AutoCAD Tutorial: Calculate scale and

sheet size
By Ellen Finkelstein
This tutorial is unusual, because you dont need AutoCAD to do it.
You draw full size in AutoCAD. But before long, you may need to set the scale of text,
dimensions, and other objects that need to be the right size after you plot on a sheet of paper.
In a large drawing, such as a drawing of a house, you obviously need to scale down to fit it on
a sheet of paper. For small objects, you might scale up.
You can add text and dimensions in paper space and avoid scaling. You can also use
annotative text and dimensions, but you still need to choose a scale.
Lets say you have a drawing of a house. The drawing is 175 feet wide by 120 feet high. Some
typical scales for an architectural drawing of a house in the United States are 1/4=1 and
1/8=1.

Follow these steps:

1. Calculate the plotted size of the width at 1/4=1. 175 x 1/4 = 43-1/4.
2. Calculate the plotted size of the height at the same scale. 120 x 1/4 = 30.
3. Test this size on a size D sheet (34x22). Its too small. Test it on a size E sheet
(44x34). It would just fit, but allowing for a title block and margin would make it
too tight.

4. Recalculate the width at 1/8=1. 175 x 1/8 = 21-7/8.

5. Recalculate the height at 1/8=1. 120 x 1/8 = 15.
6. A size C sheet (22x17) is close but you might have problems with the margins. If
you can move some objects in the drawing to make it slightly narrower, youll do fine.
Otherwise, youll need a size D sheet.
7. Sometimes, you need the scale factor, which is just how many times bigger the full
size is compared to the plotted size. For a 1/8=1 scale. multiply both sides of the
equation by 8 to get 1=8. Then convert to inches. 8 x 12 = 96.
This is a List of building materials. Building materials are used in the construction industry
to create buildings and structures.
These categories of materials and products are used by American architects and construction
project managers to specify the materials and methods used for building projects.
Catalogs distributed by architectural product suppliers are typically organized into these
groups.
Material (articles)
Compressed earth block, mud brick, rammed earth
Concrete
Conveyor systems

Elevator or "lift"

Escalator

Composites
Thermal protection

Building insulation

refer to: Category

Category:Appropriate technology
Category:Concrete
Category:Vertical transport
devices

Category:Composite materials
Category:Thermal protection

Moisture protection

Building envelope

Conformal coating

Damp (structural)

Housewrap

Waterproofing

Doors

Category:Moisture protection

Category:Doors

Category:Door furniture

Stile and rail, raised panel, wood clad

Access, sliding glass doors, tambour

Folding doors, garage door, storefront

Door hardware

Electrical systems and equipment

AC power plugs and sockets

Circuit breaker

Electrical connector

Electrical wiring

Switches

Surface finishing

Plaster & gypsum board

Cement render

Ceramic tile, quarry tile, pavers, mosaic

Category:Electrical systems

Category:Wood finishing
materials
Category:Wood finishing
techniques

also "gyp-board" or
"drywall"

Dropped ceiling, coffered ceiling

Category:Roofs

Flooring wide plank, terrazzo, carpet

Category:Ceilings

Wall covering, wallpaper, acoustic

Category:Floors

Paint, wood stain, faux finishing

Category:Walls

Staff a type of artificial stone

House painting

Wood finishing

Fire suppression equipment

Furnishings
HVAC (Heating, ventilation and air conditioning)
Masonry, mortar (masonry), grout

Category:Fire suppression
Category:Furniture
Category:HVAC
Category:Masonry

Adobe, brick and brickwork, glass brick, terra cotta

Category:Bricks

Artificial stone

also: "Concrete Masonry

Units" (CMU)

Cinder block or concrete block

Category:Stone

Stone dry stacked or mortar set

Urbanite broken-up concrete

Metals

Category:Metals

Structural steel: I-beam & column

Rebar

Wire rope and cables

Metal joist, decking, framing, trusses

Metal fabrications
o Stairway, ladder, railing, grating, Strut
channel, roofing (including copper)

Decorative metal

"Openings" include Doors & Windows

Plastics
Plumbing fixtures and equipment
Building safety
Security systems
Specialties
Telecommunications equipment
Wood, carpentry

