WITH demand rising for more hurricane-resilient homes following recent storms, Panorama Solutions Ltd is seeking to raise the standard of residential construction through premium windows and doors designed to withstand extreme weather.

The company, which officially opened its showroom in January last year, was co-founded by Managing Director Craig Fongyee, who said the business was born out of a desire to improve the standard of building finishes available in Jamaica.

“When I looked at the constructions I wasn’t happy with the quality that I was seeing and the prices they were selling at. That triggered me to see what connections I had available and use those connections to bring something better to Jamaica,” Fongyee said in a Jamaica Observer interview.

Panorama Solutions Ltd has supplied and installed windows for a residential project in Stony Hill.

Before launching Panorama Solutions, Fongyee worked in his family’s business, Regency Blinds, a company with more than four decades of experience supplying window coverings. While the business gave him first-hand exposure to residential and commercial construction projects, he said it also revealed shortcomings in the quality of many buildings. Because Regency Blinds’ products were installed after construction was completed, he was able to observe the difference between well-built and poorly executed projects. Rather than taking over the family business after his parents retired, Fongyee opted to chart his own course, saying he wanted to build a company focused on improving construction standards rather than window coverings. The company’s name was also chosen to reflect its broader ambitions. ‘Panorama’ speaks to the view, but it also represents a wide range of construction solutions.

A custom bay window installed by Panorama Solutions Ltd at a residence on Cherry Drive.

“We started with windows and doors because they literally provide the view,” he explained.

Windows installed by Panorama Solutions Ltd at a Cherry Drive residence.

A key selling point for Panorama Solutions is its focus on hurricane-ready products, with Fongyee arguing that the strength of the company’s windows and doors lies not only in the glass but also in the materials used to construct the frames. The company offers windows and doors made from both unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) and aluminium. According to Fongyee, its UPVC frames are reinforced with coated steel, making them more resistant to twisting and warping over time — an issue he said can compromise a window’s ability to withstand hurricane-force winds. The coated steel also provides protection against corrosion, making the product suitable for coastal environments. Its aluminium frames, meanwhile, are manufactured using what Fongyee described as virgin aluminium rather than recycled material. He argued that unlike recycled aluminium, which can contain impurities that make it more susceptible to corrosion, virgin aluminium offers greater durability while maintaining the structural strength needed for hurricane-resistant installations.

“We’re the only ones that have tempered glass that is six times stronger than normal glass, so by default we’re already six times stronger than anybody else in Jamaica,” he told the
Sunday Finance.

Members of the Panorama Solutions Ltd installation team fit windows at a residential project.

Because the specialised glass is not manufactured anywhere in the Caribbean, Panorama Solutions imports it from factories in China with which the company has established relationships. But, like many start-ups, building customer confidence proved to be one of the company’s biggest hurdles.

A bathroom window supplied by Panorama Solutions Ltd at a Cherry Drive residence.

“Quality windows and doors are not cheap items. Convincing someone who has never heard of your company to commit hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars isn’t easy when you’re a brand new business,” he shared.

Sliding glass doors by Panorama Solutions Ltd at a Norbrook residence.

To overcome that challenge, Panorama Solutions invested in an interactive showroom at 30 to 34 Half-Way-Tree Road, where customers can see and test the products before making a purchase. Demonstrations include testing the strength of the glass and other materials to highlight the differences between its products and conventional alternatives. Interest in the company’s products has increased since Hurricane Melissa, as more homeowners seek building materials designed to withstand severe weather.

Premium sliding glass doors by Panorama Solutions Ltd at a residence in Norbrook. The company specialises in hurricane-resistant windows and doors designed to improve durability and energy efficiency.

“Our windows and doors are designed to be hurricane-ready from installation. Once they’re installed you don’t need shutters; you can… literally just sit back and watch the hurricane,” Fongyee said confidently.

Floor-to-ceiling windows installed by Panorama Solutions Ltd at a residential development in Stony Hill.

The company currently serves architects, contractors, residential homeowners, and renovation projects across the island, while also preparing to broaden its product range with kitchens, bathrooms, solar products, and a new insulated roofing system that is slated to be introduced between this month and next month. Panorama’s roofing system will feature multiple layers of material rather than a single sheet. The additional layer provides a secondary barrier against leaks should the outer layer become compromised, while built-in insulation helps reduce both heat transfer and outside noise. The underside of the roofing is also pre-finished in white, eliminating the need for additional treatment after installation. Rather than investing immediately in additional locations, the company plans to grow through distribution partnerships with established retailers across the island, allowing it to reach customers more quickly.

“Right now we’re based in Kingston but we work islandwide. Partnering with established businesses will allow us to reach customers faster, particularly on the western side of the island,” he said.