When I meet homeowners in Clovis who are gearing up to replace windows, the first document that makes them pause is the contract. Not the measurement sheet or the product brochure, but the dense packet that decides who pays for what, when the work starts, what happens if a pane arrives cracked, and whether the installer will return to fix a sticky sash six months later. The contract matters because window projects combine custom manufacturing, construction in lived-in spaces, and shifting variables like supply lead times or unexpected rot. A clear contract turns ambiguity into predictable steps.
Clovis sits in the Central Valley’s heat bowl. Summer highs sail past 100 degrees for stretches, and morning tule fog in cooler months can leave frames damp. Those conditions shape the choices inside your agreement, from low-e coatings to expansion gaps and sealants. Reading a Window Installation Service contract with your climate and municipality in mind gives you leverage. You can accept a fair term with confidence, or you can ask for a tweak that avoids a costly headache.
Below is a practical guide to decoding what you’ll see and what to ask before you sign.
The first page sets the rules of engagement
Before you leap to the price, study the top block. It typically lists the contractor’s legal name, California license number, business address, and point of contact. California Business and Professions Code requires contractors to include their license number on contracts and ads. You can look up that number on the CSLB website in a minute. If the name on the contract doesn’t match what you find online, stop and ask why. Sometimes it is a parent company versus a DBA, which is fine if disclosed. Sometimes it’s a red flag.
Your name and property address should be exact, including unit numbers for multi-family properties. This is what ties the scope to your home and dictates where work is performed. If you maintain a Clovis mailing address but the property is in Fresno city limits, make sure the correct jurisdiction is listed, because inspection rules and permit fees can differ.
The effective date and the right to cancel notice belong here too. California law gives you a three-business-day right to cancel most home improvement contracts, extended to seven days if the sale occurs after a federally declared disaster. The notice must be conspicuous. Keep it. If a salesperson rushes you to sign on a Friday evening, that window gives you breathing room to sleep on it.
Scope of work is the heart of the deal
The strongest contracts read like a measured description, not a headline. “Replace all windows” is not enough. Each opening should be tagged: location, size, window type, and installation method. A good scope might say: “Bedroom 2, north elevation, 3060 single-hung, retrofit installation into existing aluminum frame, exterior finish to match stucco texture, interior to include new stop molding primed and painted.” That sentence clarifies half a dozen decisions.
Think about how Clovis homes were built in different eras. Many 1980s and 1990s houses in Buchanan and Clovis West school areas used aluminum sliders set into stucco with nail fins. You have two broad installation methods:
- Retrofit or insert installation, where the new unit slides into the old frame and is sealed. Faster, less disruptive to stucco, typically lower cost. You lose a bit of glass area, which matters on smaller openings. Full-frame or new construction installation, where the old frame is removed, flashing and pan are rebuilt, and the stucco or siding is patched. Better for water management and for homes with existing leaks or dry rot. Takes longer and costs more.
Retrofit can perform well if executed cleanly, but the contract should match the condition of your walls. If you have stucco cracks or you have seen fogging between panes that suggests long-term water intrusion, consider asking for full-frame on those specific openings. Mixed-method scopes are common, and a seasoned installer will label them opening by opening.
On glass and energy performance, insist on product specifics, not marketing adjectives. Central Valley’s climate zone is 13 for Title 24 purposes. https://medium.com/@jzwindowsdoorsclovis You’ll want a U-factor around 0.30 or lower and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient around 0.23 to 0.27 for west and south elevations. If your contract says “energy efficient dual pane windows,” ask for the exact model series, glass package code, U-factor, and SHGC. Brands like Milgard, Anlin, Simonton, or Andersen all offer multiple glass configurations. The contract should tie to a manufacturer cut sheet or product order that lists the glazing option, spacer type, and coatings. In our heat, low-e 366 on west faces often pays back quickly in comfort.
Vent stops, obscure glass in bathroom windows, tempered glass near tubs per code, and insect screens should all be spelled out. Tempered glass is not optional if a window sits within a certain distance of a door or the floor. If the installer misses a tempered call and the inspector flags it, the fix is expensive. The contract helps avoid that by listing which openings will receive tempered units.
Permits, inspections, and who is responsible
Window replacement in Clovis often triggers a simple over-the-counter permit, especially for like-for-like sizing. If you’re altering openings, moving from a slider to a French door, or reducing egress in a bedroom, the permit becomes more involved. Your contract should state whether the contractor secures the permit, pays permit fees, and schedules inspections. Most reputable firms in the area handle this in-house. If the agreement places permits on you, weigh whether you want that responsibility. The person pulling the permit owns the accountability for compliance.
