Warroad, Minn. – The industry-leading Ultimate Outswing French Door from Marvin Windows and Doors has added a host of features for improved aesthetics and superior performance.

From panels and profiles to sills and shadow lines, Marvin’s engineers and designers have gone over every inch of this door, making a great product even better.

Product improvements include:

• A more robust sill design, raising the DP rating to 50 in many sizes and configurations (up from DP40)
• A solid performer against air and water infiltration
• New sill design stands up to the rigors of the jobsite
• Industry’s widest selection of standard sizes and operating configurations
• Wood exterior doors no longer incorporate a back rabbet casing
• Easier field mulling
• Easier application of field applied casings
• A new interior sill cover profile available in mahogany or oak
• Offers traditional wood sill appearance while maintaining the performance associated with Ultrex sills
• Available for all sizes and operating configurations
• A new raised panel design in .080-inch stamped aluminum — this popular option now offered at a more attractive value point
• Enhanced aesthetics incorporate cleaner, simpler sightlines
• New exterior frame profile on clad doors delivers a classic, flat look mimicking traditional wood profiles
• Interior jamb surfaces incorporate full-width stops, enhancing the clean detail of the new dooro A less obtrusive sweep delivers a clean sightline across the bottom of the door panels

“These improvements make the Ultimate Outswing French Door an even better choice for builders, remodelers, architects and homeowners,” said Christine Marvin, director of marketing for Marvin Windows and Doors.

Since President Obama praised our commitment to community and employees in his speech last week, we’ve been getting a lot of nice pats on the back from friends, dealers and others who know our company. We appreciate the sentiments, although we’d be doing the same thing even if nobody had noticed.

But we’ll admit that being the subject of such a touching piece as Tom’s brings a little lump to our throats and a smile to our faces.

Things haven’t been easy in our industry these last few years, but by pulling together, we’ve kept going without losing the skills and dedication of the valued workers who are the lifeblood of our business — and our communities.

We know things will turn around, and when they do, our workers will share in the good times — just as they’ve shared the challenges of the tough times.

Our president, Susan Marvin, will be on Bloomberg TV’s “Street Smart” program today at 4:10 p.m. Eastern time, discussing the economy and how Marvin Windows and Doors has been navigating through the economic downturn.

Susan has become a well-known figure in the national business media through her appearances in the New York Times, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News, the Associated Press, CNN and other outlets.

Her candid and tough assessment of the business climate is coupled with a refreshing dose of optimism about how Marvin is positioning itself to emerge from the downturn stronger than ever.

If you have a few minutes this afternoon, check out Susan’s interview. To find Bloomberg TV on your local cable system, visit www.bloomberg.com/tv/channel-finder/. And then visit Marvin’s Facebook page and let us know your thoughts.

The new Ultimate Glider from Marvin Windows and Doors, already hailed as one of 2011’s best new building products, is now available in an all-wood version.

Marvin has re-invented the glider window with modern features and performance that breathe new life into this classic window. Previously available only in a clad aluminum exterior finish, the Wood Ultimate Glider now offers homeowners the beauty, warmth and performance of natural wood inside and out.

Marvin designed this versatile unit for elegance, durability and smooth operation. With its clean lines and recessed hardware, the Wood Ultimate Glider is sure to become a favorite of homeowners and builders alike.

The Clad Ultimate Glider, introduced earlier this year, was recently named one of the 101 Best New Products of 2011 by the editors of Professional Builder and Professional Remodeler magazines.

“Marvin reintroduced round tops to the homebuilding industry. Now we’ve reinvented another favorite,” said David Hipke, product planner for Marvin Windows and Doors. “This window is packed with features that add value. But perhaps its best features are its clean, elegant design and absolute ease of operation.”

The Wood Ultimate Glider features:

• One hand operation
• Patent pending handle and lock system
• Auto locking
• Low handle placement for ease of use – no reaching up
• Exterior of sustainably harvested pine
• Interior available in seven wood species: Pine, Douglas Fir, Cedro Macho, Mahogany, White Oak, Cherry, Vertical Grain Douglas Fir
• Interior also available in Factory Painted White Finish or Primed Wood
• Integrated weep system for drainage
• Several operating configurations

The Wood Ultimate Glider is the perfect choice for a host of building applications, including:

• Kitchen sink areas
• Decks and walkways
• Close lot lines
• Knee walls and lower levels
• Condominiums
• Multi-family units
• Assisted living

The Wood Ultimate Glider features a patent pending sash removal system built for easy operation. Plus, it can be seamlessly mixed and matched with other Marvin windows, such as the Ultimate Casement.

The Wood Ultimate Glider will give homeowners and builders a new reason to take a fresh look at gliders.

