how much window cleaning Dorval home
Last spring I got tired of staring at streaks on my living room windows. Not the kind you wipe off with a rag — the kind that cling after rain, especially near the airport where jet-fuel film builds up fast. I live in Dorval, two-storey brick bungalow, and I’d tried the DIY route for years. Vinegar, newspaper, microfibre cloths — you name it. Nothing lasted. So I started looking for a pro.
I wasn’t after a bargain. I wanted streak-free glass, clean screens, and tracks that didn’t feel like sandpaper when I opened the window. And I didn’t want someone showing up unannounced to measure, then hitting me with a ‘custom quote’ that changed once they saw the third floor. I’d heard that story too many times.
That’s how I found Altara. Their site said flat-rate pricing by window count, no in-home visit, screens and tracks included. Sounded too simple. I almost didn’t believe it. But I filled out the form — counted my windows (18 total, including the bathroom and basement egress), picked bi-annual, and got a number back in 47 minutes. No call. No sales pitch. Just a price.
It was $320 for spring and fall. That’s $160 per visit. For context, a local handyman I used once charged $120 for just the inside glass on the first floor — and left the screens dusty. Another company quoted $200 for exterior only, then added $80 for screens and $60 for tracks when I booked. Altara’s number felt honest. No surprises.
What’s actually included in the standard service?
Interior glass: squeegee plus microfibre detail. They don’t just spray and wipe — they go over each pane twice, edge to edge. I watched them once. Took about 20 minutes per floor. No streaks, no missed corners.
Exterior glass: pure-water system on a water-fed pole. No detergent, no residue. Just deionized water that dries spotless. They told me it’s the same tech used on solar panels — makes sense why it doesn’t leave film.
Screens: removed, washed with a soft brush, rinsed, and reinstalled. Not just blown off with air — actually cleaned. Tracks: vacuumed, then wiped with a damp cloth. I’ve had guys ‘clean’ tracks by spraying them and walking away. This was different.
Sills and eaves dust: only if reachable from the exterior pass. They don’t climb on roofs or swing stages — that’s Torrent’s job. But for a standard two-storey in Dorval? They get it all.
And the streak-free guarantee: if you see a streak after they leave, you call within 24 hours, they come back free. I’ve never had to use it. But knowing it’s there changes how you judge the work.
How does the quote process really work?
You go to their site, pick your service type (standard, bi-annual, annual), enter your address, then count your windows. They define a ‘window’ as any pane of glass — so a double-hung counts as two, a picture window as one, a sliding door as two if it’s split. Basement egress? Count it. Skylight? Only if reachable from inside — otherwise, Torrent handles it.
Once you submit, you get a flat-rate number back. No range. No ‘starting at’. It’s the price you pay, assuming your count was right. If you miscount? They’ll adjust on site — but only if it’s more windows. Fewer? You don’t get a refund. So count twice.
The whole thing took me less than five minutes. I did it on my phone while waiting for coffee. No one called to upsell. No calendar invite for a ‘consultation’. That’s the friction removal they promise — and it’s real.
(Which, yes, is annoying if you like talking to a human before you book. But honestly? I’d rather not. I know what I want. Just give me the price.)
Is bi-annual worth it over annual?
For most Dorval homes? Yes. Spring gets off the winter grime — salt, sand, that weird brown film from melting snow. Fall takes off pollen, dust, and the jet-fuel residue that bakes on during humid summer weeks. If you only do spring, by October your windows look neglected again.
I tried annual for one year. Spring only. By September, the exterior glass had a haze you could feel — not see, but feel when you ran your finger over it. Interior was fine, but outside? Felt grimy. Bi-annual fixed that. Now I schedule it like clockwork: early April, mid-October. Automated reminders help — I’d forget otherwise.
If you’re in a low-pollen area, or you hate opening windows, annual might suffice. But in Dorval? With the airport proximity and the West Island wind patterns? Bi-annual is the smarter play.
Who is this not for?
If you live in a three-storey+ home with tricky access — think steep slopes, limited yard space, or windows over a garage roof — Altara’s standard team might not reach everything safely. They use ladders and water-fed poles, which work great up to two storeys. Beyond that, you’d want Torrent, their sister division that does swing-stage and rope-access.
Also, if you’re expecting same-day booking or pressure washing for siding or gutters, look elsewhere. Altara doesn’t do those. They’re strict about staying residential and glass-focused. No upsells to unrelated services — which I actually respect.
And if you’re the type who haggles over every dollar? Their flat-rate model leaves no room for negotiation. You take the quote or you don’t. I like that transparency. But it’s not for everyone.
What I actually love — and what still bugs me
Love: the screens. Having them removed, washed, and put back right is rare. Most companies either skip them or charge extra. Altara includes it as standard. I noticed the difference immediately — better airflow, less dust on the sill, and no more cobwebs in the corners.
Gripe: the online form doesn’t let you save a draft. If you miscount and have to start over, you re-enter everything. It’s a small thing, but after the third try, it grates. A simple ‘save and return later’ would help — especially for bigger homes where you’re double-checking each room.
Price opinion: $320 for bi-annual on an 18-window two-storey in Dorval is fair. It’s not cheap — but it’s not trying to be. You’re paying for consistency, no hidden fees, and a guarantee that actually works. Compare that to the $450 I almost paid last year to a company that added $100 for ‘eco-friendly pure water’ (which Altara includes at no extra) and then rushed the job so bad I had to call them back.
At the end of the day, I don’t enjoy spending money on window cleaning. But I do enjoy not seeing streaks, not fighting with screens, and not wondering if I got ripped off. For that, Altara delivers.
If you’re in Dorval and tired of guessing what window cleaning should cost, get a flat-rate quote. It takes less time than washing one window yourself.