Your Complete Guide to Custom Windows

Custom Windows: Costs, Options, and Unique Shapes

Discover custom windows designed to fit non-standard openings, offering unique shapes and styles like ellipses, circles, hexagons, arches, and more. Delve into the details of custom window costs, sizes, options, and manufacturers with our comprehensive guide, and connect with pre-vetted custom window installers in your area for a seamless and hassle-free upgrade to your home.

Benefits of Custom Windows

Homeowners often purchase custom windows to add accent or flair to certain parts of their homes. These windows also bring additional sunlight into parts of the home that have odd or abstract wall angles such as attics and nook spaces.

The many unique geometric designs of custom window shapes provide dynamic aesthetics and increased functionality to dull spaces. Eyebrow windows, for instance, are narrow ellipses that add dramatic flair to dormers, entryways, sloped roofs and similar spaces. Parallelogram windows, meanwhile, can bring additional sunlight into the exterior walls around curved staircases. Arched windows are common accent additions above traditional picture windows, while half or full circles are perfect for lighting up reading and breakfast nooks.

Custom windows can bring unparalleled energy efficiency and style versus builder-grade windows. They also can boost your home’s overall curb appeal, which may help command a higher price during resale. Similarly, highly efficient custom-made windows can be another strong selling point for your residence.

How Much Does a Custom Window Cost?

In the table below we’ve provided some rough numbers regarding the cost of custom windows; however, many different factors come into play that can affect window pricing for your home. The size and shape of the window, frame materials, difficulty of installation, contractor labor costs, gas fill and window pane treatment all affect custom window cost. Discuss these various options with a licensed window installation contractor to determine which options best meet your needs and fit within your custom window replacement budget.

As a rough rule of thumb, expect custom replacement windows to cost anywhere from 25–75% higher than off-the-shelf standard windows. What you spend upfront will likely be returned in the form of lower energy bills and increased pricing during resale.

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Energy Efficient Upgrades for Custom Windows

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, windows are responsible for 25–30 % of seasonal energy use due to heat loss and gain in your home. That means you lose a quarter or more of the heat generated from your furnace in the winter and cool air from the AC in the summertime through your windows (coupled with hot or cold air seeping in from the outside through the window).

Energy efficient windows can reduce energy costs by reducing heat loss and gain through your windows. There are a wide range of energy efficient upgrades for your custom windows, and the best type of window may vary from one region to the next. A licensed custom window installer can help you settle on the options that are best for your climate, but here’s some general considerations.

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Gas-Filled Windows

These windows feature increased energy efficiency in both hot and cold climates due to a layer of krypton, argon or xenon gas that’s sandwiched between the window panes. Expect to pay at least $250 additional per window, more for larger-sized windows.

Dual- or Triple-Pane Glass

Single-pane windows are notorious for their lackluster performance when it comes to energy efficiency. Double and triple pane windows reduce heat loss and gain due to thermal transfer. Combined with a layer of the noble gasses mentioned above and you have some of the most energy-efficient windows you can buy. The average cost for triple pane windows runs from $550 to $1,100.

Insulating Glass

Using tempered, laminated, tinted and low-emissivity glass can significantly boost your windows’ efficiency. Additional costs may run between $200 to $500 per window versus standard glass.

Installation

The best window glass in the world won’t mean a thing if your windows aren’t properly installed and correctly sealed. This is where the services of a professional custom window installer will be well worth the money you spend versus trying to do the job yourself.

Window Frame

Depending on where you live, the materials used to construct the window frame may lead to unnecessary heat transfer. Aluminum windows, for instance, transfer cold much more than alternate materials such as wood, fiberglass or vinyl. Wood is the most expensive, but you can expect to earn up to two-thirds of your return on investment during resale.

Energy Star Certified

Choosing custom windows with the Energy Star label inherently provided better energy efficiency versus standard windows that don’t meet increased performance standards required for this coveted label.

As noted above, the costs for these energy efficient upgrades will vary depending on which options you choose and the size and type of your custom replacement windows. It can be costly to install custom replacement windows in your home, but there’s good news about the final bill — homeowners can recoup as much as 70% of their investment in custom windows. Increased curb appeal and greater energy efficiency are additional benefits.

Custom Storm Windows

Custom storm windows are inserts that mount directly over the interior or exterior of your existing window panes. These inserts provide additional impact protection from hail damage, as well as increased privacy and noise dampening. They aren’t used much in more modern homes because new windows are made from impact-resistant tempered glass.

Custom storm windows are different from hurricane windows (also called impact-resistant). Hurricane windows have heavy duty window frames and fixed impact-resistant glass. Storm windows are thick glass inserts set into wood, aluminum or vinyl frames that cover your existing window panes. They can be removed during more temperate weather or remain in place. Some windows can be opened to let refreshing air into your home.

Custom storm windows typically cost between $175 and $320 per window.

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Custom Window Sizes

Sizes vary from elegant geometric patterns that grace walls, dormers, ceilings, domes, and entryways, to custom-made specialty windows designed to fit unique architectural styles and shapes.

Custom fixed replacement windows could include unique operating functions such as dual French casement windows that provide unmatched ventilation and open views to hopper and tilt-and-turn windows where the glass turns 180 degrees from the sash. They also could include unique frame materials and grille profiles. Special shape windows, meanwhile, are usually built to order so they perfectly match the framing of your home.

A few of the most common window sizes are as follows:

• Sliding windows: 36–84 inches wide by 24–60 inches tall
• Bay windows: 42–120 inches wide by 36–78 inches tall
• Casement windows: 14–36 inches wide by 32–78 inches tall
• Awning windows: 24–46 inches wide by 20–92 inches tall
• Picture windows: 24–96 inches wide by 12–96 inches tall

Different shaped custom windows can have different heights. Custom-made picture windows can be among the largest windows in your home, which custom geometric shapes tend to be much smaller since they are accent windows.

You can measure the size for your custom replacement windows yourself or leave that part of the job to a professional licensed window installer.

Popular Custom Window Brands

One of the hardest parts of ordering custom replacement windows is deciding on which brand to purchase.

In order to help sift through the noise, Modernize created a complete guide to the top window brands to help homeowners learn more about the unique features and options offered by the country’s leading window manufacturers. In this guide, we discuss and evaluate important window features such as energy efficiency, custom window cost, designs, and other important qualities to help you make more informed decisions when ordering your specialty windows.

As always, be sure to compare pricing and features from at least three different custom window manufacturers to make sure you find the best custom windows for your budget and needs.

How to Find a Local Window Contractor

One of the most important aspects of your custom replacement window project is making sure the job gets done correctly. Custom windows are a big investment — don’t skimp on installation by hiring the neighborhood handyman.

Modernize can help with that too. Use our handy window guide to connect with the best window replacement professionals in your area. We’ve made it easy to get quotes from multiple window contractors so you can plan out your window project and navigate the hiring process with ease.

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