Buying a home: check the windows and entrance doors

1. Make a short record for each room

Bring a phone for photographs and a list of openings. With permission, photograph each complete unit from inside, followed by details you want to ask about. Record the room and position so that each window and door can be identified in a future quotation.

• Room, opening type and number of units.
• An overview and photographs of the frame, threshold or sill.
• Installation year and manufacturer, if known.
• The issue observed and a question for the seller.

2. Try opening and closing

Gently operate handles and the intended opening modes. Note rubbing, stiffness or a sash that does not close properly. For the entrance door, also try the key and locking mechanism with the owner. Difficult operation alone does not establish whether adjustment, repair or replacement is needed.

3. Look at seals, frames and glazing

Look for visibly damaged seals, distortion, cracks and moisture marks. If condensation is present, record whether it is inside, outside or between the panes. Photograph your observations and ask when they started. The cause and appropriate work need assessment; the appearance of the glass alone does not establish the performance of the complete window.

4. Check the entrance door and threshold

Consider the clear passage, opening direction and ease of everyday access. Look at the threshold, seals and visible connections to the building. Ask how the lock and any access-control system work. Do the glazed panel and sidelights suit your daylight and privacy needs? A substantial handle alone does not establish a burglary-resistance rating.

5. Ask for useful records

Ask for invoices, system references, instructions and records of previous work. Documents should match the installed units. For claimed thermal, acoustic or security performance, ask which configuration the figures describe and what evidence supports them. Compare Uw values for complete windows with corresponding dimensions and glazing, rather than just the glass Ug value.

• Installation date and the installer’s contact details.
• References for windows, doors, glazing and hardware.
• Available operating and care instructions.
• Known adjustments, repairs or water ingress.

6. Turn your observations into a clear enquiry

Organise your notes before requesting a quote. Identify units that work well alongside those with problems. For a project in Biel/Bienne, Seeland or French-speaking Switzerland, provide the address, number of affected windows and doors, and your priorities: comfort, access, appearance or maintenance. Final measurements and the installation method need to be confirmed for the building.

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