Does anybody have experience/knowledge about installing windows with fiberglass frames (looking at only the solid, “pultruded” fiberglass, inside and outside; not wood composite wrapped with fiberglass)??
This is new construction. Local distributor mentioned he likes to work with builders upfront because these frames cannot be shimmed. What? Really? (brand is Comfort Line, their Fiberframe line). I’m thinking of using that brand because of the local support. Down here in GA it’s a long way to any tech assistance up in Toledo or Canada.
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I've used Marvin Integrity, which are fiberglass with wood interiors, I believe their all fiberglass line is called Infinity. I shimmed mine with no problem and am qhite happy with the product.
I've used Fibertec (sp?) out of Canada (like 'em a lot) , and shimmed them just like a wood window. I didn't see anything in the manufacterer's instructions or my trove of common sense to preclude doing so. Your distributor may be lumping them in with vinyl windows, which can present some thermal expansion challenges, and are perhaps best installed unshimmed with nailing flanges and loose nails.
I like pultruded fiberglass frame windows partly because the thermal expansion rate of the frames is very similar to that of glass. That means less stress on the seals -- the point where window thermal performance typically degrades most over time.
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