ServicesWindow Replacement
Window Replacement in Shoreline
Drafty, foggy or stuck windows make your home harder to live in. We replace them with energy-code-compliant units, handle the permit when one is needed and finish most installs in a single day. You get a clear written estimate first and a clean house after.
When replacement is the right call
Not every tired window needs replacing. A sticky sash or a torn screen is often a job for our window repair service, and we will tell you so. Replacement makes sense when the glass seal has failed, the frame is rotting or warped, or the window simply can't hold heat anymore.
Many homes around Shoreline still have original aluminum or early vinyl windows from the 1960s through the 1980s. They sweat all winter, leak cold air at the corners and add to every heating bill. New double-pane units with low-E glass fix that, and they have to meet Washington's energy code before they go in.
The code side is where we take extra care. Bedroom windows have to be large enough and easy enough to open that someone can climb out in a fire. Glass near doors, tubs and stairs has to be tempered, and the installation has to keep water out of your walls. We are licensed, and we carry insurance and a bond on every job. Before you sign anything, we explain each of these rules in plain words.
What your window replacement includes
- 01
An honest measure and assessment
We measure every opening, check frames and sills for soft wood, and tell you which windows need replacing now and which can wait. You get a written, line-item estimate.
- 02
A code check on every opening
We confirm U-factor ratings for the state energy code, flag bedroom windows that must meet escape-size rules and mark where tempered safety glass is required.
- 03
Dealing with the city for you
If your project needs a permit, we pull it and schedule the inspection. You won't have to sort out city requirements or guess at the rules on your own.
- 04
Insert or full-frame installation
Insert windows fit inside a sound existing frame with less disturbance to your home. When the frame is rotted, we go full-frame, down to the rough opening, and rebuild it properly.
- 05
Flashing, sealing and insulation
Each window is shimmed plumb, insulated with low-expansion foam and flashed so rain runs out instead of in. That matters through months of steady winter drizzle.
- 06
Cleanup and haul-away
We protect floors and furniture, take the old windows away and vacuum before we leave.
Questions about Window Replacement?
Call(206) 483-0678Signs it's time for new windows
Cloudy glass you can't wipe clean
When haze or droplets show up inside a double-pane unit, the seal between the two layers of glass has given out. The gas that slowed heat loss has leaked away, and no amount of wiping will bring it back.
Wet sills and mildew
A little condensation on a cold morning is normal. Puddles on the sill, black mildew in the corners or paint that peels every season point to cold frames that are past their useful life.
Soft or rotting wood
Press a screwdriver into the sill. If it sinks in, water has been getting past the window, and the frame should be replaced before the damage spreads into the wall.
Drafts and rising heat bills
If you feel cold air at the edges on a breezy day or hear street noise like the window is open, the seals and glass aren't doing their job.
Windows that won't open or lock
A bedroom window that sticks shut is a safety problem, not just an annoyance. It should open easily so anyone sleeping there can get out quickly in a fire.
How your project runs
- 1
A no-pressure consultation
We visit, measure, answer your questions and leave a written estimate. Nobody pushes you to sign that day.
- 2
Ordering and paperwork
Once you choose your windows, we order them built to your exact measurements and take care of anything the city requires. You get the expected delivery date as soon as the order is placed.
- 3
Install day
Most installs wrap up in one day. Drop cloths go down first. We pull a single old window, then set, flash and trim its replacement before the next opening is touched, so only one gap is exposed to the weather at any moment.
- 4
Walkthrough and inspection
We test every sash and lock with you, schedule the city inspection if one is needed and explain your 10-year workmanship warranty.
What affects the price
Every home is different, so we price from your actual openings instead of a per-window guess. Your written estimate lists each window, the installation method and any permit fees, so nothing new shows up later. We also offer flexible payment options.
- Number and size of windows
- More openings and larger units raise the total. Grouping several windows into one project tends to save on setup and travel compared with spreading them over separate visits.
- Frame material and glass
- Vinyl, fiberglass and wood frames sit at different price points. Triple-pane or laminated glass for noise and security adds to the cost.
- Insert or full-frame
- Insert installs reuse your existing frame and take less labor. Full-frame work costs more but solves rot and air leaks at the source.
- Hidden rot
- Rot tucked inside a sill or the framing has to be fixed before the new unit is set. If we find any, we take pictures, walk you through them and price the repair before we touch it.
- Code upgrades
- Enlarging a bedroom window to meet escape-size rules or adding tempered glass where code calls for it can change the scope. We point these out at the estimate, not on install day.
Window replacement questions
Do I need a permit to replace my windows?
It depends on the scope. Swapping a window in the same opening is treated differently from cutting a larger opening or changing a header. We check the current city requirements for your project and pull one when it's required, which also keeps your records clean when you sell.
Will my new windows meet Washington's energy code?
Yes. Every window we install carries an NFRC label showing its U-factor, and we choose units that meet the state energy code for replacement windows. We leave the labels on until you've had a chance to see them.
Can you make a small bedroom window bigger?
Often, yes. Enlarging an opening means cutting framing and sometimes adding a header, which usually requires a permit. We'll explain what's involved and whether it's worth it for that room.
How long will my house be open to the weather?
Only as long as it takes to swap one window. We remove and replace one opening at a time, and if rain moves in, we cover the opening until it passes.
What warranty comes with the installation?
Our installation work is backed by a 10-year workmanship warranty. The window itself carries its own manufacturer's warranty, and we'll walk you through how the two work together before the job starts.
Let's talk about your windows
Tell us what's bothering you about the windows you have now. Give us a ring and we'll set up a visit, take measurements and leave you a free quote with every code item written out, with no pressure to decide on the spot.