Most window photos show the finished house. This post shows the stage before that: a new custom home in the GTA, framed and wrapped, with our crew setting black aluminum windows and large glass openings into place.
This is the part of a project homeowners rarely see. It is also the part that decides how the windows look, open and seal for the next few decades.
What went into this house
The design calls for a lot of glass, and all of it in slim black aluminum frames:
- Floor-to-ceiling glazing on a two-storey wall at the side of the house, with a second large opening above it.
- Ribbon windows across the second floor: several tall panes in a row, joined by narrow black mullions.
- Large openings at the back, under the covered porch, that open the main floor to the yard.
Aluminum suits a design like this. The frames are strong enough to stay slim on very large panes, so you see more glass and less frame than you would with vinyl. If you are weighing the two, see our aluminum vs. vinyl windows guide.
Why the install matters as much as the window
A premium window installed badly will leak air and water like a cheap one. On a new build we work alongside the framing and wrap, which gives us the chance to get the opening right before any finishes go on.
Level, plumb and square. Large aluminum frames have to sit perfectly level, or sliding panels drag and fixed panes are stressed. In the photo above, the crew is checking the frame with a long level before it is fixed in place.
A sealed opening. Every opening is lined with a self-adhering membrane before the frame goes in. You can see the blue membrane around the openings in these photos. It ties into the house wrap so that water running down the wall is directed out, not in.
One crew from start to finish. Our own installers set every window and door on the job. There is no handoff to a subcontractor, so the people who measured the openings are the ones who install the frames.
Planning windows for a new build
If you are building or planning a custom home, a few things are worth settling early:
- Bring us in at the drawing stage. Very large panes have size and weight limits, and the rough openings need to be framed to match. Knowing the window system before framing avoids costly changes later.
- Decide on frame colour for inside and outside. Black outside with a lighter colour inside is common. Ask about it at the quote stage, not after the order is placed.
- Think about how each opening is used. Some large panes are fixed, others slide or lift. Our guide to planning large glass openings covers the options.
- Allow for lead time. Custom aluminum windows are made to order, so the order needs to be placed well ahead of the date the house is ready for them.
See more
More photos from this house are in the new builds section of our project gallery. We will add photos of the finished house once the exterior is complete.
For the window systems we offer, see our modern aluminum windows page.
Talk to us about your build
Send us your drawings or a window schedule and we will set up a free consultation. Call 647-326-0613 or start on our modern aluminum windows page.