As a windows & doors dealer, you need to consider replacement doors, replacement windows, commercial doors and commercial windows for your business. You might even need to branch out and offer custom replacement windows and custom replacement doors. It can all be overwhelming, unless you take advantage of industry information available to help you obtain the competitive knowledge you need.

Utilize a doors and windows industry overview to expand your business and increase your bottom line. Use these tips to get started.

1. Find industry leaders in the commercial door and window industry.

2. Investigate smaller companies with a great reputation.

3. Learn from other custom doors and custom windows dealers through associations.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Meet the industry leading door and window manufacturers

The door and window industry has come a long way since wooden doors and wooden windows were the only options. Industry leading door and window manufacturers provide high quality, energy efficient products made of environmentally friendly products.

I recommend: Pella is an industry leader, offering doors and windows for residential and commercial applications. Businesses nationwide sell Pella products. Another leader in the doors and windows industry is Andersen. They offer a wide variety of doors and windows that are high in quality and environmentally responsible.

Learn about small windows and doors companies that produce high-quality products

You don't have to be one of the largest companies in the nation to be one of the best. Some windows and doors companies are small, but their reputation packs a big punch.

I recommend: Milgard Windows offers a website specifically for dealers to help get you started. Amerimax Building Products has an online form to fill out if you’re interested in becoming a retail dealer for their products.

Find industry associations for doors and windows dealers

Industry associations and home building groups can help you keep up with the changing doors and windows industry. Make plans to attend local and national meetings to network with other members of these associations.

I recommend: Make plans to attend a meeting for the Window and Door Manufacturers Association. As a dealer, you qualify for a professional membership to help you keep up with the changes in the doors and windows industry. The National Association of Home Builders represents more than 235,000 members in the home building and remodeling industry, including window and door manufacturers and dealers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The doors and windows industry is one of the first to push towards energy efficient products. Look into this area as you research items to feature in your business.

Doors and windows create focal points as they get viewed from the roadway. Whether you are building new homes, in the remodeling business or in commercial construction, it’s important to use good quality windows & doors.

Custom windows come in many different types of material such as aluminum frame, wooden frame and vinyl frame. They also come in single-pane, double-pane and insulated. You can also choose the view of a window by special ordering tinted windows, for example. Full-view windows do not have grids or actual panes, thus offering an unobstructed view.

Think about these things when ordering windows & doors:

1: Wooden doors for the interior come in solid wood or hollow-core doors. Hollow-core doors are somewhat cheaper than solid wooden doors.

2: Custom doors normally get made from solid material and can be made to the customer’s width and height specifications. The same holds true for custom windows.

3: Commercial doors usually have metal frames. The manufacturer makes the door out of solid wood or laminated wood. Laminated wood provides extra durability. Manufacturers make commercial windows out of aluminum framing. Most commercial windows are fixed and not operational.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Custom doors and custom windows must provide customer satisfaction

When you order custom doors and custom windows for residential customers, in particular, listen carefully to what they want. Entry and view are crucial factors in custom construction.

I recommend: HomeExpo.com creates custom stained glass doors and inserts to fit cabinet doors as well. See a selection of stained glass designs. Mahogany and knotty alder make beautiful wooden doors. View the ETO Doors nationally televised commercial and browse photos of stock.

Window and door manufacturers win construction industry approval

It's important to compare quality and creative design, especially for high-end home construction.Glass-by-Design is a company that does all work custom built to order. They produce leaded glass bevel panels, doors and leaded stained glass windows.

I recommend: Contact them for information and consultation. They also make insulated glass panels. Commercial doors in varieties such as swinging doors and sliding doors with several locking system options can be seen on a printer-friendly page and you can email photos and info to customers and project leaders.

Replacement windows require real-life options

Replacing windows in a home or office can be expensive. Your customers deserve the best deal you can find.

I recommend: Licensed, bonded and insured window professionals will help you find the best deal in your zip code and provide free window estimates. Request a free in-house estimate on replacement windows and get a free DVD when you contact Thermo-Tite Windows.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Shop around and compare prices and quality carefully. There's a wide range of cost when it comes to doors and windows, both in residential and commercial.

