What should an aluminum pricing program actually calculate?
An aluminum pricing program should turn a window or door design into a real cost: profile lengths from the cutting list, the weight of aluminum by profile and finish, glass by area, accessories and gaskets per unit, plus labor, waste, and fabrication. It should price from live supplier rates for the kilo and the accessories, apply your margin, and produce a quote you can defend line by line.
- Aluminum is sold by the kilo, so the cost starts from weight, not length alone.
- The build-up needs glass, accessories, gaskets, labor, waste, and finishing, not just the profile.
- Prices should come from your live supplier rates, with margin applied after the full cost.
- The system should be built around the systems and profiles you actually fabricate.
What inputs does it start from?
- The system type (sliding, casement, curtain wall) and profile family
- The dimensions of each window or door
- The glass specification and thickness
- The finish: powder coating or anodizing
- The quantity of each unit
What must the cost build-up include?
- Aluminum weight multiplied by the price per kilo
- The cutting list and a waste factor for offcuts
- Glass priced by area
- Accessories and hardware per leaf or unit
- Gaskets, brushes, and seals
- Labor, fabrication, and finishing
Why price from weight, not just length?
Suppliers sell aluminum by the kilo, and two profiles of the same length can weigh very differently depending on their section and finish. Pricing from length alone hides that difference and quietly eats your margin. When the program computes weight from the profile and the finish, the cost reflects what you will actually pay the supplier.
How does it protect your margin?
The program pulls current supplier prices for the kilo and the accessories, adds a waste factor so offcuts are paid for, and applies your margin only after the full cost is built. Every figure stays visible and editable, so when you override a rate the system records it. You send a price that covers the real cost and keeps the profit you intended.
Frequently asked questions
Can it read our supplier price lists?
Yes. The system is built around your suppliers, profiles, and accessories, so pricing follows the rates you actually buy at.
Does it handle different systems like sliding, casement, and curtain wall?
It is built around the systems you fabricate, with the cutting logic and accessories each one needs, rather than a fixed template.
Do we keep control of the final price?
Yes. The margin, overrides, and final rate stay with you. The program prepares the cost; the commercial decision is yours.
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