When the high-pressure salesmen come to sell in their tasseled loafers and no sox, you’ll hear lots (mostly bologna) about why their windows are the best. What you rarely hear about is the installation itself. The best window, if not properly installed, is not going to perform as it was designed to.

INSTALLERS: When the installers knock on your door to begin installation, will you look at them and think to yourself “I really don’t feel comfortable letting these scruffy guys into my home”? At Western we pride ourselves in our clean-cut, experienced, and competent installers. Our Leadmen have been trained in our installation methods in addition to those of our window suppliers. Before coming to work for us all Leadmen go thru a background check that includes a criminal check and drug test. We take pride that our installers and our installation methods truly are the best in the industry.

LEAKS: A common shortcut amongst quickie installers is to skip backbeading or sealing the flange of the Retrofit Window against the remaining frame of the original window using a polyurethane sealant (after the window is installed, you can‘t see it). Once the window is fastened and sealed in place the installer should run a additional neat, continuous bead of caulk around the sides and top (not the bottom) of the Retrofit Window and tool it (push it in) with his finger (beware of installers with clean hands!). The 3rd seal is the use of a minimally expanding foam applied from the inside. Use of this foam also provides additional structural rigidity to the frame and acts as an insulator.

SMOOTH OPERATION: Yes, some windows do operate more smoothly than others, but the primary cause of a window that sticks, binds, or rumbles and bumps is an installation that is not plumb and square. One way to visually check for this is to look at the reveal which is spacing between the edge of the vent (movable part of the window) and the fixed frame when in the almost-closed position. The reveal should be even from top to bottom.

APPEARANCE: Properly applied interior trim should be neat and clean and virtually indistinguishable from the window itself. The window frame and glass should be clean. The job is complete only when all drapes, blinds, and window coverings are reinstalled, all furniture is back where it belongs, all tools and drop cloths are removed, your old windows are loaded for disposal, and your floors are vacuumed. Before asking for payment the Leadman should proudly review the job with you and demonstrate the operation of your new windows / doors.

INSTALLATION NOTE: Some of our competition still trim the exterior of their windows and doors with a system called coil or break metal. In place of windows with an integral vinyl flange they order windows with block frames (without the flange) and then fabricate the flange, at the jobsite, from thin vinyl coated aluminum. We don’t consider this method acceptable for several reasons: it usually looks bad, it easily dents, is difficult to properly seal against leaking, and will probably have a far shorter life (especially near the coast) than your “lifetime” windows.

PROVE IT: Well, talk is cheap, but there are a few things you can do to check on your contractor: 1. Our salesman is really your Project Manager. You can trust him to follow your job thru to completion. 2. Check referrals. Worth a try, but lets face it, no one is going to provide you with a bad referral. 3. Check the California State Contractor’s License Board. Are they really licensed? 4. Check the BBB, Better Business Bureau. Do they have a history of complaints? 5. Have they been AAMA (American Architectural Manufacturers Association) certified? 6. A method I particularly like is to visit a job in progress. See for yourself what’s actually happening on the job. Do the installers seem to know what they’re doing? Are they neat and clean? Do they respect the home they’re working on?

Also consider, have they been around for a while, or are they a new startup operating out of the back of a pickup? Do they guarantee their installation in writing?

Russell Sieger, President
Western Window Replacement