Energy Audit Says Replace Windows — Turning the Report Into a Scope
The auditor ran the blower door, the smoke went sideways at the windows, and the report says replace them.
Reply within one business day. Or call / text 763-204-2099.
When an energy audit says replace windows, the next step is a scope: which windows actually leak, which can be sealed, and which should be replaced. JMB Builders reads the audit with you, checks each window the report flags at an in-home measure, and quotes replacement opening by opening, with the gap between frame and framing air sealed on every one. Twin Cities metro, priced per project.
- Audit report read window by window
- Replace, seal or leave, by opening
- Frame-to-wall gap air sealed at install
An energy audit report is a list of where air and heat leave the house. Windows show up on most of them, but the reason matters. A sash that does not lock tight, failed weatherstripping, a leak around the casing where the old gap was packed with fiberglass, and single-pane glass are four different fixes. Only some of them need a new window.
We go through the report with you and look at every window it names. Some get replaced. Some just need the casing off and the gap foamed, or new weatherstripping. Every window we do replace gets the gap between frame and framing sealed with low-expansion foam before the trim goes on, which is often where the audit found the leak.
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 copy of the energy audit report and any thermal images
- Which rooms are cold, drafty or have frost on the glass
- Your priority: the leakiest windows first, or the whole house
- Photos of each window the report flags, labeled by room
What JMB supplies
- A walk through the report, window by window
- In-home check of each flagged window: sash, glass, weatherstripping, frame gap
- A quote that sorts each opening: replace, air seal, or leave
- Replacement windows set in sill pans with flashing
- Low-expansion foam or backer rod and sealant at every frame gap
- Interior trim back on or new, and haul-away
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 windows the audit flags and how many are replaced vs. sealed
- Glass package: double or triple pane, low-E coatings
- Insert vs. full frame on each replaced window
- Interior trim: reuse, new casing, or jamb extensions
- Air sealing on windows that stay
- Other audit items you add, such as rim joist or attic hatch sealing
Send the audit report with the photos. It tells us which windows to look at first.
How long it takes
The walkthrough and quote come first. Replacement runs about three to five windows a day as inserts. Air sealing a window that stays is a short job per opening.
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
Replace the worst first
The windows the audit flags most get replaced now, the rest are sealed or left, with the brand and color written down so later windows match.
Seal what can be sealed
Casing off, packed fiberglass out, gap foamed, casing back. For sound windows that leak around the frame, not through the sash.
Windows with other audit items
Rim joist, attic hatch and door weatherstripping often show up on the same report. They can be quoted on the same visit.
Energy Audit Says Replace Windows — Turning the Report Into a Scope: questions, answered
Should I replace windows or add insulation first after an energy audit?
Follow the audit's own order: it usually ranks the items by how much air or heat they lose. Attic and rim joist sealing often come high on the list. Windows that are failing, single pane or leaking badly are worth doing with them, and we can quote both on one visit.
Does a blower door test mean my windows need replacing?
Not by itself. A blower door test shows where air comes in, and windows are a common spot. The leak may be around the frame behind the casing, which can be sealed, or through a worn sash, which may mean replacement. We check each window the report names.
Can leaky windows be fixed without replacing them?
Often. If the leak is around the frame, the casing comes off, the gap is foamed and the casing goes back. If it is weatherstripping or a sash that will not lock tight, those parts can sometimes be replaced. Failed glass seals and rotted frames usually mean a new window.
What do I do with my energy audit report?
Send it with photos of the windows it flags. We go through it window by window and write a quote that marks each opening as replace, seal or leave. You decide the order.
Will new windows fix the drafts the energy audit found?
A new window fixes leaks through the sash and glass. The gap between the frame and the house framing has to be sealed too, or the draft stays. We foam that gap on every window we install before the trim goes on.
Do you do the energy audit?
No. The audit is done by an energy auditor, often through your utility. We work from their report and quote the window work and the air sealing it calls for.
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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Based in Zimmerman, scheduling across the Twin Cities metro. Closest first: