When building or renovating your home, there always comes a time to choose a window and door retailer. But, given the same product quality, how do you choose the right window and door retailer, the one you can trust in all phases of fabrication, delivery and installation? This article provides some elements to pay attention to.
How to find window and door suppliers, and why it is important to choose well
Windows or patio doors, entrance doors, shading systems such as shutters or shutters: these are all significant elements when building or renovating a home and, as such, need very careful consideration.
External protection, thermic insulation and soundproofing, light modulation, the aesthetic impact of the curtain wall… it is therefore a good idea to take the time to find out what products are available and which ones are best suited to your needs. To understand this, one often relies on the manufacturers and/or retailers of such elements who, thanks to their experience in the sector, know how to analyse the situation well and recommend the products whose features are best suited to the technical and aesthetic requirements of one’s home.
Consulting window and door experts is important for two main reasons:
- you can rely on someone who is perfectly familiar with the industry, the existing products, the latest technology available, and who can apply all this knowledge to the specific, and always different, situation that each individual customer brings;
- we guarantee an experience that is as seamless and stress-free as possible, from start to finish, i.e. from the first knowledge of the available products to installation and after-sales service.
It goes without saying, therefore, that understanding how to choose the best window and door dealer is very important in order to avoid a whole series of potential future headaches.
10 steps for choosing the right window and door manufacturers
If the construction or renovation project of the house is entrusted to a company that takes care of it in its entirety, there is often no need to even figure out how to find a window and door supplier. In other cases, however, this search is carried out independently and, at this point, some attention needs to be paid. In this situation, one often tends to choose the dealer who is closest and most convenient to reach, or simply the one who offers the most advantageous quote. These are certainly important elements, but not sufficient to ensure that you have made the right choice.
Here is what you can do to find the right window and door manufacturer and retailer for your needs.
In-depth search
It is worth carrying out an extensive search to find the window and door retailer that perfectly matches the requirements of your home. You can start with an online search, looking initially in your geographical area and then, if required, extending the search to wider regions. Sometimes a more distant retailer may be the most suitable: delivery distances may be a bit longer, but this is definitely worth it if you find the right windows and doors that can last up to 50 years (in the case of the highest quality aluminium windows and doors).
Another research method, not always infallible but certainly of great value, is to ask family, friends or neighbours who have recently installed or replaced windows and doors for advice. If they have enjoyed all the steps and appreciate the quality of the products they have chosen, it can be interesting to go and learn more about the dealer they had selected. Indeed, direct testimonials often provide valuable information on the overall experience of buying, waiting, delivery and installation.
METRA Building is a manufacturer of state-of-the-art aluminium windows and doors, as well as entrance and internal doors, balconies and shutters. Made in full respect of the material and its qualities, all METRA Building products are manufactured in the Brescia area, but the company is supported by a network of over 1,000 trusted dealers in a wide area of central-northern Italy.
A convenient internal search engine helps potential customers find their nearest dealer.
Industry experience and product expertise
After a thorough search, you will almost certainly come up with a list of names. But, among these, how do you choose the best window and door dealer?
Having reached this point, there are several elements that must be taken into consideration: the first certainly concerns the concepts of competence and experience.
Experience is mainly derived from years of activity within the industry, but also from the type of collaborations the company has established and the type of customers it has satisfied over the years. From this point of view, it is useful to find dealers who make their portfolio of work available to potential customers, so that it is easy to see if these companies have worked on projects similar to the one, we are interested in.
METRA Building has been in the business of manufacturing and installing aluminium windows and doors for over 60 years and, in the course of its extensive experience, has had the opportunity to work on very different projects. Not only Paris, New York and Dubai, but also projects closer to home; not only skyscrapers and prestigious public buildings, but also villas and condominiums of various levels. On its site, METRA Building offers the possibility to view a rich portfolio of already closed projects, allowing the potential new customer to observe the final result in terms of casement windows, sliding windows, shutters, internal doors, entrance doors and much more. Lastly, METRA Building’s long experience and deep-rooted know-how allow for both catalogue products and entirely customised products to meet the most meticulous dimensions.
Guarantee of window and door installation
As explained extensively in this article, the installation of windows and doors is just as important as the quality of the materials and production of the window and door itself. It is pointless, in fact, to choose windows and doors of the highest quality and equipped with the most technological details, if the frames themselves are then installed poorly.
The installation is fundamental because, when the window frame is anchored to the wall, everything must be carried out impeccably. If this is not the case, in the long run it could lead to very serious problems, such as the window and door sagging, the lack of thermic insulation of the house or the presence of water infiltrations that, causing mould and condensation, could have negative repercussions on the health of the tenants.
When searching for the best window and door retailer, therefore, one must ensure that there are clear and detailed guarantees regarding installation. METRA Building makes use of Posa Clima, the most widespread and appreciated installation certification in Italy. It guarantees maximum quality and reliability in the installation of windows and doors, naturally in compliance with all applicable laws.
