Two quotes for the same house can differ by thousands of dollars and both can be honest. The difference is almost never the window. It is what each company assumed was included.
This is the single biggest source of frustration we hear about, usually after the fact, when a homeowner discovers that the low quote did not cover the interior trim and now there is bare drywall around eleven windows. Here is what a complete quote should cover, item by item, so you can compare quotes on the same basis.
Does It Include the Frame?
This depends on which kind of replacement you are being quoted, and the two are genuinely different jobs.
An insert replacement fits a new window inside the existing frame. The old frame stays, only the sash and internal components are replaced. It is faster, cheaper and less disruptive, but it only works when the existing frame is sound, and it costs you a small amount of glass area because the new unit sits inside the old opening.
A full frame replacement removes everything down to the rough opening: frame, sill, the lot. It is the only correct choice when the existing frame has rot or water damage, and it is the only way to see and correct what is actually going on behind the trim. It costs more and it is the right call more often than homeowners expect.
A quote should state clearly which one it is. If it does not, ask, because a full frame quote will always look expensive next to an insert quote and you will be comparing two different jobs.
The Line Items to Look For
- Removal and disposal of the old windows. Some quotes leave the old units stacked in your driveway.
- Exterior capping. Aluminium cladding over the exterior wood trim. Without it, you are repainting exposed wood in two years.
- Interior trim and casing. The most common exclusion by far. Full frame replacement damages interior trim, and restoring it is real carpentry with a real cost.
- Sills and stools. Frequently separate on older homes.
- Insulation and air sealing of the gap. Low expansion foam plus correct sealing. Not optional, sometimes not itemised.
- Exterior caulking. Should be included as standard.
- Screens. Usually included on operable windows, occasionally priced separately.
- Hardware and locks. Check whether upgraded hardware is extra.
- Permit costs, where the job needs one. See our guide on whether you need a permit to replace windows in Ontario.
- Cleanup. Window work makes a mess.
The Exclusions That Turn Into Surprises
Rot repair. Nobody can see behind your trim until the window is out. Any honest quote treats rot as a possibility with a stated rate rather than pretending it will not happen. What you want is a company that tells you the hourly or per-opening rate for repairs up front, so if they find rot you already know the cost.
Painting and staining. New interior trim usually arrives unfinished. Confirm whether finishing is yours or theirs.
Window coverings. Blinds and shades often do not fit the new opening, particularly after an insert replacement, and reinstalling them is rarely included.
Alarm sensors. Contacts on existing windows need to be moved or replaced, and most installers will not touch a monitored system.
Structural work. If the opening is out of square or the header has sagged, that is carpentry beyond a window swap.
Warranty Is Part of the Quote
There are two warranties and they are not the same thing. The manufacturer warranty covers the window: glass seal failure, hardware, frame. The installation warranty covers the work: air and water leaks, settling, finish. A window company that offers a strong manufacturer warranty and a one year labour warranty is telling you something about how confident it is in its own installers.
Ask whether either warranty transfers if you sell, because a transferable warranty is worth real money at resale.
How to Compare Fairly
Get everything in writing, itemised. Ask every company the same question: what is not included in this price. Confirm insert versus full frame on each quote before you compare the totals. Ask what happens if rot is found. And check that the deposit structure is reasonable, since a company asking for most of the money before materials arrive is a company to be careful with.
Our list of questions to ask a window replacement contractor covers the rest of the conversation, and what it costs to replace windows gives you the ballpark before anyone visits.
Polaris Windows and Doors quotes in writing with the scope itemised, states clearly whether the job is insert or full frame, and gives you the repair rate up front so nothing arrives as a surprise. See our window replacement service or book a measured quote.
