How long does a typical custom window replacement job take?

A single window can often be done in a day, but a full-home replacement usually runs several days to a couple of weeks depending on the number of openings and whether any hidden trim or sheathing repairs come up once the old units are removed. Weather can also affect scheduling for exterior sealing work. We'll give you a realistic timeline once we've assessed the actual job.

What should I ask a window contractor before hiring them?

Ask about licensing and insurance, request a written scope of work rather than a verbal estimate, and ask specifically how they handle flashing and moisture management — that's the detail that separates a durable install from one that fails in a few years. A contractor who can explain their process clearly is usually one who's done it enough times to get it right.

Do you install one specific brand of window?

We work with multiple manufacturers rather than pushing a single brand, because the right fit depends on the opening, the home's style, and the homeowner's budget and maintenance preferences. We'll walk through the honest trade-offs between options for your specific project rather than steer you toward whatever we have the most of in stock.

What's the real difference between double-pane and triple-pane windows here?

Triple-pane windows offer better insulation and reduce condensation risk in cold snaps, which can matter on north-facing or heavily shaded walls that stay damp longer in this climate. Double-pane units cost less and perform well for most openings, especially on more sheltered or south-facing walls. The right choice depends on the specific wall's exposure, not a blanket rule for the whole house.

Do you take on window projects in Aldergrove even though it's across the border from Lynden?

Yes — Aldergrove is close enough that it's a regular part of our service area, and the housing stock and climate exposure there are very similar to what we see in Lynden. We handle whatever logistics and permitting the specific project requires and can talk through the details when we scope the job.

Custom Windows in Aldergrove, BC

Custom Windows for Aldergrove Homes, Built for This Climate

Aldergrove sits just across the line from Lynden, and the weather doesn't care which side of the border a house is on. The same marine-influenced air, the same driving rain, and the same long stretch of gray, damp months that wear on Whatcom County homes wear on homes in Aldergrove too. Windows here have to do more than look good — they have to shed water, resist corrosion from salt-tinged coastal air, and keep performing after years of moss season and wind-driven storms.

"Custom" doesn't mean fancy or expensive. It means the window is actually built and installed for the opening it's going into and the exposure that wall sees. That's a different job than pulling a standard size off a shelf and caulking around the gaps.

What Makes a Window Job Actually "Custom"

Openings That Aren't Standard

Older homes and additions rarely have perfectly square, standard-sized openings. Decades of settling, past remodels, or original construction that predates modern sizing conventions all mean the opening in front of us is often a size or shape you can't order off a shelf. A custom window is built to that actual opening — measured on site, not assumed from a catalog.

Matching the House

Trim profiles, sightlines, grille patterns, and how a window sits relative to the siding all affect how a home reads from the street. A replacement that's close enough in size but wrong in profile or proportion sticks out. Custom work means the new window looks like it belongs, not like it was patched in.

What This Climate Does to Windows Over Time

Whatcom County and the surrounding Fraser Valley share a climate that's tough on exterior building components in specific, predictable ways:

Salt-tinged air moving inland from Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia gradually corrodes hardware, fasteners, and unprotected metal components — especially on window frames that weren't finished or sealed correctly at installation.
Driving, wind-driven rain tests every seal and flashing detail a window has. Water doesn't need a big gap to get in — a poorly lapped flashing or a missed sill pan is enough over time.
Long moss and algae seasons mean shaded, north-facing walls stay damp for extended stretches. That moisture load finds any weak point in the wood trim or sheathing around a window frame and starts rot from the inside out, often before it's visible from outside.
Temperature swings and condensation in colder snaps expose weak seals between panes and poor-quality gas fill, showing up as fogging or a chronic damp feel near the glass.

None of this is dramatic on its own. It's cumulative — small installation shortcuts compound over a decade of this weather into real problems: soft trim, failed seals, drafts, and eventually water damage to the wall itself.

