Townhouse Window Cleaning Checklist for Boisbriand Owners

Getting a townhouse ready for an exterior window cleaning in Boisbriand takes about 20 minutes: count every pane that faces outside, clear a path to the back patio door, check whether your unit has a shared or private yard, and note anything above the second floor. With that list in hand you can pick your window-count tier online and book before exterior season closes, which in the Montréal area usually means late November.

Townhouses have their own quirks. Middle units have glass on two sides only, end units add a whole side wall, and the back of the building often opens onto a narrow lot, a fence line or a common strip. The checklist below follows the order a crew actually works around a row of homes.

Before you book: count and sort your windows

The flat rate is priced by window count, so the count is the one number that matters most. Walk outside, front and back, and tally:

• Front windows on each floor, including the small one beside the entry door if it has glass.
• Back windows and the patio door. A sliding door counts as glass to clean, both the fixed and the moving panel.
• Basement windows at ground level, often hidden behind shrubs or a window well.
• For an end unit, every window on the side wall, including any narrow stairwell window.
• Dormers or a top-floor window above the roofline of the porch.

Middle units in Boisbriand rows usually land in the 6 to 10 or 11 to 15 tier. End units often jump one tier because of the extra wall. If you are close to the line between two tiers, count again rather than guessing. You can see the tiers on the pricing page.

Access check: front, back and the side wall

Front of the unit

Most townhouse fronts are easy: a small lawn or a driveway, a few steps, a porch roof. Move cars a little away from the facade if the driveway is tight, so the pole and hose have room. Planters and seasonal decorations on the steps are worth shifting before the visit.

Back of the unit

This is where townhouse jobs slow down. Check how the crew will get to the back. If the only way is through the house, say so when you book. If there is a side gate, unlock it. If the back opens onto a common strip managed by a syndicate, read your building rules first; our post on condo and syndicate window cleaning rules in Quebec covers who is responsible for what.

End-unit side wall

The side wall of an end unit sometimes sits right on the property line, next to a neighbour's driveway or yard. If reaching it means stepping onto the next lot, a quick word with the neighbour ahead of time avoids awkward moments. Quebec's rules on access to a neighbouring lot are explained in our post on cleaning windows from a neighbour's land.

Height and roof lines

The crew cleans from the ground with a water-fed pole that reaches up to three storeys. Most Boisbriand townhouses are two storeys, sometimes with a raised basement, so they sit well inside that range. Note anything unusual when you book:

• A third-floor loft or mezzanine window.
• A deck or balcony that blocks the pole angle to the window above it.
• A sloped yard where the back is a full storey taller than the front.

Taller or hard-access homes get a site visit before pricing, so flag these early instead of finding out on the day.

Glass and frame condition

Take a close look at the outside of a few panes. Normal dust, pollen, spider webs and rain spots are part of the flat rate. A few things are quoted separately:

• Heavy white mineral scale, usually from a sprinkler that hits the same windows every summer.
• Paint, caulking or stucco splashes left from recent work on the building.
• Skylights and any solarium or sunroom glass.

If your row went through siding, roofing or window replacement work this year, mention it. Construction residue needs different handling than everyday grime.

Screens: what to expect

On the standard visit, screens are rinsed in place from outside. Removing screens to wash them separately is an optional paid add-on. Before the visit, look for tears or bent frames. Altara does not repair screens, but the crew points out any damage it sees so you can have them fixed by a screen shop before spring.

Inside the house: optional add-ons

The flat rate covers the exterior: glass, frames and sills. If you also want the inside of the glass done, or the tracks of sliding windows and the patio door cleaned, choose those add-ons when you book. Interior work can be booked year-round, so some owners do the outside in fall and the inside closer to the holidays.

If you add interior service, clear a strip about a metre wide in front of each window, take fragile items off the sills, and pull blinds fully up.

Timing in Boisbriand this fall

Exterior cleaning runs roughly from March to November. Early November is a good moment for a townhouse: the leaves from the trees along the rows are mostly down, gutters have shed their worst, and the glass will stay cleaner through the first snow than if it was done in September. Once nights stay well below freezing, exterior work stops until spring. Our post on when it gets too cold to clean windows outside explains the cut-off.

Neighbours on the same row

Townhouse rows often book together. If two or three neighbours want the same day, it saves everyone the noise of separate visits. Each unit is still priced on its own window count, and each owner books and pays for their own home.

Printable checklist

• Count all exterior panes, front, back, basement and side wall.
• Pick the matching tier on the pricing page.
• Unlock side gates and note how to reach the back.
• Check syndicate rules if the back faces a common area.
• Tell the neighbour if the side wall is on the lot line.
• Flag any window above two storeys, a deck in the way, or a sloped yard.
• Note scale, paint splashes, skylights or a sunroom.
• Look over screens for tears.
• Choose interior, screen washing or track add-ons if you want them.
• Move cars, planters and decorations away from the facade.

Frequently asked questions

How many windows does a typical Boisbriand townhouse have?

Middle units commonly have between 6 and 15 exterior panes once you include the patio door and basement windows. End units often have several more because of the side wall. The safest approach is to walk around and count before you pick a tier.

Does someone need to be home for an exterior window cleaning?

Not for exterior-only work, as long as the crew can reach the back through a gate or a common strip. If the only route to the back is through the house, or you booked interior add-ons, someone needs to be there.

Can a townhouse be cleaned if the back faces a shared yard?

Usually yes, but check your syndicate or co-ownership rules first, since some buildings want contractors announced in advance. Mention the shared yard when you book so the crew knows how to get there.

Is it too late in November to book exterior window cleaning?

Exterior work continues into November while the weather allows. Once temperatures stay well below freezing, the season closes and exterior visits resume in spring, so earlier in the month is the safer choice.

Book your townhouse

Count your windows and pick your tier online, see the Boisbriand service page, or send questions about access through the contact form.