What should a window replacement quote include?

A useful window replacement quote names the products, the work at every opening, finishing, taxes and exclusions, payment terms, and the process for approving changes. A total alone can't tell you whether two companies are pricing the same job.

Start with a room-by-room window schedule

Before comparing totals, make sure every company has priced the same openings and the same work. “Nine windows, installed” doesn't tell you which rooms are included, whether the glass is double- or triple-pane, or what happens to trim around an opening. A window schedule does. It connects every opening in your house with the specifications and labour being proposed.

Ask for a list that uses a room name or an easy-to-recognize opening identifier. “Kitchen, above sink” is more useful than an unexplained item number. If the project will happen in stages, the schedule should also show which windows are being left for later.

If energy performance affects your decision, ask for the rating of the exact configuration quoted. A product-family name alone doesn't identify the glass package or size being supplied.

Four Alberta projects show why scope changes the number

Our Calgary and Edmonton project galleries publish real scopes alongside approximate project investments, which makes them a practical way to see how scope shapes a total. They're completed projects, not average prices or a quote for your home, so use them to see what your own quote should separate.

Bon Accord: five triple-pane replacement windows

The Bon Accord project on our Edmonton page is a returning-customer job with five triple-pane windows and an approximate total of $5,864.25 CAD . It's the simplest of the four examples because the scope is limited to windows and names the glazing configuration.

Even on a small project, a quote needs more than a quantity and a total. Confirm the opening locations, finished sizes, glass package, removal method, exterior finishing and whether taxes are included. Dividing a project total by the number of windows won't give you a reliable per-window price, because size, product and site conditions all change the number.

Heritage Pointe: windows and an eight-foot patio door in one scope

At Heritage Pointe in De Winton , we installed nine windows and one Amalfi patio door , with the door standing eight feet tall . The product specification is DraftLOCK Plus, triple pane, black exterior / beige interior , and the approximate project total is $33,000 CAD .

This case shows why a total for a window-and-door project shouldn't be divided by nine or 10. The patio door is a distinct product with its own size and configuration, while the window package includes a contrasting interior and exterior finish. When comparing a quote to a similar renovation, ask the company to list the door separately from the window schedule and to name the finish on each side of every product. It should also state whether the door opening, interior trim and exterior finishing are included.

This project shows that windows, a large patio door and a two-tone finish can be planned as one scope. Because those choices are priced together, the total isn't a price for an Amalfi door, a colour upgrade or a triple-pane window on its own.

Kananaskis River Retreat: new openings change the work itself

The Kananaskis River Retreat in Longview is the example to use when the project changes the wall rather than simply replacing an existing unit. The specification is DraftLOCK, double pane, black exterior , with some white jambs and some oak jambs . The project lists 17 windows replaced and notes that six new windows were added with wall cut-outs and reframing to open up the views. The approximate project total is $42,000 CAD .

When your plans include a larger opening or a new window where none existed, ask for a separate line for wall cut-outs, reframing, any permit responsibility, insulation, exterior work and restoration of interior finishes. The quote should also state exactly how many openings are replacements and how many are new. The window product itself is only one part of that decision.

It also shows why a double-pane project that includes new openings can't be compared line for line with a straight replacement. Construction work sits inside the total, so use this example to frame your questions rather than to estimate a cost per window.

West Springs: doors, triple-pane windows and decorative details

The West Springs project in Calgary includes 18 windows and two doors , with an approximate total of $67,000 CAD . Its product line reads DraftLOCK Plus, triple-pane, black exterior, cottage-style grilles (top row, internal) . That's a much broader scope than a single-window replacement, and the doors and decorative grille specification belong in the comparison.

If you want a similar look, ask for the number and type of doors as their own entries, then ask the estimator to identify where the top-row internal cottage-style grille treatment applies. The window schedule should show which openings use triple-pane glazing, which surfaces receive the black exterior finish, and what finishing work is included around the doors. A visual preference is only comparable once it is written as a specification.

A total like $67,000 bundles several decisions: doors, triple-pane glazing, a black exterior and a decorative grille pattern. Its value is in showing how many separate choices a larger project involves, not in setting a price for any one of them.

Make installation and finishing explicit

Ask the estimator to explain the proposed installation method for each opening. Will the existing frame remain? Is interior trim being removed? Does the quote cover a replacement within the existing opening, or does it include a change to the opening? “Installation included” doesn't answer those questions.

Finishing needs the same attention as the window itself. Confirm what trim is supplied, its material and finish, whether exterior caulking or cladding is included, and who handles repainting disturbed surfaces. Ask how the crew will protect the home, what you should move before the work begins and who removes old units and debris.

Agree on changes before work begins

Some conditions can't be confirmed until the crew removes an old window. A clear quote separates known work from possible additional work. Ask what happens if the crew finds damage around an opening: who explains it, how they calculate the cost, and whether you must approve the work in writing before it starts.

Request a written change order for every agreed adjustment. It should describe the work, the added or reduced cost and any effect on timing. Keep the payment schedule, anticipated installation timing and warranty documents with the final scope, and ask which dates are estimates rather than commitments.

The warranty belongs in that file too. Every window and door from Canadian Choice Windows & Doors is backed by our 25-year transferable warranty , and your final documents should state what the coverage includes. We've implemented a new warranty term on TrueCrankless windows and doors - 40-years transferable warranty. All other styles remain 25 years.

Compare equivalent scopes, not totals

Put shortlisted quotes beside the same window schedule. Highlight differences in glass, product, finishes, doors, work around the opening and exclusions. Ask each company to explain a difference in writing before deciding whether a higher total buys a specification or service you need.

For an early budget discussion, our window quote calculator is a good place to start. When you're ready for a measured written scope, book a free consultation with Canadian Choice Windows & Doors, rated 4.7/5 from 3,500+ reviews on HomeStars . Our team will put every opening, product and finish in writing so you can compare quotes with confidence.

Frequently asked questions

Does a window replacement quote include tax?

It should state whether taxes are included or added separately and show the amount payable. If the wording is unclear, ask for a revised written total before approving the work.

Should I compare quotes using a price per window?

Only compare equivalent products and work. A total that includes doors, new openings, different glass or different finishing can't become a reliable comparison simply by dividing it by the number of windows.

What should a quote say about a new window opening?

It should separate the window from wall cut-outs, reframing, permit responsibility, insulation and restoration of surrounding finishes. The Longview case shows why those items must be clear before work begins.

What if I change a colour after approving the quote?

Contact the company promptly and ask whether the order can still be changed once it has been released to production. Get any revised specification, price and timing in writing before approving the change.