Create an opening schedule
Give each window a simple room or location reference, such as kitchen north or main bedroom. Note whether it is fixed or operable and what you would like to improve. Approximate sizes can describe the scope, but label them clearly as planning observations rather than manufacturing dimensions.
Photograph both sides
Take accessible photographs showing the entire frame, interior trim and surrounding exterior finish. Include any water staining or visible deterioration without removing finishes. For upper-storey units, use safe ground-level views rather than leaning out or climbing to obtain a close-up.
Identify decisions that change the scope
Tell the surveyor about proposed opening changes, bedroom use, heritage constraints, strata approvals and any desire to retain original finishes. Discuss access and occupant needs. These details help establish whether the visit is for a simple replacement or the start of a broader design and approval process.
Agree what happens after the visit
Ask who verifies final sizes, who owns drawings and when the order becomes binding. Review the opening schedule and product specification before signing. Keep a record of assumptions that still need confirmation, including concealed conditions, approvals and lead time. The project planner provides a starting brief, not a substitute for a site survey.
Questions worth asking
- Can each opening be identified unambiguously?
- Are inside and outside photographs available?
- Have approvals and scope changes been raised?
- Who verifies and signs the final dimensions?
Further reading
Natural Resources Canada: upgrading windows and exterior doors ↗Source checked October 16, 2026. Current requirements and eligibility need separate project-specific verification. This guide is an original planning explanation, not a product certification or installation instruction.
