Black aluminum window detail against a white wall

Honest comparison

Crateworks vs Marvin

Marvin and Crateworks both build fenestration that gets specified into premium projects. Marvin is wood, clad-wood, and a 100-year dealer network. Crateworks is NFRC-certified thermally-broken aluminum, sold source-direct. This page lays out the spec parity, where each wins, and which one fits the project.

The honest split

Source-directCrateworksNFRC aluminum, CSA, AAMA 2605
Dealer networkMarvinWood + clad-wood, established
01Frame material
Thermally-broken aluminum (6063-T5 + PA66)Wood, clad-wood, fiberglass; limited aluminum line
02NFRC certification
Yes — casement, tilt-turn, fixed, awning, arc-top, sliding, bifold, entry, swingYes, full line
03Florida HVHZ approval
Miami-Dade NOA #25-0911.01 on awningCoastline product line, dealer-network supplied
04Cold-climate (CSA A440-22)
#80224506 on file (U = 0.236 to 0.387)Yes
05Energy Star
FXC-M-3 on bifold (valid through 2029-07-20)Multiple SKUs
06Finish warranty
AAMA 2605 PVDF, 20-year coatingMarvin proprietary coating
07Acoustic spec
STC 56 per ASTM E90Available on request
08Pricing model
Source-direct. Tariff line itemized.Dealer network. Tariff embedded in dealer margin.
09Rust / coating upkeep
None. Aluminum does not rot or rust.Wood needs finish maintenance; clad-wood reduces but does not eliminate it
10Built to order
Every unit, 13 to 18 week lead timeStock + custom; faster on stock, comparable on custom
11Locked pricing PO to delivery
Yes, written into the quoteDealer-dependent

Where Marvin wins

Marvin's wood and clad-wood aesthetic does not have an aluminum equivalent. The dealer network is dense and warranty service runs through that network, which matters on long-tail parts and field fixes. A regional builder with a 20-year Marvin relationship has real switching cost.

Where Crateworks wins

Source-direct pricing on cert-equivalent aluminum spec. No corrosion or coating upkeep, which matters on coastal and humid projects. Tariff cost is itemized on the quote, not embedded in dealer margin. Pricing is locked from purchase order through delivery in writing. The full cert stack — NFRC, CSA A440-22, AAMA 2605 PVDF, STC 56, Miami-Dade NOA on awning, Energy Star on bifold — is on file and disclosed on every quote.

Send it to the builder

If you have a builder or architect specifying Marvin today, share this page with them and send a project brief. We quote and coordinate directly with trade. Spec parity, cert IDs on every line item, and source-direct pricing. If the project is wood-frame, we will tell you Marvin is the right call.

Common questions

For aluminum-spec projects, yes. Crateworks builds NFRC-certified casement, tilt-turn, fixed, awning, sliding, bifold, entry, and arc-top configurations source-direct, with CSA A440-22 cold-climate and AAMA 2605 20-year finish on file. Awning carries Miami-Dade NOA #25-0911.01 for Florida HVHZ. If your project is spec'd wood or clad-wood, Marvin remains a stronger fit; for thermally-broken aluminum at source-direct pricing, Crateworks is the equivalent line.
Crateworks sells source-direct, with no dealer, distributor, or showroom margin. For an equivalent NFRC-certified aluminum spec, the line item is materially below a regional Marvin dealer quote. Exact figures depend on size, glazing, and configuration. Send the opening sizes and we will quote the specific project rather than guess.
Yes, on the certified configurations: casement, tilt-turn, fixed-picture, awning, arc-top, sliding, bifold, entry, and swing. NFRC IDs are disclosed on every quote. CSA A440-22 #80224506 is on file for cold-climate Canadian projects. AAMA 2605 PVDF finish, 20-year coating. STC 56 acoustic per ASTM E90. Energy Star FXC-M-3 is registered on the bifold (valid through 2029-07-20).
Crateworks builds to order, so the standard lead time on a configured order is in the 13 to 18 week range from purchase order to delivery. Pricing is locked from PO to delivery on every order. If your project needs a stock window in two weeks, a Marvin dealer with regional inventory remains the right call; for a configured order where the spec is set in advance, source-direct lead time and locked pricing are the trade.
Builder territory programs, established dealer network for parts and warranty service, the wood and clad-wood aesthetic that aluminum does not replicate, and a 100-year brand and warranty track record. If the project is wood-frame spec or the GC's relationship with the local Marvin rep is load-bearing, Marvin remains a strong fit. We are aluminum-only and source-direct; that is the trade.