We’re proud to have been recognized by management expert Donald Delves in this great column for Forbes. Delves explores how the bond between Marvin, our hometown of Warroad and our valued workers has resulted in a healthy company and a healthy community.

Here’s an excerpt:

“Aside from the admiration and respect of employees, what has the company received in return for its commitment to employees? Marvin’s reliability as an employer has created a workforce that can be relied on for high-quality craftsmanship and meticulous quality control, sustained by strong esprit de corps stemming from a highly positive plant culture.”

Wow. We’re humbled. Thanks, Mr. Delves. We’re glad you recognize a culture that has been nurtured for generations — and that we will always work to strengthen.

“We’re looking for companies that excel in all aspects of remodeling, have made innovations in operations to deal with the current market and uphold the highest standards of the remodeling industry,” they explain.

Do you think your remodeling operation has what it takes to win this honor? Fill out the form here to get started with the submission process. Good luck!

Marvin won bronze Telly Awards for two installments in its “Life Remodeled” online video series. “St. Mary’s” tells the story of a 100-year-old church in Potsdam, N.Y., that needed to renovate its magnificent, historic stained-glass windows. St. Mary’s called on the technical expertise and craftsmanship of Marvin to precisely fabricate and fit new mahogany frames that would allow the towering windows to live on for another 100 years.

“Garden Home” showcases the personal residence of noted garden home designer P. Allen Smith, on the Arkansas River outside Little Rock, Ark. In the video, Smith discusses the interplay between man and nature, and offers ideas on how to make a home reflect its natural surroundings while maintaining modern performance and efficiency. FORT Group of Ridgefield Park, N.J., produced the Telly-winning videos.

“As consumers increasingly use the Internet for research and inspiration on their home projects, we’ve made it our mission to create engaging and informative content,” said Marvin spokesman John Kirchner. “We’re proud that our efforts have been recognized with two prestigious Telly Awards.”

To view more of Marvin’s inspirational and informative programming, visit www.mymarvin.com.

We’ve long been a fan of architect Sarah Susanka and her “Not So Big House” philosophy. And it seems we keep seeing more evidence that a significant number of American homeowners are more interested in craftsmanship, quality and fine design than they are in raw square footage.

Affluent, mature homeowners especially fit this profile. The more money older homeowners have, the less they demand maximum square footage. Among Americans age 45 and up planning to spend $400,000 or more on a home, only 28 percent say they want as much space as their money will buy. By contrast, 46 percent of those planning to spend less than $150,000 say they want maximum square footage for the money.

That information comes from Margaret A. Wylde’s useful and insightful book, “Right House, Right Place, Right Time,” which looks at trends in the over-45 housing market.

It’s just one more indication that many affluent, mature Americans are interested in quality design and features, not just raw space.

Marvin can help architects, builders and remodelers meet the needs of these premium customers with beautiful, innovative products like our Ultimate Casement, Ultimate Sliding French Door and Ultimate French Casement. We offer more than 150,000 product options that meet or exceed the federal government’s stringent ENERGY STAR standards.

Come visit us at Booth 1453 at the AIA Convention in New Orleans to see all the latest products that will help you give your clients the home of their dreams.

Marvin's innovative Ultimate Replacement Casement

Remodeling has been a bright spot in the homebuilding and design industry, and a recent report by the Harvard Center for Joint Housing Studies suggests that the long-term trend will continue to be favorable.

Several factors are converging to produce the positive outlook. First, as Baby Boomers age, the turnover of their homes will generate remodeling activity. About three-quarters of home sales by people over 55 are made to people under 55. The homes of older sellers are generally older and generate immediate and significant spending on renovation.

A younger person buying from an older seller can be expected to spend about $5,000 annually on renovation, the report concludes. In addition, the median age of the existing U.S. housing stock grew from 29 years in 1997 to 32 years in 2007 — also indicating that future renovation and remodeling are more likely. Energy efficiency is always a concern, and Marvin meets it with more than 150,000 product options that meet or exceed the federal government’s stringent ENERGY STAR standards.

These and other factors cited in the report suggest that the long-term prospects for the remodeling market are favorable for architects and others in the building industry.

Marvin is ready with innovative products like the Ultimate Replacement Casement, the Ultimate Glider and the Ultimate Lift and Slide. Come visit us at Booth 1453 at the AIA Convention in New Orleans to see all the latest products that will help you give your remodeling clients the home of their dreams.

Bring your window and door design challenges to Marvin for custom capabilities, one-on-one architectural consulting and unique solutions that meet your project specifications beautifully. We thrive on great ideas, unusual challenges, even projects that seem impossible to other manufacturers. Creating your exact vision is our specialty.

Come visit Marvin (along with Integrity Windows and Doors). Stop by booth 1453 to see great products like the Ultimate Glider with the new White Painted Interior Finish and the ever-amazing Ultimate Lift and Slide.