To prep your home for window installation, clear a 3-foot space around each window, take down blinds and curtains, move furniture back, and put pets in a closed room before the crew arrives. Window install day goes a lot smoother when your home is ready before the truck pulls up. A bit of prep the night before saves hours and keeps your stuff safe.
This guide covers what to do inside, outside, and how to handle pets and kids on the day of the job. The team at Window Source of Indianapolis put this together from years of doing replacement window projects across the Indy area.
Key Takeaways
- Take down all curtains, blinds, and rods, then move furniture and wall décor at least 3 feet from every window the crew will replace.
- Move patio furniture, grills, and yard items 4 feet from the wall, trim bushes near the windows, and leave the driveway open for the crew’s truck.
- Lock pets in one closed room with food and water, plan kid naps and school pickups around the noise, and pick one bathroom for the crew.
- Most 5–8 window jobs finish in one day, full-home jobs (15+ windows) may run 2 days, and one adult should be home for the start, mid-day check, and final walk-through.
Why Prep Work Matters Before Your Window Installation Day
Prep work keeps your floors, furniture, and walls safe from damage and helps the install crew finish the job faster. A clear work area lets the crew move from window to window without stopping. When stuff is in the way, they have to shift it first, and that adds an hour or two to the job.
Here’s what good prep gives you:
- Faster install — the crew finishes hours sooner
- Less risk to your stuff — no broken lamps, scratched floors, or dented walls
- A clear plan — you know what’s happening at every step
- Lower repair bills — no patching cracked plaster or paint after the job
Older Indy homes in Broad Ripple, Irvington, and Meridian-Kessler often have plaster walls, tight stairwells, and small side yards.
What to Do Inside Your Home Before the Installers Arrive
Inside your home, take down all window treatments, move furniture back 3 feet, pull stuff off the walls, and cover anything that can break. Inside prep takes the most time. The crew needs a clear path to every window and a safe spot to set tools down.
Take Down All Window Treatments
Pull down every curtain, blind, shade, and curtain rod from the windows the crew will replace.
Here’s what to remove:
- Curtain panels and sheers
- Blinds (mini, vertical, or wood)
- Roller shades and roman shades
- Curtain rods and brackets
- Valances and cornices
- Hardware that bolts into the frame
Rods bend during removal. Blinds tangle in tools. Hardware in the frame blocks the new window installation. Bag the small parts like screws and brackets, then label each bag by room so you know what goes back where.
Move Furniture Away From the Windows
Pull all furniture back at least 3 feet from every window the crew will work on.
Here’s a quick list of what to move:
- Beds, headboards, and nightstands
- Couches, chairs, and ottomans
- Dressers, bookshelves, and side tables
- Floor lamps and tall plants
- Anything stored under or beside the window
Cover anything you can’t move with a clean sheet to catch dust. Got a heavy armoire or a piano? Call Window Source of Indy ahead of time and ask if the crew can help slide it.
Take Down Wall Decor Near the Work Area
Take down pictures, mirrors, shelves, and clocks from any wall within 3 feet of the window. Drilling and prying out old frames shakes the walls. Plaster walls in older Indy homes crack from that kind of vibration. Pop the décor off the walls and stack it flat in another room.
Cover or Pack Up Fragile Items
Cover or move anything that can break, including TVs, lamps, plants, and glass tabletops. Here’s how to handle different items:
| Item | What to Do |
| TVs and big screens | Cover with a clean bedsheet |
| Lamps and floor lights | Move to another room or wrap in a blanket |
| Glass tables and shelves | Cover or move out of the room |
| Plants | Move to a closed room or garage |
| Vases, frames, figurines | Pack in a box, store in a closed room |
| Electronics and chargers | Unplug and move to a safe spot |
Dust spreads across the room during installation. It lands on screens, settles in plant leaves, and dulls glass surfaces.
What to Do Outside Your Home Before Installation
Outside, move yard items 4 feet from the wall, trim bushes near the windows, and leave the driveway open for the crew’s truck. The crew sets up ladders, carries new windows from the truck, and stacks old frames in a debris pile. Clear space around the house keeps every step quick and safe.
Clear the Yard Around Each Window
Move patio furniture, grills, planters, garden tools, and toys at least 4 feet from the house.
Common Indy yard items to move:
- Patio tables, chairs, and umbrellas
- Grills, smokers, and propane tanks
- Hose reels and rain barrels
- Bird feeders and garden statues
- Kid toys, swing sets, and bikes
- Trash cans and recycling bins
Trim Back Bushes and Tree Branches
Trim any shrubs, hedges, or low branches that touch the wall or block window access.
