The window replacement industry has one answer to every window problem. It is a good answer maybe a third of the time. The other two thirds are hardware, sealant, drainage or rot - repairs that cost a fraction of a replacement unit and take an afternoon.
We start by working out whether the failure is mechanical, structural or water related. A double-hung sash that will not stay up has a broken balance. A slider that takes two hands has debris or worn rollers in the track. A casement that will not close has a stripped operator crank. A window that leaks in a Los Angeles winter storm almost always has blocked weep holes or failed perimeter sealant, not a defective window.
Screens take a beating here - sun, cats, kids, and thirty years of nobody looking at them. We re-mesh existing frames, build new frames to the exact opening, and fit pet-resistant mesh where an animal has already destroyed one screen. Sliding screen doors get new rollers, new mesh and a track that actually glides. Solar screens cut a measurable amount of heat gain on west-facing rooms, which matters in the Valley.
Fogged glass between the panes means the insulating seal has failed - that needs a new glass unit, not a repair. A wood frame with rot through the structural member gets rebuilt or replaced. Aluminium single-pane windows in a bedroom that will not open are an egress and safety issue and we will say so plainly. We are a general contractor, not a window dealer, so we have no reason to push you toward the expensive option.
We also handle the work around the window that nobody else wants: interior casing and sill repair, stucco patching at the exterior perimeter, correct flashing when a unit does come out, and paint that matches.
Yes, and it is one of the cheapest window repairs there is. The counterbalance inside the frame has failed. We replace the balances on both sides so the sash holds at any height. This normally runs $165 to $280 per window.
No - the seal between the two panes has failed and moisture is inside the sealed unit. Products that claim to defog them do not restore the insulating value. The correct fix is a new insulated glass unit in your existing frame, which is far cheaper than a whole new window.
Re-meshing an existing frame typically starts at $45 per screen. A new custom frame with standard mesh starts around $75. Pet-resistant and solar mesh run higher. We measure on site so the fit is correct - big-box stock sizes rarely match older Los Angeles openings.
Usually not. In our experience most window leaks in Los Angeles are blocked weep holes, failed perimeter caulk, or missing flashing above the window - not a faulty window. We water-test to find the actual entry point before quoting anything.
Yes, when it is genuinely the right call. We install replacement and new-construction units with correct flashing and weathersealing, and we handle the stucco and interior finish afterwards. But we will always tell you first if a repair would do the job.
