15 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Window Replacement Company

A printable list of 15 questions to ask a window replacement company, from energy ratings to deposits and warranties, and the answers you want to hear.

New windows aren’t something you shop for every year. So when a salesperson is at your kitchen table with samples and a price, it’s hard to know what to ask, or whether the answers you’re hearing are good ones.

Print the list, take it to every estimate and write the answers down. The questions to ask a window replacement company are grouped by topic below, and where it helps, we’ve noted how we handle each one at Crescent.

Questions to ask about the window replacement company

1. Who will measure and install my windows?

Some companies sell the job and hand it to a subcontracted crew; others measure and install with their own people. Either way, you should know who will be in your home and who answers for the work.

A good answer: a direct one, with one company responsible for the work from estimate to finish. At Crescent, your windows are measured and installed by our own team: one local team from your free estimate to your final walk-through. Read more about our family business.

2. Can I see work you’ve finished?

A good answer: photos of real projects, ideally on homes like yours. Look past the wide shots to the close-ups: straight trim, neat caulk lines and windows that sit square in their openings. Our project gallery shows finished jobs around North Atlanta.

3. Can you show me proof of insurance, and any license my area requires?

Ask every company for a current certificate of liability insurance, and whether its installers are covered if they’re hurt on the job. If the work requires a contractor license where you live, get the number and check it with the agency that issued it.

A good answer: paperwork offered without fuss.

Questions to ask about the windows

4. Exactly which windows are you quoting?

“Our premium vinyl window” isn’t a product you can look up. You want the manufacturer, series, style and glass package for every opening, such as “Vytex Fortis double hung with Energy Saver R5™ glass,” and where the windows are made.

A good answer: full product names on paper, so you can compare quotes line by line. We install American-made vinyl windows from Vytex and VinylMax, and our window comparison chart lays out the three Vytex series side by side.

5. What are the energy ratings for those exact windows?

Windows certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) carry a label with their tested performance. As ENERGY STAR® explains the NFRC label, a lower U-factor means better insulation, and a lower solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) means less of the sun’s heat gets in.

A good answer: the ratings for the exact series, style and glass package in your quote, because NFRC rates the whole window, so the numbers change with any of the three. Vytex lists a U-factor of .20 for Potomac-hp with its most efficient glass, for example, and other packages rate differently. NFRC lists certified products in a public directory, linked from its residential certification page.

6. Do these windows meet ENERGY STAR criteria where I live?

ENERGY STAR sets different limits for different climate zones, and Georgia counties fall in two of them. Under the Version 7.0 criteria, as summarized by Cardinal Glass, the South-Central zone calls for a U-factor of 0.28 or lower and an SHGC of 0.23 or lower; the Southern zone allows a U-factor up to 0.32, with the same SHGC limit. ENERGY STAR’s county lookup shows which zone applies to your home.

A good answer: the zone for your county, and the glass package that gets your windows there. Our windows can meet ENERGY STAR requirements with the right glass package, and we’ll show you which packages are certified for your zone.

7. Which options are worth it for my house, and which aren’t?

Upgrades add cost, so ask what each one does for you. With our long, humid cooling season, summer sun deserves as much attention as winter cold; the U.S. Department of Energy notes that a low SHGC reduces heat gain in warm climates. Triple pane is a good option to ask about: in the lines we sell, it’s available only on Potomac-hp (Energy Saver Max™) and select VinylMax windows, and it isn’t the right spend for every room.

A good answer: honest trade-offs, including where a less expensive series or glass package will do.

Questions to ask about the installation

8. How will each window be installed, insulated and sealed?

A well-made window that’s installed poorly can still leak air and water. Ask to be walked through one opening, from removing the old window to finishing the trim.

A good answer: specific steps, not “we put it in.” Ours: we replace one window at a time, so your home is never left wide open, and each new window is leveled, insulated and sealed inside and out, with the interior and exterior trim finished. See what to expect on installation day for the rest.

