Bronze is a metal alloy most people are familiar with – after all, it’s been around for centuries, cast and sculpted into some of the world’s most famous buildings and statues, not least of which is the Statue of Liberty.
But as a fenestration material, less is understood about bronze – and specifically why it is unquestionably THE best material in the world to make windows and doors from. Yet this is a fact, and coupled with Renaissance GSB’s proprietary manufacturing process, makes our windows in particular an heirloom-quality, risk-free investment in the future of your home. Let’s explore some of the reasons why.
Breathing new life into a timeless material
The name ‘Renaissance’ means ‘rebirth’ in French, and reflects our commitment to reimagining this ancient, timeless material in new and innovative ways.
For our windows and doors, we create a unique alchemy of past and present; the enduring appeal of solid bronze, the classic forms of traditional metal windows, and 21st century manufacturing technology that puts our windows at the cutting edge of durability, security and thermal efficiency.
All of this means that Renaissance Bronze windows are not just an alternative to steel – they are without equal in the fenestration industry, representing a shrewd investment in the future of contemporary and heritage properties alike. Let’s take a look at some of the many ways bronze windows surpass steel and other fenestration systems.
Heritage-grade windows
Our windows are so exquisitely made, they’re more aligned with the art world than the construction industry.
When you choose Renaissance Bronze, you’ll become part of an exclusive community of discerning architects and homeowners committed to preserving the link between past and present through considered restoration and thoughtful architectural reproduction.
Our products are the antithesis of standard or mass-produced windows – no two are the same. Each one is painstakingly handcrafted in our Texas workshop, and each has a living finish that evolves and changes over time. These distinctive qualities give Renaissance windows the power to infuse classic and contemporary architecture with unmatched authenticity and integrity, not just in the present day, but for generations to come.
Built to last a lifetime
When it comes to long-term durability, bronze windows outperform even premium steel windows in every way.
There’s a reason bronze was selected by the craftsmen and sculptors of yesteryear – because it has the ability to endure even the most extreme environmental conditions without rotting, rusting or corroding. In fact, bronze gets even more beautiful and authentic-looking with age, as its naturally protective patina coating continues to develop and evolve over time.
These qualities make bronze an innately practical choice when you need windows to last a long time – whether that’s because your property is in a challenging environment, like the seafront, or because you’re passionate about investing in architecture today, that will still be around in 100 years.
Narrowest in class sightlines
Solid bronze windows are a premium product, typically specified into luxury homes. So it may seem counterintuitive to say that we effectively design our bronze windows to disappear, by giving them the narrowest sightlines of any true divided lite glazing unit in the industry.
We do this because we know the homeowners that choose our windows have worked hard – some for their whole lives – to live in some of the most beautiful locations on earth. And when you’ve worked for years to secure a coveted view, the last thing you need is a window frame blocking it out.
Our solid bronze window frames are revolutionary in terms of their sightlines – we offer a Sub 1 muntin-to-muntin lite, with Sub 3 mullions. This standard is unsurpassed by any other window system and ensures beautiful views and natural light are maximized, whilst the part of our windows you CAN see are as captivatingly elegant and unique as they can possibly be.
Proprietary, extruded profiles
Our first ever bronze window profile was inspired by a Victorian factory window salvaged from an old steelworks in downtown San Antonio. Since then, we’ve gone on to develop a total of 107 proprietary extrusion profiles that are unique to Renaissance products.
We’re the only supplier that offers our customer the opportunity to match the profile of their windows to their shower doors, wine cellar enclosures and other custom bronze products for a seamlessly cohesive look throughout the interior and exterior of their property.
Our extruded profiles have practical as well as aesthetic benefits, too. In contrast to hollow, roll-formed window frames (which is typical for steel) our frame profiles are solid, with much more metal in the frame. This makes them much more resistant to dents and scratches across their lifespan, and also means that if accidental damage does occur, the frame has enough structural integrity for imperfections to be buffed or sanded out, and the frame refinished, without leaving a thin, weak spot.
Coped, mechanically fastened frames
The majority of metal windows have miter joints that are welded or brazed, which can cause weakness in the metal as well as increasing the risk of moisture ingress if the joint isn’t perfectly precise.
For our bronze windows and doors, we borrowed the technique of coping and mechanical fastening from luxury wood artisans. Each frame is CNC milled so the corners interlock with extreme precision, and is then held in place with screws – there’s no heat involved in the process, so the bronze is never compromised. Coped joints deliver an impeccable finish with no ugly weld lines and precise, perfectly square frames that are as strong as they are beautiful.
Advanced thermal efficiency
Built into our unique architectural extrusions is an advanced thermal break that gives our windows best-in-class thermal performance. Incredibly, many steel windows today are not thermally-broken at all, but even those that are are often constructed using the pour and debridge (P&D) method, which can lead to dry shrinkage later on.
We use the polyamide strip method to thermally break our windows and doors. The strips are designed to integrate seamlessly into the extruded frames for a tight, permanent fit that won’t shrink or loosen over time. The result is highly insulating windows that support efficient heating and cooling of interior spaces, while safeguarding against mold and condensation, decade after decade.
Risk-free installation
When you choose steel windows, in the vast majority of cases you only get the window frames delivered to site – everything else from glazing to waterproofing will depend on the skill and ingenuity of the installer, and this is most often where problems arise.
At Renaissance, we have completely de-risked the installation process by developing proprietary nail fin and drain pan systems for our windows. All components are supplied, including copper drain pans and patented setting blocks, with clear instructions for proper installation that ensures all water drains down and out of the building envelope.
Our windows are wet glazed using a structural DOW 995 silicone in our factory before being shipped to site, ensuring total structural integrity and a vastly reduced potential for damage in transit.
We ship on dedicated sprinter vans to make doubly sure your windows and doors arrive on site in pristine condition, ready to be installed.
Should you require assistance finding an installer, we have a nationwide network of RGS-approved professionals on hand.
Step into our world
If you’re an architect and would like to gain in-depth knowledge about how our fenestration systems are designed, manufactured and installed, as well as why they are the best choice for fenestration in luxury construction, simply get in touch to arrange a consultation.