Rough carpentry (unfinished)

o Heavy timbers, log home, timber framing or
"post and beam"
o Engineered wood, dimensional lumber

Stud, joist, rafter

Category:Doors
Category:Plastics
Category:Plumbing
Category:Safety codes
Category:Security
Category:Architectural design
Category:Telecommunications
Category:Wood
Category:woodworking
See also: List of woods

Treated lumber & wood decking

o Sheathing, subflooring, Panelling

Plywood, shiplap, tongue and

groove

Oriented strand board

o Parallel strand lumber or "para-lam"

o Glue-laminate or "glue-lam"

Finish carpentry or "architectural woodwork"

o Veneer, plastic laminate, wood panel
o Case-building products

Millwork, bookcase, cabinets

o Ornamental woodwork
o Trim, molding or "moulding"

Chair rail, baseboard, casing, sill

Windows

Casement, double hung, bay window

Curtainwall, skylight, dormer

List of Exterior Wall Materials

Exterior Wall Alternatives

By Juan Rodriguez
Ads:

House Wall Insulation

Exterior Wall Panels

Exterior Windows

External Wall Cladding

Roofing Repair Materials

Exterior walls can be finished with a wide array of materials and techniques. Exterior wall
finishes can produce significant savings for the contractor as well as for the building
occupant. There are multiple alternatives for you to choose from, depending on the type of
construction and special needs required in that project.
1. Walls on Wildfire Zones

By andersbknudsen

When an exterior wall ignites the fire can spread to the roof, windows, doors and other
building components resulting in substantial damage or total loss of the structure. The
resistance of exterior walls to burning and decay is directly related to the material used and
the amount of fire ignition components in the surrounding areas.
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2. Gypsum Area Separation Walls

By Sailorbill

Gypsum area separation walls are lightweight, non-load bearing gypsum partition that
provides fire-rated capacity typically used between adjacent walls on townhouse construction.
3. Exterior Wood Walls

By Stockerre

Finishing exterior wood is highly dependent on moisture content, type of wood, surface
preparation, application method and finishing system used. It

4. Insulated Vinyl Siding

By DaveF 3138

Insulated vinyl sidings will offer you a good and low-cost alternative that you must consider
when planning your next construction project.
5. Tilt-Up Walls

Courtesy of J. Rodriguez

Tilt-Up wall construction is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States. At least
10,000 buildings enclosing more than 650 million square feet are constructed annually.
6. OVE Framing

Photo Courtsey of Darren Moore Darren's Photos

Using either the complete Optimum Value Engineering system or applying it by

components, the building will be improving its energy efficiency and its overall performance.
Builders and Contractors starting to use this technique might require special training that
can result in a decrease framing speed.
7. ICF Walls

By Roberrific

Insulated Concrete forms are a new method being used by contractors to qualify for energy
credit and other types of ratings. Many home builders are using the most obvious and
currently most popular alternative: Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs).

8. House Wrap Installation Tips

By Peg Syverson

House wrap is defined as all synthetic materials replacing sheathing paper. House wraps are a
lightweight material and wider than asphalt designs, allowing a faster installation procedure
by builders and contractors.
Ads

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highest accuracy
9. Cladding Alternatives

By Matt From London

This solution gives a building a new look, new life and will generate saving on electricity
when thermal and insulation issues are attended. Overcladding benefits are greatest when
dealing with high story buildings.
10. Brick Walls

Courtesy of Shaire Productions.

Brick is one of the most used material on construction and housing industry. Working with
bricks can be a little tricky and confusing. Some contractors have failed to execute some
simple steps and have paid the price with costly reparations after the job has been completed.
11. Insulated Wall Panels

By Ashley Balsam Baz

Structural Insulated Panels (SIP's) are used in floors, walls, and roofs providing an extremely
durable, strong and energy-efficient high performance material. Structural Insulated Panels
(SIP's) are typically made by a plastic foam rigid insulation between two structural skin
surfaces such as oriented strand boards (OSB).
12. Supreme Steel Framing

By Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives

Supreme Steel Framing System is a relatively new framing material that presents several
benefits when installing drywall. Supreme Steel Framing System recently was tested and
found in compliance with 2006 IBC code
Window Materials

The term window materials refers to the frame, which is only a part of the entire product window or door. However, this is the main denominator when categorizing window or door
groups. The frame material is the most tangible feature, but not the single most important to
define quality. Factoring all features - a good vinyl window, low browed as it is, would be a
better choice than a poorly made wood window.
Views and opinions vary as to which material is best, and as with any other product it
much depends on whom you ask. Upon your on-line research you may sure get
contradicting views, where all manufacturers assert that their material is superb to all others.
There is a belief that wood windows are best and the rest are in descending order.
Categorically it is not true, as it confuses 'price' with 'quality'. Generally speaking, wood
windows are most expensive but necessary the best. Though the form 'best' may differ from
one person to another, and from a technical / structural point of view to an interior designer
view to energy efficiency figures, there is no universal truth.
We would rank the importance of the frame materials third to the window's pedigree,
meaning the product maker, and second to the installation, so we strongly suggest not to judge
or select a window based on frame material only. It is like buying a car based on engine only.
ignoring comfort, build quality, style and fit for required use.
We have no interest in promoting one material over the other, as all are within our offering.
A word about pedigree - purchasing a no-name window, or from what we call a 'cottage
industry' maker, presents a double edged risk. Not only the product will not perform as a purebred would, but finding parts for it will be difficult, if not impossible. A window is not a short
term disposable gadget, and if a single minor component such as hardware fails and no parts
in sight, the initial savings are written off.

Certain window frame materials have been around for generations, some have come and gone
while new ones are being introduced. We try to look at the materials based on the following
factors, listed in no particular order:

Appearance

Thermal efficiency

Mechanical strength

Claim to fame

Owner's bragging rights - snob appeal

Maintenance

Ease of service

Cost

Available options

Cottage industry factor

Recycling

Resources

Shapes

Longevity

Fiberglass

Typical fiberglass window sash. Wood grain laminate shown.

The material known today as fiberglass was developed in the 1930s, as an insulation
material. It is used in many industrial and commercial applications from boat and vehicle
body components, construction components, safety and sport equipment, heavy duty
containers and others.
Fiberglass is a composite structural material that consists of fiber reinforcements (typically
glass) that are bound together in a resin matrix. Glass fiber has a high tensile strength, and
will not break, similar to a reinforcing bar in a concrete mix. The resin acts like concrete, as it
performs well in compression. Together, the glass fibers and resin are good in both
compression and tension, creating a sturdy material.
Fiberglass has a high strength-to-weight ratio, resists warping and is resistant to corrosion. It
insulates from heat, cold and electricity, works well in extreme temperatures, and easily yields
to be made into complex shapes. Being a thermoset material, versus vinyl being
thermoplastic, it is not affected by temperature changes.
Fiberglass fenestration is big in Europe and growing in the US, while in Canada it is still
considered a novelty. As such, few manufactures offer this product, costs are high compared
to traditional alternatives such as vinyl and aluminum, but quality should be higher as well.

It is offered in limited range of finishes and accessories, and it lends itself to high-end
installation, just a step below good wood products and above entry level wood products.
Frames are mechanically joined, so if made correctly the seams are perfect - unlike vinyl,
aluminum or low-end wood. Finishes include different in / out colours and textures, where the
optional wood-grain internal finish can be stained and looks more striking than wood. In
wood windows the tracks and seals are made of other materials, typically vinyl, which stands
in stark contrast to the natural material. In fiberglass, everything blends well together, so the
final product looks cleaner and unified.
Like any other product, two fiberglass windows made by different manufacturers are not
necessarily of equal quality. When comparing look at the finishes and the joints, which are a
telltale about overall quality. Further, fiberglass Achilles' heal is moisture, so much depends
on the resin formulation and coating. A low end fiberglass product may fail in the long run if
not correctly protected against penetrating moisture.
Typical cross section shows a single wall, about 1/8 thick.
Characteristics:

Little coefficient of thermal expansion, similar to glass.

Low thermal conductivity.

Dimensional stability.

High strength-to-weight ratio.

Chemically inert.

