THE OPENING
We check what is already there: sill, sides, head, and how square it is.
How we work
What each opening needs
How we look at each window opening, what changes the scope, and why the written estimate lists the approach opening by opening.
ANSWERThe condition of the opening, and what you want the finished window to look like, decide how much work each window takes.
Photo guide
See what actually changes at the opening.
The easiest way to understand the scope is to look at what is actually at the opening.
A replacement window is easier to understand when you can see the work happening at the opening.
CLEARVIEW JOB PHOTOWhat to look for
The opening tells you how much work is involved.
Use the photo to orient yourself, then use the numbered notes to decide what matters at your own opening.
THE APPROACH
The right approach for each opening goes in the written estimate.
WHAT CHANGES
Trim, siding, flashing, and interior finish can become part of the scope, depending on the opening.
Use the photograph as a reference, not a diagnosis.Every house has different framing, cladding, access, and opening conditions.
Two houses with the same number of windows can be very different jobs. What sets the scope is the opening each window sits in: how sound it is, how square it is, and what you want the finished window to look like. That is why we do not price from a photo, and why the written estimate covers each opening on its own.
What you tell us
Before we measure, it helps to know:
- Whether you want to keep your existing interior trim and exterior siding
- Whether you want the exterior look to stay the same or change
- Which windows bother you most, and why: drafts, fogging, sticking, water
What we look at on site
We do not decide from a photo of the glass. At each opening we check:
- The sill, with a probe and not just by eye
- Whether the sash still closes square
- How the exterior cladding meets the old casing
- Whether you want the same sightlines or a different window style
Signs an opening needs more work
Any of these changes the scope, and we would rather find them at the measure than after the old window is out:
- Soft wood at the sill or jamb. Press with a screwdriver handle, not just a look. If it gives, water has been inside the wall.
- A sash that racks instead of sliding square. The opening itself may have shifted, not just the hardware.
- Visible gap or daylight at a corner. The opening is no longer square enough to seal a new window against.
- Aluminum frames with heavy pitting or corrosion. Common on 1970s-80s Vancouver-area homes.
A wet wall often needs the opening opened up and repaired, not just a new window placed over the damage.
What the written estimate covers
The estimate lists the approach for each opening instead of one price that could hide a bigger job. If two openings in the same house need different work, the estimate says so and prices them separately.
What this means for cost and time
Openings that need more work take more time on site and more finish work. A mixed house is normal. Read what a Washington project costs for ranges, then get a measure so the number is about your openings.
More detail
Window flashing: see the work, then follow the layers.
Flashing is easiest to understand from actual installation work: the opening is prepared first, then the layers overlap so water has a path out.
CLEARVIEW JOB PHOTOWhat to look for
Water needs a way out.
Use the photo to orient yourself, then use the numbered notes to decide what matters at your own opening.
SILL
The bottom of the opening is protected first, so water has a path back outside.
SIDES
Side flashing connects the window to the prepared opening.
TOP
Head flashing overlaps the wall weather barrier and directs water outward.
Use the photograph as a reference, not a diagnosis.Every house has different framing, cladding, access, and opening conditions.
Common questions
Do I have to decide how the windows get installed?
No. We measure every opening and tell you the right approach in the written estimate. You tell us what you want, such as keeping your trim or changing the look, and we tell you what each opening takes.
Can one house get different treatment for different windows?
Yes. A rotten kitchen sink window may need more work than the bedrooms. The finished elevations should still read as one house.
Can you quote from a photo?
A photo helps us prepare, but it cannot show a soft sill or an opening that has moved. The number comes after we measure and look at the opening in person.