Warroad, Minn., March 15, 2010 – Spring is a great time to give your home a check-up. The cold, ice and snow of winter can be tough on a house. You may be able to make a few small fixes now that will save you big money later. And if everything checks out perfectly — great. You’ve just given yourself peace of mind for the rest of the year.

Here are some spring maintenance tips from Marvin Windows and Doors.

• Make sure your gutters and downspouts are clean. If your gutters or downspouts are blocked, water can infiltrate your home through the eaves. And if your downspouts don’t carry water well away from your foundation, you could get water in the basement during spring rains.
• Look at your roof. The freeze-thaw cycle can lead to cracked or broken shingles. Also look for shingles that are missing, curling or cupping. If you have a flat roof, look for any pools of water – a sign that your flat roof isn’t draining properly.
• If you can do it safely, check the flashing around chimneys and vents, and in the valleys between roof pitches. This is a common area for leaks.
• Check the caulk and seals around your window frames, both where the window glass meets frame and where the frame meets the side of your house. If there are any gaps, seal them with caulk or a foam sealing product.
• Test your windows from inside the house to make sure they’re operating smoothly. Check to be sure the weatherstripping is in good shape. Lubricate the mechanism with a dry lubricant — oily lubricants attract dust and dirt, which can eventually restrict the window’s movement.
• Give your patios and decks a pressure washing. Also check your patio door. As with the windows, inspect the caulking where the door frame meets the side of the house. Make sure the tracks are free of debris and check to see that the door slides smoothly.
• If your windows or patio doors need replacement, remember that the federal government is offering a tax credit of up to $1,500 for energy-efficient products purchased in 2010.
• Look at the siding on your house. For wood siding, make sure the paint is in good shape and check for loose nails. For vinyl siding, look for cracking, warping or gaps between the panels.
• If you have brick siding, check for “spalling.” That’s when the face of the brick chips or pops away, leaving the interior of the brick exposed to moisture.
• If you have air conditioning, clean away any leaves or debris that have accumulated on the outdoor condenser unit. Then get the AC inspected and serviced by a professional contractor.
• Trim the shrubs around your home so they’re not touching the house. Make sure the ground slopes away from your foundation, to drain away water. If there are depressions or gaps, fill them in with stones and soil.
• Change the air filter on your furnace and check around the base of your water heater for leaks.
• And don’t forget to get your barbecue grill out of the garage!

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Warroad, Minn., March 4, 2010 – The Tropical Forest Foundation has named Steve Tourek, senior vice president and general counsel for Marvin Windows and Doors, as the new president of the organization’s board of directors.

The foundation is an international non-profit dedicated to sustainable forest management in the tropics, working with conservation groups, government agencies and companies that manufacture wood products to promote training, outreach and research pertaining to sustainable forest management in tropical regions around the world. Tourek is also chairman of the Window & Door Manufacturers Association.

Marvin has long been committed to sustainability in many forms: manufacturing energy-efficient windows and doors, maximizing recycling and reducing waste, and encouraging sustainable forestry practices. Tourek’s leadership in TFF is another example in a long history of environmentally oriented initiatives and accomplishments from Marvin.

“This company is driven to not just build beautiful windows and doors of great value but also to act as responsible stewards of our beautiful environment for future generations.,” Tourek said. “As close partners, we’ve seen the great work the Tropical Forest Foundation is doing on the ground. Its training centers and demonstration models, as well as research and outreach, are positively impacting what is actually taking place in the world. More concessions are better managed, more viable, more conducive to maintaining biodiversity and more supportive of communities whose long-term livelihood is dependent upon the economics of their forests. I look forward to serving and contributing to TFF’s mission with my fellow directors.”

For more information on TFF, visit www.tropicalforestfoundation.org.

Home improvement expert and Today Show contributor Lou Manfredini was on hand to check out these and other products from Marvin, and he shot this video tour of our booth:

You’ll find the rest of Marvin’s IBS 2010 coverage here — it features interviews with show organizers, highlights of innovative products on display at the show, and details on Marvin’s own new products.

The two also discussed how the recession has driven innovation within the window and door industry and how Marvin  is working through this economic downturn. The discussion ends with questions from the business faculty at the Carlson School of Management, co-presenter of this event.