9. What happens if you find rot or damage behind the old window?

Nobody can see everything under an old frame until it comes out, and sills that have taken years of rain are a common trouble spot.

A good answer: you’re shown the problem and told what the fix costs before any extra work is done, so there are no surprises on the final bill.

10. How long will installation take, and what’s included at the end?

Ask how many days the crew will be at your home, and whether trim work, cleanup and hauling away the old windows are included.

A good answer: a realistic schedule and a complete list. Many of our whole-house projects take one to two days. We haul away the old windows and debris, then test each new window with you at a final walk-through.

Questions to ask about the quote and contract

11. Will I get a written quote that lists every window?

A good answer: yes. A useful window replacement quote lists each opening with its style, series, glass, color and grids, and spells out what installation includes and what it doesn’t. We leave a written quote at the end of the free estimate, and our contracts list the full window details, an approximate installation timeline and the terms and conditions.

12. How much is the deposit, and when is the balance due?

Replacement windows are built to fit your openings, so expect a deposit when you order. The amount and schedule should be written into the contract.

A good answer: clear numbers, with the final payment due when the work is finished, not before. Ours is a 50% deposit when you sign, with the balance due when installation is complete.

13. When will my windows be installed?

A good answer: an honest range that includes manufacturing and delivery, because made-to-measure windows don’t come off a shelf. Ours take about 5 to 7 weeks from signing, covering manufacturing, delivery and installation. Ask, too, what happens if you want to change something after the order is placed.

Questions to ask about the warranty

14. What does the warranty cover, and who stands behind it?

Ask what the manufacturer covers on the product and what, if anything, the installer covers on the installation, and get both in writing.

A good answer: the actual warranty documents, not a slogan. The windows we install carry limited lifetime manufacturer warranties. Vytex covers its windows and patio doors against manufacturing defects in material and workmanship. VinylMax covers its windows for as long as you own and live in the home, and its 4700 Series also covers accidental glass breakage. Details are on our warranty page.

15. Who do I call if something goes wrong, and does the warranty transfer?

A good answer: one number to call, and a company that helps with the claim. For warranty service, call us first and we’ll help, whichever brand you have. If you sell your home, the VinylMax warranty can be transferred to the new owner with VinylMax’s transfer form and a $40 fee; Vytex explains its transfer rules in its warranty documents.

Red flags to watch for in a window sales pitch

Whoever you’re talking to, any of these is a reason to slow down:

• Pressure to sign today. A fair price will still be fair next week.
• “Today-only” prices. A big discount that vanishes when the salesperson leaves is a sales tactic, not a deal.
• Vague product names. “Premium window” on a quote can’t be compared with anything or held to anything.
• No written quote. If the price and products aren’t on paper, you don’t really have a quote.
• A firm price without measuring. Custom windows need every opening measured.
• Full payment up front. The final payment should wait until the job is done.

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose a window replacement company?

Get two or three in-home estimates and ask each company the same questions. Compare the written answers on products, installation, payment terms and warranty, and favor the company that answers clearly and doesn’t rush you, not just the lowest number.

How much of a deposit is normal for window replacement?

It varies by company. We ask for 50% when you sign and the balance when installation is complete. Whatever the amount, it belongs in the contract, and you shouldn’t pay in full before the work is done.

What should a window replacement quote include?

Each window’s location and style; the brand, series and glass package; colors, grids and hardware; what installation includes, such as trim, cleanup and haul-away; the total price; and the payment terms. If something you discussed isn’t written down, ask for it to be added.

Why do window replacement quotes vary so much?

Quotes can differ in the series, the glass package, how the windows are installed and what’s included. Asking every company the same questions shows you which differences are real.

Get your free estimate

Bring this list to your estimate, and to every other estimate you get. Crescent Windows and Doors serves homeowners in Johns Creek, Duluth, Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Cumming, Suwanee, Buford and Lawrenceville. We’ll measure every window, explain your options and leave you a written quote, with no obligation to buy and no pushy sales calls. Call 470-533-0777 or book your free estimate online.