12 Best Window Replacement Companies in Lake Charles, LA (Jan 2023)
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How Installing Energy-Efficient Windows in Lake Charles Saves You Money

When you upgrade to energy-efficient windows, you may see a few benefits, such as:

• Decrease your carbon footprint: Decreasing the amount of energy you use also lowers your indirect greenhouse gas emissions. You could reduce it by 608 pounds per year on average.
• Protect your investment: Keeping your windows up to date is an important part of maintaining your property and its value, especially if you have an older home.
• Save money on power bills: The Department of Energy estimates that heat gained or lost via windows makes up about 25-30% of energy use in your home. Installing energy-efficient windows can help lower that amount, which helps you save more on your bills.
• Protect your valuables: Many energy-efficient windows have low-emissivity coatings, which filter out harmful UV rays, reducing fading of your furniture, carpet and other valuables.

Estimated Cost of Window Replacement in Lake Charles

Each window replacement company offers various services and has different prices depending on several factors.

How Much Do New Windows Cost?

Although the typical to replace a single window is around $600, it can range anywhere from $200 to $1,200. But costs differ considerably based on the size of your home, complexity of the installation, your location and the quality of the company you choose. Many window companies also provide door installations, which will add extra costs to your project.

Whether or not you want to install energy-efficient windows is another factor that will determine the cost. These will usually cost more than other windows, but on the other hand, you can save about $357 a year on your energy bills in Lake Charles.

Another factor that influences the total cost is the material you pick for your frame. Aluminum frames are typically the least expensive and are sturdy and relatively maintenance-free, but they offer poor insulation. On the other hand, wood frames cost the most, as they are aesthetically pleasing and offer decent insulation. Fiberglass and vinyl frames provide good insulation as well and cost somewhere between the other two.

What Services do Window Installers Offer?

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

A full-frame installation is a total window replacement. It involves removing the old window, the sill, and the exterior and interior trim. It can also involve other materials, including insulation and drip edges, which raise the overall cost of the project. Also worth noting: you may have to touch up the paint around the window after a full-frame installation. A pocket installation entails installing a new window without replacing the frame. So, instead of removing the whole unit and reinstalling it, the contractor will just slide the replacement window (also called a retrofit or insert window) into the frame.

If you're still trying to decide which type of installation you should get, you can talk to your installer and get their recommendation. The decision mostly depends on the age of your window frames and if there's any damage present.

How We Choose the Best Window Installers in Lake Charles

EcoWatch reviews differ from most reviews since we look at these companies through a sustainability lens. Along with energy efficiency, we assessed each installer and ranked them using the following methodology:

Service Area

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

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 you get. We do rate window installers higher 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 highest rates of customer satisfaction, weighted by sample size. Customer satisfaction may be the most important factor, as it indicates the quality of services across most other categories, including professionalism, quality of parts, quality of installation, warranty, cost and more.

Cost

Cheaper windows don't necessarily mean better windows, but we know many of our readers want to keep costs as low as possible. When analyzing providers' prices, we awarded higher scores 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 with lengthy warranties for products, parts and installation (aka workmanship) rank higher with EcoWatch.

Years of Experience

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