20 Best Window Companies in Evanston, IL (2024 Reviews)

How Installing Energy-Efficient Windows in Evanston Saves You Money

By switching to energy-efficient windows, you and your family can benefit in several ways, including:

• 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 Older homes usually have windows that are outdated, leaky or maybe even damaged in some way. Upgrading your windows could help increase the value of your property if you decide to sell.
• Protect your valuables: Many Energy Star certified windows have low-emissivity coatings, which not only insulate your home better, but also filter out damaging UV rays, preventing your furniture, carpet and other valuables from fading.
• Save on power bills: Since energy-efficient windows decrease how much energy you need to heat or cool your home, they can help you save about $295 annually on your energy bills in Evanston.
• Reduce your carbon footprint: You can reduce your indirect greenhouse gas emissions by about 12% after you install Energy Star certified windows. In Evanston, that’s about 449 pounds per year on average.

Estimated Cost of Window Replacement in Evanston

Windows come in varying shapes and sizes, so costs and services will differ greatly. Here are the average costs and services that you’ll find from the average window installation company.

How Much Do New Windows Cost?

Generally, Evanston homeowners can expect their window replacements to range from $250 to $1,200. The most common installations sit at about $600. But costs vary considerably based on the size of your home, complexity of the installation, your location and the quality of the company you choose. Many window installers also offer door installations and replacements, which will add extra costs to your project.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that energy-efficient windows will almost always cost more upfront, but Energy Star estimates that switching out the windows on your Evanston home can mean an average energy savings of $236 to $319 each year for single-pane window replacement, or between $87 to $126 a year for double-pane windows. How much you’ll save by upgrading to energy-efficient windows depends on your local climate, energy rates and other factors unique to your home.

Another factor that affects the overall cost is the material of the frame you select. Aluminum frames are usually the least expensive and are sturdy and light, but they provide poor insulation. On the other hand, wood frames are the most expensive, as they are aesthetically pleasing and provide decent insulation. Fiberglass and vinyl frames provide good insulation and cost somewhere between the other two.

What Services do Window Installers Offer?

When considering window replacements, there are typically two kinds that your installer will offer: full-frame and pocket installations.

Full-frame installations entail replacing the full window, including the frame, trim and sill. You most likely need a full-frame installation when you want a new style or your window has significant deterioration. These installations are more involved and will increase the overall cost. Pocket installations (or retrofits) involve replacing a window within its existing frame, which makes pocket installations less labor-intensive and costly. However, if the frame has any rot or deterioration, you will most likely need a full-frame installation instead.

If you’re still debating which type of installation you should get, you can ask your installer and get their advice. The decision mostly is influenced by the age of your window frames and if there’s any damage present.

How We Choose the Best Window Installers in Evanston

In our hunt to make your home improvements easier and more eco-friendly in Evanston, EcoWatch landed on the above companies as the best window installation companies in the city. Along with energy efficiency, we assessed several window installers in Evanston and ranked them using the following methodology:

Service Area

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

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 make sure 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 most important factor, as it indicates the quality of services across most other categories, including warranty, cost, professionalism, quality of parts, quality of installation and more.

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 scores to companies with reasonable prices and accessible financing rather than “cheaper” services.

Warranty

Protecting your investment in new windows is important to many homeowners. That’s why window installation companies that give you lengthy warranties for products, parts and installation (aka workmanship) rank higher with EcoWatch.

Years of Experience

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