5 Key Takeaways from C&L Ward's “Live In The D” Interview About Window Installation

Full “Live In The D” Interview Transcript

The following transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and readability while preserving the substance of the original interview.

Host Kim DeGiulio, Live In The D: Tell us a little bit about C&L Ward, and what makes your company different from all the other ones out there? 

CEO Pat Ward, C&L Ward: Absolutely. Well, obviously a lot of choices in home improvement, and we’re proud to say we’re a second-generation family-owned and operated [company], and we’ve been in business for 54 years. So we feel there’s a lot of great history and story there behind it. And we take a lot of pride in serving the community. And we’re eager to do more of it, and that’s what brings us here today. 

Host Tati Amare, Live In The D: Well, 54 years, you are definitely doing something right. 

Ward: Yeah. We sure are.

DeGiulio: That is over a half century. Congratulations!

Ward: Half-century mark, yeah!

Amare: So listen, what are some signs that homeowners should look for that it might be time to replace their windows? Is that kinda draftiness that we feel in the wintertime? What is it?

Ward: It’s actually all the above. It can be draftiness. It could be maintenance. Maybe your windows are rotting or the frame. But overall, we like to say, “When you know, you know.” And you just say, “Hey, it’s time to get new windows,” “It’s probably time to get new windows.” So a lot of different options, but draftiness, especially this winter, has probably been the number one.

Host: Tell me about it. That was rough. Yeah. It was rough. [Laughs.] Rough winter. 

Host: It was a real Michigan winter.

Ward: Real Michigan. 

DeGiulio: What options do homeowners have when choosing new windows?

Ward: Well, I’d say that’s really where we excel. We kinda provide a lot of different options here, from wood windows to the latest in composite windows, all the way over to vinyl windows. So really it’s kinda like a good, better, best strategy, so people kinda can look and fit what fits their budget, fits their needs, and really kinda get what they deserve. 

Amare: Absolutely. 

DeGiulio: Which one’s good, and better, and best? 

Ward: I’d say, you know, if you’re looking kinda more of a budget-friendly one, we have a vinyl product that has nice insulation. The next step up would be you get into, like, an Andersen window, where it’s more of a composite-type design. 

Amare: When you say composite, what do you mean?

Ward: Well, when we get into composite, it’s a blend of wood and vinyl together. So you get the maintenance durability, so you don’t have any maintenance in the home, but it doesn’t expand and contract in these tough Michigan winters and summers that we have. So it’s a much more stable product than maybe you see sometimes in a vinyl. And then for those that are looking to kinda maybe add a little elegance or get some stained look in a den or an area, we have wood products made by Andersen as well. 

Amare: Put that to the like, let’s—

DeGiulio: Yeah. We gotta see… 

Amare: —put a side-profile of this.

Ward: Yeah. 

Amare: The other way.

Ward: Oh, okay. Absolutely.

Amare: So we can see the wood, because—

DeGiulio: That makes a statement. 

Amare: —that right there.

Ward: Yeah.

Host: That’s what you’re referring to, right? 

Ward: Absolutely. When you can get a wood window, it just, again, adds a little elegance, adds a little something special.

Amare: Yeah, because one of the things that we did mention at the top of our conversation is curb appeal. Like, your windows can add value to your home, can’t they? 

Ward: Totally. 

Amare: Yeah. 

Ward: Totally. In most cases, you replace your windows, you’re gonna get about a 60 to 70% return on that investment. I’m talking about you spend $10,000, when you go to sell your home, you’re gonna get seven of it back.

That’s awesome.

Ward: So you get to enjoy the comfort for a lot of years. And you get the return when you go to sell the [house].

Amare: And let’s talk about how much you save in energy costs when you don’t have drafty windows. So it’s really important.

DeGiulio: So it’s basically free.

Amare: Yeah. 

DeGiulio and Amare: Girl math. [Laughs.] 

Ward: Ah, love it. [Laughs.] So, our pricing’s not free. We don’t have any free sales going on right now. [Laughs.]

DeGiulio: [Laughs.] That was good. 

Amare: That was girl math. 

Ward: Yeah. Right. 

Amare: Well, a lot of homeowners worry about the installation process. What does that look like with your team?

Ward: You know, that’s probably the most underserved part of our industry, is installation. Because when you think about it, it’s probably the most important thing. So we take a lot of pride in that we don’t use subcontractors. So when we install your windows, we install your windows. We’re not outsourcing it to a third party, which unfortunately in our industry seems to be the norm.

Host: Yeah. Well, that’s probably why you’ve been in business for over 50 years. 

Ward: That’s absolutely right. We control the process. 

DeGiulio: Absolutely. So what would you say to a homeowner who’s been really putting this project off? Maybe they’re trying to gather the funds for it. What’s your advice to them?

Ward: I would say right now the springtime is the best time to start thinking about it, to start. You know, usually when you get into a window replacement project, you’re talking about something that’s gonna be about a six- to eight-week, 10-week turnaround depending on what you order.

Host: Okay. 

Ward: So right now is a great time to think about it, so you can get it done in summer. And you can enjoy them when we get into the fall and the winter. Plus, I mean, if people are kinda strapped on budgets and things are tight right now, we have some great affordable options. Low monthly payments, no payments for 18 months. Whatever you need to kinda get that project kicked off and get it going, because, as we know, prices aren’t going down on anything right now. 

DeGiulio: No. Right. 

Amare: They definitely are not. And I love that, how you mentioned the lead time. So you gotta kinda plan it out so the windows are installed when you need them, ’cause who knows what next winter is gonna look like. 

Ward: Totally. 

DeGiulio: Mm-hmm. 

Ward: Totally.

Amare: Absolutely. Pat, thank you so much for being with us.

Ward: Awesome. 

DeGiulio: Thank you. 

Ward: Awesome. Thanks for having me. 

Amare: So we will bring you back later on the show to talk about decking.

Ward: Yeah. 

DeGiulio: I’m looking forward to that conversation. 

Amare: Absolutely.

Ward: Sounds good. 

Amare: Now, in the meantime, if you’d like more information about replacing your windows, go to visit goclward.com. That website is goclward.com.

C&L Ward was honored to be part of and sponsor this educational piece to help our local homeowners with their window planning needs.