Easily paintable and re-paintable with minimum preparation.

Low environmental impact made of readily available silica sand.

Future recyclable capability.

Resistant to corrosion from chemicals.

UV stable.

Can be painted / coated with dark colours which are not recommended for vinyl.

Unlike wood framed windows, fiberglass does not rot or warp.

Does not require a thermal break as found in aluminum windows.

Does not require the stiffeners that many vinyl frames require.

Stress on seals, caulks and joints is minimized, contributing to higher efficiency

windows.

Tight and stable seals maintain the resistance to air leakage and water penetration.

About 3 times stronger than aluminum and 9 times stronger than vinyl windows.

Frame strength increases the sizes that an be made in a single span, making large
picture windows possible and more energy efficient.

Practically maintenance free.

What makes our fiberglass different:

The looks. The rounded and gentle frame contours show same details as wood frames,
where other fiberglass windows look more like their vinyl cousins.

The sightline, also called daylight opening or glass opening is wider. The frame weight
or thickness - is lighter than wood or vinyl windows. A typical vinyl window frame
weight is approximately 3.25 to 3.625, while our window frame is approximately
2.5.
What this means for you is that on a 20 wide window, the glass opening on a vinyl
windows will be 13.5, while on our fiberglass window you will get an additional 1.5
of glass, width and height.
It may not matter on a large window, but with smaller ones found in older homes, the
difference can be paramount.

Our fiberglass Infinity window line uses a specially formulated and patented Ultrex
material, that is more resilient and as such lends itself to more refined details on the
window frame.

Ordinary window surface is finished as it comes through the die, or painted via
pigmented jell. Our Ultrex profiles are Tecton coated - three layers of acrylic bonded
protective coats. The Tecton process allows high bonding of the finishing layer,
smoother so no dust or pollution particles may adhere to it and is moisture resistance
and lasts for decades. The process was developed from similar used in the automotive
industry, made to withstand all weather conditions ad yet not lose its luster.

We offer two standard inside finishes - stone white and off white as well as five
outside finishes at the same price. Optional wood grain inside is available at a small
premium.

Fiberglass rod

Vinyl rod, at same size

Hardware finishes

Bronze

Sierra off white

White

Satin nickel

Satin taupe

Brass

Frame finishes - inside

Sierra off white

Stone white

Real wood -left, stainable wood grain finish, right.

Strong corner key holds the frame sections.

Frame finishes - outside

Cashmere

Bronze

Brown

Grey

White

Sierra off white

Summary
Appearance

Neat

Thermal efficiency

High

Mechanical strength
Claim to fame
Maintenance

High
Material of the future
None

Service

Expensive

Cost

Expensive

Options

Limited

Cottage industry factor None

Bragging rights

High

Recycling

Yes

Resources

Renewable

Shapes

Yes, though no round

Longevity

High

Aluminum

Aluminum window cross section - note the thermal break.

Aluminum needs little introduction. It is the most abundant mineral in the earth's crust. There
is evidence of its use from as early as 300 B.C., but it was not until 1888 that an economically
feasible process was developed for modern, commercial production. Today, it is used
practically everywhere - from industrial to household products, in aviation, marine and
military uses. It is the latter that brought aluminum to the building industry. After WW2 the
manufacturing industry looked for new avenues for their materials, and found a perfect match
with the building boom of the time.
For a brief period (from the mid 50's to the early 80's), aluminum fenestration reigned
supreme. Looks were questionable at best, having a 'military issue' appearance, but as the
numbers grew and prices dropped it become the standard of that era.
Having an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance and being easily formed
into complex shapes and profiles, it is an easy material to work with. It does not rot or deform,
so its life is virtually unlimited and needs no maintenance save for periodical cleaning.
Costs - aluminum windows are the cheapest in the fenestration family. Nevertheless, a good
aluminum window could be more expensive than a poor vinyl one. However, these days it is

hardly used for low-rise residential buildings. It is still the standard fare in high-rises and
commercial or architectural applications. Our take on that is the high-rise building code was
based on aluminum products during the transition from steel, and will require a real push to
establish a similar code for vinyl. Once that happens, we firmly believe that the use of
aluminum will further decline.
Thermally, aluminum is an excellent conductor, which is not a good thing in this industry. It
requires a thermal break which in essence is a vinyl profile inserted in between two aluminum
sections, which may affect it's overall strength.
While it is offered in pre-painted finishes, it does not take brush painting well, so you may
better stick to the original colour.
Typical cross section is a box-like single wall, approximately 1/16 thick. In residential
windows there are two parts connected with a middle vinyl section acting as a thermal break.
Characteristics:

High expansion rate.

