Old Windows Cost You More Than You Think
The walls of your house are insulated. The window next to them, if it's original, is basically one sheet of glass between your living room and the fog. That's why the rooms with the most windows tend to be the coldest ones in January and the hottest ones in August.
Over time the other signs show up. Water beading on the inside of the glass on foggy mornings. Sashes that stick, or won't stay open. A draft you can feel with the back of your hand. A cloudy haze trapped between two panes that no amount of cleaning will touch. Once the seal between the panes fails, the window has stopped doing its job.
A lot of houses here were built in the '50s and '60s with aluminum frames and single glass, from the ranch homes around Novato to the Eichlers in Terra Linda and Lucas Valley. Down by the water in Sausalito and Tiburon, salt air works on metal frames and hardware faster than it does inland. New windows fix the comfort problem and cut the road noise near Highway 101. And if your home sits in one of Marin's wildfire zones, dual-pane glass with a tempered pane is what California's wildfire building rules call for.
Our Window Services
Window ReplacementWhole house, or a few windows at a time. We take out the old units, fit the new ones to each opening, and seal and trim them so they look like they came with the house.Window Replacement →
Vinyl WindowsThe most popular choice in Marin for good reason. Vinyl won't rot, never needs paint, and today's frames come in colors and slim profiles that work on older homes too.Vinyl Windows →
Wood and Wood-Clad WindowsFor craftsman bungalows, shingle-style houses and anywhere the original trim matters. Clad wood gives you real wood inside and a weather-tough skin outside.Wood and Wood-Clad Windows →
Fiberglass WindowsStrong, slim frames that barely move as temperatures swing. A good fit for big openings and for inland towns where summer afternoons get hot.Fiberglass Windows →
Sliding and Patio DoorsSwap a heavy, drafty slider for one that glides with one finger and seals tight. We also replace French doors and swinging patio doors.Sliding and Patio Doors →
Window RepairNot every window needs replacing. We fix fogged double panes, cracked glass, broken balances and stuck sashes, and we'll tell you straight when a repair is the smarter move.Window Repair →Why Marin Homeowners Call Us
- We measure every opening ourselves. Marin houses settle, and very few openings are perfectly square, so we never guess from a catalog size.
- You get a written quote. Windows, installation, trim work and haul-away are spelled out before anything is ordered.
- We clean up and haul off the old windows. When the crew leaves, the only sign we were there is the new glass.
What to Expect
- Call or send the form. Tell us roughly how many windows you have in mind and what's bothering you about them.
- In-home estimate. We check the frames, measure each opening and walk you through vinyl, wood and fiberglass options.
- Order and schedule. Custom windows are built to your measurements and usually take a few weeks to arrive. We set the install date once they're in.
- Install day. Most homes are done in one to three days: old units out, new ones in, sealed, trimmed and cleaned up.
Fogged glass or a sticking sash? Call for a free estimate.
Call (415) 969-6318Window Work Across Marin County
We work all over the county, from San Rafael and Larkspur in the middle to Fairfax out west and Novato up north. Every corner of Marin is hard on windows in its own way. Mill Valley and Kentfield get the fog and the damp that rots old wood sills. San Anselmo and Corte Madera have plenty of older homes with original sashes painted shut decades ago. The bayside towns deal with wind and salt. We plan each job around the house in front of us.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the frame material, the size and shape of each opening, and how much trim work the house needs. Vinyl usually costs the least, fiberglass sits in the middle and wood-clad costs the most. Older Marin homes sometimes need a little rot repair at the sill before a new window can go in. We measure first and give you a written quote, so you know the full price before anything is ordered.
Install day is the quick part. A crew can usually swap a standard window in about an hour, and most whole-house jobs wrap up in one to three days. The wait comes before that: custom windows are built to your measurements and typically take a few weeks to arrive. We give you the expected delivery date when you order and schedule the install around it.
Usually only when something sudden broke the window, like a branch coming down in a winter storm, a break-in or a stray baseball. Old age, failed seals and drafts generally aren't covered, since insurers treat those as wear and tear. If you're filing a claim, we can document the damage with photos and a written estimate your adjuster can use.
If the frame is solid and the trouble is one cracked pane, a fogged glass unit or a stuck sash, window repair is usually the better deal. Replacement starts to make sense when frames are rotting, the glass is single-pane, or several windows are failing at once. We look at both during the estimate and tell you which one we'd choose for our own house.
Vinyl is the value pick and needs almost no upkeep. Wood-clad suits older and historic-style homes where the look of real wood inside matters. Fiberglass handles heat and wide spans well and can be painted. We bring samples of each to the estimate so you can see and feel the difference before you decide.