What Exactly Will Happen During a Window Measurement and Consultation Appointment?
If you have a professional coming to your home to measure for replacement windows, you may have questions about what will happen.
In our Raleigh, NC window store, some of the common questions customers have before a measurement appointment are:
“Does someone measuring my home for replacement windows need to come inside the house? Or can they just measure from the outside?”
“How long will it take to measure my home for new windows?”
“Do I need to know what kind of new windows I want when my old windows are measured?”
Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more about what you can expect during a window measurement and consultation appointment.
1. Do I need to have a Professional Measure my Windows?
First, we need to address the top question we get about in-home window measurement and consultation appointments. That is ‘Do I even need to have a professional come to my home and measure for replacement windows?’
We can understand why you’re asking.
The internet is full of advice about how to measure for replacement windows. With so much information available, it seems like measuring your own windows for replacement should be easy enough for the average homeowner to do, right?
Unfortunately, no.
We have seen self-measurement end up terribly for homeowners.
That’s because window measurement is complicated.
Which exterior casing profile is needed? What about the interior moulding profile? Are extension jambs needed, and if so, in what size?
These are just some of the questions that an experienced window consultant will need to find answers to while measuring your home. As you can see, it’s much more in-depth than simply knowing the length and width of your windows.
We also know that homeowners who measure for replacement windows themselves risk losing a lot of money.
Suppose you order a whole houseful of windows only to realize that all or even some of them are the wrong size. There is no way to return these windows. That’s because windows are, in most cases, made to order to the unique size, color, and material specifications that each homeowner wants.
This mistake could cost you thousands of dollars, and result in lengthy construction delays while waiting for the right size windows.
That’s why we insist on personally measuring the windows for every homeowner we sell to.
2. Will the Person Measuring my Replacement Windows Need to come Inside my Home? Or can They Measure Everything from the Outside?
As we just described, properly measuring your windows for replacement involves assessing much more than the length and width of your windows. For your window quote to be accurate, the consultant will need access to the inside of your home.
It’s also important for the window consultant to come inside your home to make other assessments.
Suppose, for example, they note signs of rot in the walls below your windows. Seeing this ahead of time, they can give you a more accurate assessment of the cost to repair this during the installation of your replacement windows.
Had they only seen the outside of your home, that rot repair would be an unexpected cost and construction delay during your window replacement project.
3. Does Someone Measuring my Windows need to see Every Room in my House?
In short, yes.
It happens frequently that a homeowner tells us they have, say, 14 windows for replacement. But, when we come to their home to measure, we find 15, 16, or even 17 windows!
It’s easy to forget about windows hidden in tucked away rooms like bathrooms, laundry rooms, even closets!
A window measurement consultant is not trying to invade your privacy if they ask you to look inside a room or behind a door.
They are just trying to ensure that every window in your home is measured for replacement so that nothing is missed.
4. I had my Windows Measured for an Estimate a Few Years Ago. Can you just use those Measurements?”
At Window Works Co., our policy is that we always remeasure if it’s been 6 months or longer since we’ve been to your property.
Of course, we’re not expecting the sizes of your windows to change. But we do want to make sure that we have the most up-to-date information about the condition of your windows and walls. This will help us to give you the most accurate quote for windows and installation.
As we always say, it’s better to measure twice and cut once!
5. Will I get my Quote for the Cost of Replacement Windows During the Window Measurement and Consultation Appointment?
We understand and want to know as soon as possible how much window replacement will cost.
However, because each window is custom made for your home and design specification, each window must be individually quoted.
In addition, the cost for installation labor must be individually calculated based on your home. As an example of why this is true; suppose two homeowners have a window roughly the same size and color to be installed. The installation cost may be very different if one homeowner is having this window installed on the ground floor, and the other is having it installed above a second story foyer. This second homeowner’s window will require scaffolding to access and additional installation personnel for safety reasons, and thus the same window may cost more to install.
Finally, allowing time for quoting can let us show you the cost difference between multiple options.
Maybe you aren’t sure if you’d like a vinyl or a fiberglass window. Or perhaps you’d like to see how much more black windows would cost than white.
Just know that all of these options can be quoted, but that it may take some for each window you’re considering to be quoted. We ask that you allow us up to one week from the time we measure to deliver your quote for replacement windows.
6. How Long Does a Window Measurement and Consultation Appointment Last?
This will, of course, vary depending on many windows you have in your home, and how easy they are for the measurement consultant to access.
However, a rough estimate is:
- 5-10 windows may take 15-30 minutes
- 10-15 windows may take 30-45 minutes
- 15-20 windows may take 45-60 minutes
- 20+ windows may take an hour or more
Quick Checklist to get Ready for your Window Measurement and Consultation Appointment
- Make sure every window is accessible. This may mean moving furniture or stored items if they prevent someone from accessing a window.
- Count the windows in your home. We recommend you do this from the inside and the outside, to be sure that the numbers match!
- If you are completing your project in multiple phases, we recommend marking your windows to make clear which should be measured and which should not.
Pro tip: Painter’s tape with a note written such as ‘include’ or ‘don’t include’ works great for this!
Professional Window Installer Serving Raleigh, NC, and Surrounding Areas
Having your windows measured by a professional is the best way to ensure that you upgrade your home with functional, beautiful windows that you’ll love for years to come.
When you’re ready to start your window replacement project, schedule your window consultation phone call. We can’t wait to measure your windows and start your window replacement project!
