Window & Door Contractors near you

Style changes more than the look of the house. Windows that close by pressing the sash against its weatherstripping, like casements and awnings, generally seal tighter than those whose sashes slide past each other. The way a unit opens also decides how much fresh air comes in, how easy the outside of the glass is to clean and whether a bedroom window can serve as an exit in an emergency.

Natural Resources Canada administers the ENERGY STAR program for windows, doors and skylights sold in Canada. Under version 5.0 of the Canadian specification, in effect since January 1, 2020, a certified window or door must have a U-factor of 1.22 W/m²·K or lower, or an Energy Rating (ER) of 34 or higher, and meet an air leakage limit. Older brochures may still show a map of climate zones, but the current criteria apply across the whole country.

The figures on a label measure different things. The U-factor is the rate at which heat escapes through the product, so lower is better. The ER balances the U-factor, solar heat gain and air leakage in one score for windows and doors, so higher is better. The solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) shows how much of the sun's heat passes through, and visible transmittance (VT) how much daylight does; for both, a higher figure means more gets in.

Those ratings come from the glazing and the frame working together: double or triple panes, a low-emissivity (low-e) coating that reflects heat back into the room, an inert gas such as argon between the panes and insulating spacers that keep the edge of the glass warmer. A window facing south can use a higher SHGC to collect winter sun, while one facing west that overheats in summer may call for a lower one, so ask the contractor to explain the ratings of each unit in the quote.

Condensation on the inside of the glass is usually a humidity problem rather than a window defect. When warm, moist indoor air touches a cold surface, water forms, and in deep cold it turns to frost along the bottom of the glass and on the frame. New, tighter windows can make it more visible at first, because less air leaks out of the house and humidity rises. Running bathroom and kitchen fans, leaving blinds slightly open so warm air reaches the glass and keeping indoor humidity in check usually help.

Fog or moisture between two panes is a different story: the seal of the sealed unit has failed and moist air has got inside. It can't be wiped off, and the usual fix is a new thermos rather than a whole new window, as long as the frame is sound.

Giving the windows and doors to the same company has practical advantages: one visit to measure every opening, frame colours and exterior capping that match, the same flashing and air-sealing details everywhere and a single contact if something goes wrong later. It also means one order from the manufacturer, and since most units are built to measure, the time between ordering and delivery usually sets the schedule.

In Quebec, a contractor whose main activity is window and door work for others needs a licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ). The specialized subclass for this work is 8.0, doors and windows. Look up the contractor's licence and its subclasses on the RBQ website before you sign.

Whether replacing a window or door in the same opening needs a building permit depends on the municipality. Many require one when an opening is created, enlarged or moved, because that means cutting into the wall and adding a new header above it, and changing the look of a facade can need approval, particularly on heritage buildings or in protected areas. Ask your city before ordering, and agree in writing on who applies.