Ask which code cycle the work will comply with. As of mid-2025, California is under the 2022 Building Standards Code. The contract doesn’t need to cite code sections, but it should say work conforms to applicable California Building Code and Energy Code. If a salesperson tells you “no permit needed,” be cautious. Energy compliance forms may be required to certify U-factor and SHGC. Inspectors in Clovis and Fresno both check safety glazing and egress clearances.
Schedule, lead times, and the Valley’s calendar
Manufacturers’ lead times swing with demand and supply chain hiccups. For standard white vinyl in common sizes, I see typical lead times around 3 to 6 weeks, longer for custom colors, laminate exteriors, or specialty shapes. The contract should give a realistic range and tie it to a trigger, such as “Lead time starts upon receipt of signed contract and 30% deposit.” If a house in Harlan Ranch needs bronze exterior frames and custom grids, build in slack.
Installation dates should be windows, not guarantees. Rain is rare in summer, but summer heat is not friendly to sealants or paint. Many installers in Clovis avoid afternoon caulking when the stucco surface measures over 120 degrees. The contract can include weather contingencies and define what happens if extreme heat or air quality issues delay work. During late-summer wildfire smoke events, it is reasonable to pause cutting and sanding to keep dust out of the home.
Plan for humane daily working hours. City ordinances allow construction noise during specific daytime windows. Ensure the contract states crew hours, number of days on site, and whether the work will be continuous once started. If your home has a security system or pets, note how the crew will secure the house at the end of each day, especially if openings are boarded overnight.
Price, payment schedule, and deposits under California law
California caps down payments for home improvement contracts at 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less, unless the contractor offers a valid exception like a bond. Many window companies ask for 30% to order materials, but they manage this by structuring a “progress payment” upon verified product delivery rather than a larger up-front deposit. The contract should respect the legal cap and define when each payment is due.
A standard, fair schedule in this trade looks like this: $1,000 or 10% upon signing, a mid-payment upon manufacturer’s confirmation or delivery to the contractor’s warehouse, and the balance upon substantial completion and your walk-through. Avoid paying the final balance before you test every window and confirm punch list items are addressed or scheduled.
Watch for finance charges if you’re using promotional financing. “No interest, no payments for 12 months” is attractive, but the contract may roll in dealer fees, which can add 8% to 15% to the price. That can still be worth it for cash flow, but eyes open. If the price is tied to financing, ask for a cash price next to it. You may find a 5% to 8% discount for a check, which is not universal but not rare either.
Change orders are where budgets go to die, unless you plan for them
Window projects are notorious for surprises once the old frames come out. Concealed dry rot at the sill, hidden termite damage, stucco that crumbles around a nail fin, or the discovery that a header has sagged. None of that is your contractor’s fault if it was truly hidden, but it is their job to document and communicate. The contract should explain how change orders are created, priced, and approved. A quick phone call is not enough. You want a written description, photos, the cost or a not-to-exceed estimate, and your signature.
I tell clients to set aside a 5% to 10% contingency on older homes, especially those with wood siding or known moisture issues. In a 1970s ranch near Old Town, I have seen a $9,800 contract gain a $650 change order for sill repair, followed by a $320 stucco patch add. The project still penciled because we planned for it.
Warranty language that actually protects you
Read warranty language slowly. You are looking at two layers: the manufacturer’s warranty on the window and the installer’s workmanship warranty. Big manufacturers often advertise “lifetime” warranties, which in the fine print may be limited to the original owner and may prorate after a set number of years. They often exclude labor to replace defective parts. If a seal fails in year 8, the glass unit might be free but you could pay labor unless your contractor’s labor warranty covers it.
Ask for the manufacturer’s written warranty document, not a summary. Confirm coverage for insulated glass seal failure, hardware, screens, and stress cracks. In the Central Valley, heat stress matters, so verify how the warranty handles thermal fractures, especially on dark exterior frames.
For workmanship, 2 to 5 years is common among solid contractors in Clovis. I prefer contracts that state: “Installation is warranted to be free from defects in workmanship for 5 years, including sealant adhesion and water intrusion related to installation.” That sentence ties the warranty to water management, which is the heart of window performance. Some firms offer transferable warranties if you sell the home within the term. That adds resale value.
Make sure warranty service response times are defined. “Reasonable” is vague. A practical clause might commit to an initial response within 3 business days and on-site service within 15 business days, barring parts lead times.
Materials and methods, spelled out like a recipe
A great contract names brands and products for the materials you won’t see once everything is caulked. Sealant is not just “caulk.” Silicone, polyurethane, and hybrid sealants behave differently under Central Valley heat and UV. 100% silicone remains elastic longer, but it is not paintable. High-quality paintable hybrids or urethanes give strong adhesion to stucco and vinyl. The contract should say which type goes where and whether joints will be backer-rod sized to the correct depth. Hell or high water, don’t let anyone lay a fat bead over a deep joint without backer rod. It fails early.
