Weather Shield Headquarters - Medford, WI

I had never been to Medford, Wisconsin before this trip.

We went with Morrison Millwork, who we purchase our Weather Shield windows locally, to see how those windows are made. We also made a stop for a Cardinal Glass factory tour along the way— you can check that blog post here.

What a neat experience.

The thing that stuck with me most was how many different hands touch a single window before it ever leaves the factory and arrives on our job site. At least forty different hands. On one window.

We found orders headed to Greensboro, NC

Getting to walk through that process, see the individual parts, and meet some of the people doing the work gives you a completely different appreciation for the finished product.

I love knowing the how behind things.

At Cruz Built, we specialize in building unique, one-of-a-kind custom homes & remodeling projects, with a focus on unique, one-of-a-kind work. We spend a lot of time digging into the details. How things are built is one of the most important parts of what we do.

Seeing a window come together firsthand helps us better understand the whole assembly and how it fits into the projects we work on.

Weather Shield windows are some of our favorites to use when we’re trying to match historical window details in a remodel. Their simulated divided lite, or SDL, options help us match the divided-pane patterns that are such a big part of a home’s character. Those details matter to us. It was really neat to see the work behind them.

And there’s so much involved beyond making the individual parts. The logistics. The planning. The organization and safety. Getting everything where it needs to be, when it needs to be there. Seeing all of that gives you a different appreciation for what windows cost these days. You begin to understand how much work is already in that unit before we ever get our hands on it.

The people we met took so much pride in that work. There was something about the craftsmanship we got to see in Wisconsin. People who know how to build things with their hands, care about the small details, and are happy to show you what they do. That’s the kind of stuff I love documenting through photography and video. There’s so much worth paying attention to.

Weather Shield’s hospitality was second to none. They took us through different plants where they make different parts of their windows. We could take pictures, ask questions, and get a close look at the work. They didn’t discourage our curiosity. I really appreciated that openness.

We also got to spend time with leadership. They took us to dinner, welcomed us to their headquarters, and even cooked dinner for us there. Then they let us hit golf balls out back. Two buckets of balls, trying to land one on this tiny plywood platform out in the distance. Cruz Built got one to land on it. =]

Our hosts told us we were the first visitors to do that since they built it. So, naturally, that needed to make it into the story. Cruz Built for the win!

It’s no secret that Weather Shield was acquired by Pella not long ago. Pella Corporation announced its acquisition of Weather Shield in July 2025, and I was curious to hear how the people there felt about the transition.

What we heard was a lot of enthusiasm.

The folks we spoke with were excited about the opportunities that additional resources, greater purchasing power, and support from a larger parent company created. They talked about what that could allow them to do and the value of having that support behind them.

It was encouraging to hear that directly from them.

They were proud of the work they were already doing and excited about what was ahead. I appreciated getting to ask those questions and hear their perspective firsthand.

I came home with a deeper appreciation for the people and the amount of detailed work that goes into something we use in our homes every day.

Inside the Weather Shield Millwork location

Getting to see how it’s built, from the individual pieces to the finished window, is exactly the kind of learning I love bringing back to our custom home and remodeling projects.

And now, when one of those windows shows up on our job site, I have a much better understanding of how many hands helped get it there.

As always, be kind & consult your local builder. - Samuel Cruz

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