The Two-Week Window: Auditing New Glazing Before the Final Payment

New windows and doors are one of those purchases where the big moment is the installation day. Then the van pulls away, the dust settles, and you are left with a house full of shiny frames, a pile of paperwork, and a balance to pay. That first fortnight is your best chance to spot the small things before they become awkward conversations.

This is not about going over the job with a fine-tooth comb and a bad attitude. Most installations involve a few minor adjustments, especially on doors. The trick is knowing what is normal, what needs a quick visit, and what should never have left the workshop.

Start with a slow walk-round, not a screwdriver

Give yourself an hour, ideally in daylight. Take a notebook and your phone. Work room by room, and do not start fiddling with hinges, handles or silicone. Your job is to observe and record, not to fix. If you have not yet paid the final balance, do the walk-round before you do. If the balance was due on completion, still make the check promptly and put any issues in writing.

Start with the obvious: are the windows and doors the style, colour and glass specification you ordered? Check the contract or quote. It is easy to miss a changed handle finish or a different opening direction when you are just pleased to have glazing that closes.

Days one to three: operation, water and the simple stuff

Open and close every window. Not just a nudge, either. Use the handle as you would in normal life. Check the locking points, the keys, and any restrictors or fire-escape hinges. On tilt-and-turn windows, test both positions. On doors, open and close them slowly and then normally. Listen for rubbing, scraping or a heavy thud. The door should not need a shoulder to close, and the handle should not feel like it is fighting you.

Look at the drainage. Most modern frames have small slots or weep holes at the bottom, sometimes with covers. They should be clear. Do not seal them up, and do not let anyone else seal them up to stop a draught. They are there to let water out.

Check the trickle vents if you have them. Open and close them. They can be stiff when new, but they should move. If they are painted shut or sealed over, that is worth raising.

Outside, have a look at the silicone and trims. A neat bead is reassuring, but neatness is not everything. Look for gaps, lifting edges or sealant that has been smeared over a drainage path. If it rains in the first few days, take a walk round afterwards. Water should be outside, not inside the frame or on the sill.

The end of week one: glass, seals and sightlines

By now you have probably opened and closed everything a few times. That is useful, because some faults only show up with use.

Check the glass carefully. Look for scratches, chips and small marks near the edges. Some marks are just stickers or protective film, but be sure. Look at the sealed unit itself. If there is mist or water droplets between the panes, that is a failed seal, not household condensation. Condensation on the room-side or outside surface is normal in the right weather; condensation inside the gap is not.

Run a hand around the internal beads and gaskets. They should sit evenly, with no obvious gaps or loose sections. A gasket that has popped out is usually a quick fix, but it needs doing properly.

Look at the frames from a few feet back. Are the gaps between frame and wall consistent? Has the plaster or render been made good reasonably? Small cosmetic snags are common, but you want them on the list while the installer still has the right trim in the van.

Week two: doors, draughts and the quiet details

Doors often need a small adjustment after a week of normal use. A door that catches slightly or a handle that has become stiff is usually a hinge or strike-plate tweak, not a sign of a bad door. Mention it, but do not panic.

Check for draughts on a windy day. A faint movement of air around a trickle vent is normal; a steady cold stream around the frame or threshold is not. Check the letterbox, the door seal and the threshold. If you have a composite door, listen for the lock as you turn the key. It should feel solid, not vague.

This is also the week to check the paperwork. You should have your guarantee, any competent-person certificate for the installation, and the manufacturer warranties for the glass and hardware. Keep them together. If the installer promised to register the guarantee, check that they have.

How to record a snag so it actually gets fixed

Make one clear list rather than firing off messages room by room. For each item, note the room, the window or door, what is wrong, and when you first noticed it. Take two photos: one wide shot showing the whole window or door, and one close-up of the issue. If there is a reference number on the contract, use it in the subject line.

Send the list by email so there is a written trail. Ask for a response with a proposed date. Keep the tone factual. You are not writing a review yet; you are reporting defects and asking for them to be put right.

Routine adjustment or a real problem?

A stiff handle, a door that needs a slight lift, a trickle vent that is tight, or a small bead of silicone that needs tidying are usually routine. A misted sealed unit, cracked glass, a lock that will not engage, water sitting inside the frame, missing drainage, the wrong glass specification, or a missing certificate are not. Those need a proper response, not a quick squirt of oil.

If in doubt, ask the installer to explain what they are doing and why. A good firm will not mind. A firm that gets defensive about a misted unit or a failed lock is telling you something useful.

The money bit

It is reasonable to hold back a sensible amount if there are genuine unresolved defects, but it is not reasonable to withhold the whole balance for a stiff handle. If the job is mostly right and the snags are minor, pay what is due and get the remaining work agreed in writing. If something significant is wrong, put your concerns in writing before paying and ask for a written timetable for the fix.

The first fortnight is not about finding fault for the sake of it. It is about using the window when the installer is still close enough to come back without a drama. A calm list, good photos and a clear email will get you further than a doorstep argument.

Once the snags are sorted, keep the paperwork, note the date of any adjustments, and enjoy the quieter rooms. That is what you paid for.