20 Best Window Companies in Albany, CA (2024 Reviews)

How Installing Energy-Efficient Windows in Albany Saves You Money

By upgrading to energy-efficient windows, you can take advantage of several benefits, including:

• Save money on electricity bills: According to the Department of Energy, heat gained or lost through windows makes up about 25-30% of household energy use. Upgrading to energy-efficient models can help decrease how much you have to pay, therefore saving you about 12% more on your bills.
• Protect your valuables: Many Energy Star certified windows have low-emissivity coatings, which filter out harmful UV rays, reducing fading of your furniture, carpet and other valuables.
• Protect your investment: The older your home is, the more likely it is that switching to energy-efficient windows will benefit you. Older homes usually have windows that are outdated, drafty or potentially even damaged in some way. Upgrading your windows could help increase the value of your property if you decide to sell.
• Reduce your carbon footprint: You can reduce your carbon footprint by about 12% when you install Energy Star certified windows. In Albany, that’s about 117 pounds per year on average.

Estimated Cost of Window Replacement in Albany

Let’s go over the cost of installing new windows and the kinds of services offered by installers.

How Much Do New Windows Cost?

According to our research, the typical cost to replace a single window is about $600. However, window installation costs can range from $200 to $1,200 per window. But costs will vary significantly depending on the number of windows you need, your location, the current condition of your home and the quality of your products. Many window companies also offer door installations and other add-ons like coating, baths, shutters and more. Additional services will increase your overall project costs.

With windows, efficiency is one of the most important factors for many homeowners. Windows with higher efficiency may cost more upfront, but by increasing the efficiency of your home — particularly if you live in a hot climate — they can provide decades of energy savings. According to Energy Star, buying certified energy-efficient windows can save Albany homeowners $531+ each year after replacing single-pane windows.

Costs will also vary depending on the material you want for your window frames. Aluminum frames are the least expensive. They’re sturdy, light and easy to maintain, but provide poor insulation. Vinyl frames are a bit more expensive and offer good insulation. Composite frames made using wood fibers encased in plastic also offer good insulation and are moderately expensive. Wood frames are the most expensive and are the most in-demand. They’re also aesthetically pleasing and offer decent insulation for your home.

What Services do Window Installers Offer?

In general, there are two types of window installation services companies provide: full-frame and pocket installations.

Full-frame installations involve replacing the entire window — the sill, frame, trim and all. These are most common when you want a new style for your windows or when it has significant deterioration. Full-frame installations are more time-consuming and will increase overall costs. Pocket installations (also known as retrofits) are when you replace a window without replacing the frame. Pocket installations are on the simpler end and won’t cost as much, but you can’t do this type of installment if you have any pre-existing rot or water damage.

Your window installation company should be able to help you decide which type of installation you need.

How We Choose the Best Window Installers in Albany

EcoWatch reviews are different from other reviews, as we evaluate these companies through a sustainability lens. Along with energy efficiency, we reviewed several window installers in Albany and ranked them using the following methodology:

Service Area

Because this is a guide for Albany, we gave more points to companies that cover the city. There are certainly reputable providers that didn’t make the list because of the low odds that they would serve the average homeowner in Albany.

Work Quality

We’re certain that you’re not looking for a company to do a shoddy job installing windows. We’ve vetted each installer included on this list to ensure its technicians are well-qualified and that the company has gotten lots of positive customer feedback to vouch for its service.

Customer Reviews

We analyzed patterns in recent online reviews to determine the companies with the most consistent customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction might be the factor we place the most value on, as it indicates the quality of services across nearly every category, including quality of installation, cost, professionalism, quality of parts, warranty and more.

Cost

Cheaper windows don’t necessarily mean better windows, but we know many of our readers want to keep costs low when possible. When analyzing the prices of providers, we gave higher points to companies with reasonable prices and accessible financing rather than “cheaper” services.

Warranty

As discussed, windows are a sizable investment, so you’ll want to be certain that investment is well protected. Window installation companies that offer lengthy warranties for products, parts and installation (aka workmanship) rank higher with EcoWatch.

Years of Experience

Because of Albany’s climate, homeowners will want to mitigate water damage, low efficiency and rot. We factored in local experience to reflect the ability of Albany window companies to prepare homes for the climate. If a company has less than 10 years of experience, it loses points in this category.