How to Choose a Window Replacement Company

Start with the Written Quote

Everything else on this page depends on one rule: get it in writing. A verbal figure given while someone stands in your living room is not a quote. A quote is a document you can read at the kitchen table, compare against another, and keep if there is a dispute later.

Ask each company for a written quote that names every window or door being replaced, with its size, location and style. Two quotes that cover different openings cannot be compared, so check that the count and the sizes match before you look at the total.

You are under no obligation to accept any quote, and you do not have to decide on the day it is handed to you. A quote that is only good until the salesperson leaves the driveway is a reason to slow down, not speed up.

What a Complete Quote Spells Out

Work through this list with each quote in front of you. Anything missing is a question to ask before you sign.

• Scope of work. Which windows, which rooms, and what happens at each one: removal of the old unit, new unit installed, trim and finish work, and cleanup.
• Frame and glass spec. The frame material (vinyl, fiberglass, wood or clad), the glass package, the grid pattern if any, the color inside and out, and the hardware finish. If a quote says only "energy-efficient windows," ask for the actual spec in writing.
• NFRC U-factor. The National Fenestration Rating Council label shows a U-factor for each window. A lower number means less heat escapes. Ask for it on every line so you can compare like with like.
• Insert or full-frame. Whether the new unit goes inside your existing frame or replaces the whole frame, and why. The two jobs differ in cost, in how much wall is opened up, and in the finish work afterward. See insert or full-frame.
• Who pulls the permit. Some jobs need one and some do not. Ask who applies for it, who pays for it and who is present for any inspection. Our permits and HOA rules guide covers the basics.
• Lead time. Made-to-order windows take time to build. Ask for the expected wait from signed order to installation, and what happens if the date slips.
• Deposit and payment schedule. How much is due at signing, how much at delivery, and how much at completion. Be wary of a schedule that front-loads payment before any work or materials exist.
• Warranty and who honors it. Ask for the warranty in writing. Two separate questions matter: what does the manufacturer cover on the window itself, and what does the company cover on the installation? Ask who you call, and who pays, if a unit fails or a seal leaks.
• Disposal and site protection. Whether old windows are hauled away, how floors and furniture are protected, and how interior and exterior trim will be finished.
• Change orders. What happens if the crew finds rot or damage behind an old frame. A good quote says how that extra work is priced and approved before it is done.

Read the Contract, Not Just the Quote

The quote shows what you are buying. The contract shows what happens when something goes wrong. Read the whole thing, including the small print on the back or at the end.

Look for the start and finish dates, the payment schedule, the cancellation terms, and how disputes are handled. Check that the contract matches the quote line by line. If a promise was made out loud, such as a color match or a particular installation method, it should be in the document.

If a clause is unclear, ask for a plain explanation and ask for it in writing. If you are about to sign a large contract and something still does not make sense, a short conversation with a lawyer of your own choosing costs little compared with the project.

Check the Registration

Washington requires a contractor who advertises to show a current contractor registration number (RCW 18.27). So ask each company for its registration number, then check it yourself on the lookup tool run by the state Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). Do not rely on a number printed on a truck or a flyer; look it up.

The lookup tells you whether the registration is current and under what business name. Compare that name with the name on your quote and contract. If they differ, ask why.

Also ask whether the company carries insurance, and ask to see proof rather than taking a yes on faith. A certificate should name the business, show current dates and be easy to request. A company that gets vague or irritated about any of this is telling you something.

Nothing on this site says any installer has been checked. The checks above are yours to make.

Compare Quotes Fairly

Lay two or three quotes side by side and build a simple table: one row per window or door, one column per company. Fill in the spec, the NFRC U-factor, the price and the warranty. Gaps show up quickly.

A few things to watch for when comparing:

• Different specs, different prices. A lower total often reflects a thinner glass package, a lower-grade frame, or fewer windows. Make sure you are comparing the same product.
• Bundled lines. A single "installation" figure can hide what is and is not included. Ask for it broken out.
• Allowances. If a quote lists an "allowance" for trim or finish, ask what it actually buys and who pays if the real cost runs over.
• What is missing. The quote that leaves out permits, disposal or trim may only look cheaper.

Our window replacement cost guide explains what moves the price, so you can tell a real difference from a padded one.

Walk-Away Signs

Some things are reasons to stop and keep your pen in your pocket.

• Pressure to sign today. A price that only holds until the salesperson leaves is a sales tactic, not a fair deal. A company confident in its quote will let you think it over.
• No written quote. If the number will not go on paper, it is not a number.
• A large deposit before anything happens. Ask what the money pays for and when. If the answer is thin, step back.
• No registration number, or one that does not check out. Ask again, then look it up. If it does not match, walk away.
• Reluctance to show insurance. Proof should be easy to provide.
• Vague specs. "Top-of-the-line" is not a spec. A frame, a glass package and an NFRC U-factor are.
• Skipping the permit conversation. If the answer to "who handles the permit?" is a shrug, keep asking until it is clear, or move on.
• Changing the story. If the price, the product or the schedule shifts between the visit and the paperwork, ask why in writing.

Questions Worth Asking Out Loud

Some answers are easier to judge by how they are given than by what they say. In person or on the phone, try these.

1. Can I see the full written quote before I decide, and how long does it stay valid?
2. What is the exact window or door spec, and what is the NFRC U-factor on each?
3. Who applies for the permit, if one is needed, and what happens if the inspector asks for changes?
4. What is the lead time, and what happens to my deposit if the date moves?
5. What does the warranty cover, who stands behind it, and who do I call?
6. If you find rot or damage behind the old frame, how will the extra work be priced and approved?

A clear, calm answer to each is a good sign. You do not need to like the answer, only to understand it.

General Information, Not Advice

This guide is general information to help you compare quotes. It is not legal, financial or construction advice, and it is not a recommendation of any company. Rules and requirements change, so confirm anything that affects your home with the relevant authority or a professional of your choosing.