How to Prepare Your Home for Window Installation Day

Your window installation date is on the calendar. The new windows are manufactured and ready to ship. Now it is time to make sure your home is ready for the crew.

Good preparation does not take long — most homeowners spend an hour or two the day before — but it makes a real difference. A prepared home means faster installation, less risk of damage to your belongings, and a calmer experience for your whole family.

Here is exactly what to do, organized by timeline, so nothing gets forgotten.

Why Preparation Matters

Window installers are skilled tradespeople, but they cannot do their best work when they are navigating around furniture, hunting for access, or worrying about knocking over your grandmother's vase on the windowsill.

When you prepare your home properly:

• Installation goes faster. Clear access means fewer interruptions and obstacles. A well-prepared home can shave hours off a multi-window project.
• Your belongings stay safe. Moving fragile items and covering floors prevents accidental damage.
• Stress goes down. You will not be scrambling to move things while workers are waiting, and you will not worry about your kids or pets getting in the way.

Think of it like prepping for a house cleaner, but a bit more thorough. For the full picture of what the installation process looks like from start to finish, see our complete installation timeline guide.

One Week Before Installation

Start with the logistical items that take some lead time:

Confirm the details with your contractor. Call or email to confirm:

• Exact date and expected arrival time (get a specific window, not just "morning")
• How many crew members to expect
• Estimated duration based on your window count
• Whether you need to provide anything (driveway access, parking, etc.)

Verify your order. Confirm that all windows were manufactured correctly — right count, sizes, styles, and glass packages. Your contractor should be able to confirm this with the manufacturer.

Arrange care for kids and pets. Installation day involves power tools, open windows (briefly), workers moving through rooms, and construction debris. It is not a great environment for toddlers, curious dogs, or nervous cats. If you can arrange a playdate, a day at grandma's, or doggy daycare, everyone will be happier.

Check HOA requirements. Some homeowners associations require advance notice of exterior work. If yours does, submit the notification now if you have not already.

Talk to your neighbors. A quick heads-up about the upcoming work is courteous, especially if the crew will park a trailer or truck near shared spaces. This also prevents surprised calls from neighbors wondering what is going on.

The Day Before: Room-by-Room Prep

This is where the real preparation happens, and it goes faster than you might expect.

Every Room With a Window Being Replaced

Move furniture away from windows. Pull everything back 3-4 feet from each window. Installers need room to work on the interior side, and they also need a path to carry the old window out and the new one in. Heavy pieces like sofas and bookshelves should be moved far enough that they will not get bumped or dusty.

Remove window treatments. Take down curtains, drapes, blinds, Roman shades, and any other window coverings yourself. Installers are not responsible for removing or reinstalling these, and you do not want your nice curtains getting dusty or damaged during the work. Set them aside in a closet or spare room.

Clear the windowsills. Remove everything — plants, picture frames, candles, decorative items, and anything else on or near the sill. This includes items on nearby shelves or mantels that could vibrate or fall during the work.

Protect your floors. Lay drop cloths or plastic sheeting on the floor beneath and around each window. Professional crews bring their own protective materials, but adding your own layer provides extra insurance — especially on hardwood, tile, or light-colored carpet. Pay extra attention to high-traffic paths between windows and exterior doors.

Remove wall decorations near windows. Take down any framed photos, mirrors, or artwork within 3 feet of windows. The vibration from removing old windows can loosen hanging items.

Kitchen

If kitchen windows are being replaced, clear the countertops near those windows. Move the coffee maker, dish rack, small appliances, and anything else that could get dusty. Cover open food storage.

Bathrooms

Remove toiletries, towels, and personal items from around bathroom windows. If the bathroom is small, consider removing the shower curtain to give the installer more room.

Bedrooms

Move nightstands, lamps, and personal items away from windows. If a child's crib or bed is directly under or beside a window, move it to the center of the room.

Exterior Preparation

Installers need access to the outside of every window being replaced. Take a walk around your home and address these items:

Trim shrubs and bushes. Cut back any vegetation that is within 3-4 feet of a window. Installers will be carrying tools and old windows through these areas, and branches make that difficult and slow.

Move patio furniture. Clear furniture, grills, potted plants, and toys away from beneath windows. Installers may set up ladders or scaffolding in these areas.

