All Weather Windows – Canada’s largest window and door manufacturer – recently developed one of its most innovative products yet. The Attic Hatch is a pre-finished, energy-efficient unit that saves contractors both time and money.
Through conversations with customers, All Weather Windows understood that framers were building their own hatches, leading to longer turnaround times and higher costs. Additionally, air leakage and heat loss were getting through hatches due to improper installation and materials, such as aluminum. A solution to these problems, along with a desire to use recyclable materials in an effort to be more environmentally friendly, led to the creation of the Attic Hatch.
All Weather Windows’ research and development team set out to design a product that would not only suit builders’ needs, but also meet building codes and reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfills. Using leftover fibreglass door materials reduces All Weather Windows’ environmental footprint, in addition to providing a practical economical solution. The hatch has R40 to R60 values and includes EPDM weather stripping, commonly used in the auto industry. This weather stripping performs better in extreme temperature variances, which are typical in the Canadian climate.
“With many homes being extremely air tight, there is an opportunity for cold dry air inside attic spaces to meet the warm, humidified air of main living spaces,” said Matt Taylor, Product Manager at All Weather Windows. “If this happens it will create condensation that can damage ceilings and walls. For this reason, it is very important for contractors to be using a high-quality, properly engineered attic hatch solution.”
Not only aesthetically pleasing, the Attic Hatch is a one-piece unit that has been designed for easy drywall and casing installation.
This innovative product is a real-world example of how homebuilders are working to achieve the greatest possible energy efficiency throughout the construction process. By listening to customers’ needs, All Weather Windows was able to provide a sustainable industry solution, superior to anything on the market.
