20 Best Window Companies in Columbia, MD (2023 Reviews)

How Installing Energy-Efficient Windows in Columbia Saves You Money

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

• Save money on power bills: The Department of Energy estimates that heat gained or lost via windows accounts for around 25-30% of household energy use. Installing energy-efficient windows can help lower that number, which helps you save $289 a year on your bills.
• Protect your investment: Upgrading your windows is an important part of maintaining your property and its real estate value, particularly if you have an older home.
• Protect your valuables: The low-emissivity coatings on many Energy Star certified windows help prevent damage from the sun's UV rays to your floors, carpets and furniture.
• Better temperature control in your home: Energy-efficient windows can lower how hard your heating system needs to work to heat your home.

Estimated Cost of Window Replacement in Columbia

Windows come in varying purposes, styles and shapes, so costs and services will differ considerably depending on your project. Below, we go over the average cost and services that you'll find from window installation companies.

How Much Do New Windows Cost?

According to our research, the average cost to replace a single window is around $600. However, window installation costs can range from $200 to $1,200 per window. But costs differ remarkably 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 have a higher price tag.

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 $289 a year on your energy bills in Columbia.

The cost of your window installation will also vary depending on the kind of material you choose for the frames. Wood windows are usually the most expensive, though it depends if 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?

Generally, there are two types of window replacement services companies provide: full-frame and pocket installations.

A full-frame installation is a replacement of the full window. This service involves taking out the old window, the windowsill, and the exterior and interior trim. It can also involve additional materials, such as insulation and drip edges, which increase the total cost of the project. Also worth noting: you may have to touch up the paint surrounding the window after a full-frame installation. A pocket installation means replacing a window without taking out the whole frame, which is usually cheaper than a full-frame installation.

Your window replacement company will be able to help you decide what's best for your needs. In Columbia, the decision will mostly depend on how old your windows are and if there's any damage. Wood can decay if it's not properly maintained over the years, so it's good to have a professional evaluate your frames and window sills.

How We Choose the Best Window Installers in Columbia

The EcoWatch Reviews team is different from other reviewers because we examine these companies through a sustainability lens. Along with energy efficiency, we reviewed window companies all across the state and assigned rankings using the following methodology:

Service Area

Because this is a guide for Columbia, we only included companies that serve the city. There are other reputable providers that didn't make the cut because of the low odds that they would serve the average homeowner in Columbia.

Work Quality

When picking new windows, the quality and breadth of services can often play just as important of a role in overall efficiency and performance as the type of window you opt for. We do give window installers higher marks if they offer high-quality products, but we also factor in workmanship as reflected in customer feedback.

Customer Reviews

We analyzed trends in recent customer feedback to determine the companies with the most consistent customer satisfaction, weighted by sample size. Customer satisfaction may be the factor we place the most value on, as it reflects the quality of services across most other categories, including professionalism, warranty, quality of installation, quality of parts, cost and more.

Cost

Cheaper windows certainly don't mean better windows, but we know many of our readers try 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 provide lengthy warranties for products, parts and installation (aka workmanship) rank higher with EcoWatch.

Years of Experience

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