When you order windows, do you know if you’re getting the right window for your needs? If you order custom windows, you can get fenestration that’s custom-tailored to better meet your unique needs and wants.
However, many homeowners settle for ready-made windows that are built to ‘standard’ sizes. Is getting a cookie-cutter window the right choice, or do you need to order custom windows that are uniquely designed for you?
What’s the Big Difference Between Ordering Premade and Custom Windows?
The primary difference between a premade window and a custom window is that the premade window is ready-to-go as soon as you buy it. You can find them at your local hardware store and take them home the same day.
With custom windows, they don’t get made until you order them. So, you have to wait for assembly before they can be shipped out to your home and installed.
Pros and Cons of Ordering Premade Windows
Because premade windows are already assembled and just waiting for you to buy them, they’re great for when you need a replacement window on short notice(such as if you have a broken window and need a replacement yesterday because the HOA is sending you deed restriction violation letters).They also tend to be cheap since they’re mass-produced for price-conscious consumers… though they aren’t always less costly than their custom-made counterparts.
The big drawback with premade windows is that they’re typically only available in basic shapes and sizes. If you have a non-standard window opening, the premade window won’t fit it right.
Another issue is that the places that sell premade windows either don’t provide installation support or they outsource it to (often unlicensed) third party contractors who don’t really know what they’re doing and often don’t back up their installation warranties.
Finally, if you want a specific feature in your windows, you may struggle to find it in a premade window unless it’s a massively popular option. Otherwise, you may end up having to retrofit (or replace) your windows later.
Long story short: getting premades is great if you’re on a tight budget and time limit, but not so ideal when you need something very specific from your windows or if you want a less-common style.
Pros and Cons When You Order Custom Windows
The biggest drawback to ordering a custom-made window is that there will be a longer lead time for the window to arrive at your house. After all, a custom window isn’t made until you order it. That may mean waiting for the manufacturer to get to your order in their production queue, then to get the materials needed to manufacture it, the window to pass internal inspection, be shipped out, and pass the installer’s inspection. This can take a while to complete.
So, a lead time of a few weeks to over a month is fairly common.
The next issue is that a custom-made window tends to cost more than a premade window. This is especially true if you add optional upgrades to the window above and beyond the most basic specs… like:
- Low-E glass
- Argon gas fills
- Premium hardware finishes
- Optional colors for the frame
- Optional grill patterns
- Turtle Glass tints (a requirement for some homes near beachfront areas where turtles and other marine life may nest)
- Triple-paned windows
- Soundproofing enhancements
Now that we’ve covered the two major downsides, what are the positives when you order custom windows from an installer like Karoly Windows & Doors?
The greatest thing about getting custom-made windows is the flexibility of options. When you order custom windows, you have near-total freedom to choose the style, appearance, and features of your window so it more precisely matches what you need and want.
In addition to getting access to all of the special features a window manufacturer offers when ordering custom, you can get your windows in practically any shape or size up to the maximum they can make.
Custom sizing also helps ensure that your windows will perfectly match your window openings to create a secure seal against the elements that will hold far better than an ill-fitting premade window could.
If you have a window opening that isn’t a standard size, a custom window might be a must-have for your home! Also, with some building frames, the building frame may have, over time, shifting the dimensions of the opening slightly. This can be one reason why original windows crack out of nowhere after a few years. The opening may have warped slightly as the building settled, putting pressure on the window’s frame and causing it to crack the glass.
Is Making a Custom Window Order Worth It Over Premade?
Yes! Even if you have a perfectly normal-sized window opening, paying a little extra to order custom windows can be well worth the extra time and expense. Why? Because:
- It Helps Ensure Window Longevity. As mentioned earlier, buildings settle over time. Even if you started with a standard-size window opening, that’s not a guarantee that the window opening is still a perfect match for a standard size window. By getting custom-fit windows, you can ensure that the new window will fit perfectly while avoiding pressure-induced cracks.
- It Helps Boost Energy Efficiency. Even if you aren’t getting Low-E glass windows with all of the special insulation-improving features available, getting a custom window can still help make your home more energy efficient than getting a ‘standard’ premade window. How? By ensuring a tighter seal to the window opening. Ill-fitting windows can lead to drafts that let more air into and out of the home. Getting custom-fit windows helps prevent drafty windows to keep your home’s temperature comfortable year-round.
- It Improves Your Home’s Security. Especially with impact windows, having a custom-fit window can help improve your home’s protection against the forces of nature and would-be intruders. A well-fit custom window provides fewer ways for wind, rain, and tools to get through the frame and into your home.
- You Get Greater Control Over Your Order. Sometimes, you just want what you want. When you order custom windows, you can be much more exacting about what you want, choosing from a variety of finishes, colors, and styles to more closely match your ideal vision for your home’s exterior.
Between the monetary savings that improved energy efficiency can bring and the pride of having exactly what you want from your new windows, waiting a little longer for a set of custom windows to be made can be more than worth it!
Making the Most of Your Custom Window Order: Get Expert Installation!
Aside from simply ordering custom windows, there’s something you should do to ensure that the windows you get last for as long as possible and bring the biggest possible savings in energy costs for literal decades to come: Get your windows installed by a trusted team of professionals!
Why should you carefully vet your window installer? Because, the quality of the window installation can make or break the quality of your windows!
Going with a trusted and proven window installation company means that you’re getting install service that you can trust. For example, when you order custom windows through Karoly Windows & Doors, we:
- Use 100% In-House Labor. We never outsource installation work to a third party contractor. Every installation is performed by a member of our company. This way, we can hold our installers to our high standards on every project they complete.
- Use High-Quality Composite Shims. Shims help align window frames in a window opening to keep them perfectly level even when the opening is slightly misshapen. We use composite shims instead of wood shims because they resist corrosion and moisture better. This keeps the shims intact and in good condition to keep your new window frame securely in place for as long as possible.
- Insulate and Seal the Window Properly. Many window installers who are more obsessed with getting the job done fast rather than getting it done right may skimp on insulating around the window opening to save time and money. At Karoly we always strive to ensure that the insulation around the window opening is complete to maximize energy efficiency and soundproofing for your home.
- Guarantee Our Work. Every window we install is backed by Karoly’s Platinum Standard Lifetime Guarantee. Under this guarantee, we provide a 25-year installation warranty and a 50-year material warranty. So, if there’s a problem with your new windows, we have you covered!
Start your new window installation by reaching out to the pros at Karoly Windows & Doors. Order custom windows that will stand the test of time and protect your home for years to come!
