Patent ID: 8500945

Claim:
A method of manufacturing, which includes the steps of: (a) providing framing rails composed of a fiberglass-reinforced material and having mitered ends that are open and hollow with interior contours; (b) assembling to said mitered ends of said framing rails, plugs composed of a weldable thermoplastic material different from said fiberglass-reinforced material of said framing rails, said plugs having hollow bodies with peripheral contours corresponding with said interior contours of said framing rails and having end walls with radially outwardly extending flanges, wherein said bodies of said plugs are press fit into said mitered ends of said framing rails so that said peripheral contours of said bodies are interference fit to said interior contours of said framing rails and so that said end wall flanges of said plugs overlie and abut said mitered ends of said framing rails, and (c) welding said end walls of said plugs to each other, wherein said flanges of said plugs are sources of excess material pushed inside a seam between said plugs to assure a tight bond to said framing rails and of excess material pushed outside the seam to create a watertight seal.