Marvin Windows and Doors Media Room

Marvin® Windows and Doors meets Passive Building standards with products made in America

Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Minnesota company also leads in the new ENERGY STAR “Most Efficient” category

WARROAD, Minn. – May 8, 2013 – Marvin Windows and Doors now offers a wide range of wood windows made in the USA with domestic and imported hardware that will meet both the strict European and U.S. standards for Passive Building certification. And for homeowners and building professionals looking for highly efficient windows, Marvin offers more products that have earned ENERGY STAR’s “Most Efficient” designation than any other wood-window manufacturer.

No longer will builders and owners have to wait for more than two months for passive windows to ship from Europe. Marvin’s R&D and manufacturing teams have achieved what had been considered impossible by many in the industry: delivering American-made windows that meet Passive Building standards while maintaining the highest levels of beauty, style and customization. Passive Building certification from both U.S. and European bodies is pending.

“With our long history of custom manufacturing and our skilled, experienced work force, we’re able to craft windows that will meet the highest standards of energy efficiency while allowing design freedom,” said Mike Laufman, senior manager of Marvin Signature Services, which offers one-on-one design and manufacturing support for the most challenging custom projects. “There’s a perception that passive buildings need to be blank-walled fortresses with tiny slits for windows. But with Marvin products, architects and homeowners will be able to specify any design feature — even large expanses of glass — using windows that look like our regular product lines yet meet the strictest standards of Passive Building.”

Passive Building construction and design principles focus on insulation and energy conservation in both warm and cold climates. Passive Buildings are designed to maintain a comfortable temperature using only minimal heating and cooling systems. A super-insulated, virtually air-tight building envelope is heated primarily by passive solar gain and warmth from occupants and appliances inside. Cooling loads are reduced during warm weather by strategic shading.

Marvin works with glazing partners on its Passive Building windows. Using quad-glazing Heat Mirror® products, Marvin can meet Passive Building standards on its Ultimate Casement and Direct Glaze products. Marvin’s Passive Building products are created by Marvin Signature Services.

“There is no silver bullet to achieve Passive Building criteria, but windows are a key consideration in Passive Building design,” said Christine Marvin, director of marketing for Marvin Windows and Doors. “Because our products are built here, Marvin can offer builders a shorter lead time than international manufacturers. And our extensive independent dealer network means we can support the project from the time it’s drawn up until after installation. This is another great example of Marvin working one on one with its customers to deliver the perfect windows for each project.”

The Most with the “Most”: Marvin leads industry in ENERGY STAR “Most Efficient” products

In addition to its Passive Building offerings, Marvin offers more products that have earned ENERGY STAR’s “Most Efficient” designation than any other wood-window manufacturer. Marvin offers more than 35 windows and 7,000 glazing options that meet this new, higher standard set by ENERGY STAR. Products with this designation have gone through rigorous testing and independent certification above and beyond regular ENERGY STAR certification.

Marvin’s Ultimate Casement, Ultimate Awning, Ultimate Double Hung and Direct Glazed Polygons in both wood and clad-wood varieties meet ENERGY STAR’S Most Efficient criteria. The majority of Marvin’s window product line is recognized as Most Efficient in all four of the program’s climate zones. A full list is available on ENERGY STAR’S website.

“For decades we have been committed to offering the best possible performance,” Marvin said. “In the mid 1990s, we were the first to introduce LoĒ glass as a standard feature. Marvin windows can transform the look of any space, and our lineup of ENERGY STAR Most Efficient certified products shows that high performance and beautiful windows aren’t mutually exclusive.”

Factory-applied stains from Marvin ensure an effortless, quality finish you can count on

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

New Marvin Finishes app for iPads and iPhones lets homeowners and professionals “build” and preview windows and doors with all of Marvin’s stain, clear-coat or painted interior finish options

WARROAD, Minn. – April 29, 2013 – Staining windows during a remodel or replacement project is a tedious and messy chore. Now Marvin Windows and Doors offers a range of stunning factory-applied stain finishes on its clad wood windows and doors. These new stains join Marvin’s clear coat and painted interior to round out the company’s full range of beautiful, high-quality interior finish options.

Marvin’s meticulous factory stain finish involves a multi-step process that takes place before the window or door is assembled. Each individual piece of wood is sanded, conditioned, stained and oven-cured. Then the process is repeated to provide an ideal finish.

“We’re doing more than just saving builders or homeowners the time and hassle of staining windows or doors on their own,” said Christine Marvin, director of marketing for Marvin Windows and Doors. “These factory-applied stains give the products an unmatched richness and depth that enhance the beauty of the warm wood interiors.”

