Post-Construction Window Inspection: What to Check Before Accepting Your New Build

The walkthrough before you accept a new build is the moment to document window problems while the builder is still engaged. Here is a checklist by area, how to set up light that reveals flaws, how to record what you find, and what to keep for later.

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Set up the inspection so flaws show

Windows hide their faults in flat, bright light and in dirt. Plan your walkthrough for a morning or late afternoon, when sun comes in at a low angle, and bring a flashlight for dim rooms. Take a phone for photos, a roll of painter's tape or small sticky notes for marking spots, and a helper if you can.

Look at every pane from inside and outside, and from a low angle as well as straight on. If the glass is dusty, wipe it lightly with a damp microfibre cloth, never dry, and never with a razor blade. Inspect first and clean afterward, so any marks you find are on record before anyone, including you, touches the glass.

Glass: scratches, chips, cracks and fog

• Scratches. Use low-angle light. Try the fingernail test on any line, and mark it. Note whether it is on the inside or outside face.
• Chips and cracks. Look along the edges of each pane, where corners and frame contact commonly cause damage.
• Moisture or haze between the panes. Check early in the day, since fog often shows first on cool mornings.
• Consistency. Panes in the same wall should look alike. A tint that does not match the window beside it is worth a note.
• Residue. Labels, tape, paint specks and mortar splatter are not damage, but they are worth noting, and worth removing carefully.

Frames, caulk and finish

• Scuffs, dents and paint on the frame. Vinyl and painted trim mark easily during construction.
• Corners and joints. Look for gaps or misaligned corners.
• Caulk beads. They should be continuous and neat, with no gaps, voids or smears.
• Fit and reveal. The gap between the sash and frame should look even all the way round.
• Interior trim and sills. Look for scratches, gaps, paint damage and stains.

Operation, seals and screens

1. Open, close and lock each window. It should move smoothly and lock firmly without force.
2. Check the egress windows. Any bedroom or basement window meant as an emergency exit should open fully and easily.
3. Look at weatherstripping. It should be continuous and undamaged where the sash meets the frame.
4. Check the screens. Each opening that should have one should have one, with no tears and a snug fit.
5. Test the drainage slots. Pour a little water in the track and check that it drains.
6. Check for drafts on a windy day with a tissue or ribbon held at the seams.

Recording what you find, and following up

Photograph every defect twice: once with the whole window in the frame, and once close up. Add a dated, written list that says where each problem is, what it is and what you would like done. Give the list to the builder, ask for a timeline for each item and keep copies of everything.

Ask the builder for your warranty package, and note the reporting deadlines in it. Deadlines in new-home warranties can be short, so put the dates in your calendar. Problems that show up later, such as leaks, fog or drafts, should be reported promptly and in writing. If you are unsure about a deadline, check the paperwork or ask the builder to confirm the current rules in writing.

After sign-off: the first clean

Once the inspection is done and the list is in, the glass can be cleaned. Rinse before wiping, remove labels and film early and avoid razors on anything you are not sure about. D&D Home Services quotes window cleaning from $125 for typical Kitchener-Waterloo homes, confirmed in writing before work begins. For what a first clean involves, read new home window cleaning: why the first clean matters. See window cleaning for a visit, and how professional cleaning prevents scratching for what to ask.

Devon Moore, Operations Lead Co-Founder & Operations Lead, D&D Home Services

Devon Moore is the co-founder and Operations Lead at D&D Home Services, with hands-on experience cleaning hundreds of homes across Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph.