20 Best Window Companies in Ames, IA (2024 Reviews)

How Installing Energy-Efficient Windows in Ames Saves You Money

Switching to energy-efficient windows can improve the comfort of your home and help you save on power bills. Here's more information on how upgrading your windows could help you:

• Protect your investment: When you have an older home, your windows could also be outdated or leaky. Upgrading your windows is an important part of maintaining your property and its value.
• Save on energy bills: The Department of Energy estimates that heat gained or lost through windows accounts for around 25-30% of household energy use. Switching to energy-efficient windows can help lower that amount, which helps you save $420 a year on your bills.
• Reduce your carbon footprint: By using less energy after switching to energy-efficient windows, you’ll also be lowering your indirect greenhouse gas emissions by about 12%, according to Energy Star.
• Protect your valuables: The low-emissivity coatings on many energy-efficient windows help prevent damage from the sun's UV rays to your floors, carpets and furniture.

Estimated Cost of Window Replacement in Ames

Windows come in different styles, shapes and purposes, so costs and services will differ remarkably based on your project. Below, we go over the typical cost and services that you can get from window installation companies.

How Much Do New Windows Cost?

The typical cost to replace one window is about $600 but can range from $200 to $1,200. But costs vary remarkably depending on the size of your home, complexity of the installation, your location and the quality of the company you choose. Many window companies also offer door installations, which will add extra costs to your project.

With windows, efficiency is one of the most important factors for most homeowners. High efficiency windows may cost more initially, but by increasing the efficiency of your home — particularly during the summer and winter — they can give you many years of energy savings. According to Energy Star, buying certified energy-efficient windows can save Ames homeowners $420+ per 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 maintenance-free, but offer poor insulation. Vinyl frames are a bit more expensive and offer good insulation. Composite frames made from wood fibers encased in plastic also provide good insulation and are moderately expensive. Wood frames cost the most and are the most in-demand. They’re also aesthetically pleasing and provide decent insulation for your home.

What Services do Window Installers Offer?

When it comes to window installations, there are generally two kinds that your provider will offer: full-frame and pocket installations.

Full-frame installations require replacing the whole window — the sill, frame, trim and all. These are typically done when you want a different style for your windows or when it has significant damage. Full-frame installations require more time and labor and will increase overall costs. Pocket installations (also known as retrofits) are when you replace a window while leaving the old frame. Pocket installations are simpler and won’t carry as large a bill, but you can’t do this kind of installment if you have any pre-existing rot or water damage.

If you’re still trying to decide which kind of installation you need, you can consult with your installer and get their recommendation. The decision mostly is influenced by the age of your window frames and if there’s any damage.

How We Choose the Best Window Installers in Ames

EcoWatch reviews are different from other reviews, as we assess these companies through a sustainability lens. Along with energy efficiency, we reviewed window companies all across the state and assigned rankings based on the following methodology:

Service Area

Since this is a guide for Ames, we gave more points to companies that provide services to the city. There are certainly other reputable providers that didn’t make the list because they wouldn’t be able to serve homeowners in Ames.

Work Quality

We’re certain that you’re not looking for a company to do a shoddy job installing windows. We’ve vetted each company featured in our guide to ensure its contractors are well-qualified and that the company has gotten a lot of positive customer feedback to vouch for its service.

Customer Reviews

Customer feedback is another very important review factor. If the majority of customers don’t have positive feedback about their experience with a certain company, you won’t see it featured on EcoWatch.

Cost

Cheaper windows certainly don’t mean better windows, but we know many of our readers would like 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 serious investment, so you’ll want to be certain that investment is well protected. Window installation companies with lengthy warranties for products, parts and installation (aka workmanship) rank higher with EcoWatch.

Years of Experience

Last but not least, we like to see companies that have a proven track record in the industry. Window installers that have more experience are going to earn higher rankings by our standards. We like to see at least ten years of experience.