Guide 01 · Loewen
Loewen windows: craft, materials, and where they fit.
A dealer’s guide to what actually makes Loewen different, from the wood species to the metal on the outside.
Loewen builds heirloom-grade wood windows and doors in Coastal Douglas Fir, Honduran Mahogany, White Oak, and other species, available aluminum clad or in all wood construction. As the Loewen Window Center for St. Louis and Kansas City, we spec Loewen when the architecture deserves windows that will outlast their warranty by decades. This guide covers the materials, the construction options, and the projects Loewen is right for.
The craft
What makes Loewen different?
Most window brands assemble. Loewen builds. The sections are heavier, the joinery is tighter, and the hardware has real weight in the hand. Where volume manufacturers optimize for cost, Loewen optimizes for the century, which is why you find their windows on architect-led custom homes, historic estates, and buildings that are meant to be handed down.
In our showroom, the difference is something you feel before we say a word: the swing of a casement, the glide of a LiftSlide panel, the depth of the profiles. That is also why we lead with Loewen on projects where the windows are part of the architecture rather than a commodity in it.
Materials
Which wood species can you choose?
01
Coastal Douglas Fir (standard)
The strongest and most durable of the softwoods, with high natural resistance to moisture, decay, and insects. Its fastener retention is nearly double that of Ponderosa Pine, which is a real number that shows up in how long hardware stays tight. This is the species we spec most.
02
Honduran Mahogany
Naturally decay-resistant and substantially stronger than African Mahogany, with a rich swirled grain that deepens from rose-brown to a distinctive reddish-brown as it ages. The premium pick for interiors meant to be seen.
03
White Oak
Strong, straight-grained, and famously durable, and it takes stain beautifully, which makes it the choice when the windows need to match oak floors, millwork, or cabinetry.
04
Cherry, Walnut & more
Available on request for projects where the interior wood story is specific. If the architecture calls for it, Loewen can usually build it, and we will help you weigh the options.
Construction
Aluminum clad, or all wood?
Loewen’s standard exterior is extruded aluminum cladding, a thicker, stiffer protection than the rolled cladding common elsewhere, finished in a broad palette of colors. It is the low-maintenance path, and the right answer for most projects.
But a growing share of our recent Loewen quotes are all wood: the same Douglas Fir or premium species carried straight through to the exterior, with no metal wrap. All wood construction gives the sharpest, most authentic profiles, takes paint or stain exactly the way original millwork does, and can be repaired and refinished for generations. That is why architects, preservation reviewers, and owners of historic homes so often call for it, and why we have been specifying more all wood Loewen than ever.
The range
Which Loewen products fit which projects?
Casements, awnings & double hungs
The core of most whole-home packages, in historic-appropriate profiles that meet City of St. Louis review standards where the project needs them.
LiftSlide doors
Expansive glass panels that glide on low-profile stainless steel tracks, opening a wall of the home to the outside. A signature move on lake houses and modern builds.
Bifold doors
Loewen bifolds can span openings up to 52 feet and fold outward, so the interior stays clear. When the design brief says the room should become the terrace, this is the answer.
In the field
Loewen on St. Louis homes.
Common questions
Good to know.
What wood species does Loewen offer?
Coastal Douglas Fir is the standard across all products, with Honduran Mahogany and White Oak as premium options and species like Cherry and Walnut available on request. Douglas Fir is what we spec most in St. Louis.
Is Douglas Fir durable enough for windows?
Yes. It is the strongest and most durable of the softwoods, with high natural resistance to moisture, decay, and insect damage, and fastener retention nearly double that of Ponderosa Pine. Paired with aluminum, copper, or bronze cladding outside, it is built for generations.
Can you get Loewen in all wood, without cladding?
Yes. Loewen builds all wood windows and doors alongside its aluminum clad line, and all wood has been a growing share of our recent quotes. It is often the right call for historic districts and architect-led projects where authentic profiles and a paintable wood exterior matter.
Does Loewen work for St. Louis historic districts?
Yes. Loewen offers profiles approved for City of St. Louis historic replacement, and we prepare the documentation for Cultural Resources Office review as part of the project.
See Loewen in person.
Full-size Loewen windows and doors are on display in our Webster Groves showroom. Feel the difference, then let’s talk about your project.