Imported vs domestic windows
We import, so weigh this accordingly. The differences that matter are not the ones usually argued about — build quality is a question about the individual factory, not the country. What really differs is schedule, paperwork and what happens when something goes wrong.
| Imported, factory-direct | Premium domestic brands | |
|---|---|---|
| Landed cost | Typically 30–50% lower for comparable specification, because there is no dealer margin in the chain. | Higher, and the dealer network is part of what you are paying for. |
| Lead time | Production plus ocean freight. Standard configurations complete in 18 days in the factory; freight adds about 35 days to the West Coast, 45 to the East. | Shorter and more predictable. No ocean leg, and stock sizes may be available immediately. |
| Schedule risk | A missed sailing moves the date by a week or more. This is the real cost of importing and it has to be planned for. | Lower. Delays are usually measured in days. |
| Certification | Varies by factory. Ask for the NFRC CPD number and look it up yourself — the directory is public. | Established certification, and the numbers are easy to find. |
| Documentation for plan check | Depends entirely on the supplier. A good one hands you the NFRC data and the approval numbers up front; a bad one cannot. | Reliably available, which is a real part of the value. |
| Customisation | Made to your drawings as standard. Non-standard sizes and configurations are the normal case, not a surcharge. | Broad but catalogue-bound. Truly custom work is an exception and priced as one. |
| Sightlines and glass area | European-derived platforms tend to run narrower frames. | Wider frames on many residential lines, though architectural ranges close the gap. |
| Warranty service | Depends on the importer. Ask who holds the warranty and who pays to ship a replacement. | Established network and clear channels. |
| Replacing one unit later | A single replacement carries freight and a long wait. Order spares for a large project. | Faster, and often available from stock. |
| Best fit | Whole-project orders, custom sizes, cost-sensitive programmes with a schedule that can absorb the freight leg. | Small orders, tight schedules, projects where a same-week replacement matters. |
When importing is the wrong answer
If you need units in three weeks, or you are ordering four windows, or the programme cannot absorb a missed sailing, buy domestically. The freight leg is the whole difference and no supplier can talk it away.
Importing earns its cost on whole-project orders where the sizes are custom anyway and the schedule was always going to be months. That is where the 30–50% shows up as real margin rather than as a risk you absorbed.
The question to ask any importer is not about quality — it is: what is your CPD number, who holds the warranty, and what happens if a unit arrives damaged. If those answers are vague, the price difference is not a saving.
Is imported quality worse?
Quality is a question about the individual factory, not the country. What you can verify is certification: ask for the NFRC CPD number and look it up in the public directory yourself.
How much does freight really add?
About 35 days to the U.S. West Coast and about 45 to the East Coast, plus customs and drayage. That is the honest schedule cost of importing.
What happens if a unit arrives damaged?
Note it on the delivery receipt, photograph it, and report it within five business days. A replacement carries the freight leg again, which is why the inspection at delivery matters.
Want the honest read on your project?
Send us the schedule and the programme dates and we will tell you if importing makes sense here.
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