Updated: Sept. 27, 2023
Published: Feb. 22, 2022
You’ve decided to take the plunge and signed the contract from DunRite, but how much work will it take to prepare for your home window replacement?
Good news — it really doesn’t take much! Our installation crews can do most of it, if needed. When they arrive, they’ll remove drapes, shutters, blinds, or any other window treatments you might have installed, move furniture away from the windows, and lay plastic sheeting down to protect your floors.
However, if you have electric blinds or window coverings that are fragile and brittle, we’re reluctant to handle something that can potentially break, so we request homeowners prepare the window area in advance by removing them before we arrive.
Once the job is complete, you can be confident they’ll put everything back in its place, leaving your home exactly like they found it. They’ll clean up all debris inside and outside of the home, too. Our mission is a five-star, hassle-free experience for each customer!
But to keep it an easy, seamless process, here are five things to consider as you prepare for home window replacement.
1. Trim Back the Landscaping. Most windows are replaced from the exterior of a home. To give the installers ample room to maneuver, and reduce risk of damaged plants, it’s a good idea to clear debris around your home that might be in the way. A basic rule of thumb is to allow two or three feet of cleared space around each window, if possible.
When your project manager representative is at your home to provide an estimate, it’s smart to walk around the exterior of the home with them to ask questions and discuss any landscaping that needs special care or consideration during the installation process. They’ll tell you exactly what needs to be done to the landscaping as you prepare for your home’s replacement windows to be installed. You can also remind the installation crew once they arrive. They’re always careful, but this ensures it’s top-of-mind.
2. Remove Interior Clutter. While you don’t need to move furniture, throw rugs, blinds or drapes, our installers truly appreciate homeowners who take a few minutes to declutter the work areas, if needed, and move any stacks of items away from the windows. Whether it’s plants, papers, toys, décor or delicate knick-knacks, clearing out anything that might be in their way will ensure your installers can quickly get to work.
It’s also a good time to stash away any items that are fragile or precious to you, just to keep them safe from an accidental bump. They’ll be handling heavy windows, so freedom of movement is important.
3. Launder and Dust. Dusting your window treatments before the installation crews take them down is thoughtful, but replacing windows is also the perfect time for a bit of spring cleaning! They’re likely coming down anyway, right? So, if you want your drapes and blinds to be dust-free and fresh to match your new windows, feel free to remove them ahead of your appointment. It’s a great time to wash miniblinds in the bathtub, launder or dry-clean the drapery, and use furniture polish on shutters.
The project manager can estimate how long the installation will take for your new windows, so you know what to expect. Most installations are done in a single day.
4. Expect Some Noise. If you work from home, have little ones, or want to safeguard pets who are sensitive to noise, then rearranging your day to accommodate potential background noise might be in order. For example, you might reschedule virtual meetings and calls or have the installers replace windows in certain rooms first, so it’s completed before nap time or an unavoidable meeting. You also can temporarily relocate any noise-sensitive animals to a room without windows, such as the bathroom.
It’s a simple solution that will help eliminate some stress on installation day.
If the installation requires construction, such as enlarging or moving window openings, or stucco and drywall cutbacks, be aware the noise levels will be higher due to the use of power tools. This is something you can discuss with the salesperson prior to installation day.
5. Pardon Our Dust. All types of replacement window installations will inevitably create dust. While our teams prepare for this with plastic sheeting and other measures, it’s unavoidable. Please ask them if you’d like more significant measures taken, such as hanging sheeting across openings, or covering electronics and such.
If you have concerns, it’s a good idea to move or cover expensive electronics yourself before the installation crews arrive, especially in rooms where windows are being replaced.
The installers will also clean up afterward, but there will always be a little bit of residual dust in the air, so be prepared to dust once or twice after the job is complete.
Your home window replacement project is going to dramatically change the look of your home, and you can be confident that DunRite’s team will simplify the process as much as possible. Our goal is to always leave a home exactly as we found it, but with the addition of beautiful new windows and the energy-efficiency they bring.
Following these simple steps will help you prepare for your home window replacements. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call us at (602) 456-2227, or use the live chat feature on our website. We look forward to coming out to your home!
