Complete window replacement guide for Frankfort homeowners. Best window brands, energy savings, what to expect, and how to choose a contractor in Will County.
Replacing windows in Frankfort comes down to three decisions: which kind of installation, which frame material and which glass. The right answers depend on the house, so this guide starts with the homes found in Frankfort.
Frankfort homes at a glance
Frankfort has a historic downtown beside the Old Plank Road Trail, the established Prestwick neighborhood, and a large number of custom homes built since the 1990s. Homes here tend to be bigger and more detailed than the area average.
Frankfort homes often have specialty shapes: arch tops, large fixed units and tall casement groupings. Those are custom orders, so exact measuring matters more than usual.
What to choose for your Frankfort home
In and around the historic downtown, choose a wood-interior window and a full-frame installation. Original openings have weight pockets and old flashing that should be dealt with, and the trim is part of the character of the house. Double-hungs with a simple grille pattern in the upper sash usually suit these homes best.
In Prestwick and the other established neighborhoods, check the sills before choosing. If the wood is solid, inserts work. If it is soft, plan on full-frame replacement. Fiberglass or Fibrex is a good match here: stable, low maintenance and closer to the look of the original wood windows than white vinyl.
In the custom-home subdivisions built since the 1990s, stay in a wood-clad or premium fiberglass line that offers the shapes and sizes the house already has. Mixing a cheaper window into a home of this quality shows. Specialty shapes are long-lead custom orders, so plan the schedule around them.
A typical window job in Frankfort
Frankfort window jobs usually include specialty units: arch tops over the entry, tall casement groups, large fixed glass at the back. We template the shaped units, order the whole package in one wood-clad line and stage the installation over several days. Historic downtown homes get wood double-hungs sized to the original openings.
Insert or full-frame
An insert window fits inside the existing frame. It is faster and costs less, and the interior trim stays untouched. It only works if the old frame is square and free of rot. A full-frame replacement removes everything down to the rough opening, so the installer can fix hidden damage, insulate the gap properly and flash the opening. It costs more and gives you slightly more glass.
Frame materials
- Vinyl. Lowest cost, no painting, good insulation. Quality varies widely between lines.
- Fibrex and fiberglass. Stronger and more stable than vinyl, with narrower frames and darker color options.
- Wood-clad. Real wood inside, aluminum or fiberglass outside. The best-looking and the most expensive.
We install Andersen, Marvin, Pella and Kolbe. See Andersen vs Pella vs Marvin for how the lines compare.
Glass
Low-E glass with argon fill is the standard for this climate and is what we install by default. Triple-pane adds comfort and quiet and is worth pricing for north-facing rooms and homes near busy roads. Look at the U-factor on the label: lower is better for Illinois winters.
What installation day looks like
The crew covers floors, removes one window at a time, sets and insulates the new one, and trims it inside and out before moving on. Most houses take one to two days. Afterwards we open and lock every window with you and take the old ones away.
Permits in Frankfort
Permit rules are set by the Village of Frankfort. We check what your project needs and pull the permit when one is required. Homes in a designated historic district may also need design review for exterior changes. See our Frankfort page for this service, or the same guide for New Lenox.
Common questions
Call (331) 250-3726 or request a free consultation in Frankfort.