I have a neighbor this spring that has had the worst experience with a window company in 3 months. They finally scheduled for her for an installation date and when the crew arrived, they had the wrong colored frame for the window. It has now been 2 weeks and they still cannot find time to seal the leaky seal on her window. I feel so bad for her, I know that they look great from the outside but when you are inside they are very drafty.
I was upset when my neighbor M told me in the spring of 2024 that she spent 3 months back and forth with a window company before they showed up with the wrong color frame, installed the windows just fine, and then two weeks went by and she couldn’t find the company when she started to get concerned about a draft coming from the seal. I said that the windows looked good from the street so she must be happy. But she wasn’t happy at all.
What you’re actually paying for
The reality is that there are many different window manufacturers, producing high-quality windows of all different shapes and sizes. What really matters, however, is the company behind them and their respective installation crews, project managers, and customer service. In the end, it is the warranty that they offer that really matters, and you should be very wary of extremely cheap window companies. As with everything in life, you get what you pay for. While it is true that a company offering high-end windows can sometimes be very expensive, the reality is that a very good company offering great products can cost anywhere from 30% to 50% less than their competitors. And in many cases, even a mediocre window can be great if it is installed properly.
A mediocre window that was installed well will out perform a top-of-the-line window that was installed poorly. Air infiltration, poor flashing, and gaps between window frame and surrounding area are examples of poor installation and not defects in the window. As with most things in life, the sheet music is only as good as the people playing it. Don’t make the mistake of comparing apples to apples based solely on specifications. Find out as much as you can about the company who will be installing your windows.
Signs a company is worth your time
Here are the ways that I can give you insight as to whether or not a certain company will be good for you or not.
- They do their own installation. Subcontracting isn’t automatically bad, but if the company you hire has never met the crew installing your windows, that’s a gap in accountability nobody tells you about upfront.
- They measure before they quote. A company that gives you a firm price over the phone — before anyone has looked at your existing frames or assessed your wall thickness — is guessing. You’re the one who pays for that guess later.
- They explain the warranty in plain language. “Lifetime warranty” means almost nothing without understanding what it covers, whether it’s transferable, and who you call when something fails.
- References aren’t hard to come by. If a company hesitates, deflects, or only shows you online reviews they’ve curated themselves, that tells you something.
A quick comparison: red flags vs. green flags
| What you observe | Red flag | Green flag |
| Initial quote process | Phone estimate, no site visit | In-home measurement before pricing |
| Installation crew | Third-party subcontractors you’ve never met | Company’s own trained installers |
| Warranty terms | Vague “lifetime” language, no documentation | Written warranty with clear scope |
| Communication style | Goes quiet after the contract is signed | Responsive before, during, and after |
| Licensing and insurance | Can’t produce proof quickly | Offers documentation without hesitation |
The mistake most homeowners make during the search
The cost of the windows is very important, and that is why a lot of people look for Allentown window replacement company that can offer affordable window replacement services. But remember that there is a huge difference between the cost of the windows and the cost of the installation of the windows. Yes, a lower price for a set of windows is considered to be a better deal; but this is only true if the installation of the windows is also done perfectly. When you hire a company to install a set of windows, you are not just hiring a company to install a set of windows; you are hiring a company to install a set of windows that will last for 20 to 30 years.
This is why when the installation of the windows is botched, you will be paying a lot more for the windows in the long run. Yes, the initial cost of the set of windows that were installed may be lower than what you would have paid if you had hired a different company to install the windows; but the cost of repairing the problems that was caused by the botched installation will be a lot higher. And then there is also the matter of increased heating and cooling cost of your home as a result of the problems that were caused by the installation of the windows. This is why you have to be very careful when you are choosing a window replacement company to install the windows in your home. The company that you choose to install the windows in your home should be able to offer affordable window replacement services; but the company should also be able to install the windows perfectly so that you will not have to worry about the problems that are caused by the installation of the windows in your home.
He [the company] would have known from the start that the required egress from the bedroom did not meet the municipality’s requirements for the existing wall. My friend only found this out after the three months of back and forth, the incorrect windows being delivered and installed, and finally the uninstallation of the window after 3 months of his life had been wasted. A local window replacement company would have known from the very start and would have made sure that the windows meet all the local building code’s requirements before they begin the job. This is not something to take lightly. Get local references from past customers, not glowing reviews from a website that can be created in minutes. Trust me.
( I used to think this was some local marketing firm gimmick but after hearing this home owner’s nightmare of having her window’s installed by an out of state company only to discover 2 months later that the installed window’s did not meet the egress requirement for a bedroom that was stipulated by the local municipality – and cost her dearly in terms of $$ and stress in the end – she had only wanted to replace her window’s….. )
What to expect from the process itself
You want to make sure that the home improvement company you hire can walk you through the steps of a home improvement project from start to finish in a practical straight forward manner. They should be able to outline and explain all of the different aspects of a home improvement project and explain each of the steps involved with the project and how long it will take to complete. If a home improvement company seems to be rushing through the steps of a home improvement project then that is a major red flag. You should be concerned that the home improvement company is trying to be dishonest with you in regards to how your home improvement project will be completed.
- An in-home consultation where they assess your current windows and discuss your goals.
- A written proposal that breaks down product, labor, and any additional work — like frame repair or trim replacement — as separate line items.
- A scheduled installation window with a realistic timeline, not a vague “a few weeks out.”
- A post-installation walkthrough where they check seals, test operation, and inspect the finish before packing up and leaving.
Notice also whether the company is outlining a process for you or simply running off a list of steps as if that’s how they do business. This can give you a good idea of how a given company actually does business and how they will likely treat you as a customer.
One thing people forget entirely — and then regret
Maintenance. Many windows are well made but still have to be maintained. Just greasing the hardware from time to time, making sure the exterior paint is caulked properly and cleaning out the weep holes from time to time are examples of the routine maintenance that your windows may need. It is great when a windows contractor goes through all of this for you but it is much better when the contractor explains all of these things to you before the work begins.
In the end, my neighbor needed a better installer. She needed someone who takes the first contact with a homeowner seriously and is willing to establish a good relationship. And most importantly, she needed someone who would explain to her what kind of windows she got and how to take care of them. And who to call if something went wrong.