Collect the documents before signing
Ask for the manufacturer’s warranty and the installer’s written workmanship coverage. Identify the business responsible for each and the contact process. Do not assume that lifetime means every component, every owner, labour, travel and removal are covered without conditions.
Separate the components
Glazing, frames, hardware, finishes and the installation connection can have different responsibilities and exclusions. Ask how a reported problem is assessed and who pays for the visit, parts, labour and reinstatement where applicable. Keep the version of the warranty supplied with your order rather than relying on a general website statement viewed later.
Build a useful handover record
Retain invoices, model numbers, labels, drawings, opening schedules and installation photographs. Check operation, locks, screens, interior and exterior finishing and cleanup. Record outstanding items with a named person and agreed next action. The manufacturer’s maintenance instructions should be part of that handover.
Keep service requests specific
When reporting a concern, identify the opening, describe the symptom and include photographs and timing. Avoid dismantling or adjusting a system beyond the supplied instructions while a claim is being assessed. If the home is sold, confirm whether transfer steps or records are required rather than assuming coverage moves automatically.
Questions worth asking
- Who covers the product and the installation?
- What labour, travel and exclusions apply?
- Are labels, invoices and photographs retained?
- Who resolves the final outstanding items?
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.
