How Many Windows Does My House Have? A Guide for Getting Your Quote Right

Windows vs Panes vs Openings: Getting the Terminology Right

The word 'window' means different things depending on who you ask, and in window cleaning, the difference affects your quote. Three terms come up constantly: units, panes, and openings. A window unit is the full assembly in a rough opening — frame, sash, and glass. A double-hung window is one unit with two panes (upper and lower sash). A sliding window is one unit with two panes side by side. A picture window is one unit with one pane. A pane is a single piece of glass. That double-hung window has two panes. A three-panel sliding door has three panes. An opening refers to the hole in the wall. One rough opening may hold a single picture window or a combination unit with multiple sashes and panes. When you see per-window pricing advertised, it usually means per pane or per unit — and which one matters enormously. A home with fifteen window units that each have two sashes has thirty panes. Per-unit and per-pane pricing for that home would produce very different totals. Wagon Windows uses flat-rate pricing by home size rather than per-window counting, which sidesteps this ambiguity entirely. But understanding the terminology helps when comparing quotes from multiple companies.

• Unit: the full window assembly (one rough opening)
• Pane: a single piece of glass within a unit
• Opening: the hole in the wall that holds the unit

A safe default when someone asks your window count: count each sash (movable glass panel) as one window. A standard double-hung counts as two. A casement with one sash counts as one.

Typical Window Counts by Home Size

Most homeowners are surprised by how many windows their home actually has once they walk through and count. Here are typical ranges for BC residential homes: Small homes (under 1,400 sq ft, 2–3 bedrooms): typically 12–20 panes. These are often ranchers or compact two-storeys with standard window sizes and no specialty glazing. Medium homes (1,400–2,200 sq ft, 3–4 bedrooms): typically 20–35 panes. This category is the most common in Salmon Arm's established neighbourhoods — the 1970s–2000s builds that make up the bulk of the housing stock in the Canoe, South Broadview, and downtown-adjacent areas. Large homes (2,200+ sq ft): typically 35–60+ panes. New builds in particular tend toward larger, more numerous windows. Homes with great room windows, clerestory windows above main floor ceilings, or floor-to-ceiling lake-view glass can push counts well above this range. Lake-view and custom homes in the Shuswap often skew toward the high end for their square footage category — large picture windows oriented toward Shuswap Lake are a design staple, and those homes frequently have 50+ panes despite modest floor plans.

• Small home (under 1,400 sq ft): 12–20 panes
• Medium home (1,400–2,200 sq ft): 20–35 panes
• Large home (2,200+ sq ft): 35–60+ panes
• Custom / lake-view homes: often 50+ panes regardless of size

How to Walk Through and Count Your Windows

Counting your own windows takes about five minutes and prevents miscommunication at booking. Start outside and walk the perimeter of your home, counting every glass pane visible from outside. Don't forget the back of the garage, utility room windows, or basement windows that may be partially below grade. Then go inside. Walk each room and count the panes in every window. Check rooms you rarely use — spare bedrooms, home offices, laundry rooms, bathrooms. Bathroom windows are easy to miss and are often worth cleaning because they're near the shower and collect soap film on the inside. Note any windows that aren't accessible from outside at normal ladder height. Skylights are a separate category — they require roof access and are typically scoped separately. Windows above vaulted ceilings that are only reachable with a 30-foot ladder are in a different bracket from standard second-storey windows. Also note the screens. Each window screen is a separate item for cleaning purposes. Screens that have been in place through multiple pollen seasons in Salmon Arm can be coated in cottonwood fluff and fine organic matter that a garden hose won't remove — professional screen cleaning with a soft-brush wash and rinse makes a visible difference.

Why Accurate Window Count Affects Your Price (and Your Experience)

Accurate window counts aren't just about fairness in pricing — they affect scheduling. A cleaner arriving for a job quoted at 20 windows who discovers 40 panes, plus screens, plus an accessible second storey, can't simply absorb that difference without extending the job or returning for a second visit. For flat-rate services like Wagon Windows, home size is the primary pricing input, so exact pane counts matter less than the overall scope. But describing your home accurately — including any unusual features like a daylight basement that adds an extra 'storey' of accessible windows from the back, or a large addition — helps ensure the flat-rate size bucket is correct. Any time a quote feels surprisingly low for your home's size, ask how many windows it's priced for and what happens if the actual count is higher. A professional answer is 'we price by home size, here's what that includes, and here's how we handle exceptions.' A concerning answer is vagueness or 'we'll figure it out on the day.'