Flashing tape and pan flashing matter if you are doing full-frame. Look for reference to sill pans or liquid-applied flashing at sills, self-adhered flashing tapes that meet AAMA standards around jambs and heads, and a head flashing or z-bar integration for retrofit over stucco. If the contract is silent, ask the installer to add a one-paragraph description of the water-resistive barrier detailing they use. You don’t need a treatise, just a promise to execute a sound drainage plane.
Insulation around the frame should not be a can of generic foam from a big-box store. Low-expansion window and door foam prevents frame bowing. Some installers prefer mineral wool or backer rod with sealant. Either is fine when done correctly. The method should be listed so there is no surprise gap left uninsulated.
Access, protection, and cleanup are quality-of-life items
The cleanest crews in Clovis walk drop cloths from the front door to each work area, remove or cover window treatments, and vac out tracks before handing a unit back. Your contract can require interior and exterior protection, dust containment where practical, and a daily cleanup standard that includes magnet sweeping for nails and screws. If you have new floors, call it out and ask for floor protection beyond paper, such as foam or Ram Board.
Disposal of old windows and debris should be included. Clarify whether blinds or shutters will be reinstalled and whether there’s a charge if they need modification. Some shutters won’t fit after retrofit because of the smaller glass area and thicker frame. Better to know before the crew shows up.
Security is a real concern, particularly when multiple openings are out at once. The contract should require that crews minimize simultaneous open holes and secure any unfilled openings with plywood and screws that can be removed without damage. If the project spans more than one day, the home must be weathered-in overnight.
Insurance, bonds, and proof that the crew is covered
Ask for a certificate of insurance showing general liability coverage and workers’ compensation. The contract should state that the contractor maintains both and will furnish proof on request. If they claim all workers are subcontractors, that is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. The sub should have coverage, and the general contractor should still carry general liability. If someone is hurt on your property and there is no worker’s comp, you can get dragged into the claim.
Performance bonds are unusual for residential window jobs unless the project is large, but a surety bond is required for licensed contractors in California. You do not need a copy, but the CSLB site shows whether it’s active. You can also look for complaints or citations there.
Dispute resolution, governing law, and where you’ll stand if things go wrong
Standard contracts will list California law as governing and may include mediation or arbitration clauses. Arbitration can be faster than litigation, but it may also limit discovery and appeal rights. Some contracts mandate a specific arbitration service. Read this clause and decide your comfort level. If you prefer the option to go to small claims court for smaller disputes, know that arbitration may preclude it. It is reasonable to ask for mutual mediation before arbitration.
Attorney’s fees clauses cut both ways. If it states the prevailing party recovers fees, that can discourage frivolous claims on either side. Keep in mind the CSLB also offers complaint processes and mediation that sometimes nudge contractors to act without lawyers.
Photos, measurements, and what “final” means
Window orders go wrong most often at the measurement stage. Your contract should confirm that a qualified technician will take final field measurements before ordering. Sales reps are not always measurers. If the wrong size shows up because measurements were the contractor’s responsibility, the contract should hold the contractor responsible for reordering at their cost and for any delay accommodations.
Final inspection at completion is more than a glance. You will want to test each operable window for smooth operation, locking, and proper weep function. Take a garden hose and lightly spray above a unit to see if the head flashing sheds water as expected. Wipe the inside of the glass with a microfiber cloth to confirm no scratches. If the screens are still in their boxes, ensure they are labeled and fit. Your contract can provide for a punch list that the contractor completes within a set number of days and for a holdback on a small portion of the final payment until it is done. Even a modest holdback, say 5%, sharpens focus.
Energy rebates, Title 24 paperwork, and what to keep for your records
PG&E rebate programs vary by year. Sometimes there is a modest incentive for high-performance windows, sometimes not. The contract need not promise a rebate, but it can commit the contractor to provide NFRC stickers or product labels and any required Title 24 compliance documentation, such as the CF2R and CF3R forms if HERS verification is involved. Keep copies. If you sell your home, these documents help appraisers and buyers value the upgrade.
In practice, for most retrofit projects with like-for-like sizing, you will not need HERS testing, but you still want NFRC stickers saved until you have your final inspector’s sign-off.