Flat ground lets the crew set ladders level and safely. Trimming ahead of time also keeps the branches off your plants.
Make Sure the Driveway Is Open
Park your cars on the street and leave the driveway open for the crew’s truck and trailer.
Crews need close access to load tools, unload new vinyl windows, and haul old ones away. A blocked driveway adds carry time to every single window. Give your neighbors a heads-up too, so the street near your house stays open for the crew’s truck.
How to Handle Pets, Kids, and Daily Routines on Install Day
Lock pets in one closed room, plan kid’s naps and pickups around the noise, and show the crew which bathroom they can use. The installation day brings loud drills, open doors, and a few crew members walking in and out for hours. A little planning keeps the day calm for your family.
Keep Pets in One Closed Room
Put dogs, cats, and other pets in a closed room far from the work area, with food, water, and a bed. Here’s a simple pet-day setup:
- Pick a room far from the windows the crew will replace
- Set out food, water, and a favorite toy
- Lay down a bed or blanket they know
- Put a sign on the door so the crew doesn’t open it
- Turn on a fan or soft music to mask drill noise
Loud drills startle pets, and an open front door gives them a chance to slip out. For anxious pets, a day at a friend’s house or a boarding spot works even better.
Plan Around Nap Times and School Pickup
Most full-home installs run 4 to 8 hours, so plan kid naps and pickups around the noise. Drills and hammers carry through the whole house. Set up a quiet zone in a back room with toys, snacks, and a tablet. If you have a school pickup window, let the crew know so they pause loud work for a few minutes.
Give the Crew a Clear Path to the Bathroom and Water
Point out one bathroom they can use and offer a spot for water bottles. A cooler with cold water near the front door works great on hot Indy summer days. Small things like that help the crew stay focused on your windows.
What to Expect on the Actual Install Day
On install day, the crew lays down floor protection, swaps out windows one at a time, then walks the home with you at the end. Here’s how the day goes from start to finish:
| Time | What’s Happening |
| Morning arrival | Crew shows up, lays floor protection, walks the job with you |
| First few hours | Old windows come out one at a time, new ones go in |
| Mid-day | Crew breaks for lunch, you do a quick mid-day check |
| Afternoon | Crew installs the rest of the windows, caulks sills, fits screens |
| End of day | Final walk-through with you, full clean-up, sign-off |
A 5–8 window job often wraps in one day. A full-home job with 15 or more windows may run 2 days. Expect drilling and tapping, plus some dust near each window. The crew vacuums each spot before moving on. At the end, you and the lead installer walk the home together.
You check every window frame, lock, latch, and screen before signing off. Window Source of Indianapolis crews always end with a full clean-up and walk-through.
Quick Prep Checklist for Indianapolis Homeowners
Run through this room-by-room checklist the night before, and your home will be set when the crew pulls up. Print this or screenshot it. Walk room to room and check each one off.
| Area | Task |
| Inside | Take down all curtains, blinds, and rods |
| Inside | Move furniture 3 feet from every window |
| Inside | Remove pictures and mirrors from nearby walls |
| Inside | Cover TVs, lamps, and plants with a sheet |
| Inside | Pack small breakables in a box |
| Outside | Clear patio furniture and grills 4 feet from the house |
| Outside | Trim bushes and branches near the windows |
| Outside | Park cars on the street, leave the driveway open |
| Pets & Kids | Lock pets in one closed room with food and water |
| Pets & Kids | Tell kids and neighbors what to expect |
| Crew | Pick one bathroom for the crew |
| Crew | Keep your phone close in case the crew has a question |
Ready to Book Your Window Install?
Looking for a window crew that handles every step from quote to clean-up? The Window Source of Indy has helped homeowners in Indy, Carmel, Fishers, and Greenwood replace their windows for years. Call today for a free in-home quote, and we’ll walk you through every prep step before install day.
FAQs
Do I need to be home during the install?
Yes, at least one adult should be home for the start, the mid-day check, and the final walk-through to sign off on the work.
How long does window installation take?
Most jobs take 4 to 8 hours for 5–8 windows. A full-home install with 15 or more windows can run 1 to 2 full days.
Will the installers clean up afterward?
Yes, a good crew vacuums dust, wipes down sills, hauls away old windows, and leaves your home as clean as they found it.
What if it rains on install day?
Light rain is fine since crews work on one window at a time. Heavy storms or freezing weather may push the job to the next dry day.
Do I need to turn off my alarm system?
Yes, turn off any window sensors and tell your alarm company about the install. Reset the system once the crew finishes the job.