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• Protect your investment: When you have an older home, your windows could also be outdated or leaky.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.
• Decrease your carbon footprint: Reducing the amount of energy you use also lowers your carbon emissions. You could reduce it by about 715 pounds.
• Protect your valuables from fading: The low-emissivity coatings on many energy-efficient windows filter out harmful UV rays, preventing fading of your furniture, carpet and other valuables.

Estimated Cost of Window Replacement in Ames

Let’s go over the cost of replacing your windows and the types of services offered by installers.

How Much Do New Windows Cost?

According to our research, the typical cost to install a single window is about $600. However, window installation costs can range from $200 to $1,200 for each window. These amounts vary depending on the specifics of your installation, including material, type, the location of your home, size, number of windows and more.

Keep in mind that energy-efficient windows may cost more, but Energy Star predicts the upgrade will save you between $101 and $583 a year when installing single-pane windows and between $27 and $197 per year when you install double-pane, clear glass windows. Your exact savings will vary based on your local climate, energy rates and individual home characteristics.

We recommend requesting free quotes from multiple window companies to find the one that works best for your budget.

What Services do Window Installers Offer?

When it comes to window installations, in general there are two types that your installer will have: full-frame and pocket installations.

Full-frame installations involve replacing the full window — the sill, frame, trim and all. These are most common when you want to change the style of your window or when it has significant rot or deterioration. Full-frame installations require more time and labor and will increase overall costs. Pocket installations (or retrofits) entail replacing a window within the existing frame, which makes pocket installations take less time and therefore cost less. But, if the frame has any rot or deterioration, you will likely need a full-frame installation instead.

If you’re still trying to decide which kind of installation you should get, you can ask your installer and get their recommendation. The decision mostly is influenced by how old the frames are and if there’s any damage present.

How We Choose the Best Window Installers in Ames

In our hunt to make your home improvements easier and more eco-friendly in Ames, EcoWatch assessed many companies before settling on these. Along with energy efficiency, we assessed each installer and assigned rankings using the following methodology:

Service Area

This one is self-explanatory, but we’ve chosen to highlight window installation companies that serve the Ames area so you can find the best window installation company near you.

Work Quality

We’re certain that you’re looking for a company to do a great job installing windows. We’ve vetted each installer included in our guide to ensure its contractors are well-qualified and that the company has received plenty of positive customer feedback to vouch for its service.

Customer Reviews

Customer feedback is another very important review factor. If most customers don’t have nice feedback about their experience with a certain window installation company, you won’t see it featured on EcoWatch.

Cost

This one is a give-and-take: as with other services, cheap window installers may not provide the highest quality service. On the other hand, we want to ensure we’re highlighting companies that offer a variety of price and financing options so they’re accessible to most homeowners.

Warranty

Protecting your investment in new windows is important to many homeowners. That’s why window installation companies with lengthy warranties for products, parts and labor rank higher with EcoWatch.

Years of Experience

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