Buying windows goes better when you do some homework before anyone visits. A window is a sealed glass-and-frame unit set into a wall opening, so every choice depends on that opening and the sun it faces. This post gives you a short home audit to finish first, then the order to make decisions in.
The short answer
- Do a short home audit first: count openings, note wall directions and mark the windows that cause trouble.
- The west wall usually needs the most from a window, because afternoon sun hits the glass in the hottest hours.
- Decide in order: how the window opens, the frame, the glass, the look, the installer and then the warranty.
- Check HOA and city rules before you order, because both can differ from your neighbor’s.
- Find the source of any water stain before buying, since a new window will not fix a leak in the wall.
- If you plan to replace siding soon, tell your installer so the wall is opened only once.
Most advice about buying windows starts with frame materials and glass. That is the second step. The first step happens before any company walks through your door, and it takes about the length of a cup of coffee. You walk the house and write down what you see.
What should you do before you call a window company?
Walk the house with a notebook and your phone. Count the openings, note which way each wall faces, mark the windows that give you trouble, and photograph each one. Your notes make every estimate more useful, and they show you quickly which companies listen to what you wrote down.
- Count the openings and sketch the house, one line per wall.
- Note the direction each wall faces. A phone compass is good enough.
- Mark the problems: drafts, sticking sashes, fog between panes, street noise, glare, faded floors.
- Photograph each window from inside and outside.
- Find your paperwork: any HOA rules, and any warranty on windows you already have.
- Write down your must-haves, such as fresh air in the bedrooms, a clear view or a window that is easy to clean.
Keep the sketch and photos for the visit. A good estimator will check your count against the walls and will measure each opening on its own, because two windows that look the same from the street are often a different size. If the notes and the measurements disagree, you want to find out before the order is placed.
Add one more question. Which rooms felt hottest in the summer of 2023? Those rooms usually have a west or south window doing too much work, and they belong at the top of your list.
Which wall of your house needs the most from a window?
Usually the west wall. Late afternoon sun arrives during the hottest part of a North Texas day and hits the glass straight on. South walls come next, and east and north walls ask less. The table shows what to ask about for each direction.
| Wall faces | What the sun does | What to ask about |
|---|---|---|
| West | Strong sun in the late afternoon, when the day is already hot | A low solar heat gain rating, outside shade, or both |
| South | High sun in summer, lower sun in winter | An overhang or awning can shade the glass in summer |
| East | Morning sun that warms a room before the day heats up | Standard glass is often enough |
| North | Steady light with little direct sun | Air-tightness and the view matter more than heat gain |
The ratings behind those questions come from the label on each window. Our post on U-value and SHGC for Texas heat explains the two numbers. ENERGY STAR sorts its window criteria by climate region, so you can see what applies to North Texas.
In what order should you decide things?
Start with the opening and how the window works, then move to the frame, the glass, the look and the installer. Early choices limit later ones. A window that must open for fresh air, for example, rules out a fixed unit before you ever talk about glass.
Function comes first because each style behaves differently. A double-hung window has two sashes that slide up and down. A casement window is hinged at the side and swings out like a door. A slider moves left and right, an awning window is hinged at the top, and a picture window is fixed glass that does not open. Pick the style for the way you use the room.
- How each window opens, or whether it opens at all.
- The frame: composite, wood interior with cladding, or a custom build.
- The glass package for each wall, using your sun notes.
- Style, color and grille pattern, so the house still looks like one house.
- The installer, who they are and how they will set the window.
- The warranty terms, read in full before you sign.
We install Andersen windows, and the four lines map onto steps two and four. The 100 Series is a composite frame, the 400 Series has a wood interior, the A-Series is built around architectural styles and the E-Series is made to order. If you are unsure how to choose a style, our post on choosing window styles for a Texas home is a good next read.
Does your HOA or city need to approve new windows?
Possibly, and you should find out before you order. Some neighborhoods review exterior changes such as frame color or grille pattern. Cities also differ on permits for window work. Ask your HOA and your city before the order goes in, not after the windows arrive.
Southlake is a good example, where an HOA review often runs alongside the city process. Cities post their own rules online. Arlington and Southlake each have a permit page, and your own city will have one too. Rules differ from city to city, so check yours.
When should you wait before buying windows?
Wait if the real problem is not the window. A stain under a window can come from flashing above it or from a leak in the wall, and a new window set into a wet wall will not fix that. Find the source of any water first.
Also wait if you plan to replace your siding soon. The flashing and trim around a window are shared with the wall, so it is easier to do the two jobs together than to open the same wall twice. Tell your installer about any siding plans, and see our siding page if that is on your list.
Last, an honest note. If your windows work, close tightly and are in good shape, you do not need new ones. Cleaning and a fresh bead of caulk can do more than most people expect. When you are ready to talk, we offer free in-home estimates, and we will measure each opening in person. Our post on why installation quality matters covers the last piece, who sets the window.
Questions we get asked about this
Walk your house and make notes. Count the openings, mark which way each wall faces, list the windows that give you trouble and photograph each one. This takes a short time and makes every estimate more useful, because each company is pricing the same facts.
Start with the ones that cause real trouble, then add the west and south walls, where the afternoon sun is strongest. Windows with fog between the panes or soft frames come first. Ask for an estimate for the whole house too, so you can compare.
Many HOAs review exterior changes such as frame color or grille pattern, but rules differ by neighborhood. Check your HOA documents or ask the management office before you order. Your city may also have its own permit rules, so ask both.
It is worth planning them together. The flashing and trim around a window are shared with the wall, so doing both jobs at once avoids opening the same wall twice. If siding is on your list, tell your installer before the window order is placed.
Yes. We are a family-owned exterior remodeler based in Arlington, and we serve 90 DFW cities. Since 1984 our work has included installing Andersen windows. The estimate is free, and we measure each opening in person before we suggest a series, so your notes and ours can be checked against each other.
