Windows for life is here!

A brand new and exciting product, developed in South Africa, will be launched to consumers and the building industry at the 2010 Cape HOMEMAKERS Expo (stand number F16). Durop Windows, developed to cater to the specific needs and conditions of the local market, offers the unique combination of the classic wooden look and feel, but with the maintenance-free advantages of aluminium windows.

Durop Windows are a composite of Optimised Pine encapsulated with Duropolymere®. This hard-wearing material, coated with a UV- and fade-resistant colour, ensures that Durop Windows are totally maintenance free. Durop Windows are SABS Weatherometer Tested and Certified for Quality Assurance, they come with a 15-year guarantee and they are designed to have a minimum impact on the environment.

“The main advantage of Durop Windows is that they are totally maintenance free”, says Managing Director Carsten Hoppe. “Because of Duropolymere® the weather has no effect on our Windows. This material is non-porous, preventing water penetration and remains resistant to micro-organisms. As a result our windows offer 100% stability, which means there is no warping, swelling or shrinking, a huge benefit in the Cape winters.”

In South Africa’s harsh climate, conventional wooden windows need annual maintenance. Hoppe continues: “Sun, cold, heat, saltwater and rain fade the colour and deform traditional wooden windows, which affects the look as well as the functionality. It costs about R50 in labour and materials to maintain a traditional wooden window each year. Therefore, a house with 10 windows would cost about R500 per year for maintenance. Durop Windows do not require any maintenance work, so the homeowner can have the wooden look and feel, but with a saving in cost, time and effort.”

Additional features of Durop Windows ensure their quality and durability. Says Hoppe: “During installation, a usual wooden window needs to be coloured and sealed to protect it from the elements. It also needs to be provided with DPC to prevent water penetration into the house. Durop Windows come pre-coloured, pre-sealed and already fitted with DPC, meaning a considerable saving for the homeowner. Also, to ensure that our windows are truly maintenance-free, we provide solid brass handles and stainless steel window stays.”

Duropolymere was developed by Materials Technologist Mike Symons, whose work with resins, fibres and composites started in the mid 90’s, culminating in the product that Durop has since developed as a team. As the recipient of the Innovation Award for 2002 by the South African Institution of Chemical Engineers, Symons has been awarded more than 35 international patents.

Symons says: “Durop Windows were developed over a period of 10 years, using the latest technical expertise. All our products have undergone extreme testing, including exposure to saltwater, UV rays, intense heat and cold for over 7500 hours. The development process has taken a long time, but we wanted to create a truly premium product for the South African market.” He adds: “Another advantage of Durop Windows is that we have kept the environmental impact to a minimum. Durop Windows contain optimised material, no rainforest hard-woods, and all our products are developed and manufactured in South Africa.

“We are very excited to launch Durop Windows in a variety of designs at selected hardware stores in the Western Cape”, says Hoppe. “We’ll also be at the Cape Homemakers Expo next week on stand F16 and look forward to presenting our products to the public.”  

Visit www.durop.com for more information on this ground breaking product, or call 08610 DUROP.