Marvin offers six stain options — Honey, Wheat, Hazelnut, Cabernet, Espresso and Leather — that can be applied to any of Marvin’s six wood species: Pine, White Oak, Cherry, Douglas Fir, Mahogany and Vertical Grain Douglas Fir. All of these options are included in Marvin’s newest iPad and iPhone app, Marvin Finishes. This app lets builders and homeowners “build” and preview Marvin products with any of these wood species and finish options applied.

Marvin Windows and Doors is fully committed to protecting our environment and implementing green practices. That includes reusing waste water, destroying 95 percent of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and making products that contain no volatile hazardous air pollution (VHAP). We use a water-borne acrylic enamel that is more environmentally friendly than solvent-borne materials. Marvin’s stain finishes — as well as its clear-coat finish — meet the WDMA’s TM-14-09 standard for the performance and appearance of factory-applied finishes. WDMA TM-14-09 tests for film adhesion, impact, freeze-thaw cycling, chemical resistance and exposures testing.

“Our proprietary finishing process is the best way to create a consistent and durable finish that brings out the natural beauty, texture and grain of the wood,” Marvin said. “Factory-finished windows and doors from Marvin arrive ready to install, saving time and trouble on the job site and ensuring a consistent, quality look and feel.”

Sneak preview of some 2013 Marvin Architect’s Challenge entries – submit yours before May 1

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

We wrote recently about the marketing muscle we put behind the winners of our annual Marvin Architect’s Challenge. We’re quite excited to see so many great architects eagerly submitting their best work for this year’s competition. Below, you can see some selected photos from the entries we’ve received so far.

If you haven’t submitted your work yet, you have until May 1 to do so. Check out the online submission form to see what’s required. It doesn’t take much to enter — just provide a good project overview and some great photos.

We’ve received several more great testimonials from previous Marvin Architect’s Challenge winners that make the case better than we ever could for why winning this award is so beneficial to an architect’s business:

“Marvin’s Architect Challenge was helpful beyond recognition. The significant web presence of winning entries leads to great exposure. It’s how we do business these days. People use Google to research everything. When searched online, it makes for a positive first impression when the top links are to winning projects and credible descriptions.”

Kent Chilcott
Kent Chilcott Studio – Santa Rosa, CA
2010 & 2011 Marvin Architect’s Challenge winner

“Winning the Marvin Architect’s Challenge was absolutely beneficial to our business. We’ve had many hits on our website from Marvin-related press, and at least one job inquiry came directly from this publicity.”

Eric Gartner
SPG Architects - New York, NY
2012 Marvin Architect’s Challenge winner

“It was an honor to have two of our houses selected as winners of the Marvin Architect’s Challenge. The award adds luster to our reputation. The visit to the factory was particularly useful, giving me a greater appreciation for the quality of Marvin windows.”

Jacob Albert
Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects - Boston, MA
2010 Marvin Architect’s Challenge winner

“Winning the Marvin Architect’s Challenge was a positive experience! I certainly intend to enter again.”

Nils Finne
FINNE Architects – Seattle, WA
2011 Marvin Architect’s Challenge winner

“The tour of Minneapolis was the best, mainly because our fellow winners were lots of fun.”

Arleta Chang
Jarvis Architects – Oakland, CA
2009 Marvin Architect’s Challenge winner

Here are a few photos from some of the many entries we’ve received so far:

National Window Safety Week: Boys more at risk than girls for falls from windows

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Keep children safe with tips for National Window Safety Week – and a new window opening control device from Marvin® Windows and Doors

WARROAD, Minn., April 4, 2013 – Boys are more at risk than girls for falls from windows, according to a national study (PDF) that looked at nearly 100,000 falls by children treated in emergency rooms over nearly two decades. Published in Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the study found that boys accounted for 58 percent of falls, with girls accounting for 42 percent.

With the United States observing 2013 National Window Safety Week from April 7-13, Marvin Windows and Doors hopes every family can be safer by following some simple tips. But first, some additional facts from the study of child falls:

The average age of the children who fell was 5 years old
94 percent of the children fell from either a second-story (63%) or first-story (31%) window
One-fourth of the falls led to a hospital admission
Of the children who were injured, 49 percent suffered head or facial injuries
86 percent of the children were not engaging in risky behavior when they fell, according to their caregivers

Marvin is offering a new, factory-installed window opening control device on its popular Ultimate Casement line of crank-out windows, as well as a field-applied option on the Ultimate Double Hung. The window opening control device is intended to limit window openings to 4 inches, yet is easily opened by adults.

