Custom Windows

Most windows come in standard sizes that fit standard rough openings. Most homes don’t have standard rough openings. New Orleans homes especially, built across four centuries in wood, brick, and concrete block, have openings that are exactly as wide and as tall as the builder made them. Custom windows exist for those situations.

When You Need a Custom Window

Custom windows are the right choice when:

• Your existing opening doesn’t match any standard catalog size
• You need a non-rectangular shape: arch top, round top, trapezoid, circle, or custom polygon
• You’re matching a historic or architecturally distinctive design that requires a specific grid pattern or frame profile
• You’re building new construction with unconventional window placement or sizing
• You need a very large or wide unit that exceeds standard manufacturing limits

Historic Homes and Preservation Requirements

New Orleans has one of the most significant concentrations of historic residential architecture in the United States. Many homes in the Garden District, Uptown, the Marigny, and Mid-City are subject to Historic District Landmark Commission (HDLC) review when exterior elements are changed. Window replacement on these homes requires matching the original divided light pattern, frame profile, and muntins as closely as possible.

We have experience with HDLC submissions and work with window manufacturers who produce historically accurate profiles in wood, aluminum-clad wood, and fiberglass. Getting approval requires documentation, correct product specifications, and sometimes mock-ups. We walk through that process with you.

Simulated Divided Light vs. True Divided Light

True divided light windows have individual glass panes separated by actual wood or aluminum muntins. Simulated divided light (SDL) windows use a single insulated glass unit with grilles applied to the exterior and interior surfaces, with a spacer bar between the panes to simulate the depth of true muntins. For historic applications, SDL with a shadow bar is generally acceptable; true divided light is available for applications where the detail must be exact.

Custom Shapes and Architectural Windows

Arched windows, round windows, and geometric specialty windows are available in fixed and operable configurations. These windows are manufactured to order with your exact rough opening dimensions and shape. Lead time is longer than standard windows, typically 6 to 10 weeks depending on the manufacturer, but the result fits precisely with no field modification needed.

The Custom Window Process

Custom window orders start with a precise field measurement of your rough opening. We document the dimensions, the shape, the wall thickness, and any existing details that need to be matched. We then produce a specification sheet that goes to the manufacturer for pricing and lead time. Once approved, the window is built to those specs and installed as a finished product.

There’s no guesswork, no field cutting, no shimming to hide gaps. A custom window that’s properly measured and manufactured fits the way a window should fit.

Have a window opening that won’t take a standard size? Call (504) 384-8165 or request a free consultation. We handle custom window projects throughout Greater New Orleans and the surrounding area.