Kona 3800 Window-Wall System

We designed the kona fixed window-wall system as an alternative to commercial storefront. Designers and building professionals appreciate the sleek lines and scale of commercial storefront BUT prefer factory built systems because of the many benefits listed below. The Kona provides the sightline benefits of storefront with all of the advantages of a factory built product.

The Kona is an adaptable product that offers everything from a simple fixed window, to transoms, to elaborate grid window-walls with operable window inserts. The Kona is an ideal compliment to any of our door products and is a wise choice over commercial storefront. We have provided a few comparative items below.

Storefront VS Kona – Part II: Our factory built system assures that material remnants are returned to the supply chain. Assuring your community that project sites are not riddled with metal shavings and cut-offs which end up in our landfills. Because storefront is site built, the Kona stands out as the more responsible choice.

Storefront VS Kona – Part IV: Storefront glass can shift in the opening. This is a design flaw of storefront because it was made in the field instead of the factory. Even if the tuck-in vinyl is properly installed the glass can still shift left or right to the point that weather can come into the home.

Storefront VS Kona – Part VI: Walk around a shopping center or mall and inspect the storefront. You will discover a wide variety of quality levels and most are not acceptable for a luxury home. It is typical for storefront installers to tuck in the wrong vinyl or to only put vinyl in one side. This creates gaps which make the glass easier to move form side to side and that will rattle. Fleetwood windows do not rattle nor does the glass shift from side to side.

Storefront VS Kona – Part VII: Most storefront is not thermally broken whereas the Kona comes standard with an “energy barrier”. The result is greater thermal efficiency for enhanced living comfort in all seasons.

Storefront VS Kona – Part I: Perhaps the most serious issue in buying storefront is the security problem. Did you know that your glass can be removed from the exterior with a flat head screw driver and a common tool called a glass cup? Within less than five minutes an intruder can quietly remove an entire sheet of glass and come into your home. The glass in our windows cannot be removed except by great difficulty because we “glue” the glass to the inside of the frame where intruders cannot reach.

Storefront VS Kona – Part III: The Kona system is equipped with weather-stripping tracks that secure air blocking gaskets. Storefront comes without weather-stripping and relies on the laborer to pack rubber into all seams and joints. The natural result is uneven sightlines and gaps. As well, storefront is never factory glazed but the Kona offers factory glazing on most sizes.

Storefront VS Kona – Part V: Because storefront windows are made on the jobsite the quality is dependant on the one worker making your window. In contrast, your Fleetwood windows are made in a controlled environment with Managers and Quality Control Engineers approving the processes. We also have static fabrication tooling that was designed for your window. Storefront typically uses crude tooling, often by hand, that changes regularly.

Storefront VS Kona – Part VIII: Because storefront is only available in a block frame it relies totally on installation sealant. Sealants that are exposed to weather and UV will deteriorate faster, thus creating a potential water leak in the matter of a few years. Fleetwood fixed systems come standard with an integral nail fin that prevents water from passing through this part of the frame.