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

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

There are quite a few perks of upgrading to energy-efficient windows. A few reasons you may want to consider making the change include the following:

• Save on electricity bills: Installing energy-efficient windows lowers your energy bills by about 12% because you use less energy.
• Protect your valuables from fading: The low-emissivity coatings on some energy-efficient windows filter out harmful UV rays, preventing fading of your furniture, carpet and other valuables.
• Protect your investment: If you have an older home, your windows are most likely in need of replacement. Updating your windows can make your home more comfortable and also help increase the value of your home if you decide to sell.
• Decrease your carbon footprint: By using less energy after you switch to energy-efficient windows, you’ll also be reducing your indirect greenhouse gas emissions by about 12%, according to Energy Star.

Estimated Cost of Window Replacement in Forest Lake

Windows come in various styles, shapes and purposes, so costs and services will vary greatly depending on your project. Below, we go over the typical cost and services that you’ll find from window replacement companies.

How Much Do New Windows Cost?

Typically, homeowners in Forest Lake can expect that most window installations will range from $250 to $1,200, with the most common installations sitting at about $600. How much it will cost is based on several factors, such as material, type, number of windows, size, the location of your home and more.

With windows, efficiency is the most important factor for most homeowners. High efficiency windows may cost more upfront, but by increasing the efficiency of your home — particularly during the winter — they can provide decades of energy savings. According to Energy Star, buying certified energy-efficient windows can save Forest Lake homeowners $512+ a year after replacing single-pane windows.

The cost of your window installation will also vary depending on the type of material you choose for the frames. Wood windows are usually the most expensive, though it depends on whether they are 100% wood or clad with aluminum or vinyl. Fiberglass windows also tend to be a bit more expensive than vinyl, but they are shown to be more efficient.

What Services do Window Installers Offer?

In general, there are two types of window installation 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 also involves other 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 around the window after a full-frame installation. A pocket installation involves replacing a window without removing the entire frame, which tends to be less expensive than a full-frame installation.

Your window installation company will be able to help you understand what’s best for your needs. In Forest Lake, the decision will mostly depend on the age of your home and if there’s any moisture 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 Forest Lake

In our hunt to find the most reliable, eco-friendly window installers in Forest Lake, the EcoWatch team evaluated dozens of companies before deciding on these. We have decided to assess the best window installation companies in Forest Lake primarily based on energy efficiency, as it’s what’s best for the environment and for you as a homeowner. Energy Star certified windows can cut your power bills by hundreds of dollars. Along with energy efficiency, our rating methodology considers the following factors:

Service Area

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

Work Quality

When choosing new windows, the quality and breadth of services often plays just as important of a role in overall efficiency and performance as the brand of window you opt for. 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

Customer feedback is another very important review factor. If most customers don’t have good things to say about their experience with a certain installer, it won’t be featured on EcoWatch.

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