If you felt price lists shift this year, you’re not imagining it. In June 2025, the U.S. doubled Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50%, with no grace period for goods already in transit. For fenestration, where aluminum extrusions, steel skins, and hardware are core inputs, that change flows through to BOMs within weeks. Window and Door
Macro knock-ons appeared quickly. Homebuilders flagged per-home cost increases and pulled back on starts, particularly single-family, magnifying the ripple into window and door purchase timing. Some suppliers argue the tariffs could make domestically manufactured product comparatively more attractive; others warn the net effect is simply higher costs across the board, given globalized supply chains. Reuters+1
Manufacturers’ playbook in 2025: (1) lock input pricing where feasible, (2) diversify metals sourcing, (3) accelerate vinyl and fiberglass capacity, and (4) lean on efficiency gains to absorb part of the shock. Trade press surveys show the strongest firms still reporting year-over-year growth, but with persistent margin pressure and selective surcharges. Window and Door
For buyers, the practical guidance is simple: request current quotes (assume 30-day validity), verify delivery windows, and ask how tariff exposure is handled. Dealers serving both U.S. and Canadian customers should also track cross-border implications, since policy changes can recut landed cost math overnight. Executives in aluminum further caution that job impacts and supply gaps could add volatility if exemptions remain limited. The White House+1
The smartest hedge is product flexibility. Fiberglass entry systems—like those offered by Dorplex—balance premium aesthetics with stability, while steel remains the unit-cost leader for many specs. Segmenting proposals by material and finish, then attaching energy and warranty value, lets homeowners choose from confident, apples-to-apples options even as commodities move. dorplex.com+1