Montreal full-frame window replacement — back to the studs

Full-frame replacement strips the old window right back to the rough studs — the right call when sills are rotted, flashing has failed or water keeps getting in. We repair the framing, re-flash and spray-foam the perimeter, then set your new window for the widest possible glass.

Every opening measured on-site

Full air-seal on every unit

Written frame + sealed-glass warranty

Full-frame replacement when the frame is rotted

If the sill is soft underfoot or water has been getting in around the window, a retrofit insert only hides the problem behind new trim. Full-frame replacement takes the opening back to the rough studs so we can see the framing, cut out any rot and re-flash the wall the right way before the new window goes in.

That is the only way to fix the cause rather than trap moisture inside the wall, where it spreads to studs and drywall. With the opening open, we also correct old window replacement mistakes and air-seal the full perimeter.

You end up with a fresh, watertight opening ready for triple-pane glass — not a new window bolted over an old sealed-unit failure.

Four steps from free measure to full-frame install

Book the estimate

Call, text or use the form. We book a free in-home visit — no obligation, no high-pressure sales table.

On-site measure

We measure every opening, check the frames and sills for rot or water damage, and walk through material, style and glass options in plain language.

Written quote

Line-item quote with the window line, glass package, U-factor, warranty and haul-away on one page. Financing attached when you want it.

Install, cleanly

Drop cloths, boot covers and a full air-seal on every unit. Old windows hauled away and a walkthrough of your new windows plus warranty registration.

A fresh, sealed opening with maximum glass

Full-frame gives the best long-term seal we can build: a flashed, insulated, air-sealed opening with the window set plumb, level and square into sound framing. Because we are rebuilding the opening anyway, it is also the time to resize it or switch to casement windows for more ventilation.

The written quote covers tear-out, flashing, insulation, the window and haul-away as one scope, and any siding or trim we disturb is repaired and finished cleanly. Pair it with energy-efficient glass and, where your other windows are sound, a retrofit replacement elsewhere. See all replacement options in one visit.

Montreal full-frame replacement, answered

When full-frame beats a retrofit, cost and what it disturbs.

When do I need full-frame instead of retrofit?

When the existing frame or sill is rotted, water-damaged, mouldy or out of square — anything a new insert would simply cover up. Signs include soft or spongy sills, peeling paint and stains around the window, drafts you cannot seal, and windows that will not close square. In those cases a retrofit is a cosmetic patch that leaves the damage growing inside the wall. If your frames and sills are genuinely sound, a retrofit is faster and cheaper — and we will tell you honestly which one each opening needs.

Is full-frame more expensive?

Somewhat, yes — full-frame costs more than a retrofit because it includes tearing the opening back to the framing, repairing any damage, re-flashing and insulating the opening, and repairing the interior and exterior finishes afterward. But that price buys a real fix: it stops the water and rot a retrofit would seal inside the wall, where it keeps causing damage and eventually costs far more. Think of the difference as paying to solve the problem versus paying to hide it. We quote both where either is viable so you can weigh it.

Will it damage my interior or siding?

There is some disturbance — full-frame means removing interior trim and sometimes a section of exterior siding or brick-mould to reach the framing — but that is planned, not accidental, and we repair and finish it cleanly as part of the job. We protect the surrounding area, cut carefully, and match the trim and cladding back so the finished opening looks right. In fact, because we are re-flashing and insulating properly, the finished result is usually tighter and better-looking than the tired opening we started with.

How can I tell if my sills are rotted?

Soft or spongy wood, peeling paint, stains and drafts around the frame are the tell-tale signs; we check the condition behind the window at the measure.

Can I change the window size with full-frame?

Yes — because we open the wall back to the framing, full-frame is the time to resize an opening or change the style if you want to.

Get your Montreal full-frame replacement quote in writing

Book a free in-home measure and a written, itemized quote for full-frame window replacement anywhere across Montreal and the surrounding towns. Tear-out, flashing, insulation and finish all covered, the opening fixed right, and a written frame-and-glass warranty — installed by our own crews. No subcontractors, no pressure.

Locally owned · Insured · ENERGY STAR® · Free written estimates

Real Montreal reviews

What Montreal homeowners say after install day

★★★★★ 4.9 · 118 reviews on Google

★★★★★

Our sills were rotted and a retrofit would have hidden it. They took it back to the framing, fixed the damage and re-flashed properly.

C. Poirier

Homeowner, Montreal

Full-frame was the right call — they found and repaired water damage we did not even know about, then sealed it up tight.

A. Gill

Homeowner, Laval

More work than a simple insert but done right. Trim and siding repaired cleanly, opening finally watertight.

R. Bernard

Homeowner, Longueuil

Honest that we needed full-frame on two openings and retrofit on the rest. No upsell, just the right fix.

D. Achebe

Homeowner, Gatineau

Montreal full-frame window replacement — back to the studs

Full-frame replacement when the frame is rotted

Four steps from free measure to full-frame install

Book the estimate

On-site measure

Written quote

Install, cleanly

A fresh, sealed opening with maximum glass

More Montreal window replacement options

Retrofit Replacement

Energy-Efficient Replacement

Storm Window Replacement

Basement Window Replacement

Montreal full-frame replacement, answered

What Montreal homeowners say after install day

Montreal window guides

How to Choose the Right Windows for Your Montreal Home

Get your Montreal full-frame replacement quote in writing