Use the Winter to Plan Your Spring Window & Door Project

Winter is the worst time to guess which windows need replacing, and the best time to find out. When it is -20 °C outside, every draft, every frosted corner and every fogged pane reveals itself. Use these months to observe, take notes and make decisions calmly, and you will arrive in spring with a clear plan and an installation date already booked.

Why winter is the ideal planning season

Spring and early summer are the busiest months for window and door installations in Quebec. Homeowners who wait until the snow melts to start thinking about their project often find themselves comparing quotes in April and waiting weeks for an installation slot. Those who plan over the winter can make their decisions without pressure and secure one of the first spring dates.

Winter also gives you the most honest information about your current windows and doors. The problems that matter most, such as drafts, cold glass, frost and condensation, are invisible in July. By observing them now, you can target the openings that truly need attention rather than replacing everything at once or, worse, replacing the wrong ones.

Finally, custom windows and doors are built to the exact dimensions of each opening. Our Saint-Laurent factory manufactures every unit for its specific opening, so the time between the measurement visit and the installation is part of the plan. Starting early means that time passes while there is still snow on the ground.

Note the problem windows while they are cold

Walk through the house on the coldest morning of the week with a notebook or your phone. At each window and door, hold the back of your hand near the edges, the meeting rail and the corners; a draft you can feel today is one to write down. Check whether each window opens, closes and locks properly, and whether the latch pulls the sash tight against its seals.

Note anything unusual about the frame and the sill: soft or stained wood, peeling paint, gaps between the frame and the interior trim, or cracked exterior finishes. For doors, check the threshold, the bottom corners and the area around the latch. Give each opening a simple rating, such as fine, watch or replace, so that priorities become clear once the walk-through is done.

• Drafts at edges, meeting rails and corners
• Operation: does it open, close and lock easily?
• Glass: fogging between panes, cracks, a very cold surface
• Frame and sill: rot, stains, gaps, cracked finishes
• Doors: threshold, latch side, daylight around the slab

Photograph frost and condensation

Photos taken in winter are the most useful documents you can bring to an estimate. Frost in the corners of the glass, ice on the inside of a frame, condensation running down to the sill or a fogged sealed unit are all hard to describe in words but obvious in a picture. Take them early in the morning, when these problems are most visible, and note the outdoor temperature and the room.

Distinguish between condensation on the room side of the glass, which often relates to indoor humidity and the performance of the window, and fogging between the panes, which means the sealed unit has failed. Ice or frost on a frame or sill from the inside is a strong sign of an opening that is losing a lot of heat or letting humid air reach a cold surface. All of these are useful for our advisers to see.

A few photos of the outside of the house help too: the style of the existing windows, the siding or brick around them and the general look of the façade. They make it easier to discuss style and colour before the measurement visit.

List your rooms and set priorities

Not every window has to be replaced in the same year. Once you have your notes, rank the openings by how much they affect your comfort and the condition of the house: a rotting sill or a door that lets water in comes before a window that is simply dated. Bedrooms and living areas where you feel the cold every day usually come next.

Think also about how the house is used. A room that will become a home office, a basement that needs a larger egress window, a patio door the family uses constantly or a front door that no longer closes properly may deserve to move up the list. Grouping the work by façade or by floor can also make sense, both for the look of the house and for the organization of the installation day.

Write down what you want each room to gain: more light, better ventilation, easier cleaning, more security or a better view. These goals will guide the choice of window type far better than a catalogue alone.

Style and colour decisions without the rush

Winter evenings are the right time to browse and settle on the look of your future windows and doors. Casement, awning, sliding, hung and picture windows each suit different rooms and architectural styles, and a front or patio door sets the tone for the whole façade. Take the time to look at houses similar to yours and collect photos of what you like.

Colour is one of the decisions homeowners most often hesitate over. Interior and exterior colours can differ, and the exterior colour must work with the brick, siding, roof and trim, which are hard to judge from a small sample. Looking at the façade in the flat winter light, then imagining it in spring, helps avoid regrets.

Also consider details such as grilles or simulated divided lites, hardware finishes, decorative glass for a door and screen types. Deciding these in advance shortens the estimate and ensures the order is complete the first time.

The measurement visit and booking an early-spring slot

Because every Unisson window and door is made to measure, the process starts with an estimate and a precise measurement of each opening. The visit can take place in winter without any problem: the adviser measures inside and out, checks the condition of the openings and discusses your options on site. It is also the moment to show your photos and notes.

Once you have approved the quote, your order goes into production at our Saint-Laurent factory and you can reserve an installation date. Booking over the winter gives you access to the first slots of spring, before the peak season. If one of your openings is urgent, such as a leaking door or a broken sealed unit, we can also install in winter, one opening at a time, so the house is never left open.

Questions to prepare for the estimate

A good estimate is a conversation, and coming prepared makes it far more productive. Bring your list of rooms and priorities, your photos and the questions that matter to you. The adviser's answers will help you compare options on the same basis and understand exactly what the work includes.

When it comes to cost, the exact figure depends on your project: the number of openings, their size, the window types, glass, colours and the condition of the existing frames. Rather than relying on general figures, request a free estimate and receive a precise, written quote for your home.

• What glass package and ENERGY STAR rating do you recommend for each orientation?
• How will the old window be removed, and how will the new one be insulated and sealed?
• Will the interior and exterior trim be replaced or adapted?
• What warranty covers the product, the glass and the installation?
• How long between the order and the installation, and which spring dates are available?
• Who does the installation: your own crews or subcontractors?

Frequently Asked Questions