Foshan AMJ Windows and Doors Co., Ltd. Most window quotes do not go off track because of the price. They go off track because two companies are pricing different scopes.
One supplier may assume standard insulated glass. Another may include Low-E glass, screens and nail fins. A third may leave freight out completely. The numbers look comparable, but they are not.
A useful window and door RFQ gives the supplier enough information to price the same product the builder actually expects to install. It does not need to be a finished submittal package. It just needs to be clear about what is known, what is still open and what the quote should include.
The Information a Window Quote Actually Needs
Give the Supplier a Quick Project Snapshot
A five-story apartment project in Florida should not be quoted the same way as a custom home in Colorado. Project type and location give the window supplier context before anyone starts working through the schedule.
Include whether the job is new construction or renovation, how many buildings or units are involved and when the windows are expected on site. That is enough for the first review.
Use a Clean Window Schedule
The window schedule is usually the main pricing document. A spreadsheet works just as well as a formal schedule if the information is organized.
At minimum, include the mark, window type, size and quantity. Handing matters too. A left-hand casement window, right-hand casement window and fixed window may share the same rough opening, but they are not the same product.
- Use one consistent unit of measurement.
- Separate windows and doors clearly.
- Identify fixed and operable sections.
- Show handing or sliding direction.
- Flag any sizes that are still being verified.
Send the Drawings That Affect the Window Package
An aluminum window manufacturer does not need a 300-page drawing set for an initial quote. The useful pages are normally the floor plans, elevations, wall sections and window details.
These drawings show grouped openings, balcony conditions, sill heights and how the frame meets the wall. They also make it easier to spot schedule conflicts before the quotation is issued.
Vague RFQ vs Quote-Ready RFQ
| Too Vague | Quote-Ready |
|---|---|
| Need 120 black aluminum windows. | 120 thermal-break aluminum windows, black powder-coated finish, sizes and types per attached schedule. |
| Use double glass. | Low-E insulated glass with tempered safety glass where noted on the drawings. |
| Windows need to meet code. | Target U-factor, SHGC and design pressure are included in the attached energy and structural criteria. |
| Include delivery. | Quote delivery to the project warehouse and show freight as a separate line item. |
| Standard hardware is fine. | Black handles and locks, insect screens on all operable windows, final hardware subject to sample approval. |
Be Specific About Glass
Glass can change the price of a custom aluminum window package quickly. “Double-pane” or “standard glass” still leaves too many questions open.
Note whether the project requires Low-E coating, argon, tempered glass, laminated glass, tint or privacy glass. If the exact make-up is not final, include the required performance and ask the supplier to recommend a configuration.
Add Performance Requirements to the First Request
If the project has a required U-factor, SHGC or design pressure, put it in the RFQ. These values may affect the aluminum system, glass and maximum product size.
Waiting until shop drawings to introduce performance requirements usually leads to a revised window selection and a revised price.
Show the Wall Condition
Wood framing, concrete, masonry and modular wall systems do not always use the same window frame or attachment package.
A wall section helps the supplier confirm whether the quotation should include a nail fin, flange, brackets, subframe or separate installation accessories. This detail is easy to miss and expensive to fix after production.
Explain How the Order Should Arrive
Delivery details matter more on multifamily and commercial projects than they do on a small residential order.
Tell the supplier whether the project needs one full shipment or phased deliveries. If the packages need building, floor, room or window-mark labels, include that requirement before packing begins.
A Simple RFQ Email Builders Can Use
Hello,
Please provide a quotation for the aluminum windows and doors shown in the attached schedule and drawings.
Project type: [Apartment / Hotel / Custom Home / Commercial]
Project location: [City, State, Country]
Approximate quantity: [Quantity]
Required delivery: [Date or construction phase]
Frame finish: [Color / finish]
Glass requirement: [Glass specification or performance target]
Installation method: [Nail fin / flange / brackets / to be confirmed]
Delivery location: [Jobsite or warehouse]
Please show product pricing, packaging and freight separately. Note any assumptions, exclusions or information still needed to complete the quote.
Thank you.
Not every item needs to be final before the RFQ goes out. Mark pending selections clearly and ask for alternate pricing where needed. A visible allowance is easier to manage than a hidden assumption.
Before Sending the RFQ
- Check that schedule quantities match the current drawings.
- Confirm whether dimensions are rough openings or product sizes.
- Identify fixed panels and opening directions.
- Attach current glass and performance requirements.
- State whether screens and installation accessories are included.
- Ask suppliers to list assumptions and exclusions.
- Request separate pricing for freight and optional items.
AMJ Window and Door Quotation Support
AMJ works with builders, contractors, developers and distributors on custom aluminum window and door packages. Our team can review window schedules, architectural drawings, glass requirements and installation details before pricing.
Builders can review our custom aluminum window systems or send the available RFQ documents directly for project review.
Send Us Your Window and Door RFQ
Attach the window schedule, relevant drawings and any current specifications. Details that are still pending can be marked clearly for review.
Submit Your RFQ →