20 Best Window Companies in California, MD (2024 Reviews)

How Installing Energy-Efficient Windows in California Saves You Money

Energy-efficient windows can provide benefits in more than one way. Here are some reasons you may want to make the switch:

• Decrease your carbon footprint: Decreasing the amount of energy you use also lowers your carbon emissions. You could reduce it by about 249 pounds.
• Protect your valuables: Many Energy Star certified windows have low-emissivity coatings, which not only provide better insulation for your home, but also filter out harmful UV rays, preventing your furniture, carpet and other valuables from fading.
• Protect your investment: Keeping your windows up to date is an important part of maintaining your property and its real estate value, particularly if your home is on the older side.
• Save money on electricity bills: According to the Department of Energy, heat gained or lost through windows accounts for around 25-30% of household energy use. Installing energy-efficient models can help lower that number, therefore saving you about 12% more on your bills.

Estimated Cost of Window Replacement in California

When considering window installation, each company provides different services and costs. Let’s take a look at some average costs and services.

How Much Do New Windows Cost?

The typical cost to replace one window is about $600 but can range from $200 to $1,200. These amounts are based on specific characteristics of your installation, including material, number of windows, the location of your home, size, type and more.

It’s important to note that windows with higher efficiency may cost more initially but can save you hundreds of dollars via returns on your energy bills. Investing in certified energy-efficient windows can save California homeowners $232+ a year when replacing single-pane windows.

The cost of your window installation will also vary depending on the kind of window material you choose for the frames. Wood windows are usually the most expensive, but it depends on whether they are completely wood or clad with aluminum or vinyl. Fiberglass windows also tend to be a bit more expensive than vinyl, but they are more efficient.

What Services do Window Installers Offer?

In regard to window installations, in general there are two kinds that your provider will offer: full-frame and pocket installations.

Full-frame installations are necessary when you want to change the style of your windows or your window has significant rot. With this service, your professionals will replace the total window, including the frame, sill and trim. A pocket installation involves installing a new window without replacing the frame. So, instead of tearing out the whole unit and rebuilding it, the window installer will just slide 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 recommend the best type for your project. In California, the decision will mostly be influenced by how much damage there is currently and the condition of your existing frames.

How We Choose the Best Window Installers in California

EcoWatch reviews are different from other reviews since we look at these companies through a sustainability lens. Along with energy efficiency, we assessed several window installers in California and assigned rankings using the following methodology:

Service Area

Since this is a guide for California, we paid more attention to companies that provide services to the city. There are certainly reputable providers that didn’t make the cut because they wouldn’t be able to serve homeowners in California.

Work Quality

When selecting new windows, the quality and range of services can often play just as important of a role in overall efficiency 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 trends in recent online reviews to determine the companies with the most consistent customer satisfaction, weighted by sample size. Customer satisfaction may be the most important factor, as it indicates the quality of services across nearly every category, including warranty, quality of installation, cost, professionalism, quality of parts and more.

Cost

Cheaper windows don’t necessarily mean better windows, but we know many of our readers try to keep costs low when possible. When analyzing providers’ prices, we awarded higher scores to companies with reasonable prices and accessible financing rather than “cheaper” services.

Warranty

Protecting your investment in new windows is important. For that reason, window installation companies with lengthy warranties for products, parts and installation (aka workmanship) rank higher with EcoWatch.

Years of Experience

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