High thermal conductivity - requires thermal break.

Dimensional stability.

High strength-to-weight ratio.

Low environmental impact .

Future recyclable capability.

Resistant to corrosion from chemicals.

UV stable.

Can be painted / coated with dark colours which is not recommended for vinyl.

Unlike wood framed windows, aluminum does not rot or warp.

Does not require the stiffeners that are needed for vinyl windows.

About 3 times stronger than vinyl.

Practically maintenance free.

Summary:
Appearance

Poor

Thermal efficiency

Poor

Mechanical strength
Claim to fame
Maintenance

High
Found everywhere
None

Service

Cheap

Cost

Cheap

Options

Many

Cottage industry factor High

Bragging rights

None

Recycling

Yes

Resources

Abundant

Shapes

Yes

Longevity

High

Vinyl

Vinyl window cross section - note the stiffeners.

"Plastic windows ?
Vinyl has been the worlds most versatile plastic since its invention in the early 1920s. From
its first use as golf balls and shoe heels, vinyl is found today in almost all industrial
applications. Known as polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, it offers excellent resistance to chemicals
and corrosion, and as uPVC, it withstands the damaging effect of the UV energy of the sun.
Being easy to shape into complex profiles, offering superior thermal characteristics and
having good strength to weight ratio, vinyl has become the de-facto material for the
fenestration industry. It can be easily machined and welded, can be extruded in colours or
painted, and all that in a price favorably competing with traditional materials such as steel,
aluminum and wood.
A vinyl product is practically indestructible and will outlast any other material used in the
industry. It needs no maintenance and can be easily cleaned to look like new. We fully agree
that the prettiness is last on the vinyl attribute list, but it's high functionality makes up for that.
Vinyl has evolved from being an almost unthinkable window material into holding
approximately 80% of today's market. We believe that no other material comes close to this.

Not far back - in the early 90s it was nearly impossible to convince a homeowner to use
plastic windows. It is the iPad of the fenestration industry - came form nowhere and took the
market in a storm.
The material is an oil by-product, so its price may be affected by oil price fluctuation.
However, compared to other fenestration materials that are energy intensive, vinyl has low
embodied energy, so its manufacturing process consumes little energy. It can be recycled,
though if dumped in a landfill it will take much longer to disintegrate than wood.
Vinyl is an excellent insulator, both for hot and cold. It is stable, and is easy to produce and
machine. As such, vinyl components are found in almost any window or door, even in wood
or fiberglass. We believe that (good) vinyl windows offer the best insulation values, having
most weather stripping lines combined with air cavities - honeycomb like frame.
To dress down vinyl, manufacturers of other materials point to its weakest characteristics softness, comparative mechanical weakness and high expansion / contraction rates. All are
correct, but immaterial - at least in a high-end vinyl window:

Softness - vinyl can take more abuse than any other material. Scratches can be easily
removed using a razor blade and some smoothing. This is not the case with other
materials, where a dent or a scratch are there to stay.

Mechanical weakness - as all vinyl windows are made with air cavities. The walls in
between the cavities reinforced the section same as a honeycomb structure. Further,
any decent window manufacturer reinforces the sections with a steel section driven
through the cavity. It is transparent to the homeowner, but uses the strength of steel
with the look and warmth of vinyl.
In retrofit application the vinyl softness is a blessing - houses shift, so the vinyl
absorbs most of to protect the glass, which is the rigid part.

Expansion rate - it may make a difference if a single window span will extend to say
ten feet. In reality, such is rare in residential applications; the expansion in real life has
no effect on the final product performance. Further, windows are glazed using setting
blocks - neoprene spacers, which absorb any such stress. The same setting blocks are
used in any window, so this is not a process peculiar to vinyl only.

