Window installation takes about an hour per insert window, so a 10–15 window house is done in one to two days. The long part is the 2–8 weeks the factory takes to build the windows. From a signed quote, plan on 4–10 weeks to finished, trimmed windows in the Twin Cities.
That holds for any house getting standard replacement windows, whether we order them or you buy them and hire the install. Bays, bows, doors, full-frame tear-outs and rot repair add time, and each one is called out below along with the part of the hour that goes into insulating the opening.
How long does the quote and measure take?
Send three photos of each window, inside and out, and you get a reply within one business day. When you approve it, every opening is measured on site and the frames are checked for rot and square before anything is ordered. That visit takes an hour or two for a whole house. Windows are built to the opening, so this measure is what keeps installation day boring.
The measure is also when the insert-or-full-frame call is made for each window. An insert sits inside the old frame and keeps the exterior trim. A full-frame tear-out removes the old frame back to the rough opening so it can be flashed and insulated from scratch. That decision drives both the lead time and the install time below.
How long is the factory lead time?
Replacement windows are built to your measurements, and lead times swing with the season and the line. This is the phase homeowners underestimate. If you need windows in by a date, work backward from these numbers.
| Window type | Usual lead time | What stretches it |
|---|---|---|
| Standard white vinyl, double-pane | 2–4 weeks | Spring and early-summer rush |
| Vinyl in dark exterior colors | 3–6 weeks | Color runs are batched at the factory |
| Triple-pane or ENERGY STAR Version 7.0 glass packages | 3–6 weeks | Fewer plants build the heavier glass |
| Fiberglass or wood-clad | 4–8 weeks | Custom sizes, interior stains |
| Bays, bows, arches, specialty shapes | 6–10 weeks | Built by hand, shipped separately |
How long does installation day take?
A crew does roughly 8–12 insert windows a day, or 4–8 full-frame replacements because of the added flashing and trim. A 10–15 window house takes one to two days plus any exterior finish work. Each window is out and back in within about an hour, so the house is never left open. That is also why installs run through winter.
Patio doors and entry doors take about a half day each. Bays, bows and openings with rot repair take longer, and a full-frame window that needs new exterior trim or a siding patch can be a half day on its own.
Where does the hour go on one window?
The part of the hour that decides how the window performs is the part nobody sees once the trim is on. Here is the sequence on a typical insert, with the time each step takes:
- 1Pull the sashes, stops and old balances, and vacuum the frame. About 10 minutes.
- 2Check the old sill for rot, then set a sill pan or a bed of sealant so any water that gets in drains out, not down into the wall. 5 minutes.
- 3Set the new unit, shim it plumb and square at the hinge and lock points, and fasten it. 10–15 minutes.
- 4Fill the gap between the new frame and the old frame with low-expansion foam, front to back, and let it skin. High-expansion foam bows a frame, so it never goes near a window. 5–10 minutes plus cure time while the next window starts.
- 5Trim the foam flush, run backer rod and sealant on the inside edge for the air seal, and caulk the exterior joint, leaving the sill weeps open. 10 minutes.
- 6Reinstall or replace the interior stops, hang the screen, and work every sash and lock. 10 minutes.
What causes window installation delays?
Four things stretch a window timeline:
- Measurement errors. A wrong-size window is a full re-order, which is why every opening is measured on site before ordering.
- Hidden rot found at tear-out. Photos of the sill and lower corners usually show it ahead of time, so it is priced before the order goes in. When it is a surprise, cutting out and replacing a rotted sill or sub-sill adds one to three hours at that opening.
- Manufacturer backorders on a line or color. Long-lead choices are flagged before you commit.
- Weather. A subzero stretch can push exterior caulking and trim a day or two, because sealants and flashing tape have minimum application temperatures. The installs themselves go on nearly year-round.
What glass package should you order while you wait?
Lead time is the same whether you order a good glass package or a poor one, so use the wait to get the spec right. Every replacement window carries an NFRC label with a U-factor (how fast heat leaves through the whole window, lower is better) and a solar heat gain coefficient (how much of the sun's heat comes in). For the Twin Cities, which sits in climate zone 6, the U-factor is the number that matters. ENERGY STAR Version 7.0, in force since late 2023, requires a U-factor of 0.22 or lower for windows in the Northern zone that covers all of Minnesota, with a minimum SHGC of 0.17 so winter sun still helps heat the house.
A double-pane unit with a low-E coating, argon fill and a warm-edge spacer typically lands around 0.27–0.30. Getting to 0.22 usually means triple-pane with two low-E coatings, or a double-pane with an upgraded coating in a foam-filled or multi-chamber frame. Casements and awnings seal against compression weatherstrip and have lower air leakage than sliders and double-hungs, which matters as much as the glass on a windy lot. Ask for the air leakage figure too; ENERGY STAR caps it at 0.3 cfm per square foot, and better units test under 0.1.
How far ahead should you start?
The install itself takes a day or two. Start 2–3 months before you need it done, especially ahead of the fall rush. Send three photos of each window and you have a reply within one business day, with the lead time for the line you pick.
What JMB Builders does
JMB Builders is a licensed Minnesota residential building contractor (BC809005) based in Zimmerman, working across the Twin Cities metro. One crew does the measuring, the install and the trim, so the schedule is one schedule. We install every brand and sell none. Paid by check or direct deposit. Call 763-204-2099 (text) or send photos through the site.
- Full-service window and door replacement, measured and ordered by us — jmbbuildersmn.com/services/full-service
- Labor-only installs of windows and doors you bought at a store or online, scheduled around your delivery date — jmbbuildersmn.com/services/labor-only
- Installing a window you bought online, including checking the order before it ships — jmbbuildersmn.com/services/doors/install-window-bought-online
- Trim-out after the windows go in: jamb extensions, casing, stool and apron — jmbbuildersmn.com/services/window-trim
- Send three photos and we reply within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to install one window?
About an hour for an insert replacement, from pulling the old sashes to foam and caulk. A full-frame replacement with a sill pan, new flashing and trim inside and out takes two to four hours for one window, and less each when there are several on the same wall.
How long does it take to replace all the windows in a house?
One to two days of installation for a typical 10–15 window house. Add a day for exterior trim or siding patches on full-frame openings. The factory lead time before that day is 2–8 weeks depending on the line and the season.
How far ahead should I order replacement windows?
Order 4–8 weeks before your target install date for fiberglass, wood-clad, triple-pane or anything custom, and 2–4 weeks for standard vinyl. Spring and summer stretch those. Fall and winter often shorten them. If you are buying the windows yourself, confirm the size, insert or nailing-fin, and jamb depth before the order goes in.
Do I have to be home during window installation?
Not the whole time. Be there at the start to walk the order of rooms and at the end for the walkthrough of each window. Most homeowners stay and work from a room the crew is not in. Pets go in a closed room away from the openings.
Does winter slow down window installation?
Not much. The install is one opening at a time and the house stays closed up. Cold-weather foam and sealants are used, exterior caulking gets timed for the warm part of the day, and a subzero stretch can push exterior finish work a day. Scheduling is often easier in winter.
What happens if the crew finds rot on installation day?
The rotted sill or framing is cut out and replaced before the new window goes in, which adds one to three hours at that opening. Photos of the sill and lower corners usually show the staining ahead of time, so rot repair is priced before ordering rather than discovered on the day.
