Not every project needs a contractor to handle the whole chain. Builders with supplier accounts, homeowners who found a package deal, flippers managing tight budgets, and insurance scopes with pre-approved products all arrive at the same question: can I just hire the installation?
Yes — and done right, installation-only service delivers professional results at a labor-only price. Here's how it works and where the risk lines sit.
What installation-only includes
With JMB Builders, installation-only covers the full professional install of windows and doors you supply: tear-out of existing units, prep of the openings, setting units level/plumb/square, insulating and sealing perimeters, exterior sealing or specified flashing details, interior trim as scoped, operation adjustment, and haul-away of the old units where agreed. You handle product selection, ordering, and delivery timing; we handle everything that determines how the product performs.
Who it fits best
Installation-only makes clean sense for:
- Builders and GCs who buy windows direct and want a reliable labor crew on their schedule.
- Homeowners who've purchased windows through a supplier, big-box program, or online dealer.
- Property managers and flippers standardizing products across multiple units.
- Insurance jobs where the carrier has approved specific replacement products.
- DIYers who handled everything else but want the critical install done professionally.
The measurement question — read this part
The single biggest risk in installation-only is measurement responsibility. When you order the windows, you own the fit: a unit measured a half-inch too big simply doesn't go in, and one too small can't be shimmed into performing right. If you're not experienced with replacement measuring (which differs from rough-opening measuring), consider paying for a professional measure even on a labor-only job — it's cheap insurance against a re-order that costs weeks and real money. We offer measure services precisely because this is where self-managed projects go sideways.
Getting a clean labor-only quote
Expect a professional installation-only quote to specify per-unit labor pricing by type and size, what happens if delivered product is damaged or mis-sized (inspect at delivery!), trim and finish scope, disposal, and scheduling terms tied to your delivery date. Have your windows on site and inspected before the crew is scheduled — the smoothest labor-only jobs are the ones where the material is confirmed right before anyone swings a hammer.
JMB Builders provides installation-only window and door service across the Twin Cities metro for contractors and homeowners alike. Call 763-204-2099 for labor pricing on your project.
