What Happens on Window and Door Installation Day

From survey to fitting date

Most installations follow the same broad sequence. A free survey confirms exact sizes, opening styles and any structural points that affect the fit, and this is also when a fixed written price is agreed. Once the order is placed, windows and doors are manufactured to those measurements, which typically takes a number of weeks depending on the specification and how busy the manufacturer is.

You'll usually be given a fitting date once the units are made and ready, rather than at the point of ordering, since manufacturing lead times can shift slightly. It's worth keeping some flexibility around that date, particularly for larger orders spanning several rooms.

Preparing rooms before the fitters arrive

A little preparation makes the day smoother for everyone. Clearing curtains, blinds, ornaments and anything on windowsills gives the team clear access and protects your belongings from dust. Moving furniture away from the working area, particularly anything fragile, is worth doing the night before rather than on the morning itself.

If pets are in the house, it's sensible to plan somewhere for them to be during the day, since doors will be open and workers moving in and out. Parking access for the installation vehicle and a route through the house for carrying frames also helps things run to time.

• Clear sills, curtains and nearby furniture
• Arrange somewhere for pets to be kept during the day
• Keep a clear route from the door to the working room
• Let neighbours know if a skip or van will be on the road

Removal and keeping mess under control

Old frames are usually removed one at a time rather than the whole house being opened up at once, so there's rarely a point where every window is missing simultaneously. Dust sheets go down around the working area, and old frames and any waste are carried out and loaded for disposal as the day progresses rather than left piled up inside.

Removal can be noisier and dustier than the fitting stage itself, especially where old frames are cut out rather than lifted whole. It's a normal part of the process, and a reasonable installer will sheet floors and vacuum up as they go rather than leaving a full clean up until the very end.

The fitting sequence itself

Once an opening is clear, the new frame is offered up, checked for level and square, and packed and fixed into position before being sealed. Any adjustments to the opening, such as making good brickwork or plaster around the edges, tend to happen at this stage rather than afterwards. Sashes, casements or door leaves are then hung and adjusted so they open, close and lock smoothly.

Hardware such as handles, hinges and locking mechanisms is fitted and tested on the day, and glazing units are checked for any marks or damage before the fitters move on to the next opening. On a typical house, several windows can be completed in a day, though larger doors, bay windows or multiple rooms may need more time.

Trickle vents, sealing and making good

Trickle vents, where specified, are fitted into the new frames as part of the installation rather than added later, since they're usually built into the head of the frame. External sealing is applied around the frame perimeter to keep out water, and internal finishing, such as sealant along the edge of the plasterwork, tidies the join between frame and wall.

Making good doesn't usually extend to full redecoration. Installers typically leave the immediate area neat and weathertight, but repainting a wall or replacing a windowsill's finish is generally a separate job unless specifically agreed in advance.

Sign off before the fitters leave

Before finishing, a reasonable installer will walk round with you to check each window or door opens, closes and locks properly, that keys and handles work, and that the finish looks right both inside and out. This is the point to raise anything that doesn't look correct, since it's far easier to sort on the day than after the team has gone.

Ask questions if anything about the operation isn't clear, particularly locking sequences on multi-point locks or unfamiliar hardware, since a couple of minutes of explanation on the day saves confusion later.

Certification and guarantee paperwork

Replacement windows and doors need to comply with Building Regulations, and this is usually handled through a competent person scheme such as CERTASS rather than a separate council inspection. You should receive a certificate confirming the work has been notified and complies with the relevant standards, and this paperwork matters if you sell the property later.

Alongside that, you should be given guarantee documentation covering the installation. A written 10 year insurance backed guarantee is a normal expectation on quality installation work, and it's worth keeping this with the compliance certificate somewhere safe, such as with your other house deeds and paperwork.

Aftercare and settling in

New frames and hardware can need small adjustments as they settle in, particularly hinges on heavier doors, so it's worth operating everything a few times over the following weeks and noting anything that feels stiff or misaligned. Sealant also needs a short period to cure fully before it should be painted over or disturbed.

If anything crops up after the fitters have left, a straightforward call should get it looked at without a drawn out process, since aftercare is part of what a written guarantee is meant to cover.

Common questions

How long does fitting take once the survey is done?

Manufacturing typically takes several weeks, and the fitting itself often takes a single day for a handful of windows, though larger jobs with doors or multiple rooms can take longer.

Will my house be freezing with frames removed?

No, openings are worked on one at a time rather than all being removed at once, so the house isn't left fully open at any point.

Do I need to redecorate straight after installation?

Not immediately. Installers make good the immediate area around the frame, but full redecoration of the wall or sill finish is usually a separate job if you want it.

What paperwork should I receive after fitting?

You should get a Building Regulations compliance certificate, typically through a scheme such as CERTASS, plus your written guarantee documentation for the installation.

What if something isn't right after the team has left?

Contact the installer promptly. A written guarantee should cover aftercare, and genuine issues are normally addressed without a lengthy process.