Frequently asked questions

Our windows and doors are made to order in Europe and sold under the AVA name. Ava Window, based in Novi, Michigan, has 7 years in the US market and 18 years in Europe. We handle the shipping, customs and delivery, and connect you with trusted partners for installation.

We focus on supply and logistics, and we connect you with trusted partners for professional installation. We also train installation teams, so European tilt and turn windows are set, sealed and adjusted the right way. For new construction, your builder or contractor can install them, and we support them from the order to the installed opening.

Our office is in Novi, Michigan, and we serve Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Livingston and Washtenaw counties, including Northville, Farmington Hills, Livonia, Troy, Ann Arbor and the Detroit area. We deliver further afield too: our trucks bring orders from the warehouse to your door or job site, and orders over $35,000 ship free within 1,500 miles of Michigan.

The biggest visible difference is how they open. European windows commonly use a tilt and turn sash that swings in like a door or tips in at the top, instead of sliding up and down. The frames are multi-chamber uPVC with gaskets all around the sash, and every window is made to the size of your opening.

The three uPVC lines step up in profile depth, chambers and sealing. Practical 70 is 2-3/4" deep with 5 chambers and a double seal. Comfort 76 Plus is 3" deep with 6 chambers and a center seal. Performant 88 is 3-7/16" deep with 7 chambers, a center seal and triple glazing as standard. U-factors: Practical 70 0.17 and Performant 88 0.13 Btu/h·ft²·°F (manufacturer values); Comfort 76 Plus 0.17 with triple glazing and 0.26 with double, rated to NFRC 100.

uPVC stands for unplasticized polyvinyl chloride, the rigid form of the material Americans call vinyl. The difference is in the profile: our frames are deeper, with 5 to 7 internal chambers, steel reinforcement and two or three gaskets, and every window is made to measure. The profile is fully recyclable and comes in 50 finishes, so you are not limited to white.

A tilt and turn window opens two ways from one handle. Turn the handle to one position and the whole sash swings into the room on side hinges, so you can clean the outside glass from inside. Turn it to another position and the top tips inward for safe ventilation, even when it rains.

Our uPVC windows can be side-hung (turn), bottom-hung (tilt), tilt and turn, tilt and slide or folding, and any pane can be fixed. Not every type is offered on every line or size. The configurator shows the options for each window, or tell us how you want it to work and we will recommend one.

uPVC windows come in 50 finishes: smooth solid colors, matte, woodgrain and metallic. The color can go on the outside only, with white inside, or on both sides. On request the outside can be clad in aluminum for a wide choice of RAL colors. Aluminum windows come in RAL colors and wood finishes.

uPVC is our core range, in three lines, and gives the best insulation for the price. Choose aluminum (Cortizo COR 60, 70 or 80 Hidden Sash) when you want slim metal frames, very large glass or a modern look. Tell us about your home and we will recommend one.

Yes: the Versatile 70 Sliding Door, the Select 76, the Robust 76 and Robust 88 lift & slide doors in uPVC, and aluminum lift-and-slide and minimal-frame sliding doors. uPVC sliding door U-factors run from 0.12 to 0.24 Btu/h·ft²·°F depending on the system.

The maximum sash height is 98-7/16" on our uPVC windows. Maximum width depends on the line and the opening type. For very wide openings, a sliding or lift-and-slide door is a better fit than a single window. Send your opening sizes and we will tell you what fits.

Yes. Our uPVC frames are 2-3/4" to 3-7/16" deep, less than the 3-1/2" of a 2x4 stud wall, so they fit both 2x4 and 2x6 construction. In replacement work we measure every opening and fit the window to it; in new construction we work from your plans and coordinate the details with your builder.

Performant 88 meets passive house standards: 7 chambers, a center seal, triple glazing as standard and a U-factor of 0.13 Btu/h·ft²·°F. For a certified project, tell us the requirements and we will confirm the glazing and installation details for each opening.

The maximum sash size on Performant 88 is 39-3/8" x 98-7/16" (1000 x 2500 mm), the value from the manufacturer's product sheet. A larger opening is split into several sashes or combined with fixed lights. Send your opening sizes and we check each sash when we quote.

