Window Replacement Quote Checklist

What it should state. What's commonly not stated. What to ask before you sign.

You're about to sign a window replacement quote. This page lists what a complete one states, the lines that are commonly not stated, and the questions worth asking before your name goes on it.

This is a reading checklist, not advice. Spend Defense doesn't tell you whether to sign — we make sure you've actually seen what's on the page, and what isn't.

What a complete window quote states

  • Windows by name — manufacturer, series, frame material, and glass package (U-factor and SHGC ratings).

  • Window count and sizes — each opening listed, with its size and style.

  • Install type — full-frame replacement or insert/pocket install — stated, not buried.

  • Price per window and total — a per-window price as well as the total, so changes can be priced.

  • Trim and finishing — interior and exterior trim, caulking, and paint touch-up: included or not.

  • Removal and disposal — whether old windows are hauled away in the price.

  • Three warranties — product, labor, and glass breakage — each with its own length.

  • Payment schedule and lead time — deposit, balance trigger, and the expected order-to-install time.

What's commonly not stated

  • Which install type — insert and full-frame installs are very different jobs; some quotes never say which.
  • Labor warranty length — a lifetime product warranty can sit next to a short or missing labor warranty.
  • Rot or damage found at removal — how repairs to the rough opening are priced is often decided after the old window is out.
  • Lead-safe practices — for homes built before 1978, lead-safe work practices may not be mentioned.
  • Delivery delays — what happens if windows arrive late or wrong is rarely written down.

None of these gaps decide anything by themselves. They're the lines to ask about before you sign, not after.

Questions to ask before you sign

  1. “Which manufacturer and series is this, and what are the U-factor and SHGC?”
  2. “Is this a full-frame or an insert install?”
  3. “What is the price per window if I change the count?”
  4. “Are interior and exterior trim and touch-up included?”
  5. “What are the product, labor, and glass-breakage warranties — and how long is each?”

Want a second set of eyes on the actual document?

Send us the paperwork before you sign. A Quick Check reads your document and shows you what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask — for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Longer documents: Document Review $19, Premium Review $49.

Check my document →

We don't decide for you. We make sure nothing on the page — or missing from it — surprises you later.

FAQ

How much does window replacement usually cost?

We don't price other people's work — cost depends on the number of windows, the product line, the install type, and trim work. What you can check is whether your quote names the window, the install method, and a per-window price. If it doesn't, that's a question to ask before signing.

What if something on this checklist is missing from my window quote?

Ask for it in writing before you sign. A missing install type or labor warranty isn't a verdict on the company; it's an unknown in a contract you're about to be bound by. Getting it stated on the page costs nothing and settles it before the order is placed.

Can Spend Defense read my actual window quote?

Yes — that's the Quick Check. Send the document and you'll get back what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask, for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Quotes with long spec sheets may need the Document Review ($19, up to 25 pages).

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Spend Defense — we read the paperwork before you sign. We don't decide for you.