AuraLast Wood Survives Extreme Termite Tests
Repelling the world’s most voracious pests, JELD-WEN “worry-free wood” stands up to grueling field tests

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. January 11, 2006 —

JELD-WEN^® has released the dramatic results of the most grueling field tests ever conducted on AuraLast™ wood, which effectively repelled Formosan termites outdoors in their native environment. After surviving untouched and intact after 13 months of exposure, AuraLast wood is expanding to even more of the company’s window and door products this year.

JELD-WEN, the world’s leading manufacturer of reliable windows and doors, created this revolutionary new building material to take the worry out of wood. Already a favorite with builders and homeowners, AuraLast wood is guaranteed to resist decay and termite infestation for 20 years. That’s because the active ingredients in AuraLast wood penetrate virtually down to the core.

“As more people learn about the tremendous benefits of AuraLast wood, it has opened up a whole world of possibilities for builders and homeowners who want to return to traditional architectural styles and incorporate the warmth of wood in their windows and doors,” said Steve Brant, product marketing manager for JELD-WEN windows.

To answer this demand, JELD-WEN is further expanding the use of AuraLast wood into the Premium Wood door collection to alleviate specific concerns about moisture absorption, warping and decay.

Putting AuraLast Wood to the Test

Although AuraLast wood had already proven its mettle in termite farms in a lab setting, JELD-WEN wanted to test AuraLast wood against Formosan termites outdoors, on their own turf.

JELD-WEN built typical wood window frames and installed them in a high-risk environment. The millwork construction included installing treated and untreated wood right next to each other. The “termite house” was left outdoors for more than a year and checked periodically by JELD-WEN researchers.

After six months of exposure, mud tubes, the telltale signals of termite infestation, were clearly visible on the untreated wood. After 13 months, the untreated wood was completely destroyed by the pests. However, AuraLast wood was untouched by termites, even as the untreated wood surrounding it was left in shreds.

In previous tests, AuraLast wood performed similarly well in the hot, damp conditions of Hilo, Hawaii, one of the world’s wettest locales. AuraLast wood showed no decay after nearly five years, while untreated wood visibly broke down.

Benefits of AuraLast Wood Doors

JELD-WEN offers AuraLast wood as standard on all U.S.-produced pine wood windows and as an option for Premium Wood and Premium Fiberglass exterior doors. The last two years have marked a dramatic increase in the use of AuraLast wood for doors because, like windows, they play such an important role in fortifying homes against the elements.

In addition to providing termite protection, doors made with AuraLast wood resist warping and cracking due to moisture or extreme changes in temperature—all top-of-mind concerns when it comes to specifying materials for entry doors. To demonstrate how treated wood can add beauty without worry to a home’s decor, JELD-WEN displayed new pine Craftsman doors, constructed of AuraLast wood, at this year’s International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla.

“The Craftsman style is the perfect showcase for the rustic beauty of pine,” said Shane Meisel, product marketing manager for JELD-WEN doors. “By selecting AuraLast wood, homeowners can lower their maintenance requirements over time and still enjoy a stunning solid wood entry.”

Builders Clad-Wood Windows with AuraLast Wood

AuraLast wood plays a starring role in JELD-WEN Builders Clad-Wood windows, a new, affordable collection introduced this year. In addition to featuring AuraLast wood as standard, Builders Clad-Wood windows will also come with argon-filled, Low-E glass and high-performance aluminum cladding available in four colors. The collection offers the most popular window sizes, divided lite patterns and styles, including double-hung, casement, awning, picture and radius windows.

“Builders Clad-Wood windows are priced to compete head-on with other entry-level wood window collections, and no one else can promise the same 20-year guarantee of protection that AuraLast wood offers,” said Brant. “This is just one more way that JELD-WEN is changing the way builders and homeowners think about wood windows. From our point of view, reliability should always be within reach.”

What Makes AuraLast Wood Different

Unlike the industry standard dip treatment method, in which pieces of wood are dipped in an active solution resulting in a thin top coating,

JELD-WEN uses a water-based, vacuum/pressure process. This process forces the active ingredients into the wood—virtually all the way through to the core. That means screw and nail holes will not compromise the integrity of the wood. JELD-WEN AuraLast wood also maintains its natural pine color and accepts paints and stains similar to untreated wood, providing additional customization options for wood-painted exteriors.

Since JELD-WEN’s treatment process is water-based versus chemical-based, there is a 96 percent decrease of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during production, making it more environmentally friendly than conventional wood treatment processes.