U-factor measures how fast heat passes through a window. A lower number means less heat loss. Comfort 76 Plus windows are rated to NFRC 100 by an accredited lab: 0.17 Btu/h·ft²·°F with triple glazing and 0.26 with double glazing (0.25 to 0.27 depending on the glass). Practical 70 is rated 0.17 and Performant 88 0.13 Btu/h·ft²·°F; those are manufacturer values from the product sheets. Every system page lists its value.

Not always. Comfort 76 Plus takes double or triple glazing, and Performant 88 comes with triple glazing as standard. Triple glazing adds a pane and weight, and the right choice depends on the room, the exposure and your budget. Tell us about the project and we will recommend glazing for each opening.

Practical 70, Comfort 76 Plus and Performant 88 windows reach RC3, the European burglar-resistance class, with security hardware and laminated glass. The Practical 70, Elegant 76 Premium and Performant 88 Premium entry doors are declared RC3, with multi-point locking. Sliding doors lock at several points.

The Comfort 76 Plus tilt and turn window has NFRC 100/200 ratings for U-factor, solar heat gain and visible transmittance from an accredited lab (Intertek simulation, 2025); its NFRC certification renewal is in progress. Our other windows and doors show the manufacturer's product-sheet values, not NFRC ratings. For NAFS (AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440) our windows are designed for compliance, but we have no NAFS test report to show yet. If your project or inspector needs a specific rating, tell us in your request and we will confirm what documentation is available.

No. The insulated glass unit is held in the sash by glazing beads, so it can be replaced on its own, without removing the frame. Send us the size and a photo and we will order the matching glass.

It depends on the size, the line, the glazing, the color and the opening type. You can price a window yourself with the online configurator, which shows a live price as you choose. Our prices include transport from Europe to the US, brokerage and customs duties. For a full project, send us your openings and we will put a written quote together.

Standard sizes in stock at our Michigan warehouse ship within 48 hours of your order. Custom windows take 6 to 10 weeks: 2 to 4 weeks of production in Europe, then 4 to 6 weeks by sea. Containers leave Europe every week, and you get a written schedule with your proposal. If you have a deadline, ask for a quote early.

You send a request with photos or plans, and we confirm the openings, line, opening types, glazing and finish. We put the proposal in writing. After you approve it, your order is made in Europe and shipped, and we connect you with a trusted installation partner who installs the windows and adjusts the hardware.

Yes. Our dedicated trucks deliver from the Ava Window warehouse in Michigan to your door or job site. Orders over $35,000 ship free within 1,500 miles of Michigan. We consolidate shipments, so a smaller order travels at a lower cost without filling a whole container, and we take care of the logistics, customs and transport for you.

Yes. Need one more window or a door after your order? Containers leave Europe every week, so an extra unit can ride with the next shipment at a fair price. Ask us and we will quote it.

Every window and door we sell carries the Ava Window limited warranty: 10 years on vinyl frames, 5 years on hardware and 5 years on glass against seal failure and visible obstruction. It transfers to later owners of a residential property; labor for repairs and installation is not covered. The full terms, exclusions and how to file a claim are on our warranty page.

Clean the frames and glass with water and a mild soap, never with abrasive cleaners or solvents. Keep the drainage slots (weep holes) at the bottom of the frame clear: blocked weep holes are not covered by the warranty. Once a year, lubricate the moving hardware and check that the sash closes evenly; if it does not, call us and we will adjust it. Our warranty page has the full care guide.

Yes. Builders, contractors and developers can send a window schedule or plan set. We match each opening to a line and return a written proposal with the system, opening type, glazing and finish for every unit, and we coordinate delivery and installation with your site schedule.

Yes. If you are a dealer, installer, builder or architect who wants to supply or specify AVA windows, send the partner form with your company and location and our office will contact you.

Yes. We offer training for installation teams, so your crews install European windows correctly. Our team gives technical and logistics support from the order to the installed opening.