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Window and door installation in Ottawa
A window is only as good as its installation.
- Liability insurance and WSIB coverage
- 5-year warranty on construction
- 2-year warranty on painting
- Free in-home consultation
Windows and doors
What we install
A window is only as good as its installation. Even a very good window will leak air and water if the gap around it is not sealed and flashed properly. Carleton Prime installs windows and exterior doors in Ottawa homes, as a project on its own or as part of a renovation, addition or new build.
- Replacement windows in existing openings
- New window openings, and larger windows in existing walls
- Basement windows, including larger windows for basement bedrooms
- Front, side and back entry doors
- Patio and garden doors
- Interior doors, covered on our finish carpentry page
“Indiana and his crew renovated a bathroom for me and the process was seamless, respectful and completed with extreme care and quality. I consider Carleton Prime the best construction company in Ottawa. I will use them for all future projects. Very pleased, would highly recommend.”
Keeping water and air out
Most window leaks are not the window itself. They come from the opening around it. Water that gets behind the siding has to be sent back out, so the opening is wrapped and flashed before the window goes in, the sill slopes to the outside, and the gap between the window and the framing is insulated and air sealed. We follow the window maker's installation instructions for each product.
In an Ottawa winter, a poorly sealed window shows up as drafts, frost on the frame and, over time, rot in the wall below it. The sealing you never see is what prevents all three.
When a permit is needed
In Ottawa, replacing a window or door with one that fits the same size opening does not need a building permit. Adding a window where there was none, or making an opening bigger or moving it, does, because the framing above an opening carries weight. That exemption does not apply to designated heritage buildings or homes in a heritage district, which need a permit either way. We work out what your project needs and apply for the permits on your behalf.
In Perth's downtown heritage district, replacing windows or doors on most street-facing buildings needs a heritage permit, even when no building permit is needed. Our Perth page explains more.
Basement bedroom windows
A floor level with a bedroom needs a window big enough to climb out of in an emergency, with a few exceptions. The City of Ottawa's guide to the Ontario Building Code rule says the open window has to give at least 0.35 square metres of clear space, with no side narrower than 380 mm, and open from the inside without tools. If there is a window well, it needs at least 550 mm of clear space in front of the window. Enlarging a basement window means cutting the foundation wall, which needs a building permit.
Doors that close and seal in winter
An exterior door has to seal against the wind and close tight in the coldest part of an Ottawa winter. That depends on a square, level opening, a sill that is properly supported, and weatherstripping that meets the door all the way around. We set doors so they swing freely, latch easily and seal.
Inside, the casings and trim around new windows and doors are finished by our own finish carpentry and painting crews.
Whole job or one part
Just the windows and doors, or the whole project
You can hire Carleton Prime for windows and doors on their own, or as part of a renovation or new build we run from start to finish. Builders, general contractors, architects, designers and engineers also bring us in for windows and doors as a subcontractor: we work from your drawings and specifications, carry liability insurance and WSIB coverage, and hand over cleanly to the next trade.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to replace my windows?
Not in Ottawa, if the new window fits the same size opening, unless the home is a heritage building or in a heritage district. Making an opening bigger, moving it or adding a new one needs a building permit. We check what your project needs and apply for any permits for you.
How much do new windows or doors cost?
We quote each job on its scope: how many windows and doors, their size and type, whether the openings stay the same or change, and the condition of the framing around them. We look at the house first, then send a detailed estimate.
Can you make a basement window bigger for a bedroom?
Usually, yes. It means cutting the foundation wall and often adding a bigger window well, and it needs a building permit. The open window has to give at least 0.35 square metres of clear space, with no side narrower than 380 mm.
Why is there frost or condensation on my windows?
Usually it is warm, moist indoor air meeting a cold surface. High indoor humidity is the most common cause. If one window is much worse than the others, a cold or leaky frame, or air leaking around the window, may be the problem.
Do you finish the trim around new windows?
Yes. Inside, the casings and trim are part of our finish carpentry. Outside, we close in and flash the opening so it sheds water.
Can you install a patio door where there is now a window?
Often, yes. It means making the opening wider and taller, which needs a new header above it and a building permit. We check the wall and what is inside it first.
What warranty comes with installation?
The installation is construction work, so it carries our five-year warranty. The windows and doors themselves carry whatever warranty their maker gives.
Related services
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Siding
New and replacement siding, with the wall behind it kept dry.
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Roofing
Re-roofing and new roofs, with the flashing and ventilation that make a roof last.
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Home renovations, inside and out
Whole floors, open plans, exteriors, decks, fences and interlock.
Learn moreSources
The permit, Building Code and bylaw points on this page come from these authorities. Rules change, so check the current version before relying on any of it.
- City of Ottawa: Projects that do not need a building permit
- City of Ottawa: Projects that need a building permit
- City of Ottawa Building Code Services: Egress windows for floor levels containing a bedroom (PDF)
- Government of Ontario: Ontario's Building Code
- Town of Perth: Downtown Perth Heritage Conservation District stewardship guide (PDF)
Ottawa renovation and construction
Start your project with Carleton Prime
Every project starts with a free in-home consultation. Tell us about your home and what you want to do.