MEDFORD, WI (11 January 2006) - Virtually everything at Hurd Windows & Doors has evolved, from the company logo to hardware, the product brochure to product offerings. Striving for perfection is a new corporate mantra that is driving deep into the Hurd organization. Hurd Windows & Doors is demonstrating their commitment by offering a tremendous array of options along with the industry's strongest windows and doors.

Performance & Strength:
In October, Hurd received one of the window industry's highest DP (Design Pressure) rating for impact on the new Kingsview(tm) single hung window made with an all natural, all-wood interior. The window can withstand Category IV hurricane force winds with an impressive DP+65/-70 rating using Hurd's FeelSafe(tm) impact glazing. The same window, using any of Hurd's five ComfortGlaze(tm) performance glass options, received an inland rating of up to DP50.

"We've become very thoughtful about product design. Architecture and impact are top-of-mind," said Jim Peterson, Hurd director of product engineering. "Better designed windows and patio doors are the result of this commitment to quality. Consequently, we're making the strongest, biggest windows on the market. We've upgraded some of our materials, such as hardware, to the best available. Our frame and sash uses more wood than anyone else and we have the heaviest extrusions. Consequently, the new Kingsview(tm) single hung window is like the Rock of Gibraltar."

The new Kingsview line, including a new 10-foot tall patio door, is on display at the International Builders Show, Jan. 11-14 in Orlando. "We're engineering with Mother Nature in mind," said Peterson. "You have to design windows and doors with high performance ratings in mind. Homeowners across the country, not just in coastal regions, want beautiful, dramatic windows that are also strong enough to withstand hurricane force winds or bitter cold."

Aesthetics:
Hurd windows and doors are strong... and beautiful. Specialty wood species, no visible man-made materials and sleek, subtle hardware options are architectural details available from Hurd.

Made with any of nine interior wood species, Hurd product designers study the impact of the wood grain and choose only the most beautiful. They also consider the character of the wood, checking for knots, since showing off wood's natural knots is increasingly popular with homeowners. Additionally, Hurd is the only window manufacturer to offer Lyptus wood, a fast-growth specialty wood with heavy reddish tones. Hurd wood choices include maple, alder, mahogany, cherry, Douglas fir, red oak, white oak and pine.

New interior finishes, completed before the window is put together, ensures lasting beauty. Window or door interiors can be primed, sanded and top-coated right at Hurd under ultra-clean-air conditions.

Beautiful wood is all that's visible in any of the Kingsview windows or doors. Hurd has manufactured an aesthetically pleasing new mechanism to replace white or cream colored plastic jambliners or unflattering consealers. The result is an all-wood interior, a first in the industry.

Realizing the devil's in the details, Hurd also switched out the hardware. Hurd's new Encore hardware line, available in eleven finish options, is a stylish mechanism that tucks neatly away. The new hardware is available on all Hurd aluminum clad wood and all wood casement and awning windows. Aesthetic details continue when the window is open. Encore's operator arm is painted a light beige color, naturally blending in better with the window frame.

Customization:
Catering to custom homebuilders, Hurd will customize any window or door. Options fall into six categories:

1. Wood species: Hurd creates window interiors in nine wood species including lyptus, alder, cherry, mahogany, maple, red oak, white oak, Douglas fir, pine and any other workable wood available on the market.
2. Size & Shape: Hurd custom windows can be up to 75 square feet of glass. Homeowners are not limited to catalog sizes nor are they limited by shape. Hurd gives homeowners the flexibility to give their view the right frame with curves, angles, arches, circles, octagons and more.
3. Color: Hurd offers aluminum cladding in seven standard colors and 20 semi-custom colors but shades are not limited to one color palate. Hurd's custom shop will match any color sample a customer wants. Grilles can even be one color on the exterior and a different color on the interior.
4. Hardware: Hurd offers up to 11 hardware colors and finishes to match any home style and décor, including brushed nickel and oil-rubbed bronze.
5. Glass: The right glass can make all the difference in the world. So Hurd offers seven glass types, each with their own performance characteristics. For decorative desires, Hurd will also create nearly any stained glass or art-glass design the homeowner wants, including religious and patriotic symbols on request. Hurd FeelSafe(tm) glass is high-strength, shatter-resistant and built to withstand the rigors of hurricane conditions. Hurd glazing options help maximize energy efficiency while blocking harmful UV rays. Glass and glazing is selected for each room according to its exposure to the elements.
6. Grilles: Hurd offers almost limitless grille configurations and shapes.