You can watch the full interview — in its entirety or in edited segments — at TPT’s video vault.

WARROAD, Minn., Feb. 16, 2010 – Home remodeling is a bright spot in the troubled U.S. construction industry, according to Marvin Windows and Doors, the nation’s largest maker of wood and clad wood windows and doors.

Year-end figures from the U.S. Commerce Department show that 2009 spending on private, residential remodeling totaled $125.6 billion — up 8.2 percent from 2008. Meanwhile, new residential construction spending came in at $134.8 billion — a drop of 23.5 percent from the previous year.

“We’ve seen this shift in our own business, as energy-efficient replacement windows and doors have outperformed our products for the new-construction market,” said Marvin spokesman John Kirchner. “Instead of trading up to larger homes or flipping properties for a quick profit, we’re seeing homeowners elect to renovate their existing properties for greater comfort, efficiency and style.”

Reflecting the shift, remodeling grabbed a much bigger share of the overall residential construction dollar. For all of 2009, new construction accounted for 51.8 percent of residential construction spending, with remodeling at 48.2 percent.

By contrast, new construction accounted for 60.3 percent of residential construction spending in 2008 and remodeling for only 39.7 percent.

The federal tax credit for energy-efficient home improvements is also giving a boost to remodeling, Kirchner said. The tax credit of up to $1,500 is available for products purchased through the end of 2010.

Marvin offers a free, downloadable window and door replacement guide to help homeowners learn about the energy-efficient options available to them.

“Like everyone in the homebuilding industry, we’re eager to see an upturn in the new construction business,” Kirchner said. “But we’re also happy to see the continuing strength of the remodeling segment.”

WARROAD, Minn. – Marvin Windows and Doors’ continues its commitment to green principles with the addition of FSC-certified (QMI-COC-001058) and SFI-certified woods.  These third-party chain of custody certifications from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Forest Stewardship Council will be available on Marvin windows and patio doors.  All Marvin wood species will be available as FSC-certified and pine, Douglas fir, oak, cherry, maple, walnut and vertical grain Douglas fir will be available as SFI-certified.

SFI Inc. is a fully independent, charitable organization dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management. Their forest certification standard is based on principles that promote sustainable forest management, including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and forests with exceptional conservation value.

FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests.

The FSC label provides a credible link between responsible production and consumption of forest products, enabling consumers and businesses to make purchasing decisions that benefit people and the environment as well as providing ongoing business value.

Not only do these certifications matter to builders, architects, remodelers and homeowners who care about environmental sustainability, but they can be an important part of obtaining designations such as LEED.  The wood used in Marvin’s wood and clad-wood windows and patio doors is not only an important design element, but also a valuable way to help protect our world’s forests.

The energy-efficiency tax credit our federal government is offering homeowners will continue to be a driving force for much of the building and remodeling industry, and that’s evident from the focus on efficiency at the 2010 International Builders Show.

The tax credit gives homeowners back 30 percent — up to $1,500 — when they install qualifying products, such as windows and doors, furnaces, roofing or insulation.

Lou talks with Tom Sinning of Marvin Windows and Doors and Kevin Carlile of Trane about some of their highly energy-efficient products on display at the show and available now for homeowners.

After spending the week with architects, builders and suppliers at the International Builders Show, Lou Manfredini files this report on the industry’s outlook for 2010.

Kevin Morrow, senior program manager for NAHB, foresees growth in “green building” — perhaps no surprise, driven by consumers’ desire for green products.

Susan Marvin, president of Marvin Windows, is excited about the positive response to the company’s new products. She says 2010 is going to be another challenging year, but the way to fight through a challenging year is to continue to listen to what consumers want and to deliver high quality and good value.

Jeff Seidel, a builder from New York, says he’s optimistic but realistic about 2010. His company is well-positioned, he says, with a dual purpose: building and remodeling. The firm’s remodeling business was strong in 2009 and will continue to be strong in 2010 — a reflection of consumers’ increasing desire to update what they have rather than try to buy new.

He meets with a representative from Bosch Appliances to learn about their new dishwasher, which operates with a focus on efficient use of energy and water. Lou also gets an introduction to a home automation system by Leviton.

Kevin Morrow, senior program manager for NAHB, talks with Lou about the National Green Building Standard.

For more information go to mymarvin.com.