When looking for windows and doors for your business, the type of business you run will determine your needs. Industrial factories and warehouses need window and door manufacturers that provide special features, like extra security and larger access doors. Commercial businesses need door and window distributors that provide a high-quality product that’s appealing to customers in the store.

To find the right options for your business, consider these doors and windows basics options:

1. Look for industrial doors that you can use indoors and outdoors.

2. Find industrial windows that provide extra features.

3. Use commercial doors manufacturers to find appealing doors that still provide the security you need.

4. Research commercial windows options to find the best distributor for your business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find the right industrial replacement doors for your business

Some industrial replacement doors need to be larger than the average commercial doors so you can fit your large cargo into a warehouse. In other industries, fire protection and security are essential.

I recommend: TMI offers light industrial air doors that are great for use indoors and outdoors. The Cookson Company manufactures the Cookson Insulated Fire Door that you can use when you have an opening in a fire wall.

Locate a manufacturer of industrial replacement windows

When you run an industry, you can't use just any replacement windows. Special circumstances in your factory or warehouse mean you need custom windows designed to meet your needs.

I recommend: Noise Barriers offers windows that provide a sound barrier for industries where noise is a factor. If security is a concern, check out the service window for a high security window partition system at U.S. Lift Orlando.

Utilize commercial doors that are appealing and provide security

Commercial doors are sometimes the key to protect the assets in your business. You want your commercial door to appeal to customers, but you also need commercial doors that provide the highest level of security.

I recommend: Overly Door Company provides custom doors that are fireproof and blast proof. Protective Structures offers the same level of security with wooden doors like you would find in a nice home.

Select commercial windows for your storefront

Commercial windows you can use in your store are much like windows you would find in a home. Some have features distinct for commercial businesses, but mostly you want something that's convenient for you to use, appealing to the eye and energy efficient.

I recommend: Allied Window offers wooden windows, steel windows and aluminum windows for your business. Comfort View Products has single hung, double hung and slider windows that you can incorporate in your new or existing building.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ask your commercial door and window manufacturer about energy efficient doors and windows to save your business some extra money.

Purchasing new doors and windows for a building can put a big dent in the bottom line. Ensuring that you purchase the most appropriate doors and windows for your needs is vital to keeping the long term costs minimized.

One way that you can ensure you purchase the right products is to understand all of the terms used in the window and door industry. Features such as kerfs and moisture barriers may leave you with a puzzled look on your face. However, these terms aren't as complicated as they seem.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Casement window

A casement window is a style of window common in historic buildings. Unlike the windows of today, casement windows are hinged on the side, which enables them to swing either inward, outward or both.

I recommend: Buffalo Architecture and History offers a simple explanation of casement windows, including the types of architecture in which these windows are common.

High security doors

A high security door is a door that looks like any door but is made with steel or other heavy, hard to penetrate materials. Some high security doors have special reinforcements near the locks and edges of the doors.

I recommend: WiseGeek offers information about specific characteristics and uses for high security doors.

Kerf

A kerf is the area in which weather stripping is applied inside a door or window. This area is usually cut out of the door frame with a router or saw.

I recommend: K.W. Doors and Windows and All About Windows and Doors offer comprehensive glossaries of window and door terms, including kerf. GreenWood WorkShop offers illustrations to help you find the kerf of a window.

Heat loss caused by infiltration

Heat loss caused by infiltration is the way indoor climates are affected by changes in insulation. This includes drafty doors and windows, opening doors and windows and cracks in frames and sashes of windows and doors.

I recommend: Engineering Tool Box has detailed information on heat loss caused by infiltration, including the formula for determining heat loss caused by infiltration.

Low-emissivity coatings (Low-E)

The terms low-emissivity coatings or Low-E coatings refer to special coatings applied to windows to help block heat from entering a room through the window. This can improve the energy efficiency of a building because heat transfer is minimized.

I recommend: The Encyclopedia of Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living offers in-depth information about low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings.

Moisture barrier, vapor barrier

A moisture barrier, or vapor barrier, is created by inserting a material such as polyurethane sheeting into a window or door to help stop moisture from moving from one space to another.

I recommend: The US Department of Energy website offers information on vapor barriers. You can even find information on installing moisture barriers on this website.