How to Sequence Window Treatment Installation on a Multifamily Build
Updated: 6 days ago
Window treatments are one of the last trades in a unit, which makes them one of the easiest to squeeze. When they are scheduled as an afterthought, crews end up working around flooring, cleaners, and walkthroughs, and units sit on the punch list for a missing blind. A little planning at the start of the job keeps them from becoming the thing that holds up turnover.
Here is how we sequence window treatments on multifamily projects, from bid to closeout.
1. Bring the sub in at bid, not at finishes
Send the plans and window schedule with the bid package. That lets us flag oversized openings, shallow jambs, and doors that need a different product before pricing is locked. Problems found on paper cost nothing to fix. Problems found on a ladder cost a reorder.
2. Measure after the openings are final
Field measurements should happen once windows are set and drywall and trim are in, so the numbers reflect the finished opening. On repetitive unit types, we verify a sample of each type and confirm the drawings hold, then measure the outliers individually. Ordering from drawings alone is how projects end up with blinds that are a half inch too wide.
3. Match production to your schedule, not ours
Tell us how the building turns over: by floor, by building, or by phase. We plan ordering, staging, and crews around that sequence. Product that ships all at once to a site with no secure storage gets damaged or lost; product staged to the sequence shows up when the units are ready for it.
4. Stage and label by unit
Every box should arrive labeled to its unit and opening. Crews can then move floor by floor without sorting, and the superintendent can see at a glance what has been delivered and installed.
5. Install after paint and flooring, before final clean
The best window for installation is after paint and flooring are complete and before the final clean and owner walkthrough. Installing too early risks paint and dust damage. Installing after the final clean means a second cleaning pass.
6. Punch it in the same visit
A good install crew walks each unit before leaving it: blinds level, tilt and lift working, valances straight, packaging out of the unit. Fixing issues on the same visit keeps window treatments off the final punch list.
7. Close out with documentation
At closeout, hand over what the owner needs: product and color information, attic stock, and warranty details. That makes future turnovers simple.
Frequently asked questions
When should window treatments be installed in new construction? After paint and flooring, before the final clean and walkthrough.
Can window treatments be ordered from the drawings? Drawings are a starting point. Field verification of each unit type prevents costly misfits.
Can installation follow a phased turnover schedule? Yes. We sequence crews by floor, building, or phase, from single-day jobs to multi-mobilization builds.
Planning a multifamily project? Send us the plans and the turnover schedule and we will build the window treatment scope around it. Request a Bid
About the author
Troy Nielsen is co-owner of Nielsen Blinds, Shutters & Shades and leads field operations on its commercial and multifamily projects. Connect with Troy on LinkedIn.
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