FENESTRATION CANADA
Urban Windows & Doors provides Canadian
made products for northern Ontario markets
CANADA'S Canadian Design and Construction Report special feature
From its two locations in Sudbury and Timmins, Urban
Windows & Doors provides Canadian made product,
backed by its own installation and service guarantees to
renovation and custom build home projects throughout the
region. Company president Claude Paquette says he and his
partner Don Simoneau were disillusioned when many sup-
pliers began turning to China for product. They decided to
start their own company so they could provide clients with
the quality and options they knew the Canadian market-
place demanded. “We started from the beginning with the
Armor brand and have never strayed from that.”
He says through Armor they are able to offer clients a
wide variety of colours, styles and options, as well as
renowned custom products. “We often get referrals from
contractors to supply and install custom doors and win-
dows,” Paquette said. “Our team is experienced in their in-
stallation, and we can back up the install with follow-up
service as required.”
Starting with the Sudbury location in 2006, from which
the company sells about $4 million worth of product annu-
ally from its 6,000 sq. ft. showroom, the partners expanded
to Timmins.

Paquette says, as unusual as it sounds, at the time triple
pane windows were not offered to this northern market-
place, because of the costs and challenges of transport.

“In a climate that clearly demands it, homeowners were
not offered the product they needed.”
The other challenge Urban Windows is able to address
is the short installation season. Paquette says the long win-
ter is definitely a slow time in the area and his regular two
crews are all that is needed. When the spring season
opens, however, he says there can be 600 windows sitting
waiting to be installed. In order to ensure clients get what
they need, when they need it, he will often divert some of
the seven crews based in Sudbury to help get the work
done. A specific protocol for installation ensures the fin-
ished product is consistent at every location and regardless
of which team is completing the work.

While he says consumers today are definitely ahead of
the game in terms of knowing what they want, and what
they may need thanks to internet resources, he says his
team still takes an active role in helping clients make the
right decision. “Visiting the home, you may discover that
there is a northern or southern exposure the client hasn’t
considered, or something about the home itself that is
going to make the installation tricky that the client didn’t re-
alize. Helping make sure they select the right product, in-
stalling it to be sure it is done right, and then following up
as needed with our own service, is key in keeping cus-
tomers satisfied.”
He says many window and door companies have to rely
on manufacturers providing follow-up customer service.

However, Urban Windows has an agreement with its sup-
pliers that allows it to provide service within a much shorter
timeframe. “Not only is the customer then dealing with someone
they know, but they are also not waiting weeks or even
months for someone from Toronto to call on them for serv-
ice issues. We’re here and we know what they need.”
For more information, visit
http://www.urbanwindows.ca. The Canadian Design and Construction Report — June 2017 – 29