Ensure gate access. If your backyard is fenced, make sure the gates are unlocked and wide enough for workers to pass through with windows and ladders.

Clear the driveway or staging area. The crew will need space to unload new windows and stage old ones for disposal. Keep at least one side of your driveway or a section of your garage clear. Move vehicles if needed.

Note any sprinkler heads. If you have irrigation sprinklers near windows, point them out to the crew lead so they can avoid damaging them. Better yet, turn off your sprinkler system for the day.

Kids, Pets, and Family Planning

Children

For young children, installation day is best spent somewhere else. The combination of loud tools, open windows, unfamiliar people, and construction debris is not child-friendly. Arrange a playdate, a day with relatives, or a fun outing.

Older kids (10+) can usually handle being home, but designate a room that is not being worked on as their "base camp" and ask them to stay out of work areas. Headphones and a movie or game go a long way.

Pets

Dogs and cats should be secured in a room that is not being worked on, or better yet, boarded or sent to a friend's house for the day. Installation involves open exterior doors, brief moments of open window frames, and unfamiliar people in every room — all of which are escape opportunities or stress triggers for pets.

If your pet must stay home, choose a quiet room away from the work area, close the door, and put a note on it for the installers. Make sure the crew lead knows there is a pet in that room.

Your Own Plan

Someone needs to be home during installation, but you do not need to hover over the crew. Plan to:

• Be available for the morning walkthrough and any questions
• Stay out of the active work zones
• Have a workspace or activity set up in a room that is already done or not being worked on
• Be ready for the final walkthrough at the end of the day

Installation Day Checklist

Use this interactive checklist to track your preparation tasks:

What to Expect During Installation

Once the crew arrives, the morning starts with a brief walkthrough. The crew lead will review the plan with you, confirm which windows are being replaced, and identify their staging and work areas.

Then they get to work — one window at a time. Each window is removed, the opening is inspected and prepped, the new window is installed, insulated, sealed, and trimmed. You will hear power tools, some hammering, and occasional conversation between crew members.

A few things to keep in mind:

Noise is concentrated, not constant. The loudest work (sawing through old frames, drilling) lasts only a few minutes per window. Between windows, things are relatively calm.

Temperature will fluctuate. When a window is being swapped, that room is open to the outside for a few minutes. In winter, close doors to the room being worked on to contain the cold air. In summer, expect a blast of heat. Each window is sealed quickly, so the temperature normalizes fast.

Dust happens. Even with drop cloths and careful work, removing old windows generates some dust — especially in older homes with plaster walls or stucco exteriors. If anyone in your household has severe allergies or asthma, they may want to spend the day elsewhere.

The crew may find surprises. Occasionally, removing an old window reveals hidden issues — water damage, rot in the framing, or improper flashing. If this happens, a reputable contractor will show you the issue, explain the repair, and discuss cost before proceeding. This is not a sales tactic; it is responsible work. Budget a small contingency for these possibilities.

For a detailed look at how long installation takes per window and for entire homes, see our timeline breakdown.

After the Crew Leaves

Once installation is complete and you have done your final walkthrough, there are a few things to take care of:

Let sealants cure. Do not touch or disturb the caulk and foam around your new windows for at least 24 hours. Avoid spraying water directly on exterior sealant for 48 hours.

Rehang window treatments. Wait until any interior trim work is fully finished and cleaned before putting curtains and blinds back up. You may need to adjust mounting hardware if the window profile changed slightly.

Test every window. Open, close, lock, tilt, and slide every window within the first few days. Report any stiffness, misalignment, or difficulty operating to your contractor promptly — issues caught early are easy to fix under the installation warranty.

Move furniture back. Return furniture to its original positions once the work area is clean and dry.

Enjoy the difference. Seriously — take a moment to notice the quieter rooms, the absence of drafts, and the cleaner look. You earned it.

A little preparation goes a long way. The time you spend the day before installation translates directly into a smoother, faster project and a better result. Your contractor will thank you, your floors will thank you, and your stress level will be noticeably lower. If you are still in the planning phase and evaluating contractors, our guide to choosing a window installer in Utah will help you find a team that makes the whole process easy.