Frequently asked
questions.

Windows Guy is Kai (Kajetan) Adamek, an independent European window agent based in Wroclaw, Poland, trading as Windows Guy sp. z o.o. I source aluminum, wood, aluminum-clad wood and uPVC windows and doors for US projects, compare suitable systems for each schedule, and coordinate production and DDP delivery to the job site myself - one person from first call to delivery.

Neither. I am an independent agent: I buy from European window manufacturers and specify the profile systems their windows are built on - Reynaers, Aluprof, Aliplast and Cortizo in aluminum, Aluplast in uPVC, plus timber and aluminum-clad timber lines. I am not a dealer for any brand, so the same schedule is often priced on 2-3 systems and you see the options side by side.

Three things. I am manufacturer-independent, so I compare 2-3 systems for your schedule instead of selling one catalog. I am fast: a budget estimate the same or next working day and shop drawings 2-3 working days after review. And you work with one person from specification to delivery, backed by a 10-year written warranty from Windows Guy sp. z o.o.

My clients are mostly general contractors, custom home builders, architects and developers on US projects, plus homeowners building something exceptional. Typical window packages run from about $45,000 to $200,000 and up - luxury custom homes, high-end spec homes, and some multifamily or commercial work that calls for premium European windows and doors.

I work on projects anywhere in the US, with projects in 10+ US states from specification to installation so far. Every order ships DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) to your job site, so distance from a port does not change how the order works. Current focus areas include the East Coast, Texas and California.

I source European windows and doors in four materials - aluminum, wood, aluminum-clad wood and uPVC: tilt and turn and casement windows, fixed and hidden sash units, steel-look windows, lift-and-slide, multi-slide and bifold doors, pivot and entrance doors, and curtain wall. Aluminum systems include Reynaers, Aluprof, Aliplast and Cortizo; uPVC is Aluplast; timber lines are sold under house names.

No. I supply four materials: aluminum, wood, aluminum-clad wood and uPVC. Aluminum suits slim sightlines and large spans, uPVC gives the best price for its thermal performance, and wood or aluminum-clad wood brings timber inside - Timber Classic, Timber Estate, Clad Flush, Clad Hidden Sash, Clad Passive and Timber Lift & Slide. Everything runs through one point of contact.

European windows come with double or triple glazing (triple is standard for high-performance builds), tempered safety glass, laminated security glass, acoustic glass for urban locations, solar-control coatings, and high-altitude units for mountain sites. I match the glass package to your climate zone, the code targets on your plans, and how each elevation is used.

Typical whole-window U-factors for the European systems I quote are about 0.22 to 0.32 with double glazing and 0.13 to 0.19 with triple glazing - uPVC at the low end, aluminum slightly higher. The best Passive House-grade systems reach about 0.11 to 0.14. Exact values depend on the system, size and glass package, and the tested figures come with the quote.

Yes. European systems regularly produce large-format glazing - floor-to-ceiling lift-and-slide doors, ultra-slim minimal sliders such as Reynaers Hi-Finity, and large fixed lights. Maximum feasible sizes are confirmed during the engineering review, based on wind load, glass weight and structural requirements, so I flag the limits on your schedule before anything is priced as final.

Aluminum comes in the full RAL palette, textured matte powder coats, anodized and steel-look finishes, with different colors inside and outside if you want them. uPVC adds woodgrain decors, and wood takes transparent stains or opaque colors, with an aluminum exterior color chosen separately on clad windows. Coating standards and terms are confirmed for each order.

Sightline is the visible frame width you see when looking at a closed window - the less frame, the more glass. European systems range from ultra-slim to standard: Reynaers Hi-Finity sliding offers a 1.4" (35 mm) interlock, SlimLine 38 about 2.2" (57 mm), MasterPatio lift-and-slide 2.0" (50 mm), and MasterLine 8 about 3.8" (97 mm). I confirm sightlines during the project review.

Yes - simulated divided lights are available on the aluminum, uPVC and wood systems I source. SDL bars are bonded to the exterior and interior glass faces with a spacer bar between the panes, so you get an authentic muntin look while keeping the insulated glass intact. Grid patterns are customized to match your architectural style.

The biggest difference: custom is standard in Europe. European windows are made to order for each opening without extreme upcharges. They also bring wide thermal breaks and triple-glazing-ready frames, thicker profile walls, multi-point locking hardware, and tilt and turn operation as a standard function rather than a premium option.

Yes. Selected European systems are made with an integrated nailing fin for US wood-frame construction - the uPVC outswing casement and some aluminum lines - and install like a domestic fin window. Systems without a fin go in on adjustable brackets, the standard European method, which works in wood frame, masonry and retrofit openings alike.

Yes. Alongside the inward-opening tilt-and-turn standard, the system providers I work with build dedicated outswing casement lines for markets that expect them - in uPVC and in aluminum. Those versions use a folding crank operator at the sill and a perimeter locking lever, so operation matches what a US homeowner already knows, and the sash never swings into the room.

It depends on which way the sash swings. On inward-opening tilt-and-turn the screen mounts on the exterior side of the frame. On an outward-opening casement the screen mounts on the interior, exactly like a US casement - which is the main reason to choose outswing when the interior design depends on screens, blinds, or roller shades.

