We're Now Members of The Architectural Woodwork Institute

The Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI) is a professional membership that has championed innovation, quality, and craftsmanship in architectural woodworking for over seventy years. Founded in Chicago in 1954, this organization sets and maintains the industry standards for interior architectural woodworking.

Its members include manufacturers, installers, brokers, educators and students, design professionals, and general contractors. And now we’re part of it, too, as a manufacturer.  

And in a way, that might surprise you. If you know anything about RealCraft, you know that we prefer to do things differently—like using solid wood where others might use veneer, staying committed to mortise and tenon joinery, and daring to create unique door designs. And so our standards were always the ones we set for ourselves, influenced by the maverick ethos of our CEO and founder Don Rees.

 "Going above and beyond what's expected? That's what we've been doing for the past twenty years."

But we know that industry standards matter to homeowners and professionals. And when we discovered how aligned our products already were with the AWI standards, it made sense for us to join it. As Don says, "Going above and beyond what's expected? That's what we've been doing for the past twenty years. Joining the AWI ensures we're all speaking a common language, and shows our commitment to quality." It also offers us the opportunity for continuing education so that we can continue to innovate and become even more adept at our craft.  

What are the AWI standards? 

The AWI publishes standards that ensure an extremely high level of quality across all aspects of interior architectural woodwork. Within the standards, there are three aesthetic levels: economy, custom, and premium grade. Each tier represents increased levels of control over materials, workmanship, and manufacture. Our products are built to meet the custom and premium grade standards. This is because we exert an extremely high level of control over all three components, using only solid wood and building everything to order onsite in Gig Harbor, WA. In addition, our methods of construction are also highly advanced and specialized, with luxurious and distinctive results. 

What does this mean for you?

So, what does this mean for you as a homeowner? You can be sure that our projects meet and even exceed stringent standards of excellence. This gives you peace of mind for any project you’ve been dreaming up, from a custom pivot door to replacing your pocket doors to getting a bespoke wood countertop.  

If you’re in the trades, you’ll love knowing that our products are suitable for a wide array of projects, from home remodels to commercial spaces and even historic restorations. You can offer even more design versatility and higher quality with RealCraft products.  

For jobs where the architect has specified AWI standards, you can confidently say that you use an AWI manufacturer, removing potential objections before they start. Plus, AWI standards mean tighter tolerances and better quality control. That translates to fewer warranty calls or issues during installation. 

And architects can rest assured that we understand professional-grade requirements without you having to write custom specs for every detail.

If you have any further questions about the AWI, get in touch by emailing us at sales@realcraft.com.