Proper window and door installation critical to success, product performancePella offers effective installation methods, instructions, training

Release Date: 08-07-2006Proper installation of windows and doors is critical to the success of the builders and remodelers who install them, as well as the home and business owners who ultimately enjoy them. Recognizing the important role recommended installation plays in the ultimate enjoyment and performance of products, Pella Corporation developed a simpler, effective way to install windows and doors to help make homes and commercial buildings more weather-tight.

"When it comes to windows and doors, it is all about watershed. Making sure the window or door is flashed correctly is essential to help properly channel moisture away from the unit," said Cordell Burton, senior installation engineer at Pella Corporation.

Helping to prevent water and air infiltration around windows and doors is also critical in construction projects. Pella's SmartFlash® installation tape, combined with a properly installed house wrap, help prepare the rough opening and create a long-lasting seal in new construction and remodeling projects. Once the window or door is installed, sealing the space between the unit and the interior wall with a low-expansion window foam like Dow® GREAT STUFF® will help create a barrier that also lowers the risk of water infiltration.

"The low-expansion window foam works really well. You don't have to deal with moisture issues with the foam. It also helps keep the window in place," said Kenny Chambers, an installer with the Pella® Window & Door Stores in the Birmingham, Ala., area. Chambers has installed Pella products for more than 30 years.

Installation instructions and training available
Although the installation of windows and doors requires the same basic steps, optimal installation occurs when installers follow the specific installation instructions provided by a manufacturer. Pella offers easy-to-follow illustrated instructions with all of its windows and doors, as well as online versions, available at http://www.pella.com/, in five languages: English, Spanish, French, Polish, and Russian. Instructions include a list of necessary tools, additional supplies and step-by-step diagrams. A step-by-step demonstration video may also be viewed online.

Susan Bradley with Jerry Bradley's Home Maintenance in Hampton, Va., has been installing Pella doors for nearly a decade. "The new Express Install® tips [for Pella storm doors] are incredible."Bradley was initially alarmed when she found new instructions for a storm door she was replacing one day close to 5 p.m. Using the Express Install instructions left her pleasantly surprised. "The simplicity of installing that Pella storm door was unbelievable. We installed that door in record time, and the customer loved the door."

The quick and easy Express Install installation system for all fullview storm doors cuts what was once a half-day labor- and time-intensive project to only about one hour. Pella's Express Install gives customers the pre-assembled parts; no cutting is required and pre-drilled installation and assembly holes eliminate any guesswork. Pella's innovation requires only five tools to complete the storm door installation.

Pella trains installers throughout the United States and Canada each year in the easy and effective installation methods it recommends. Installation instructions are available in five different languages and are included on each product and may also be downloaded from http://www.pella.com/. In addition, Pella Corporation customer service representatives are available to offer assistance seven days a week by phone.

Architectural Support Services provide expert assistance to builders
Pella's Architectural Support Services team of architects, engineers, technicians, and computer-aided design (CAD) drafters provide expert assistance to building professionals. The team helps develop window and door solutions which range from providing installation designs for window replacement and new construction to field testing assistance that minimizes potential for water and air leakage. In addition, Pella provides an online architectural design manual at http://www.pellaadm.com/ for convenient access to CAD details in both .dwg and .dxf formats. Proprietary and product MASTERSPEC™ versions of the specifications are available.

Annual check-up
Windows and doors -- just like your car -- need periodic maintenance to keep performing at their best. Pella recommends homeowners conduct an annual home inspection, cleaning and fixing any potential problems they detect.

About Pella
Celebrating 81 years in business, Pella Corporation is recognized in the window and door industry for its technology and innovation, having earned more than 100 product and design patents. In addition to windows and patio doors, the company also manufactures entry door systems with the same level of quality and technology for which Pella is known worldwide. The company is represented by a Direct Sales Network operating Pella® Window & Door Stores nationwide, and select building materials retailers, including Lowe's® which features the Pella Design Center, a "store-within-a-store," designed to take the complexity out of window and door purchases. For more information, call 888-84-PELLA or visit http://www.pella.com/.

Kathy Harkema
Pella Corporation
Corporate Public Relations
641-621-6971
krafka-harkemakk@pella.com

Leanna Hafften
Pella Corporation
Sponsorships
641-621-6483
hafftenlr@pella.com