Starting a window upgrade is exciting. You’ll experience so many great benefits, like improved indoor comfort, energy efficiency and curb appeal. But the process of getting to the final product takes a few stages, and most homeowners prefer to get started with an idea of what to expect.
So how long will the installation actually take the 2FL Windows, Siding and Roofing team? We’ll answer that and a variety of other project scheduling information to help you prepare.
The Schedule for Your Window Installation Project
Find step-by-step what to expect with a window installation project. Here’s a look at the homeowner’s time commitment for a window installation project.
1. Initial Consultation and Measurement
The initial consultation is one of the most important steps in the process. This is when we get to know you, your goals with your new windows, preferences for style and budget.
We’ll work with you to talk through the various options for your windows to accomplish the curb appeal you’ve always wanted. This part of the process takes place at your home as we walk from room to room discussing your needs.
You can expect this part of the project to take about an hour, but if you have additional questions, the 2FL team is always available to answer them via email or phone.
Throughout the consultation, we’ll measure the windows to provide a precise estimate and ensure we’re ordering exactly what you need.
2. Manufacturing
Once you’ve agreed to the estimate and seen samples of the window styles you’ve selected, we’ll officially order the windows. This phase of the process will vary based on the window manufacturer you select, the time of year, and your style preferences. It can be anywhere from 6-12 weeks for the manufacturer to build your windows to your specifications.
But don’t worry, we’ll handle communicating with the manufacturing company and processing your order so you have nothing to worry about. Our relationships with manufacturers can help minimize delays.
The manufacturer will provide a firm delivery date, at which time the 2FL team can provide you with a firm installation date.
3. Pre-installation Prep
A few days before the work begins, you will need to begin preparing your home for the work. This involves several steps to ensure the contractors have the room they need to navigate around the windows for proper installation.
- Clear furniture and décor within 3-4 feet of the windows
- Clear any exterior obstacles, such as landscaping or parked vehicles
- Make arrangements for pets and young children to be out of the home as much as possible during the project to reduce any stress and anxiety on them
- Remove blinds, curtains and any other window coverings from the windows
Preparing the area will ensure your installation crew can do the work they need to without delays. If you don’t do this in advance, you’ll need to be available to prepare the space around each window as your crew moves from room to room, which you might find inconvenient since window installation takes place during normal business hours.
4. Installation Day(s)
Depending on the number of windows in your home and the project scope, window installation could take more than one day.
Roughly, you can estimate that a standard full-frame or nail-fin method window will take about an hour to replace. However, custom or bay/bow windows take significantly longer at roughly 2-4 hours depending on size and complexity.
Homes with more than 10 windows will likely be a multi-day project. In some cases, we might remove the window and find structural damage or rot. While we certainly hope this doesn’t happen at your home, if it does, we’ll need to adjust the installation schedule to mitigate this issue before continuing with installation.
5. Final Inspection and Walk Through
After the fact, we walk through the home with the customer. We’ll demonstrate how the windows operate, talk to you about how to lock and latch the windows, and explain how to maintain the windows to protect your warranty and ensure longevity for your windows.
Some maintenance you might need to do over the years include caulking or trim touchups.
We’ll provide any warranty information and provide you your project completion summary. Typically, this walk through only takes about an hour at the end of the job. But if you have questions, now is the time to ask those questions and get answers from your team.
What You Can Expect on Installation Day
Homeowners both anticipate and dread installation day. It’s filled with excitement because your new windows have finally arrived. But like any great improvement, you have to get through the process before enjoying your newfound curb appeal.
2FL takes customer satisfaction seriously. Here’s a look at what you can expect on installation day so there are now surprises.
- Crews will arrive at your house early, but feel free to let your contactor know if there are limitations to that timeline we should be aware of.
- Protecting your home is important to us. We’ll start our day by laying down drop cloths and setting up our tools and materials.
- Your contractor team will carefully remove your old windows and prepare them for disposal. We’ll handle everything to do with disposal so you don’t have to worry about that.
- We’ll check the window openings and clean and prepare them for your new windows. This includes ensuring that the flashing looks good and is ready for your new windows.
- Using our expertise, we level, shim, secure and test each window as we install it. This ensures you’ll have an enjoyable experience with the windows long-term so they are operable and sealed.
- Installing insulation foam and high-quality sealant will help prevent drafts and heat loss from your home.
- Our team will then reinstall any interior or exterior trim that we had to remove as part of the installation.
- We’ll complete a final cleanup and inspect the worksite to ensure it is how we found it, just with beautiful new windows.
Factors that Could Impact the Time Your Window Installation Takes
While we strive to meet all installation timelines we give you from the moment we provide an estimate, there are several factors outside of our control that could impact your installation schedule. Here’s a look at some of those possible factors:
- Weather: Rain, high winds and cold temperatures could delay your project because we can’t seal the windows at certain temperatures or in windy, rainy conditions.
- Home condition: Once we remove your old windows, we might find water damage that we couldn’t see while the windows were installed. Uneven openings can also cause problems.
- Project scope: Specialty windows take longer to install and could present more unknowns that our team couldn’t see before getting into it.
- Team scheduling conflicts: While we have a robust team, illnesses or emergencies could lead to unexpected disruptions.
Get Your Estimate Now to Start Enjoying Your New Windows in 4-12 Weeks
Schedule your estimate now so you can start enjoying your new windows in 4-12 weeks. We’ll treat your home like you treat your home with care and attention to detail. Our customer service team will ensure your satisfaction so you can rest assured that your project is done right. We’ll do everything we can to stick to our original timelines provided to avoid disrupting your life.