Help keep your family safe with these common-sense window safety tips from Marvin Windows and Doors:

No precaution or device is a substitute for careful supervision of young children. Never leave children unsupervised.
Keep windows closed and locked when not in use.
Keep window opening control devices securely engaged unless needed for use in an emergency.
If you open windows for ventilation, choose windows not easily reached by children.
Keep blinds, cords and drapes secured out of the reach of children.
Don’t place furniture such as sofas, beds or bookcases under windows.
Never paint, nail or weatherstrip windows shut.
Don’t rely on insect screens to prevent falls — 83 percent of falls are from screened windows.
Develop a family plan for escape during an emergency. In your plan, include two ways to escape from every room in case one way is blocked by fire or smoke.
Window opening control devices are intended to help protect against accidental window falls by children age 5 and younger. Teach household members 6 and older how to operate the release mechanism in case of emergency.
If windows are part of your escape plan, be sure to leave at least one window in every room unblocked by window insulating film, window air conditioners or other obstructions.
Regularly test and verify operability of escape windows and window opening control device release mechanisms.
Landscaping can provide a cushion to break falls should they occur. Consider landscaping beneath windows with wood chips, shrubs or other soft surfaces.

Marvin’s new casement Window Opening Control Device, which meets the ASTM F2090-10 standard, limits the window opening to 4 inches unless overridden in a two-step process. The limiter re-sets automatically each time the window is closed. Marvin already offers the device (field-applied) on its double hung products, but is now expanding that option to casements (factory-applied).

“We expect this intuitive device to be well received as a solution,” said Christine Marvin, director of marketing for Marvin Windows and Doors. “We’re certain that builders and homeowners across the entire housing spectrum will appreciate the value of a high-quality, factory-installed window control opening device for casement products.”

Marvin dealers can offer complete information.

For more information on window safety, take advantage of this FREE printed resource from the National Safety Council:

“Keeping the Promise of Safety” brochure provides helpful window safety tips. Individual brochures may be downloaded from the National Safety Council web site.
- For larger quantities (in quantities of 100), you may order from the National Safety Council by contacting NSC Customer Service at 800-621-7619. Ask for the “Keeping the Promise of Safety” brochure, product number 00006-6215.

Enter now! Architect’s Challenge puts Marvin’s marketing muscle to work for you

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Winners of the Marvin Architect’s Challenge enjoy far more than a trophy and a nice dinner (though those are part of the deal, too!). The dozens of winners from the past four years, whose work represents exemplary architecture from North America and Europe, reap the benefits of all of Marvin’s marketing muscle, as well.

To give you an idea of what we’re talking about, here are some of the things we did with last year’s winners:

Placed featured content on Marvin.com
Posted a news release to Marvin’s online newsroom and a major newswire
Shared the release with dozens of consumer and trade media outlets
Pitched case studies to consumer and trade media, resulting in coverage ranging from Professional Remodeler to local newspapers to the Wall Street Journal
Wrote a series of posts for MLuxe, Marvin’s blog for homeowners interested in fine home living and high architecture
Sent email newsletters to tens of thousands of readers
Posted photos and project details to Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest
Featured winners in blog posts on popular sites like Design Milk, Remodelista, Archinect and others

We’re now accepting entries for our fifth annual Architect’s Challenge, and this year’s competition has two great additional publicity opportunities: In addition to the judges’ winners, we’re letting you decide which projects deserve recognition with our Architect’s Challenge Showdown. A March Madness-style contest will have projects competing for votes to win “the people’s choice” award, which includes a trip for two to San Francisco and registration for the 2013 Reinvention Symposium.

Separately, one grand prize winner will be honored as the best in show, as selected by our judges. The winner of this award will be the feature of a two-page spread in the October issue of Dwell magazine.

So here’s your chance to show off your best work. We’re looking for inspired projects featuring Marvin Windows and Doors, showcasing creativity in either residential or commercial architecture. Submit your best designs featuring Marvin Windows and Doors by May 1, 2013.

But don’t just take our word for it. Hear what some of our previous winners have to say:

“The 2012 Architect’s Challenge was a very positive experience and I plan to enter a commercial project this year. It was great to see our project published in national magazines, and we were featured in two design blogs. We have gone on interviews where the winning project was mentioned, and it felt as if the prospective clients valued the national recognition the award provided. … We typically don’t enter our projects in competitions unless we feel the clients would benefit from the award. In this case, it was very enjoyable to share the award, the trophy, and the book with our clients. They placed a large amount of trust in us to handle the design, and receiving national recognition for the completed project is a meaningful validation of that trust. … I have suggested to a few architects that they should consider this awards program.”