The only setback of vinyl windows is their appearance bulky by nature. To overcome that,
newer windows are now made from toned down profiles, allowing a softer looks.
Vinyl can be extruded in any colour. However, in most applications the outside is either coextruded or painted in different colour.
Typical cross section is boxy, where the CSA specifies an outside wall of .060 and internal
wall .040. The standard is voluntary and is followed only by high end manufacturers, where
at low end you may find lower or inconsistent values.

The Vinyl Curse

The low costs, popularity, and ease of production are vinyls biggest curse. The industry
evolves at a fast rate, so machinery become obsolete fast. Buying a basic, non automated
production line (welder, router and miter saw is all that is) costs less than a used car, and a
cheap one at that. Add to that the rate of micro manufacturers going under, where their
machinery is resold for peanuts, so every man and his uncle can hang up a shingle and
become manufacturers, sort of. That's what we call cottage industry.
Further, one can buy vinyl profiles from public molds, meaning worn obsolete molds used to
their capacity, where precision and product finishes are a far cry from same used by real
manufacturers. Using such profiles via similarly obsolete, none calibrated machines,
combined with no-name hardware and no-name glass, result in seriously crippled windows.
However - product is cheap. Considering that no-name hardware would last for few years
only and replacement parts cannot be found the product becomes useless.
As with any other product, only more so, you get what you pay for. There is little brand
recognition in this industry, so it is easy to be misled by buy direct from manufacturer hype.
It is wise to adhere to the bigger names, where the product may by more expensive, but
superior in every other way. It is always wise to scrutinize the seller and the product, or else
one may get stuck with a poorly functioning product sometimes worse than the one just
replaced. This issue is peculiar to the vinyl window industry as other products wood and
fiberglass have no cottage industry factor.

Vinyl Myths

Being the most popular material, it is sold by most window companies. We are amazed by the
creativity of the sales pitches we hear:

Virgin vinyl - no extruder uses recycled vinyl in windows. Recycled vinyl is used to
make shopping bags and fleece pants, not windows.

Powder vs. granules - the raw material is offered in both forms. There is no advantage
of one formulation against the other.

Lead in material at least in North America, lead is not used in vinyl windows. It
used to be found in low-end vinyl products, as colour stabilizer, but was long replaces
by Titanium Dioxide (TiO2).

Vapour - there is some vapour emitted by vinyl. However, it is hardly measured by

PPM, and as vinyl is practically everywhere there is no advantage of one formulation
over the other. Vinyl is found everywhere and commercially available PVC is stable.
We have only once encountered a person where this was a perceived issue.

Vinyl extruders and brands - the larger window manufacturers, a half a dozen or so,
extrude their own profiles. Other large scale manufacturers buy from dedicated high
end extruders - Royal and Vision come to mind, where the molds used are designed
and owned by window manufacturers.
Add to that other 'exotic' overseas extruders who try to differentiate their brands, such
as Rehau of Germany. Thy do use their own formulation and molds, but it is not to say
that they are better or worse than the others. Touted as German, the brand indeed is ,
but it is extruded here.
At the bottom you may find smaller and less controlled extruders, and off-shore
extrusion which are used wholesale by the micro manufacturers.
The cottage industry buys from less controlled extruders, and use uncontrolled dies.

What makes our vinyl (and windows) different:

Our main product line is sourced from Gentek and Oran the most innovative, quality
sensitive and largest manufactures in Canada, selling from coast to coast. The
manufacturing process is tightly controlled raw material formulation and extrusion,
making own glass and top-end industry standard hardware. The windows offered
always include the latest in fenestration technology, relying on extensive in-house
R&D. Strict QC eliminates later day surprises. The warranty offered is for real, the
best in the market place, where we have access to service parts for products made
decades ago.

Both manufacturers carry several product lines - low and high end. We carry the top
line in both cases - the Regency and the Glengarry, to our opinion the best in the vinyl
menagerie,

Specifically standard fare on all windows now offered:

o

Profiles are micro finished smoother and less prone to dust and pollution
build up.

