diff --git a/bin/installDeps.sh b/bin/installDeps.sh
index 47373a5f..dd705239 100755
--- a/bin/installDeps.sh
+++ b/bin/installDeps.sh
@@ -143,17 +143,4 @@ fi
 echo "Clearing minified cache..."
 rm -f var/minified*
 
-echo "Ensure custom css/js files are created..."
-
-for f in "index" "pad" "timeslider"
-do
-  if [ ! -f "src/static/custom/$f.js" ]; then
-    cp "src/static/custom/js.template" "src/static/custom/$f.js" || exit 1
-  fi
-
-  if [ ! -f "src/static/custom/$f.css" ]; then
-    cp "src/static/custom/css.template" "src/static/custom/$f.css" || exit 1
-  fi
-done
-
 exit 0
diff --git a/bin/installOnWindows.bat b/bin/installOnWindows.bat
index 5ba05736..75982aaf 100644
--- a/bin/installOnWindows.bat
+++ b/bin/installOnWindows.bat
@@ -18,14 +18,6 @@ cmd /C npm install --loglevel warn || exit /B 1
 
 cd /D "%~dp0\.."
 
-echo _
-echo Copying custom templates...
-set custom_dir=node_modules\ep_etherpad-lite\static\custom
-FOR %%f IN (index pad timeslider) DO (
-  if NOT EXIST "%custom_dir%\%%f.js" copy "%custom_dir%\js.template" "%custom_dir%\%%f.js"
-  if NOT EXIST "%custom_dir%\%%f.css" copy "%custom_dir%\css.template" "%custom_dir%\%%f.css"
-)
-
 echo _
 echo Clearing cache...
 del /S var\minified*
@@ -39,4 +31,4 @@ IF NOT EXIST settings.json (
 )
 
 echo _
-echo Installed Etherpad!  To run Etherpad type start.bat
\ No newline at end of file
+echo Installed Etherpad!  To run Etherpad type start.bat
diff --git a/src/static/custom/.gitignore b/src/static/custom/.gitignore
deleted file mode 100644
index aae16bb2..00000000
--- a/src/static/custom/.gitignore
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-*
-!.gitignore
-!*.template
diff --git a/src/static/custom/css.template b/src/static/custom/index.css
similarity index 100%
rename from src/static/custom/css.template
rename to src/static/custom/index.css
diff --git a/src/static/custom/js.template b/src/static/custom/index.js
similarity index 100%
rename from src/static/custom/js.template
rename to src/static/custom/index.js
diff --git a/src/static/custom/pad.css b/src/static/custom/pad.css
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..236251d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/static/custom/pad.css
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+/*
+  custom css files are loaded after core css files. Simply use the same selector to override a style.
+  Example:
+      #editbar LI {border:1px solid #000;}
+    overrides
+      #editbar LI {border:1px solid #d5d5d5;}
+    from pad.css
+*/
diff --git a/src/static/custom/pad.js b/src/static/custom/pad.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..152c3d5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/static/custom/pad.js
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+function customStart()
+{
+  //define your javascript here
+  //jquery is available - except index.js
+  //you can load extra scripts with $.getScript http://api.jquery.com/jQuery.getScript/
+}
diff --git a/src/static/custom/timeslider.css b/src/static/custom/timeslider.css
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..236251d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/static/custom/timeslider.css
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+/*
+  custom css files are loaded after core css files. Simply use the same selector to override a style.
+  Example:
+      #editbar LI {border:1px solid #000;}
+    overrides
+      #editbar LI {border:1px solid #d5d5d5;}
+    from pad.css
+*/
diff --git a/src/static/custom/timeslider.js b/src/static/custom/timeslider.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..152c3d5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/static/custom/timeslider.js
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+function customStart()
+{
+  //define your javascript here
+  //jquery is available - except index.js
+  //you can load extra scripts with $.getScript http://api.jquery.com/jQuery.getScript/
+}