Websites for window and door installers.

A retrofit leaves the existing frame in place and fits the new window inside it, which is faster, cheaper and slightly reduces the glass area. Full frame takes everything back to the rough opening so we can see and fix the framing, insulation and flashing behind it. If there has been any water damage, rot or air leakage, full frame is the only honest answer — otherwise you are sealing a new window over a wet problem.

More, in our experience. Most callbacks in this trade are leaks and drafts caused by a missing sill pan, foam packed in too tight, or the wrong sealant on the wrong surface — not by the window itself. That is why we install to the CSA standard for window installation and why we would rather sell a mid-range window installed properly than a premium one installed carelessly.

Real, but usually less dramatic than the sales pitch suggests, especially if your current windows are decent double glazing. Where people notice the difference immediately is comfort: no cold draft at the sofa, no condensation running down the glass, and much less street noise. If cost savings are the main goal, attic insulation and air sealing generally pay back faster.

Any season. Spring and fall are the most comfortable and therefore the busiest; winter installs are entirely normal, done one opening at a time so the house is never wide open. Manufacturing lead times are typically shorter in the off-season, so a winter order often gets installed sooner than a spring one.

Usually. A basement bedroom needs an egress window of a minimum size that opens without tools, and that generally means cutting the foundation wall, installing a lintel and digging a proper window well. It is real work involving structural cutting, so it needs to be quoted on site — but it is what turns a basement room into a legal, insurable, sellable bedroom.

A little condensation at the very bottom edge on a cold morning is normal and is about indoor humidity, not a defect. Water between the panes means a failed sealed unit and is a warranty matter. If new windows suddenly cause condensation everywhere, it is usually because the house is now tighter and needs better ventilation, which we will talk you through.