When custom is worth it.
Custom wins when your openings are not standard sizes, when you want a specific frame color or a large pane a stock line does not offer, or when forcing a stock window into the opening means re-framing, infill, and extra trim. That hidden install work is where a cheaper stock unit quietly costs more than it looked.
Stock wins when your openings happen to match standard sizes and you need the windows fast, since stock is on a shelf and custom is built to order. The trade-off for custom is lead time: a made-to-order window takes weeks to build because it does not exist until you order it.
How Crateworks builds.
Crateworks builds every window to order in thermally-broken aluminum, to your opening size and any RAL color, and ships direct. Because we source direct, the custom premium does not also carry a showroom markup, so a custom aluminum window can land closer to a stock retail price than people expect. We confirm the build size in writing before anything is made.
Common questions.
- What is the difference between custom and stock windows?
- Custom windows are made to your exact opening size, glass, and color. Stock windows come in fixed standard sizes you select from. Custom fits the opening exactly and costs more per unit with a longer lead time; stock is cheaper and faster but only works cleanly when your opening matches a standard size.
- Are custom windows worth the extra cost?
- Custom windows are worth it when openings are non-standard or you want a specific size or color, because forcing a stock window to fit often means re-framing and extra trim that costs more than the custom unit saved. For standard openings on a tight timeline, stock is the cheaper, faster choice.
- How long do custom windows take?
- Custom windows are built to order, so they take weeks rather than coming off a shelf. The exact lead time depends on the product and order size, which we confirm in writing before you commit.
Project in motion
Have non-standard openings?
Send your sizes. We build to order in thermally-broken aluminum, sourced direct, so custom does not also mean a showroom markup.