Replace Windows in Phases — A Written Multi-Year Plan That Matches
The budget does not cover every window this year. Plan the whole house now so phase three matches phase one.
Reply within one business day. Or call / text 763-204-2099.
To replace windows in phases, measure the whole house once, rank the openings (leaking, broken and bedroom windows first), and write the brand, series, color, glass and grilles on the plan so every later phase matches. JMB Builders builds that plan across the Twin Cities metro, quotes each phase as its own line set, and re-checks sizes before each order. Priced per project; photo reply within one business day or a free in-home estimate.
- Priced per project, each phase its own lines
- Whole house measured once, up front
- Brand, color and glass locked on the plan
Phasing is fine. Phasing without a plan is how a house ends up with three window colors and two grille patterns. The fix is to treat it as one project spread over time: one walkthrough, one list of every opening, one product written down, and a priority order you agree on before the first window is ordered.
The order we usually suggest: anything leaking or letting water into the wall first, then broken or fogged units, then bedroom windows that do not open properly, then the side that takes the weather, then the rest. Some people put the street side early for looks; that works as long as the product is locked in.
Two honest caveats. A phased house costs a little more per window than one order, because the measure, order and setup happen more than once. And manufacturers change colors and lines over time; we write the exact series and color on the plan and check it is still made before each phase.
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
- A rough budget per year so the phases can be sized
- Your priorities: rooms you use most, rooms you rent, the street side
- Brand, series, frame color, glass and grille pattern, picked once
- Paint colors — Painting is quoted as a separate line — or leave it primed and caulked and paint it yourself.
What JMB supplies
- One in-person walkthrough and measure of every opening
- A written plan: each phase listed by opening, in priority order
- The product spec (brand, series, color, glass, grilles) written on the plan
- A size re-check and availability check before each phase is ordered
- Each phase installed room by room, closed the same day
- Photos of each phase in your job folder, so the next phase matches the last
How it is priced: per project
Quoted in writing from your photos, with a reply within one business day. What moves the number:
- How many phases, and how many windows in each
- Brand, series and glass written on the plan
- Insert vs. full frame per opening
- Access and cladding for the openings in each phase
- Trim scope, kept the same in every phase so rooms match
- Price changes from the manufacturer between phases
Each phase is quoted when it is ordered. The plan shows every opening so you can see what is left.
How long it takes
Each phase has its own lead time, which depends on the brand and is written on that phase's quote. A phase of a few windows installs in a day or two; a full floor in several working days.
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
Worst first
Leaking, broken and fogged windows first, wherever they are. Best for the house; the outside may look mixed for a while.
One floor per year
Main floor this year, upstairs next. Rooms inside match right away; the outside evens out when the last phase is in.
One side per phase
Front, then back, then the sides. The outside looks finished one wall at a time. A good fit when the front is also the worst side.
Replace Windows in Phases — A Written Multi-Year Plan That Matches: questions, answered
Which windows should I replace first?
Start with any window letting water into the wall, then broken or fogged glass, then bedroom windows that do not open properly. After that, the side that takes the most weather. The rest can follow on a written plan so they match.
Is it OK to replace windows a few at a time?
Yes, as long as the brand, series, color, glass and grilles are written down at the start so later windows match. It costs a little more per window than one order, because the measure and setup are repeated. The plan keeps it from turning into a mixed house.
Will windows I buy in two years match the ones I buy now?
If the same series and color is still made, yes. Manufacturers do change lines, so we write the exact product on the plan and check that it is still available before each phase is ordered. If something changes, you hear about it before you order.
Should I replace one floor per year?
It works well inside: every room on that floor matches right away. Outside, the house looks mixed until the last floor is done. If the outside matters more to you, phase by side instead.
Do you re-measure for each phase?
The whole house is measured once at the start for the plan. Before each phase is ordered, those openings are checked again in person, because a lot can change in a year and nothing is ordered on an old number.
Is a phased window plan priced per window?
The plan lists every opening, and each phase is priced when it is ordered, with each window on its own line. Prices from the manufacturer can change between phases, so later phases are not locked to the first quote.
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.
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Read morePage reviewed October 9, 2026 · JMB Builders LLC, MN license BC809005 · All whole-house projects pages
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