KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.– Indoor-outdoor living is undoubtedly one of the most popular concepts in homeownership these days. Now that trend is going to the dogs -- and cats.

With nearly two-thirds of all U.S. households owning one or more pets, and spending on pets continuing to rise even during tough economic times*, JELD-WEN is unleashing a variety of new products specifically created for four-legged family members

The JELD-WEN® Vinyl Sliding Patio Door with an integrated pet door is a stylish new door system that provides a unique indoor-outdoor access point for pets. With this door, JELD-WEN has incorporated many of the benefits of its vinyl patio door line, including low maintenance and energy-saving features. The JELD-WEN Vinyl Sliding Patio Door with pet door is available in an ENERGY STAR® qualified configuration, offers a secure-closing pet panel with an easy to operate WEN-Lock system, and has a clear flap. The flap stays closed thanks to a magnetic pull that prevents it from being blown open by strong winds, but is flexible enough to allow easy passage.

The pet door doesn’t mean homeowners have to sacrifice human accessibility; it operates as a standard patio door. Vinyl also means the door never needs to be painted, and comes in colors White or Desert Sand. The pet door is available in medium, large and extra large (see pet size and weight chart recommendations at www.JELD-WEN.com). JELD-WEN is pleased to offer the Vinyl Sliding Patio Door in custom sizes beginning in January 2013.

Attendees of the 2013 International Builders Show can view a Builders Vinyl Sliding Patio Door in White at the JELD-WEN booth #C6912.

JELD-WEN also offers a complete special-order steel or fiberglass door with an installed pet door solution, available in a prehung unit. Perfect for standard-size exterior entries, the pet door includes weatherproof technology that tightly seals and resists water leaks. The entry door is available primed and ready to paint or as a pre-painted option.

Unlike retrofitted pet doors of yesteryear that typically were installed separately, these door systems provide an integrated solution for maximum style and reliability. With a variety of entry door material options and operational styles, JELD-WEN offers homeowners a good selection of price ranges and choices that will best suit their needs, and their pets’ needs, as well.

“Homeowners want reliable and convenient options for their pets,” said Elizabeth Souders, JELD-WEN director of product management. “These doors accommodate the four legged members of the household, perform well and look great!”

Tips for proper pet door measuring
To ensure the right pet door option, JELD-WEN recommends the following tips for proper measuring:

• Be width wise. Measure the widest part of your pet (typically the chest) and make sure it is under the maximum width for the door you’ve selected, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Watch those height restrictions. Measure your pet from the top of the shoulders to the bottom of the chest or belly (whichever is the tallest part). Add two inches to that measurement to determine if a pet can easily fit through. Rule of thumb: For the JELD-WEN Vinyl Sliding Patio Door, a 15-inch pet door height is typically suitable for a pet that weighs 15 pounds or less, and an 18-inch door typically works for a pet that weighs 40 pounds or less.
• Rise to the occasion. For some styles of pet doors, such as JELD-WEN’s steel and fiberglass door options, it’s also important to consider the “rise.” That is, the height from the floor to the bottom of the pet door flap, which is the height your pet must step over to use the door. To account for this, measure the withers of the pet (from top of shoulders to the floor) to determine which rise is the right option. Typically, an 8-inch rise is recommended for shorter pets with a 24-1/2-inch maximum withers measurement, and a 10-1/2-inch rise typically works for taller pets with a 27-inch maximum withers. As a general rule of thumb, JELD-WEN recommends the shorter the rise the better. As pets age, they can develop mobility issues that make it more difficult to step over a higher rise.

*Source: Reuters.com, "Spending on Pets up During Lean Economic Times: Poll," April 5, 2011.

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About JELD-WEN

JELD-WEN is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of windows and doors. JELD-WEN has 20,000 employees across more than 100 locations in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. The company’s extensive product offering encompasses windows, exterior doors, interior doors and related building products that are sold globally through multiple distribution channels, including retail home centers, wholesale distributors and building products dealers. JELD-WEN has been an ENERGY STAR Partner since 1998. For more information on JELD-WEN, visit www.jeld-wen.com.