Local nuances: stucco, sun, and the way houses move here
Clovis stucco can be punishing on sealants because of thermal cycling. South and west faces bake in July, then cool rapidly at night. That movement opens sloppy joints. Good installers leave expansion gaps per manufacturer specs, then backer rod and a properly sized bead. Ask them to show you one joint on day one before they proceed around the house. You can see the difference between a textbook hourglass joint and a smeared surface bead. The contract cannot teach craft, but it can require adherence to manufacturer instructions and industry standards, such as AAMA InstallationMasters guidelines.
Vinyl frames expand and contract more than fiberglass or aluminum. In direct sun, a dark capstock can run 20 to 40 degrees hotter than white. If you love dark exteriors, ask for frame reinforcement details and color stability warranties. It’s common in the Valley to pair dark exteriors with fiberglass or composite frames for greater dimensional stability. If you stick with vinyl, select models engineered for darker colors.
How to compare two contracts that don’t look apples-to-apples
You might get one proposal for $12,400 and another for $16,800 for the same count of windows. The lower one is not automatically a trap, and the higher one is not automatically price-gouging. Break it down:
- Materials: Are the series and glass packages identical? A 0.28 U-factor with low SHGC glass costs more than a builder-grade dual pane with 0.34. Put the specs side by side. Scope: Retrofit versus full-frame on key openings, sill pan details, paint and patch scope. If the higher bid includes full stucco patch and paint to corners, that’s meaningful. Warranty: Labor warranty length and what it covers. One extra service visit in year 3 can pay for a price delta. Schedule and staffing: Some companies run one expert and a helper. Others field a larger team that is faster but rougher around edges. The contract sometimes hints at crew size and days on site. Change order rates: If one contract lists hourly carpentry rates for unforeseen framing repair, compare them. I have seen rates from $85 to $160 per hour. A cheaper base price can balloon with expensive T&M repairs.
A clean comparison often surfaces a few gaps you can ask either contractor to fill, like specifying sealants or confirming permit responsibility. Good companies respond well to precise questions.
A simple reading ritual that catches 90% of issues
Here’s a quick checklist you can use before you sign:
- Verify license, insurance, and right-to-cancel notice. Cross-check the license on CSLB. Confirm scope per opening: location, size, type, installation method, glass specs, and safety glazing where required. Ensure permits, inspections, and Title 24 documentation responsibilities are assigned to the contractor. Check schedule triggers, lead times, weather contingencies, and daily work hours, including how your home is secured overnight. Lock down payment schedule consistent with California limits, with final payment after walk-through and punch list.
Print the contract and mark it with a pencil. If a term is unclear, ask for a sentence to be added in plain language. Any contractor who does a lot of work in Clovis has had these conversations before. They will have a standard answer. You are not being difficult. You are making sure both sides know what “good” looks like.
A brief story from a Clovis tract home that got it right
One family near Gettysburg and Temperance replaced 14 windows and a patio door in late spring. The home had original aluminum sliders, a west-facing family room that turned into an oven at 4 p.m., and hairline stucco cracks around two openings. Their contract named the window series, listed glass with a 0.27 SHGC for west and 0.30 for north and east, labeled bathroom windows as tempered obscure, and split the installation method: retrofit nearly everywhere, full-frame at two cracked stucco openings with pan flashing and stucco patch to match.
They accepted a $1,000 deposit per law, then a 40% progress payment the day the windows arrived at the contractor’s shop, verified by photos and a serial list. The crew scheduled two days, committed to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and included a clause to protect their new vinyl plank floors. The change order language named an hourly carpentry rate of $95 with photo documentation before proceeding.
On day one, the crew found damp sub-sill wood at a west window. They paused, sent photos, and priced the repair at three hours plus materials. The owners approved it in writing. The installer used a high-quality paintable hybrid sealant, backed with rod, and showed the owner one finished exterior joint before continuing. Final payment occurred after a hose test and a short punch list of paint touch-ups. The manufacturer later mailed the warranty registration. Six months later, during a stretch of 104-degree days, the family room held five degrees cooler in late afternoon compared to the prior year. That is what a well-read contract sets up: predictable process, no drama.
Final thoughts from the field
Contracts don’t have to be adversarial. They are a job manual written ahead of time, and a good one reads like the crew could execute without ever meeting you. In Clovis, where heat, stucco, and long, bright summers conspire to test sloppy installs, a precise Window Installation Service agreement is more than legal protection. It is your blueprint for comfort.
If you take nothing else: pin down the scope opening by opening, nail the energy specs to real numbers, assign permits to the contractor, keep payments tied to milestones, and demand clear change order rules. Then close the loop with workmanship and product warranties that speak plainly to water intrusion and labor coverage.
Most installers who work here take pride in their craft. They have fought the same sun and stucco you have, and they will gladly put their methods in writing. Meet them there, on paper first, and the work on your walls will go smoother.