Extrusion walls are thicker and heavier than specified by the CSA, and offer
more inside cavities than the ordinary window.

Positive drainage system through all profiles ensures that any trapped
humidity is drawn out.

Frames are put together using NC machinery and multipoint welders, so all
frames and joints are true.

Cutting edge low e / argon glazing, SuperSpacer (warm edge non metallic
spacer) are standard.

Thermal glass units are double sealed, and are wet glazed (glued to frame, as
with commercial grade glass)

Non-destructible Maxim Elite hardware.

All sections longer than 3 are steel reinforced, and all meeting rails on double
hung / double sliders are steel reinforced.

Summary:
Appearance

Bulky

Thermal efficiency

High

Mechanical strength
Claim to fame
Maintenance

Low, needs reinforcement

Cheapest
None

Service

Cheap

Cost

Cheap

Options

Many

Cottage industry factor High

Bragging rights

None

Recycling

Yes

Resources

Limited

Shapes

Yes

Longevity

High

Wood

Wood window clad with aluminum.

The most desired product, with the ultimate look, from humble to exotic species, and allowing
for indefinite design variations, patterns, and options.
A good wood window is an excellent product in both appearance and features, will last and
perform for a very long time, but it comes at a price. It could be easily three or more times the
price of a comparable vinyl window, and it needs constant maintenance.
A cheap wood window is a disaster in waiting, as many frustrated home owners have noticed
that when the cheap builders window enter their second decade and crumble. To be fair home owners much contribute to wood windows early failure, as such windows need much
upkeep and maintenance, which is hardly ever done.
Wood windows are not for everybody, and are considered luxury top-end products. Even the
best wood window still requires ongoing maintenance and constant painting, so the cost of the
window does not end at the purchase price. Similar to buying a luxury car - the service and
parts carry luxurious price tag as well, so costs do not end with purchase.
Having the natural look and aura, the best all-wood window will not perform as well as a
lowly vinyl or fiberglass window. Wood in not strong enough to carry modern double glazed
thermal units. To keep the desired delicate fine looks - rather than the bulky looks of vinyl - it
uses lighter and narrower sealed units, less sophisticated hardware and fewer weather
stripping. All that, and the need to constantly maintain the outside of the window, has ushered
a new breed of hybrid windows. Today, all high-end manufacturers offer either vinyl or

aluminum layer (capping) on the outside. This eliminates the need for maintenance and also
reinforces the window.
Service could be an issue with wood windows, where glazing stops may damage when
replacing a sealed unit, so a full sash replacement is needed, at a price to match. Hardware
replacement may be equally difficult, as screws need to be reinstalled at the same place, with
little room to go deeper or sideways. What it really means is that unlike other materials, with
wood windows you will need to get back to the manufacturer for service. In the past decades
some of the wood window makers seized to exist, so replacement glass (full sash) and
proprietary service part are no where to be found.
Wood windows can be stained or painted, much depends on the species used. Unlike other
materials, all wood windows will be finished on site.
Being a wood window does not necessarily mean it is high end. There are miserable looking
wood windows, even at the high price level. Look for joints that do not meet, nail heads show,
tracks and accessories visible, to name just a few.
Summary:
Appearance

Excellent

Thermal efficiency

Fair

Mechanical strength
Claim to fame
Maintenance

Low
High end
High

Service

Expensive

Cost

Expensive

Options

Many

Cottage industry factor None

Bragging rights

High

Recycling

Yes

Resources

Renewable

Shapes

Yes

Longevity

Fair

Hybrid windows

Fenestration became a high-tech industry, at least with the constant innovations and new
products and features that were considered futuristic just a short while ago.
Where traditional windows were made of a single material throughout, we have now
hyphenated materials - wood with fiberglass, vinyl or aluminum, vinyl with aluminum ad so
on. All that is good, till you try and define which is the main product and which the add-on:
is a wood and vinyl window a vinyl capped wood or wood veneered vinyl?
Both are correct. There are wood windows with a vinyl (or aluminum or fiberglass) outside,
and vise versa. This brings up a new question:

Should one buy a window made by a vinyl window maker, where the
window has a beautiful wood layer inside, to be selected from a long list of
species,

or, should you buy from a wood window manufacturer, where the outside is
capped with vinyl?

