Window Replacement Cost

Vinyl. $550 to $950 per opening installed. The market default. Good thermal performance. Color is integral to the frame so scratches do not show. 20 to 25 year service life. Brands: Simonton, Alside, Pella ProLine.

Fiberglass. $750 to $1,400 per opening installed. Strongest dimensional stability of common materials. Premium thermal performance. Paintable. 30 to 50 year service life. Brands: Marvin, Pella Impervia, Andersen 100 Series.

Aluminum. $700 to $1,300 per opening installed. Highest strength, lowest thermal performance. Used primarily for impact-rated commercial and contemporary residential where slim sightlines matter. Always thermally broken in current production.

Wood-clad. $1,200 to $2,500 per opening installed. Wood interior, aluminum or fiberglass exterior. Premium aesthetic. Requires periodic interior finishing maintenance. Brands: Andersen 400 Series, Marvin Elevate, Pella Reserve.

Frame material gets discussed but the glass package is where the energy performance lives. Modern dual-pane Low-E argon-filled glass with warm-edge spacers is now standard at every price tier. Triple-pane is available but the ROI in Houston climate is marginal versus dual-pane Low-E (we recommend triple-pane only for noise abatement on busy streets).

Look for these specs on any quote: U-factor 0.30 or lower, SHGC 0.25 or lower (Houston climate zone 2A), Energy Star qualified for South region, warm-edge spacer (not aluminum spacer).

Hurricane impact-rated windows use laminated glass (two glass panes with a polymer interlayer) that holds together when struck, just like a windshield. They are required for TWIA coverage in coastal counties and qualify for wind-mitigation premium discounts in most Harris County and Fort Bend County policies. The discount typically pays back the impact-rated upcharge in 8 to 12 years, faster on coastal-track policies. Brands: PGT WinGuard, CGI Sentinel, Andersen Stormwatch.

Retrofit (insert) installation. New window inserted into the existing frame and trim. Faster (1 to 2 days for whole home), lower cost, no interior or exterior trim work. The right answer when the existing frames are sound and the trim and siding are in good condition.

Full-frame replacement. Existing window and frame removed down to the rough opening. New flashing tape, new window, new exterior trim, new interior casing. Slower (3 to 5 days for whole home), higher cost, but the only correct answer when there is rot at the sill, wind-driven rain leakage, or original installation defects. We inspect every opening on site and recommend the right method per opening.

Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit: 30 percent of cost up to $600 per year for qualifying Energy Star windows through 2032. CenterPoint Energy and Reliant Energy offer additional rebates on certified replacements (typically $25 to $75 per window). We provide manufacturer documentation, NFRC labels, and the IRS form 5695 prep package at project completion.