20 Best Window Companies in Lake Forest, IL (2024 Reviews)

How Installing Energy-Efficient Windows in Lake Forest Saves You Money

Upgrading to energy-efficient windows can improve the comfort of your home and help you save on energy bills. Here are more details about how upgrading your windows could benefit you:

• Protect your investment: When your home is on the older side, your windows could also be outdated or drafty. Upgrading and repairing your windows is an important part of maintaining your property and its value.
• Reduce your carbon footprint: In Lake Forest, you can reduce your indirect greenhouse gas emissions by about 449 pounds per year after you install energy-efficient windows.
• Save money on electricity bills: After you upgrade to energy-efficient windows, you can expect a reduction in your bills by about 12% because you’ll require less energy to heat or cool your home.
• Protect your valuables: Many energy-efficient windows have low-emissivity coatings, which filter out damaging UV rays, reducing fading of your furniture, carpet and other valuables.

Estimated Cost of Window Replacement in Lake Forest

Let’s take a look at the cost of replacing your windows and the kinds of services you may need for your home.

How Much Do New Windows Cost?

Typically, Lake Forest homeowners can anticipate their window replacements to range from $250 to $1,200. The average cost sits at around $600. How much it will cost varies depending on several factors, like size, the location of your home, material, type, number of windows and more.

With windows, efficiency is one of the most important factors for many homeowners. High efficiency windows may cost more off the bat, 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 Lake Forest homeowners $298+ per year after replacing single-pane windows.

Something else that influences the total cost is the material of the frame you select. Aluminum frames are usually the least expensive and are sturdy and relatively maintenance-free, but they offer poor insulation. On the other hand, wood frames are the most expensive because they are aesthetically pleasing and provide decent insulation. Fiberglass and vinyl frames provide good insulation as well and cost somewhere between the other two.

What Services do Window Installers Offer?

When considering window installations, in general there are two kinds that your provider will have: full-frame and pocket installations.

Full-frame installations are usually done when you want a new style or your window has a lot of deterioration. With this service, your professionals will replace the total window, including the trim, sill and frame. A pocket installation involves replacing a window without replacing the frame. This means instead of tearing out the whole unit and reinstalling it, the contractor will just put the replacement window (also called a retrofit or insert window) into the frame.

If you’re hiring a reputable window installation company, your company will be able to advise you on the best type for your project. In Lake Forest, the decision will mostly be based on how much damage there is currently and how old your existing frames are.

How We Choose the Best Window Installers in Lake Forest

In our hunt to find the most reliable, eco-friendly window installers in Lake Forest, the EcoWatch team examined dozens of companies before deciding on these. We’ve decided to review the best window installers in Lake Forest primarily based on their energy efficient offerings, as it’s what’s best for the environment and for you as a homeowner. Energy Star certified windows have been shown to reduce your electricity bills by hundreds of dollars. Along with energy efficiency, our rating methodology takes the following factors into consideration:

Service Area

Because this is a guide for Lake Forest, we paid more attention to companies that serve the city. There are certainly other reputable providers that didn’t make the list because they wouldn’t be able to serve homeowners in Lake Forest.

Work Quality

When picking new windows, the quality and range of services can often play just as important of a role in insulation and performance as the brand of window you get. We do give window installers more points if they offer high-quality products, but we also factor in workmanship as reflected in customer feedback.

Customer Reviews

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

Cost

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

Warranty

As discussed, windows are a serious investment, so you’ll want to be certain that investment is protected. Window installation companies that have lengthy warranties for products, parts and labor rank higher with EcoWatch.

Years of Experience

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