The Ranking
Our top 5 window companies in Montreal
Montreal's housing stock is unusual for Canada. A large share of homes are brick duplexes, triplexes and low-rise buildings with original wood windows, outdoor staircases and narrow openings, and plenty of them were built before 1978. Replacing windows in those buildings is rarely a catalog job, because openings are not always square, brick molding has to be protected, and heritage areas can limit frame style. Ask your borough about permit rules before you order, since requirements differ across the city, and Westmount, for example, is its own city with its own rules.
Winter is the other factor. Montreal heating seasons are long and cold, and deep freezes followed by thaws test seals and frames every year. Look for ENERGY STAR certified windows rated for Canada's climate zone and ask for the U-factor and air leakage figures on your quote. Several companies below also help customers apply for the Rénoclimat program, so ask about current grants before you sign, because program rules change.
Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint on old window frames and trim. Health Canada advises treating chipped or cracked paint on older frames as a possible lead source and limiting dust during renovation, so ask how your installer will contain and clean up when the old units come out.
Check the licence before you pay a deposit. In Quebec, contractors who do construction work generally need a licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec, known as the RBQ, and some work falls under specific subclasses. Four of the five companies below state an RBQ number on their websites, and Porto does not, so ask Porto for its licence number in writing. You can look up any number for free on the RBQ licence lookup and confirm the company name, status and subclasses.
Window and door work here splits into three jobs: replacing windows, installing entry doors and installing patio doors. Some of these companies make their own products and install them, and others sell premium brands and install them. Ask for a written quote that names the product series, the glass package, who removes the old units and what the installation warranty covers, and compare at least two quotes before choosing.
