Window count and storeys are the two biggest levers on a window cleaning quote, and neither is as simple as it sounds. Below are the published starting price, how count and height change the work, and a five-minute counting routine that makes any quote easier to check.
In This Article
The published price, and why per-window numbers mislead
D&D Home Services publishes window cleaning from $125 for typical Kitchener-Waterloo homes, and the final price is confirmed in writing before work begins. A per-window figure hides more than it shows. A small basement window and a two-metre picture window each count as one window, yet they are not the same job.
The starting price describes a typical Kitchener-Waterloo home. A home with more glass, higher glass or harder access will quote above it, and the written quote shows by how much. What helps more than a per-window figure is knowing how count and height change the work. With that, you can predict which way your quote will move, and why.
How window count changes the work
| What you count | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Panes, not just windows | A window divided into a grid of small panes has many more edges to work around than a single large sheet. |
| Size | Large panes are quick per square metre. Tall, narrow windows and small panes take longer for the glass they cover. |
| Glass doors and sidelights | Patio doors, entry sidelights and transoms add glass that is easy to forget. |
| Basement windows | Small, but they sit in wells that trap leaves and grit, so they can take longer than they look. |
| Double glazing plus storms | An older home with storm windows may have two layers of glass in each opening. |
| Screens | Each one is a separate item to remove, clean and refit, if screens are included at all. |
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How storeys change the work
Storeys really measure the height of the glass, not the number of floors on the listing. A raised bungalow can have low windows at the front and much higher ones at the back. A walkout basement can turn a rear wall into a three-level face.
| Height of the glass | Usual way of reaching it | Effect on time and price |
|---|---|---|
| Ground floor | Standing on the ground, with a short pole or by hand. | Quickest per pane. |
| Second storey | Long pole from the ground, or a ladder with a standoff. | Adds setup time, and more if it sits above a roof. |
| Dormers and third storey | Specialised reach, roof access or a lift. | Adds the most, and may be quoted separately. |
Access matters as much as height. A second-storey window over a wide lawn is easier to reach than one above a garage roof, and glass behind a deck or a steep grade calls for extra care.
A five-minute count before you ask for a quote
- Walk each side of the house in turn: front, back, left and right.
- On each side, tally the windows and glass doors on the ground floor, the upper floors and the basement.
- Note any windows with a grid of small panes, and any with storm windows over them.
- Note skylights, glass railings and windows that sit above another roof.
- Count the screens, and decide if you want them included.
- Photograph each side, so the cleaner can see access and height before arriving.
Keep it as a simple grid. It might read: front, 3 ground-floor windows and 2 upstairs; back, a patio door, 2 kitchen windows and 3 upstairs; each side, 2 basement windows. A tally like that lets a quote be specific. It also lets you spot it if a quote counts something differently from you.
Reading a per-window quote
Some quotes list a price per window. Ask what counts as a window: a sash, a pane or an opening. Ask how patio doors, basement windows and screens are treated, whether there is a minimum charge (the drive and setup cost the same for a small job as for a large one, so many cleaners set one), and whether the total is written down with the count. Compare quotes on the same count and the same scope, not on the unit price alone.
For every published starting price in one place, see the pricing page. For the local picture, read about window cleaning, and for homes in the city itself, see services in Kitchener.
Key Takeaways
- D&D publishes window cleaning from $125 for typical Kitchener-Waterloo homes, with the final quote in writing before work begins.
- Count panes and glass doors, not just windows, because divided-pane windows have far more edges.
- Storeys measure glass height and access, so second-storey windows over roofs and dormers add the most time.
- Compare per-window quotes only when the count, sides and screens match.
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