Window and glass questions, from the main floor to the basement unit

We pass it on. Windows Brampton is a free referral service that connects you with an independent local glass professional who does that kind of job. The pro handles the measuring, the quote and the job, and you sign with them, not us. Pros may pay us a referral fee; you pay us nothing. See how it works.

No. We don't cold-call, knock on doors or pose as a City, provincial or utility program. The real provincial rebate starts with a home energy assessment, not a doorstep visit. If you sign a contract at home, Ontario generally gives you ten days to cancel; see the province's guidance.

Wipe the room side of the glass with a dry cloth. If it clears, the moisture came from indoors: cooking, showers, laundry dried inside and a full house all add humidity. If the haze stays, the window is foggy between the panes. The seal has failed, and that won't dry out on its own.

Often, yes. If the frame and sash are sound, a pro can replace just the glass unit, called a sealed unit, and keep the window. Defogging cleans up the look without resealing. A new window suits a soft frame, worn-out hardware or several failed units. Compare the options for foggy glass.

The same factors drive both: pane size, glass type (tempered, low-E or triple pane), shaped or oversized units, access, the frame's condition and how many openings are done together. New glass is usually the smaller job, since the frame and trim stay. A basement window down in a well adds access work. Request a quote with a photo.

Call if a storm, a break-in or an impact caused it; coverage depends on your policy and deductible. Before cleaning up, photograph the glass, the frame and the cause. Make the opening safe, then a pro can board it up and quote the replacement in writing for your claim. Board-up is covered on the emergency glass page.

A new or enlarged opening needs a permit; a same-size swap usually doesn't, but confirm it. The City's no-permit list is silent on window replacement, so check with the Building Division first. The opening permit asks for a survey, elevations and lintel details. In a condo townhouse, get the corporation's permission first. More on replacement windows.

Generally, yes. Drawings to register a second unit must show the egress and exit windows, and basement bedrooms need a minimum window area tied to the room's size. The City decides what your house needs, not us or the pro. Start with the City's second-unit pages and our basement unit window guide.

Ask the City, not a contractor or a listing. Second and third units must be registered, and the City publishes a map of registered units on its Additional Residential Units page. If you're unsure, contact the City directly. We can't confirm a unit's status, but a pro can quote a basement egress window the drawings call for.

Tell your landlord first, in writing if you can, with a photo. The owner decides on work to the building and arranges access. With their agreement, you can send the request yourself, or they can send it with your number for scheduling. Either way, say it's the basement unit so the pro knows which door to use.

It's a good prompt to catch up on small repairs. Rental licensing now covers homes with one to four rental units across Brampton; see the City's announcement. We can't say what the City checks, but broken glass, torn screens and windows that won't open or lock are worth fixing anyway. Landlords can start with our page for property managers.

An energy assessment and a bigger project. The Home Renovation Savings Program pays back per rough opening for ENERGY STAR windows and doors after a home energy assessment, as part of two or more upgrades. Replacing only the glass doesn't fit that. Canada has one ENERGY STAR standard, with no climate zones. Peel owners struggling with heating bills can also ask about CCET's Energy Retrofit Assistance pilot, which sometimes includes windows.