What a Correct Custom Window Installation Involves

A window that's going to hold up here needs the following done right, every time, not just on the units that are easy to reach:

Housewrap and flashing integrated in the correct shingle-lap sequence, with a sill pan so any water that does get past the exterior seal drains back out instead of pooling.
A drip cap or head flashing above the unit that actually directs water away from the top of the frame.
Shimming that gets the unit level, plumb, and square — not just tight enough to hold, since a racked frame stresses seals and makes the sash bind over time.
Insulation packed evenly around the frame without overfilling, which can bow the jambs and cause operational problems later.
Weep holes left clear so the window's own drainage system can do its job.
Exterior sealant applied at the right points — sealing everything shut can trap moisture instead of letting it escape.

Skip any one of these steps and the window can look fine for a year or two before the shortcuts show up as a soft spot in the trim or a draft that wasn't there before.

Choosing a Frame Material

There's no single right answer here — it depends on the home, the budget, and how much upkeep you want to take on. Here's how the common options compare for this climate:

Frame Type	Maintenance	Moisture Resistance	Best Fit
Vinyl	Low — no painting, occasional cleaning	Good; won't rot, but seals and hardware still need to be installed correctly	Straightforward replacements, budget-conscious projects
Fiberglass	Low to moderate	Very good; dimensionally stable through temperature swings	Larger openings, homes wanting a longer-term investment
Wood interior / clad exterior	Higher — exterior cladding helps, but interior wood still needs occasional attention	Good on the exterior face if the cladding and flashing are done right; the wood side is more sensitive to interior humidity	Homes prioritizing a traditional interior look
Aluminum	Low	Conducts cold and can condense more in our damp winters unless thermally broken	Specific architectural styles, commercial-style openings

We'll talk through the trade-offs for your specific openings rather than push one material as the default — a shaded, rain-exposed wall and a sheltered south-facing wall on the same house can reasonably call for different answers.

Our Process

On-Site Assessment

We look at the actual openings, the condition of the surrounding trim and sheathing, and how exposed each wall is to wind and rain. This is where we catch existing moisture damage before it becomes part of a bigger, more expensive repair.

Measuring and Ordering

Custom units are measured precisely for the opening as it actually exists — not a nominal size. This is also when we talk through frame material, glass options, and trim details so what arrives matches the plan.

Removal and Installation

Old units come out carefully so we can inspect the framing underneath. Any rot or damage gets addressed before the new window goes in — installing a good window over a compromised opening just hides the problem. Flashing, insulation, and sealing follow in the sequence described above.

Final Check and Cleanup

Every unit gets operated, checked for level and square, and inspected for a clean seal before we call the job done. Site cleanup is part of the job, not an afterthought.

Signs Your Windows Need Attention

Fogging or moisture trapped between the panes of a double- or triple-pane unit
Soft, discolored, or peeling trim or sill material around the frame
A draft you can feel near the window even with it fully closed
Windows that are hard to open, close, or lock properly
Visible gaps, cracked caulking, or daylight around the frame edges
Moss, algae, or persistent black staining on the frame or nearby siding
Noticeably higher heating bills without another clear cause

Any one of these on its own might just need a repair. Several together, especially on an older home, usually means the windows are past the point where patching makes sense.

Why Hire a Crew That Already Works in Aldergrove

A crew that's already familiar with this specific area — the housing stock, the typical exposure patterns, and the way this climate wears on homes near the border — isn't guessing at what your walls have been dealing with. That familiarity shows up in faster, more accurate assessments and installation details that account for the realities of the area instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. It also means straightforward scheduling and follow-up if anything needs a look after the job is done, rather than waiting on a crew that has to travel a long way to get back to you.

Cost Factors to Expect

Every project is different, but a few factors consistently drive the price of a custom window job: the number of openings, the frame material chosen, whether it's a like-for-like replacement or requires resizing the opening, and how much trim or siding work is needed to finish it cleanly. On the low end, a straightforward single-window swap can run a few hundred dollars in labor and materials combined; larger, custom-shaped, or structurally involved openings can run well into four figures per window. We give a real number after seeing the actual openings — not a phone estimate based on guesswork.

If your Aldergrove home has windows that are drafty, foggy, hard to operate, or just original to a house that's had a few decades of this climate to work on it, we're happy to take a look. Fill out the form below for a free, no-pressure estimate — we'll assess the actual openings and give you an honest read on what they need.