There is no correct answer. It depends on the buyer, where the bragging rights acquired with a
high end wood window brand are no doubt higher than same from a lesser known vinyl brand,
whether as good a window and same inside wood finish.
What it really means that materials will meet somewhere in the middle. A high end vinyl
window, equipped with all latest technologies and capped inside with wood, would be a better
buy than it's wealthy cousin - wood window with vinyl capping.
It is a no brainer both ways. Some buyers would not be caught dead with vinyl windows,
hyphenated or not; while others will weigh the looks and characteristics and will decide
accordingly.

Steel

An honorable mention. We would have never been here if it was not for the world famous
Rusco Steel Windows. See more in the about us section.
In the early 20th century, steel became a widely accepted and popular material for window
framing. It was strong, integrated well with other building systems, and was readily available.
These properties were also critical to the development of glass curtain walls for high-rise
buildings.

Yet, as often happens in architecture, time exposes weakness. Steel was heavy, and in early
applications, prone to rust. By mid century it fell out of grace for fenestration and was
replaced by aluminum a lightweight and versatile material that could be readily formed into
a multitude of profiles.
Today, because of significant advances in manufacturing processes, steel frames have come a
full circle for architectural and commercial windows. European architects have used steel
framing for decades to allow larger spans of uninterrupted glass and minimal frame
dimensions an unreinforced steel frame can be only 1", smaller than any other commercially
available material today. Steel is nearly three times stiffer than aluminum and allows for much
more design liberty. Its load capacity is greater than that of typical aluminum assemblies.
Rusco had offered steel residential windows from mid 40s to early 90s. Steel windows have
served hundreds of thousands home owners in North America. It held fort till fashion changed
and the much cheaper vinyl was introduced. No current product can reproduce the ultra slim
line and delicate features of the steel windows of the past.
Comparison

Fiberglass

Aluminum

Wood

Vinyl

Corrosion resistance

Superior

Fair

Poor

High

Durability

Superior

High

Low

Fair

Weight

Light

Light

Heavy

Moderate

Warping

None

None

High

Moderate

Electric Conductivity

None

High

When wet

None

Thermal Insulation

High

Poor

Fair

High

Strength

High

High

Fair

Low

Finishing

Stable

Stable

Required

Stable

Impact Resistance

High

High

Low

Low

Cost

High

Low

High

Low

Life Expectancy

High

High

Low

High

Fire Resistance

Fair

High

Low

Low

Dimensional Accuracies

High

High

Low

Fair

Energy Required to
Produce

Low

High

Low

High

Resources

Abundant

Abundant

Renewable

Limited

Service Cost

Fair

Low

High

Low

Future materials

New materials are being developed fopr the military, automotive and aviation industries. As
with other industries, no doubt the fenestration industry will benefit from such advances. Add
to that recycling awareness, green building codes and dwindling resources of currently used
materials, so we may see a similar revolution as was with the vinyl just three decades ago and
now the fiberglass at it's heels.
We now see glass characteristics that were considered unattainable just a few years ago. We
use sealants that did not exist in the 80's. Frame materials are sure on the way.
New composite materials are already being used in the industry, made of recycled and organic
by-products. We already offer same in some of our lines. It is yet to see it will catch or not,
but watch this space for more developments. Read more about the fenestration of tomorrow.

BTU / hour loss

BTU/Hour
Material
loss
Aluminum

1416

Steel

312

Vinyl

3.6

Wood

04 - 1.2

Fiberglass

2.1

Glass

Residential windows demand, in millions of units

1995
2000
2005
2010
2015

Total

44.7

56.6

75.3

75.3

86.1

Vinyl

16.6

26.9

42.0

48.6

60.9

Wood

17.8

19.7

20.2

17.4

16.4

Aluminum 9.8

9.4

9.0

8.6

8.1

Other

0.6

0.7

0.7

0.7

0.5

Figures are for the US. Canadian values are slightly biased towards the vinyl, and represent an
additional 10% of above.
Source: National Window and Doors Manufacturer Association, March 2009