Insert vs Full Frame Windows for an Apartment Building — By Elevation
You have two bids for the same building, one says insert and one says full frame, and you need to know which is right for which windows.
Reply within one business day. Or call / text 763-204-2099.
Insert vs full frame windows for an apartment building is decided opening by opening. An insert sets the new window inside the old frame and leaves interior finishes alone; a full frame removes everything to the rough opening. JMB Builders probes frames for rot, looks at the brick or siding on each elevation, and writes the method for every opening on a line-item quote. Twin Cities metro to St. Cloud. Priced per opening; photos or a free in-home estimate.
- Method written for every opening
- Rot priced as a unit rate up front
- Priced per opening
An insert, also called a pocket replacement, takes out the old sash and stops and leaves the frame in the wall. The new window is sized to fit inside that frame, foamed and sealed, and the interior casing and the exterior trim stay. A full frame takes the whole window out to the rough opening: new sill pan, new flashing tied into the wall, a larger glass area, and new trim inside and out.
In an occupied building, interior finishes push toward inserts. Plaster returns, painted drywall returns and tenants' units stay untouched, and each opening goes faster. The exterior pushes the other way when frames are rotted or leaking: then the flashing has to be redone, and that means full frame. Brick buildings often go full frame from the inside; sided buildings need the trim cut back and new trim; stucco needs a clean cut and patch.
Most buildings end up split. The south and west elevations, with the water stains and soft sills, go full frame; the protected sides go insert. We probe sills and bucks on the walkthrough and write a unit price for rot found once a frame is open, so nobody negotiates a change order in a tenant's bedroom.
Get a written quote for this job
Three photos and a sentence is enough: a reply within one business day, or ask for a free in-home estimate. Or text the photos to 763-204-2099.
What you supply
- Any history of leaks by unit or side of the building
- Unit access and the tenant notice your leases and Minnesota law require
- Whether interior finishes can be disturbed in occupied units
- Your choice of window line, color and glass
What JMB supplies
- A walkthrough with sills and bucks probed for rot on each elevation
- Insert or full frame written for every opening on the quote
- A unit price for rot found once a frame is open
- One order for the building through ABC Supply
- Flashing, sill pan, foam and sealant matched to the method
- Interior and exterior trim scope listed per opening
- Photos of each finished unit in your job folder
How it is priced: per opening
Quoted in writing from your photos, with a reply within one business day. What moves the number:
- Insert or full frame, opening by opening
- Rot repair at the sill or buck, priced as a unit rate
- Brick, siding or stucco at the opening
- New interior casing and stool on full-frame openings
- Glass area wanted versus what an insert gives up
- Upper-floor exterior access
Send a photo of each side of the building and a close photo of the worst sill. Any leak history by unit helps the method call.
How long it takes
Inserts go faster per opening than full frame; a unit typically takes one to two working days either way, longer on masonry. Lead time depends on the brand and is written on the quote.
How your project works
- 1
Send photos, get a written quote
Send three photos of the space and a sentence about what you want. You get a clear, itemized reply within one business day. Prefer a look in person? A free in-home estimate is always an option.
- 2
Pick materials, or bring your own
We help you choose profiles and materials that fit the house and the budget, or match your existing millwork exactly — or you buy the door or trim yourself and we install it. Everything is confirmed before the crew is scheduled.
- 3
Clean, precise installation
The crew shows up on time, protects floors and furniture, and installs with tight joints and consistent reveals. Photos of the finished work go in your job folder.
- 4
Walkthrough and invoice
We walk the finished work with you. If anything is not right, we fix it before we call the job done. Then one invoice, paid by check or direct deposit — no card fees, no payment links.
Situations and options
Insert everywhere
Fastest and least disruptive in occupied units. Fits buildings with sound, dry frames and finishes worth keeping.
Full frame everywhere
For buildings with leaking or rotted frames on every side, or an owner who wants the largest glass and new flashing throughout.
Split by elevation
Weather sides full frame, protected sides insert. Common on walk-ups where one or two elevations take the storms.
Split by condition
Each opening judged on the walkthrough. The quote lists the method per window, so the building can be phased by floor or side.
Insert vs Full Frame Windows for an Apartment Building — By Elevation: questions, answered
What is a pocket replacement window in an apartment building?
A pocket or insert window is set inside the existing frame after the old sash and stops are removed. The interior trim and the outside of the building stay as they are. It is quicker per opening and keeps tenants' walls intact, but the glass is a little smaller.
When does an apartment building need full frame window replacement?
When the frames are rotted, leaking or out of square, or the flashing behind them has failed. Full frame takes the window out to the rough opening so the sill pan and flashing can be redone. It also gives the largest glass area.
Can one apartment building have both insert and full frame windows?
Yes, and many do. The weather sides with water damage go full frame and the protected sides go insert. From the outside the windows match, because they are the same line, color and grille pattern on one order.
How do you handle rot found during an apartment window install?
We probe sills and bucks on the walkthrough and price the likely rot into the quote. For anything found once a frame is open, the quote carries a unit price, so the repair is done the same day without stopping to negotiate.
Does full frame replacement damage interior walls in the units?
It disturbs the trim and sometimes the edge of the drywall or plaster around the opening. New casing and stool cover it, and any patching is listed on the quote. Inserts leave the interior trim alone.
Which install method is faster in occupied apartments?
Inserts, per opening. Full frame takes longer, especially in brick, because the flashing and exterior trim are redone. Every opening is still closed the same day it is opened, whichever method it gets.
Recent JMB work, from our job log
59 installs recorded across 30 Twin Cities communities since Dec 2025. Window and door installs for homeowners and the builders we work with. Counts come straight from our job log; no customer names.
Related jobs we do
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Read moreNew Windows With New Exterior Trim — Capping or PVC on One Quote
New windows inside old, peeling trim look half done. Trim them on the same visit and the outside of the house is finished.
Read more1960s Apartment Building Window Replacement — Aluminum Sliders Out
Your building went up in the 1960s or '70s, and the original aluminum sliders sweat, frost, rattle and leak in every unit.
Read morePage reviewed October 9, 2026 · JMB Builders LLC, MN license BC809005 · All apartment buildings pages
Where we work
Apartment & Multifamily Window and Door Projects near you
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