Five Questions | Marvin Design Gallery by Laurence Smith

The Most Overlooked Selection In Your New Home?

Your windows should feel like part of your home, not just part of the construction.

You'll spend hours choosing cabinets, countertops, flooring, fixtures and colors that reflect your style. Your windows deserve a little attention too. They shape the architecture. Frame your views. Fill the rooms with natural light. They influence how your home looks from the street and how it feels from the inside.

Windows are often one of the biggest decisions homeowners barely know they're making.

Before someone checks that box for you, take a few minutes to understand your options.

Five Questions Worth Asking

They may look similar. But what are my windows actually made of?

A window may look great in the showroom or from the curb but what's underneath the finish matters too.

Wood, fiberglass, aluminum, vinyl and composite materials each have their own characteristics. They can differ in strength, stability, maintenance, appearance and how they respond to years of changing Michigan weather.

Color and style are the fun part. But before you decide, take a minute to understand what you're actually putting in your home.

Look beyond the finish. Ask what's underneath and why it matters.

What choices do I have when it comes to my windows?

Builders often have products they are familiar with and prefer to use. There's nothing wrong with that. But this is your home.

Just like you participate in selecting your cabinets, countertops, flooring and appliances, you should understand your windows and door options too.

Ask what is being proposed, why it was selected, and what options are available.

How will the windows perform over time?

Energy efficiency is important, but there is much more to a great window than an energy rating.

How the material performs, how smoothly the hardware operates, how well does it retain its finishes, the glass, weatherstripping, and overall construction all play a role in how your windows look, feel and perform as the years go by.

After all, you're not choosing windows just for the day you move in. You're choosing them for all the years that come after it.

Think beyond move-in day.

A beautiful window is great. A beautiful window installed well is even better.

Once the siding, trim and drywall go on, most of the installation details are hidden from view.

Proper preparation, fastening, insulation and water management can influence how your windows operate and perform long after construction is complete.

Ask how your windows will be installed. It's better to ask now than years from now.

Great windows should outlast the construction process. So should the support.

Your builder's job eventually comes to an end. Your relationship with your windows doesn't. Years from now, you may need an adjustment, replacement part, maintenance or simply someone who knows what they're looking at.

Ask: Who am I going to call five, ten or twenty years from now?

Choose windows with the future in mind, a great window should come with a relationship that lasts.

We've Learned A Few Things About Windows

Nearly 90 years in the window and door business.
50 years partnering with Marvin.
Thousands of Michigan homes.

We've spent a long time talking about windows and doors with homeowners, builders, architects and designers. We've seen what works, what matters, what homeowners love and the questions people wish they'd asked a little earlier.

And we're happy to share what we've learned.

We're not here to tell you what you have to buy.

We're here to help you understand what you're buying and make choices that are right for your home.

Building or Remodeling? Let's Talk Windows

Already have plans? Bring them in.

Sit down with our team at the Marvin Design Gallery by Laurence Smith. We'll look through your plans with you, talk about your home, your style, your budget and what's important to you.

We'll help you understand the options, ask the right questions and make your window and door selections with confidence.

No pressure. No obligation. Just really good information from people who know windows.

Visit one of our showrooms or schedule a consultation.

Start The Conversation