Presence of certifications proving quality, regularity and competence
Speaking of laws: the best window and door dealers are those who possess a series of certifications that guarantee the highest quality of products and processes. These certifications are issued by recognised organisations in the industry and guarantee compliance with quality and safety regulations.
For METRA Building and for what should be the best window and door manufacturers and retailers, being in possession of a certification is a guarantee of excellence and reliability. This is true because certifications are obtained only after passing strict controls and constant checks at each stage of machining. METRA Building products are certified by major national and international bodies in terms of production processes, quality of materials, company skills and respect for environmental policies.
Details when assessing quality and reliability
The professionalism of a window and door manufacturer can be seen above all in the details, which are the clearest reflection of how committed the company is to its customers and their needs. In the search for the best window and door retailer, therefore, it is worth dwelling on these details, i.e. on the care with which the company manages the production process, product installation, pre- and post-sales assistance, and the relationship with the customer starting from the initial consultation. For example, small details such as measurement accuracy or cleanliness can make all the difference in achieving an overall positive experience.
Other important details can be found in the attention the window and door retailers pay to communication with the customer, e.g. already on its website. Providing precise and detailed information on their products and accessories, as well as on how they are produced and how they work together, is in itself an excellent way to instil trust in the customer.
Real attention to environmental issues
In today’s times, environmental awareness is undoubtedly a very important criterion when choosing products and services. This is all the more true when entering the field of building industry, a sector that is known to have a discrete environmental impact. It therefore becomes necessary to choose window and door dealers who offer windows and doors made of sustainable materials and through eco-friendly production processes. In addition to this, choosing environmentally friendly windows and doors also helps to improve the efficient energy use of one’s home, resulting in cost savings in energy costs.
From an environmental point of view, a company like METRA Building is the best possible choice. First of all, because METRA Building products, such as windows, patio doors and shutters, are made entirely of aluminium. And, of all the materials commonly used for these elements – aluminium, PVC and wood – the former is by far the most sustainable material. In fact, it can be recycled entirely and for an infinite number of times, always maintaining its extraordinary qualities.
Regardless of the sustainability of its preferred material, METRA Building is itself a company that cares deeply about the environment. In fact, all production processes and beyond are geared towards reducing their impact on the environment as much as possible. On this page you can learn more about the concept of sustainability for METRA Building.
Dedicated customer care
The best window and door retailer is not the one who simply sells his products. His commitment to serving the customer to the best of his ability and at every stage of the sale, from the very first visit to the after-sales service, which must be of the highest quality and reliability, is very important.
In the initial search phase, the right window and door retailer from this point of view is found when their representatives are available to answer all the customer’s initial questions. They must also be able to carefully and clearly explain the processes that can be implemented to solve any problems that may arise before, during and after window and door installation.
Showroom presence and availability for references
Another very effective way to find the best window supplier is to be able to touch and see first-hand the products in which you might be interested for your home. A dealer who has showrooms, where you can go to experience the products first-hand, therefore has additional advantages. Going to a showroom also means discussing your needs and preferences directly with qualified and experienced staff. Here, it is also possible and advisable to ask for references from past customers to assess their degree of satisfaction.
METRA Building is supported by more than 50 showrooms throughout northern Italy, allowing potential customers to freely observe, touch and ask questions.
Maximum transparency of production and installation quotations
To be among the best window and door dealers, a company must also be able to draw up very clear quotations, so that communication with the customer is more effective and every detail is clarified. The quotations must also be transparent, without any hidden costs that could then cause disappointment and a sense of mistrust in the future customer.
Detailed contracts for greater trust
At the end of the search and having taken into account all the elements seen so far, you will end up choosing the best window dealer, the one best suited to your needs. The final point is equally important: once the quotation has been accepted, it is crucial to ensure that a clear and detailed contract is concluded. The contract must contain all the points discussed and all the terms of the agreement: costs, delivery times, products and work included, guarantees…
The contract is important because it will protect the customer in case problems arise during the delivery and installation of the windows and doors, but also after installation.
How to choose the best window and door manufacturer and retailer: why METRA Building
Choosing the best window and door retailer may seem easy at first, but, as the article makes clear, there are actually many and very important elements to consider. Fortunately, the web comes to our aid: there are many companies that have websites complete with all the information needed to make the right choice. This information can and must then be supported by other actions: asking for recommendations from acquaintances or references from previous customers, visiting showrooms, going into the details that are most dear to us, making sure that contracts and estimates are drawn up seriously.
From all these points of view, METRA Building presents itself as the wisest choice when looking for window and door manufacturers and dealers in northern Italy. Choosing the right window and door retailer can make the difference between a simple transaction and a satisfying, long-lasting experience that makes your home more beautiful, safe, comfortable and sustainable. It is certainly not a small difference, and METRA Building guarantees this through its expertise and continuous commitment to perfecting products and processes.