CertainTeed Panorama Composite Railing Offers New Desert Tan Color And Decorative Baluster Options

February 8, 2007 -- (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania) - A year after introducing its Panorama™ Composite Railing line, CertainTeed Corporation is expanding the line with decorative baluster styles and a new Desert Tan color. Adding to homeowners' design options are four new, attractive decorative baluster styles -- straight, twist, single basket and double basket -- to the Panorama line. Made of powder-coated, hot-dipped galvanized steel, these balusters combine high-end style with excellent durability and are beautiful complements to Panorama's Colonial White color. Finished in Antique Bronze for a 3' finished rail height, these decorative balusters are ideal for porch, deck or exterior stair applications. The decorative balusters install similarly to Panorama composite balusters, using exclusive-to-CertainTeed, patent-pending baluster shoes designed for flat and stair installations.

These balusters combine high-end style with excellent durability.

Originally only in the White option, the Panorama line now includes Desert Tan, making it even easier for homeowners to color-coordinate Panorama Composite Railing with their home's exterior and surroundings. The new balusters are also available with this new color.

"The new design options in our Panorama line allow contractors and homeowners to customize the look of their projects," says Rose Lee, Vice President and General Manager of CertainTeed Fence, Railing and Deck. "Panorama has been a success with customers in its debut year because of its unmatched aesthetics and offers the classic look and feel of a freshly painted wood railing without the constant maintenance hassles. Our new design options should make the line even more appealing to contractors and homeowners."

Unlike other composite railing, Panorama is fully wrapped with a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) capstock for a weatherable finish that replicates smooth, painted wood from all angles. Its core is made using CertainTeed's patented EcoTech™ material, a composite formulation of PVC and 100 percent recycled maple wood flour providing enduring strength. The attractively styled railing system features concealed stainless steel hardware for a seamless, bracket-free look.

Panorama maintains consistent quality over time and can be easily cleaned with soap and water. And, unlike wood, Panorama is not susceptible to termite infestation, won't rot, decay, splinter or crack, and features a Class A fire rating. The weather-resistant system is backed by a 25-year limited warranty and comes with CertainTeed's exclusive SureStart™ coverage. The decorative balusters are backed by a 10-year limited warranty.

About CertainTeed
Through innovation and creative product design, CertainTeed has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Company, the firm made its slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," which quickly inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed is North America's leading brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, windows, fence, decking, railing, millwork, foundations, pipe, insulation, walls, ceilings and access covers.

Headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, CertainTeed and its affiliates have approximately 9,000 employees and 70 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. In 2006 the group had consolidated sales approaching $4 billion. www.certainteed.com