Complete window replacement guide for Naperville homeowners. Best window brands, energy savings, what to expect, and how to choose a contractor in DuPage County.
Replacing windows in Naperville 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 Naperville.
Naperville homes at a glance
Naperville grew outward in rings. The Historic District around North Central College has homes more than a century old, the middle of town filled in during the 1970s and 1980s, and the south side toward 95th Street and beyond was built from the 1990s on.
South Naperville has thousands of two-story homes with large window walls, two-story foyers and transoms that were all installed within a few years of each other, so whole streets are reaching replacement age together.
What to choose for your Naperville home
In the Historic District and the streets around North Central College, 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 the 1970s and 1980s subdivisions such as Cress Creek and Brookdale, 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 south Naperville, in neighborhoods like Ashbury, White Eagle and Tall Grass, you have a lot of windows, so the cost per opening matters. A mid-range Fibrex, fiberglass or quality vinyl line gives the best balance. Do the fogged and rotted units first, keep the product consistent and finish the rest in a second phase if needed.
A typical window job in Naperville
A typical south Naperville house has 30 or more openings, including a two-story foyer window and a family room wall of glass. Most owners do it in two phases. We set scaffolding inside for the foyer units, and we order the whole house from one product line so phase two matches phase one exactly.
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 Naperville
Permit rules are set by the City of Naperville. 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 Naperville page for this service, or the same guide for Bolingbrook, or the same guide for Plainfield.
Common questions
Call (331) 250-3726 or request a free consultation in Naperville.