Jon Hensley
Jon Hensley Architects - Arlington, VA
2012 Marvin Architect’s Challenge winner

“We didn’t really understand the significance of being named an Architect Challenge winner at first, but Marvin really hit the Internet hard — a Google search shows many references to our firm generated by Architect Challenge publicity. It’s hard to know how much the Architect’s Challenge contributed to our current project load, but we are busier now than we have been in seven years. Multiple awards, including this one, all add up to influence people to contact our firm.”

Anthony Vandermark Jr.
Minervini Vandermark Architecture - Hoboken, NJ
2011 Marvin Architect’s Challenge winner

“It was great winning and being recognized by our peers. It’s another notch in our belt if someone is looking for design credentials.”

Jeff A. Stetter, AIA
Gossens Bachman Architects – Montpelier, VT
2010 Marvin Architect’s Challenge winner

Marvin Windows and Doors’ newest iPad app makes clear the value of a beautiful finish

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The new Marvin Finishes app puts window customization — featuring Marvin’s factory-applied interior and exterior finishes — conveniently at your fingertips

WARROAD, Minn. – March 22, 2013 – Marvin Windows and Doors continues its commitment to customization, service and innovation with a new iPad and iPhone app that lets users build a window or door with a customized interior and exterior finish. Homeowners and building professionals alike now have a virtual Marvin showroom at their fingertips.

This new app lets users view windows featuring Marvin’s new factory-applied stains, which include six stains on all available wood species for more than 50 options. The app also offers high-resolution, full-screen stain swatches, so users can view options in great detail. Marvin’s meticulous factory stain finish involves a multi-step process that takes place before the window or door is assembled. Each individual piece of wood is sanded, conditioned, stained and oven-cured. Then the finished pieces are clear-coated, sanded a second time and clear-coated a second time, providing an ideal finish.

“We’re seeing a great interest in using tablets to explore Marvin products and options on the go,” said Christine Marvin, director of marketing at Marvin Windows and Doors. “Whether it’s a builder who wants to show clients what their window could look like or homeowners exploring the possibilities, Marvin’s iPad app shows the breadth and depth of our interior and exterior finish offerings. With Marvin, your window and doors are truly built around you, and the iPad app shows you how.”

The Marvin Finishes app also features all of Marvin’s standard colors and lets users make their very own custom color selection. Marvin delivers with 19 standard colors and unlimited custom colors for any size job — even single-window orders.

“The exterior of a window or door is where homeowners can enhance their home with an exact color specification for curb appeal, harmony with its surroundings or to reflect personality,” Marvin said. “And because our clad colors are on extruded aluminum cladding with a finish that meets the toughest standards, your choice of exterior color will remain rich and true for years to come, backed by a 20-year warranty against fading and chalking.”

The Marvin Finishes app for iPads and iPhones is available for free from the App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/marvin-finishes/id613719885.

Trends Ideas Top 50 Homes features three homes with Marvin products

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

This week Trend Ideas came out with their list of the Top 50 American Homes. Of these 50 houses, three of them featured Marvin windows and doors. The awards are based on homes that feature excellence in design, function, product specification and style.

Lake Forest, Ill. home

The first project, located in Illinois, follows the Georgian-style tradition of the area – featuring significant amounts of symmetry, a slate roof and decorative pilasters. Although it is a new home in the Lake Forest area, this home stays true to the 1920s roots and style of the neighborhood.

Upstate New York home

Another one of the winners is a beautiful home in the mountains of the Adirondacks region in upstate New York. The construction of the home featured local wood and stone, helping it maintain the Adirondack Great Camps style. This rugged style features broad overhangs, several porches and excellent craftsmanship.

Adams County, Penn. home

The final winner that features Marvin windows and doors is located on the Mason-Dixon Line in Adams County, Penn. In order to preserve the property’s rich history, the owners renovated all the barns that were originally on the land and used the wood from the old house to construct a beautiful country retreat.

Marvin Windows helps churches with durable, efficient renovations

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

An article from Worship Facilities talked about architectural and building trends for churches throughout the country. When building these facilities, church leaders are seeking durability, aesthetics, low maintenance and efficiency. Additionally, they are trading in the traditional white walls and exposed brick for bold colors and stained concrete.

