We'll say this plainly: use this list on every company you interview, including us. Most window jobs go wrong at the sales table, not the job site — the bad outcomes are baked in before a single pane arrives. These twelve questions are how you find out, in one sit-down, whether you're dealing with an installation company or a sales organization that brokers out the actual work. For each one, here's why it matters and what a good answer sounds like.
1. Who actually installs my windows — your employees or subcontractors?
Why it matters: the person on the ladder determines everything on this page. Subcontracted crews are typically paid by the window, which rewards speed over sill pans. Many companies with great showrooms have never employed an installer.
A good answer sounds like: "W-2 employees, on our payroll and our insurance — and I can tell you the names of the crew you'll get." (Ours: employees only, for 46 years. But make everyone answer it.)
2. Are you an authorized dealer of the brand you're quoting me?
Why it matters: authorized dealers get factory training, direct warranty channels, and accountability to the manufacturer. Anyone can buy windows at a supply house; authorization means the manufacturer stands behind the pairing of product and installer.
A good answer sounds like: a specific yes — "authorized dealer since [year], here's our dealer number" — not "we can get you any brand."
3. Insert or full-frame replacement — and why for my house?
Why it matters: inserts preserve trim and cost less but only make sense in sound, square frames. Full-frame costs more but is the only honest option where there's rot or racking. A company that quotes one method for every house is quoting what's easiest to sell, not what your walls need.
A good answer sounds like: an answer that required looking at your windows first — and can explain the tradeoff in both directions.
4. What is your flashing and waterproofing method?
Why it matters: this is the question that exposes salesmen. Flashing is the invisible work that decides whether an eventual seal failure is a non-event or a rotted wall.
A good answer sounds like: specifics, unprompted — "sill pan with a back dam, flashing tape shingle-lapped with your weather barrier, interior air seal." If they say "we caulk everything real good," keep interviewing.
5. Will you put the per-unit NFRC numbers in writing?
Why it matters: "energy-efficient windows" is a phrase; U-factor 0.27 is a fact. Written per-unit numbers let you compare bids honestly and verify the delivered product matches the quote.
A good answer sounds like: "Of course — every line item on the quote lists U-factor, SHGC, and air leakage for that unit."
6. Is this a firm quote, or does the price expire tonight?
Why it matters: tonight-only pricing exists to prevent exactly one thing: you calling a second company. The cost of your project doesn't change at midnight; only the salesman's commission strategy does.
A good answer sounds like: "The quote is good for 30 days — take your time and compare." Walk away from anyone who won't leave a written price behind.
7. Who handles warranty service, and where are they based?
Why it matters: a lifetime warranty serviced from three states away, through a call center, by whichever sub is available, is worth roughly the paper. Warranty value = the distance to the people obligated to honor it.
A good answer sounds like: "Us. Call our office, and one of our own installers comes back out." Bonus points if the company has been at the same local address longer than your mortgage.
8. Are you licensed, insured, and certified — and can I see the paperwork?
Why it matters: if an uninsured worker gets hurt on your property, you can become the insurer. Contractor registration, general liability, workers' comp, and installation certifications (AAMA/FGIA InstallationMasters or manufacturer training) are the minimum table stakes.
A good answer sounds like: documents produced without hesitation. Hesitation is the answer.
9. What happens if you find rot in the opening?
Why it matters: in older Treasure Valley homes, hidden sill rot is common enough that every installer needs a policy for it. The bad policies are "we work around it" (seals rot in your wall) and "we'll price it when we're mid-job and you have no leverage."
A good answer sounds like: "We stop, show you the damage, and price the repair in writing before proceeding — with typical repair costs quoted up front so nothing mid-job is a surprise."
10. Is cleanup and haul-away included — in writing?
Why it matters: old windows, broken glass, and forty-year-old trim make an impressive pile. "Included" that isn't written down has a way of becoming a dumpster in your driveway or a line-item surprise.
A good answer sounds like: "Daily cleanup, magnetic sweep for fasteners, full haul-away and disposal — it's on the contract."
11. How long will my project take, and who is my single point of contact?
Why it matters: vague timelines hide double-booked crews. Projects without a named contact turn every hiccup into phone tag.
A good answer sounds like: a specific range ("8 to 12 windows is typically two days") and a name with a direct number.
12. Can you show me recent jobs in my area?
Why it matters: references chosen by the company are always happy. Recent, local, and specific is what you want — homes like yours, weather like yours, this year.
A good answer sounds like: addresses or neighborhoods you recognize, photos of their own crews at work, and reviews that mention installers by name.
Use It on Us
We publish this list knowing you might hand our competitors a harder interview — good. Homeowners who ask hard questions end up with better installs no matter who they hire, and companies that dread this list should. When you're ready to ask us all twelve, the measure and the answers are free: (208) 376-2200, or use the form on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a window company uses subcontractors?
Ask directly: 'Are the people installing my windows W-2 employees of your company, or 1099 subcontractors?' Then verify — ask whose name is on the trucks that show up, and whether the installers are covered by the company's workers' comp and liability policies. Vague answers like 'our installation partners' or 'our certified install team' usually mean subs.
What certifications should a window installer have?
Look for AAMA (FGIA) InstallationMasters certification or manufacturer-specific installation training, plus a current contractor registration, general liability insurance, and workers' compensation coverage. Certifications matter because window manufacturers write their warranties around correct installation practice.
Is a same-day discount on windows ever legitimate?
Rarely. Measuring, product selection, and quoting a window project correctly takes real work — the price shouldn't change based on whether you sign in the next hour. Tonight-only pricing is a pressure tactic designed to keep you from getting comparison bids. A confident company gives you a written quote that stands for weeks.
Should I get NFRC ratings in writing before buying windows?
Yes — per unit, not brochure ranges. Every certified window carries an NFRC label with its U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient, and air leakage rating. A written quote should list the numbers for the actual units you're buying, so you can compare bids apples-to-apples and verify what shows up matches what you paid for.
Last reviewed 2026-07-06 by Wood Windows Inc — (208) 376-2200