Questions to Ask Before Signing a Window Contract: the 12-Point Checklist
These are the questions to ask before signing a window contract: twelve of them, in five groups, on one page. Ask them during the measuring visit, tick the boxes, and do not sign until every answer is on the written quote. The point is not to interrogate anyone. It is to make sure the document you are agreeing to describes the job you think you are buying.
The company
Who is actually going to be in your house, and what stands behind them.
What is your PA Home Improvement Contractor number, and can I see current insurance certificates?
Why it matters: Pennsylvania requires HIC registration for nearly every contractor doing home improvement work, and the number is public. Liability and workers’ comp protect you if something goes wrong on your property.
A good answer: A number you can look up on the Attorney General’s registry and certificates dated this year, produced without hesitation.
Are the installers your employees or subcontractors, and who supervises the job?
Why it matters: Subcontracted crews are common and can be excellent, but you want to know who is responsible for the workmanship and the warranty.
A good answer: A straight answer either way, plus a named lead installer or project manager you can call.
Can you give me three addresses in my township where you installed in the past year?
Why it matters: Local track record matters more than a brand on the truck. Storm-chasing outfits cannot answer this.
A good answer: Three addresses on the spot, ideally in similar housing to yours.
The product
What you are buying, in terms you can verify.
Which manufacturer and which series, and what are the NFRC ratings for the glass you quoted?
Why it matters: Every brand sells several tiers. The U-factor and SHGC on the NFRC label are the only objective way to compare glass across quotes.
A good answer: Series name in writing and a U-factor of 0.30 or better for the Lehigh Valley climate, with the label or spec sheet available.
What frame material and color did you quote, and which options are listed separately?
Why it matters: Vinyl, fiberglass, composite, and wood-clad are different products with different warranties. Exterior colors and woodgrain interiors are usually separate options.
A good answer: Material and color on each line of the quote, with each option written as its own line you can take or leave.
The installation
The install decides how the window performs, not the logo.
Which openings are insert replacements and which are full-frame, and why?
Why it matters: Full-frame is more work at every opening it applies to and is the right call where sills are rotted or frames are out of square. It should be chosen per window, not for the whole house by default.
A good answer: A per-opening answer that references what they saw when they measured.
What exterior and interior finish work is included, and who paints?
Why it matters: Capping, brickmould, stops, casing, and drywall touch-up are where many quotes quietly differ.
A good answer: Each item listed on the quote as included, excluded, or written as its own line.
How do you handle removal, disposal, and lead-safe practices on an older home?
Why it matters: The EPA’s RRP rule generally applies to work on pre-1978 homes, so lead-safe practices belong on the quote. Disposal should never be an install-day surprise.
A good answer: Included on the quote, with a mention of lead-safe certification if your house predates 1978.
The warranty
Two warranties, two documents.
What does the manufacturer warranty cover, for how long, and does it transfer if I sell?
Why it matters: "Lifetime" often means the original owner only and excludes glass seal failure after a set number of years.
A good answer: The written manufacturer warranty, with the transfer terms highlighted.
What is your labor warranty, in writing, and what does it exclude?
Why it matters: The manufacturer does not cover installation defects. Only the installer’s labor warranty does.
A good answer: A written labor warranty of at least five years, ten is better, that names what is excluded.
The terms
The document, and how long it stays the document.
Is this quote firm, how long is it valid, and what are the deposit terms?
Why it matters: A firm quote with a 30-day window lets you decide on your schedule. A deposit should follow a signed itemized agreement, never precede it.
A good answer: Firm, 30 days or more, a modest deposit at signing with the balance on completion, all in writing.
If I add or remove openings, how does the quote change?
Why it matters: Scope changes after measuring are common. Knowing how the quote is rebuilt helps you decide whether to phase the job or do it all now.
A good answer: A clear explanation of how the quote is rewritten when openings are added or removed, and a revised document before you sign.
What to do with the answers
Every answer that matters should appear on the written quote itself: the series name, the glass ratings, insert or full-frame per opening, the finish work, the disposal line, both warranties, and the terms with their expiry date. If the installer answered well in person but the paper does not say it, ask for a revised quote before you sign. Paper is what you will be holding in five years.
If you have quotes from more than one company, use the apples-to-apples comparison method next. If you are still choosing a window, the style guides and material guides list the spec details to ask for on each.
Checklist questions
Should I ask these questions before or after the measuring visit?
During it. The installer has just seen your openings and can answer the install questions specifically. Print the list, tick the boxes as you go, and note anything that has to be added to the written quote.
What if the contractor gets annoyed by the questions?
Good installers like informed customers because it means fewer disputes later. Irritation at basic questions about registration, insurance, or warranty terms is itself an answer.
Which of the twelve matter most?
If you only ask three: the HIC number and insurance, insert versus full-frame per opening, and the written labor warranty. Those three catch most of the problems homeowners report.
Should I ask about the schedule?
Yes, and it is the question most homeowners forget. Ask for the manufacturing lead time, the expected number of install days, and what happens if a unit arrives damaged. All three belong on the written quote.
Is a longer warranty always better?
Not automatically. A ten-year labor warranty from a company that has been installing in the Lehigh Valley for twenty years is worth more than a lifetime promise from one that opened last spring. Ask how long they have been in business.
Does the installer from this site expect these questions?
Yes. Every company in the network agrees to a written, itemized quote per opening with product, glass ratings, installation method, finish work, disposal, and both warranties before any deposit. The checklist is how you confirm they delivered.
Keep reading
- What's included in a window replacement quote →The line items a written quote must have, and the red flags.
- How to compare window replacement quotes →Same glass, same scope, same count. Apples to apples.
- How we vet the installer who quotes you →PA HIC registration, insurance, local record, written-quote policy, and more.
- How to get a window replacement quote →ZIP, 60-second form, one measuring visit, written quote. Every step explained.
- Online window quote vs. in-home measuring visit →What an instant online quote can and cannot tell you, and how to skip the sales pitch anyway.
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