Christine Marvin provided more insight into the modern look for churches. “We’ve found that the classic beauty of wood will serve almost any worship facility well. Older churches often want wood on the interior and exterior for a historic look,” she says. “However, the durability and ease of extruded aluminum cladding makes it an attractive option for older churches, as well.”

St. Mary’s Church in Potsdam, N.Y., one of our flagship case studies, is discussed in the article and serves as a great example of how renovating an old facility can give it new life. Marvin Windows and Doors helped the Catholic church, built in 1887, bring its rich history back to life after more than a century of weathering. Marvin used state-of-the-art technology to precisely measure and recreate 15 stained glass windows to fit the fixed stone openings.

You can learn more about the project here.

Marvin Windows and Doors now accepting entries for fifth annual Marvin Architect’s Challenge

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

2013 challenge adds two new awards — People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice — in its effort to celebrate the best and brightest in residential and commercial architecture

WARROAD, Minn. — Feb. 26, 2013 — Architects have an opportunity for their best work to compete on a global stage in the fifth annual Marvin Architect’s Challenge. Previous winners of Marvin Windows and Doors’ prestigious award program have come from Spain, Ireland and across the United States — with their work among the world’s finest.

The Architect’s Challenge is fast becoming one of the premier showcases in the architectural world. Winning projects in previous years have displayed the remarkable creativity of architects in styles both traditional and contemporary, in buildings both residential and commercial.

“Architect’s Challenge winners represent some of the most impressive work I’ve seen,” said Eric Gartner of SPG Architects, one of the 2012 Marvin Architect’s Challenge winners. “Winning the award really helps to differentiate us from others in the field because customers know we’re a cut above the rest.”

Marvin Windows and Doors is adding two new awards to this year’s challenge — the People’s Choice and the Judges’ Choice.

The People’s Choice award represents the most impressive architectural display of creative and solution-driven design. During the five rounds of voting, architects’ work will be put to the test as the public votes for its favorite project. The highest vote-getter will be crowned the People’s Choice and win a trip to Reinvention Convention held in San Francisco in October.

The Judges’ Choice award will honor the best in show, as selected by three judges. The winner of this award will have a two-page spread featured in the October issue of Dwell magazine.

All entries will be judged on how well they demonstrate solution-driven design, classical beauty, sustainability and innovative use of windows. William J. Devereaux Jr., Mark Scheurer, AIA, and David Furman, FAIA, will judge this year’s challenge.

“The Architect’s Challenge winners help show how architects are pushing creative boundaries and performance standards in our industry,” said Furman, a partner at Axiom Architecture. “To be named a winner shows the world that you are among the best in the business.”

Each winner will be featured on Marvin’s website and blog, in email newsletters, and on several social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Additionally, each winner will be spotlighted in media and blog outreach.

Find complete entry information and contest rules at: Marvin.com/Inspired.

Marvin Windows and Doors recognized for creating and protecting jobs

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Family company wins annual Community Impact Award from Minnesota Business magazine

WARROAD, Minn. — Feb. 25, 2013 — For four generations spanning more than a century, the Marvin family has worked to create jobs and thriving communities in Minnesota – even refusing to lay off workers during a major housing recession.

Recognizing those efforts, their family-owned and operated company, Marvin Windows and Doors, has been honored with a 2013 Community Impact Award from Minnesota Business magazine. Marvin Windows and Doors was selected as the winner in the Employment category, which honors companies that have brought major employment to a community in Minnesota – or kept it there.

“We’re honored and humbled by this recognition,” said Susan Marvin, President of The Marvin Companies. “For more than a century, our philosophy has been to do what’s right for our company, our customers and our communities. Those principles are at the core of everything we do. We simply don’t know any other way to operate.”

Marvin employs more than 2,000 people in Warroad, a town of 1,700 residents. The company’s successful efforts to preserve and grow Minnesota jobs during the long economic downturn have been covered widely in the national media, by outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Associated Press, Bloomberg Business News, CNBC, Fox News and others.

During the 2012 presidential campaign, President Obama repeatedly held up Marvin as an example to the nation for its efforts to preserve jobs. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney also praised Marvin. Despite the worst conditions in the housing industry since the Great Depression, Marvin didn’t lay off any of its workers. Instead, workers and managers alike gave up pay and perks to keep everyone on the job – and preserve their community from the devastating impact of widespread layoffs.

“We’re not trying to be an example for the world,” Susan Marvin said. “We’re just running our business the same way my grandfather and my father ran it.”