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(910) 378-3835
(910) 378-3835

New Construction Windows

Building a new home in the Cape Fear region means dealing with salt air, humidity, and wind loads that most inland markets never have to think about. Window selection isn’t a cosmetic decision here. 

It’s a structural one, tied directly to the North Carolina Building Code and whatever wind design pressure applies to your lot. 

We work with builders, architects, and homeowners on new build projects from the framing stage through final trim, spec’ing windows that pass inspection the first time and hold up through hurricane season.

Why New Construction Windows Are Different From Replacements

Replacement windows get fitted into an existing rough opening. New construction windows get installed with a nailing fin directly into the framing before siding or brick goes up, which gives us more flexibility on size, style, and flashing details.

That also means there’s zero room for error on the flashing and weather barrier integration. A poorly flashed window in a new build can lead to water intrusion behind the wall assembly, and that problem often doesn’t show up for two or three years.

New Hanover County inspectors check window flashing at the dry in stage. We coordinate directly with your general contractor so the timing works and nothing holds up your framing inspection.

Local Wind and Code Requirements

Coastal New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties fall under high wind design pressure zones.

 Depending on your lot’s distance from the coastline and its exposure category, windows may need a Design Pressure (DP) rating of 40 or higher, and homes within designated wind borne debris regions typically require impact rated glass or approved shutter protection on all openings. 

Your builder’s engineer usually specifies the exact DP rating on the plans, and we match products to that spec rather than guessing.

  • Standard vinyl new construction windows: typically rated DP25 to DP35
  • Impact rated coastal packages: typically rated DP40 to DP50+
  • Wind-borne debris zone: generally within one mile of the coastline, per NC code maps

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Popular Brands for New Builds

We install several manufacturers depending on budget, architectural style, and code zone. Andersen’s 400 Series and Fibrex products show up often in custom coastal homes. Pella’s Lifestyle and Impervia lines get specified when builders want a stiffer fiberglass frame near the water.

Marvin’s Elevate and Essential lines cover a wide range of budgets and come in impact rated configurations. Simonton and Ply Gem (now part of Cornerstone Building Brands) are common on production and semi custom builds where cost control matters as much as performance.

Frame Material Comparison

Material Typical Cost Range (per window, installed) Best Fit
Vinyl $400 – $900 Production and spec homes
Fiberglass $700 – $1,400 Custom coastal builds, impact zones
Wood-clad $900 – $2,000+ High-end custom, historic-style exteriors
Aluminum $600 – $1,200 Modern designs, large openings

What the Local Market Looks Like Right Now

New Hanover County authorized 2,332 housing units in 2025, roughly 30% below the pandemic era peak, though single family construction still makes up a smaller share of that total than in neighboring Brunswick or Pender counties.

Building permit data for the broader metro area showed 542 total housing units authorized in December 2025 alone. That’s still a steady pipeline of new build projects moving through framing and dry in each month, which keeps demand for code compliant window packages high year round, not just in spring.

Our New Construction Process

  1. Review architectural plans and confirm required DP ratings with your builder or engineer
  2. Provide a full window schedule with sizes, grids, and glass packages for permitting
  3. Coordinate delivery to match your framing timeline
  4. Install with proper flashing sequence at dry in
  5. Walk the job with your GC before drywall to confirm every opening passes


If you’re a homeowner working with a custom builder, bring us your plans early. Window lead times run six to ten weeks on most brands right now, longer for large impact-rated units, so early ordering keeps your project on schedule instead of sitting idle waiting on glass.