Small, unique, family-owned, intimate, and wildly busy, are the terms that best describe Portland OR-based Truax Builder’s Supply. Founded in 1946 as a wood window manufacturing and sales establishment, Truax today remains a family-owned business. A fire in 2004 led to the construction of a new showroom, but the company is still located at 10949 SE Division Street.

Small in that it resides in two modest buildings with only 17 employees, Truax is not small in scope when it comes to custom building windows and doors.

Truax boasts a custom wood window and door shop with craftsmen hailing from Oregon, Greece, and the Ukraine. This work crew boasts more than 100 years of experience between them. With clients such as McMenamins, Timberline Lodge, and a majority of the historic homes here in the greater Portland area, there are few wood windows, doors, and screen doors that this team can’t, or hasn’t already, built.

Unique in that along with its custom wood shop, Truax is also one of the few remaining places anywhere that still makes aluminum storm windows, storm doors, and security doors. Truax is also a great place to go when you need a hard-to-find part to repair old windows or doors. Many local businesses send folks to Truax saying, “If they don’t have it, stop looking.”

Truax is family. One of the many strengths of Truax is the wealth of experience and knowledge that it draws on. Unlike the big box stores, employee turnover is almost nonexistent. As you watch the staff work together as a team, you realize they are more than just coworkers. With well over 120 years of building experience, the sales staff knows not only the answers to your questions, but the questions to ask before you order.

“Our staff will spend 30 minutes locating items for folks (that we don’t even sell) because they want to help everyone however they can,” claims owner Joe Sidey. The Truax philosophy is that service beyond what is required may not pay off today, but the goodwill created is memorable and priceless.

Truax is intimate. When you sit down with one of the sales staff, you are the focus of their attention. Even with a 50-50 mix of contractors and homeowners, greeting our customers by name is not uncommon. Good-natured jokes and friendly conversation are the norm. One salesperson’s often repeated quote is, “If I am not having fun, I might as well go home.” Even though you know you may be their 100th customer that day, you are treated like you are their only customer that day.

Wildly busy. Not an understatement during the spring, summer, and fall months; it only shifts to a more relaxed pace during winter months. This busy pace is due to the fact that along with personal service, a knowledgeable staff, and experienced craftsmen, Truax adds to the mix a vast selection of building staples. One look at the bookcases in the office tells you that when it comes to windows and doors, skylights, and hardware, Truax covers most of the options on the market. With brands such as Marvin, Milgard, Simpson, Jeld Wen, Nord, Certain Teed, Weather Vane, Thermatru, Schlage, LBL, Velux, Thermolite, and dozens of others, there is something for most everyone’s tastes or budget. If not, Truax can probably custom make it for you.

Small, unique, family owned, intimate, and wildly busy. And well worth a visit. Call 503-256-4066 or visit www.truaxnw.com for all your window, screen doors, storm windows/door, skylights, interior and exterior doors, needs.