On some systems, yes. NFRC certification depends on the specific system and glazing package rather than on the country of production - certain lines can be supplied as NFRC-rated, labeled units for permit submittals, while others are tested to European standards only. Flag the requirement before quoting and I will only put forward systems that can produce the label.

Tilt-and-turn combines two opening modes: tilt moves the top inward for ventilation, while turn swings the sash inward for cleaning and a wider opening. Ordinary tilt mode is not child protection, intrusion protection or a weather-sealed position. Close and lock the sash for rain or when the room is unattended; confirm the hardware sequence for your unit.

European high-performance windows beat most US energy codes comfortably. Code asks for a U-factor of about 0.30 or lower in most mixed and cold climate zones, while European double glazing typically lands at 0.22 to 0.30 and triple glazing at 0.13 to 0.19. That margin is why European systems suit cold, demanding and Passive House projects.

Buying through me removes the distributor layer. I price your schedule directly with European manufacturers across several systems and send a DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) quote that includes production, ocean freight, US import duty and customs clearance - one transparent landed cost to your job site, with no surprises at the port.

Send me your window schedule (PDF, Excel, or architectural drawings). I'll return a budget estimate the same or next working day. Then we schedule a video call to review scope, systems, and finishes. After that review, I deliver shop drawings within 2-3 working days. The quote includes a fully transparent breakdown of all costs.

A window schedule is ideal. I'll also need: project location (for climate, wind zone, and shipping), wall type (wood frame vs. masonry), target thermal performance, preferred operation types (tilt-and-turn, sliding, fixed), and any code requirements. If you don't have a full schedule yet, I can provide budget estimates from preliminary dimensions.

A budget estimate comes back the same or next working day after you send the schedule. We then review it on a video call, and shop drawings follow 2-3 working days after that review. The same schedule is often priced on 2-3 systems, so you see the options side by side rather than one take-it-or-leave-it number.

Budget estimate: same or next working day with a usable schedule. Shop drawings: typically 2-3 working days after review. For standard uPVC and aluminum orders, plan around 9-16 weeks from approved shop drawings to on-site delivery, including production, freight and customs. Wood, aluminum-clad wood and special configurations have order-specific schedules. Time spent reviewing an estimate or revising drawings comes before that clock starts.

Standard terms are a 50% deposit when the order is placed and 50% before shipping, paid by bank wire in USD. On some orders a discount is available for paying 100% up front - if it applies, it is shown in the quote. The payment schedule is set out in the written order before production starts.

Yes. For large developments I coordinate split production and staggered shipping, aligned with your construction schedule and the storage space on site. Each phase gets its own shop drawings and delivery date, so early floors can be glazed while later phases are still being finalized.

Yes - end to end. My standard is DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) to your job site anywhere in the US. I coordinate ocean freight, customs clearance, import duties and last-mile trucking, and you receive one landed cost in the quote. Your side is preparing the openings and receiving the truck on the confirmed date.

European windows ship in heavy-duty, custom-built wooden A-frame crates engineered for ocean transport. Units are secured, padded and strapped so nothing moves in transit, whether they ride a shared or a dedicated container. I also plan container loading (20 ft or 40 ft) to keep freight costs down.

All international shipments are fully insured. Damage is rare thanks to robust crating, but if it happens, replacement parts or glass units are ordered immediately to keep your project on schedule. Note any damage on the delivery receipt and send photos - I manage the entire claims process from there.

Under DDP terms, US import tariffs, duties and customs clearance are handled by me and my logistics partners, and the customs broker confirms the classification for each order. The landed cost in your quote is the cost you pay - no hidden fees, no surprises at the port.

Installation is done by your local team - your general contractor, window installer or glazier. I am the sourcing agent, not the installer, and I support the crew with detailed shop drawings, technical documentation and remote help by video call, phone and email, so the install goes smoothly even if they have not worked with European systems before.

I provide digital installation manuals, project-specific shop drawings and direct remote support by video call. European tilt-and-turn systems are intuitive once you understand the hardware, and most crews adapt within the first few units. Fin-mounted units install like domestic fin windows; bracket-mounted units follow the installation guide.

Every order carries a 10-year written warranty issued by Windows Guy sp. z o.o., on all four materials. It covers frames, insulating glass seal failure at any unit size with no square-footage cap, hardware, and standard factory finishes. Anodized and specialty finishes run 5 years, motorized operators and sensors 2 years. Full terms and claims are at windowsguy.com/warranty.

A broken glass unit is replaced to the original specification. I keep records of every project's glass build-ups and dimensions, so the manufacturer can produce an exact match, and the replacement ships directly to your site. Seal failure, and stress cracks traced to a manufacturing defect, are covered by the 10-year warranty; other breakage is handled as a replacement order.

European windows need little maintenance: periodic cleaning, hardware lubrication and gasket inspection cover aluminum and uPVC. Wood and aluminum-clad wood also need the interior timber finish inspected and renewed when it wears, and clad units need their drainage slots kept clear. I provide the care documentation and stay available for support for the life of the building.