Confirm the opening and installation method
Ask which parts of the existing assembly will remain. Insert replacement retains a suitable frame; full-frame replacement exposes more of the rough opening. The scope determines what the installer can inspect and repair, so it should be named for each opening.
Before closing the wall, record any wet or deteriorated framing, damaged sheathing and signs of an earlier leak. Have the cause and repair scope explained. A new unit should not hide unresolved damage. Agree how unexpected repairs will be documented and priced before the surrounding finishes are removed.
Review drainage and the air seal separately
The installer should use instructions appropriate to the window, wall and installation type. Ask how the sill, jambs and head connect to the wall’s water-control layers and where incidental water is intended to drain. A bead of exterior caulk by itself does not explain that water path.
Insulation in a perimeter gap and a continuous air seal do different jobs. For example, loosely packed fibrous insulation does not itself establish airtightness. Ask what seals the window to the wall and how corners and joints remain continuous. Foam or sealant must be suitable for the application and must not distort the frame or block intended drainage.
Check function and collect the handover record
Before accepting the work, operate each sash and lock, check screens and review visible finish damage. The window should open and latch as designed without being forced. Ask the installer to demonstrate the cleaning position and any opening restrictors rather than discovering them later.
Keep photographs taken before trim covers the work, the product labels, installation instructions and the written repair record. Identify who handles an adjustment or later leak complaint. These records cannot prove every concealed detail, but they make the installation scope and follow-up responsibilities much clearer.
Technical references
- Pella: Window installation instructions — Installation instructions differ by unit and replacement method.
- Andersen: Air and vapour control at window installations — Perimeter insulation does not substitute for a continuous air seal.
Include a preferred date and time
Discuss your exterior project
Select the exterior work and note the current material and repair or replacement needs.
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