideal rating is Low E1, used in climates where heating is generally prioritized over cooling. Homeowners will get maximum benefit when windows with Low E1 coatings are positioned in direct sun exposure.