We replace windows in Frankfort with Andersen, Marvin, Pella and Kolbe products, installed by our own window crews. We are an Andersen Certified Contractor and have installed more than 3,000 windows across Chicagoland.
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.
The homes we work on in Frankfort
What a house needs depends mostly on when and how it was built. Here is what we find in Frankfort and how we handle it.
In and around the historic downtown, these houses usually have original wood double-hung windows, often with rope-and-weight pockets and sometimes stained or leaded glass in the front rooms. We normally recommend a full-frame replacement here: the old frame comes out, the weight pockets get insulated, and a wood-interior window such as an Andersen 400 Series or a Marvin goes in with trim that matches the original casing. Decorative glass can stay, with a new storm panel to protect it.
In Prestwick and the other established neighborhoods, expect wood windows with aluminum cladding or separate storm panels, a bay or bow at the front and a wood patio slider at the back. The usual problems are rotted sills, sashes that will not stay up and fogged glass. We check every sill for soft wood, because rot under a window means a full-frame replacement instead of an insert.
In the custom-home subdivisions built since the 1990s, window packages are large and mixed: tall casements, arch tops, fixed picture units and patio door walls, usually in a wood-clad line. We replace like for like in quality, typically Andersen A-Series or 400 Series, Marvin, Pella or Kolbe, and we measure specialty shapes with templates so the new unit fits the existing opening and trim.
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.
Signs your windows are due
- Fog or moisture between the panes. The seal has failed and the insulating gas is gone. It will not clear up.
- Drafts you can feel with the window locked. Hold the back of your hand near the meeting rail and the sill on a windy day.
- Soft or stained wood at the sill. Press with a screwdriver. If it sinks in, water has been getting in for a while.
- Sashes that will not stay open, tilt or lock. Worn balances and warped frames are a safety problem as well as an annoyance.
- Rooms that are always hotter or colder than the rest of the house. Old glass without a Low-E coating is often the reason.
One failed window is a repair. Several of these signs on several windows usually means the set has reached the end of its life.
What we install
We are not tied to one manufacturer, so the recommendation follows the house and the budget:
- Andersen. 400 Series and A-Series wood-clad windows for homes that want a wood interior, and 100 Series Fibrex composite as a durable step up from vinyl.
- Marvin. Fiberglass and wood-clad lines with narrow frames and a wide range of shapes and grille patterns.
- Pella. Wood, fiberglass and vinyl lines, including options with blinds between the glass.
- Kolbe. Custom wood windows for historic matches and unusual sizes.
Every window we install has Low-E glass with argon fill. Triple-pane glass is available and makes the most sense on north-facing rooms and bedrooms near a busy road. We will tell you where it is worth the money and where it is not. If you are still deciding between brands, our Andersen vs Pella vs Marvin comparison and the comparison page lay out the differences.
How a window replacement job runs
- Consultation and measuring. We look at every opening from inside and out, check sills for rot and note which windows can take an insert and which need a full-frame replacement. You get a written price for each option.
- Final measure and order. After you choose, we take final measurements and order. Windows are built to your openings, which typically takes several weeks.
- Installation. Most houses take one to two days. We cover floors, remove one window at a time so the house is never open for long, insulate and flash each opening, and trim it inside and out.
- Walkthrough. We open and lock every window with you, haul away the old units and register the manufacturer warranty.
What drives the price
The number of openings, the frame material, the glass package and whether each opening is an insert or full-frame installation. Bays, bows, arch tops and second-story foyer windows cost more than a standard double-hung. Rot repair, if we find any, is priced separately and shown to you first. Your estimate is written, itemized and good for 30 days, and 0% financing is available on approved credit. For real numbers, see our window replacement cost guide.
What Frankfort homeowners can hold us to
- Our own specialized crews. The people who install windows for us do that work every day.
- Written, itemized estimates. You see what each part costs, and the price is good for 30 days.
- No pressure. We explain the options and let you decide. Nobody will sit at your table until you sign.
- Hidden damage shown first. If we open something up and find rot, you see it and approve the repair before we continue.
- Clean job sites. We clean up every day and haul away everything we remove.
We have been doing this for 20+ years from Manhattan, Illinois, and we are rated 5 stars on Google. Read more about how we work.
Permits and scheduling in Frankfort
Permit rules are set by the Village of Frankfort, and they differ from town to town. We check what your project needs before we order, pull the permit when one is required and build the inspection into the schedule. If your home is in a designated historic district, exterior changes may also need design review, and we can provide the product details the reviewers ask for.
We install windows all year. In cold weather we work one opening at a time and close each one before starting the next, so the house does not lose much heat.
Window Replacement questions from Frankfort homeowners
More for Frankfort homeowners
See everything we do in Frankfort, read more about our window replacement service, or request a free consultation. We also do this work in Mokena, New Lenox, Tinley Park.