Locally owned · Independence, Missouri
Window Replacement for Independence, MO Homes
We handle window replacement in Independence, Missouri for every kind of house the city has: the tall single panes in the old neighborhoods off the Square, the fogged sliders in postwar ranches, the rusted basement units under both. New windows are measured to each opening, set plumb, insulated and sealed, and the house ends up quieter and cheaper to heat and cool.
Windows and doors we install
- Vinyl Replacement WindowsWelded frames and low-E glass in double-hung, slider, casement and picture styles.
- Bay and Bow Window InstallationProjecting windows hung from above, roofed, insulated and trimmed inside and out.
- Patio Door ReplacementSliding and hinged French doors on a flashed, level sill.
- Basement Window ReplacementRusted steel and rotted wood frames cut out and replaced with tight vinyl units.
Most jobs mix several of these: double-hungs in the bedrooms, a picture window in the front room, a slider over the kitchen sink. Storm-cracked and fogged windows are replaced as whole units. We don't swap glass or sashes alone.
Two ways to put in a new window
Insert replacement. The old sashes and stops come out and a new window slides into the existing frame. Interior trim and exterior siding stay put, so it's the faster and cheaper route. It only works when the old frame is square and free of rot, and the glass ends up slightly smaller because the new frame sits inside the old one.
Full-frame replacement. Everything comes out down to the rough framing: sashes, frame, sill and trim. That exposes any water damage so it can be repaired, lets the gap around the window be insulated properly, and keeps the glass area you had. It costs more and takes longer per opening.
Plenty of houses get both. Sound openings get inserts and the two or three with a punky sill get the full treatment. Which openings fall in which group is settled at the measuring visit, one opening at a time, with a screwdriver in the sill and not by guessing from the driveway.
Permits and the Truman Heritage District
Putting a new window in an opening of the same size doesn't take a building permit in Independence. The city asks for one only when the replacement window or door is larger than what it replaces, as when a flat window becomes a bay or a wall is opened up for a wider patio door. On those jobs we pull the permit.
Historic property is a separate question. Independence has one locally designated historic district, the Truman Heritage District just west of the Square, along with 27 individual local landmarks. Exterior changes to those houses, replacement windows included, need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the city, permit or no permit. In-kind replacements can be approved by city staff, often the same day. A change of material or appearance goes to the Heritage Commission, which meets once a month, and that route can take up to 45 days. Windows that were in place before a house was designated don't have to be undone.
If your house is in the district or on the landmark list, mention it when you ask for an estimate, so the window we propose and the schedule both account for the review.
How window replacement in Independence goes
- Measuring visit. Every opening is measured in three places each way and checked for rot, and you see sample windows and glass options in your own rooms.
- Written quote. One page per job listing each window, its style and glass, the install method, trim work and haul-off, with a total.
- Factory order. Windows are built to your measurements, which takes a few weeks. You get an install date once they ship.
- Install. Floors and furniture are covered, one opening is done at a time, and each new window is shimmed, fastened, insulated around the edge and sealed outside.
- Walkthrough. You open, close and lock every window with the crew lead. Old windows and debris leave with us.
Where we work
All of Independence, from the older streets around the Square and Truman Road, south past 23rd Street and 40 Highway, and east to the newer subdivisions along Little Blue Parkway. We also take jobs in Sugar Creek, Raytown, Blue Springs, Grain Valley and Lee's Summit.
Common questions about replacing windows
How long does it take to replace the windows in a house?
Once the crew is set up, a standard window takes well under an hour, so most houses are finished in one or two days. Bay windows, patio doors and openings with rotted framing add time.
What is the cheapest time of year to replace windows?
Window prices don't swing much by season. Late fall and winter are slower for most installers, so dates are easier to get. The count, the style and the condition of the old frames change the total far more, and the price guide goes through each.
What temperature is too cold to install windows?
There is no hard cutoff. In a Missouri winter the crew opens one hole at a time, so the house is exposed for minutes, not hours. The limit is the sealant: standard caulk cures poorly near freezing, so a cold-weather product is used or the outside bead waits for a milder day.
Is it worth replacing 20 year old windows?
Age by itself isn't the reason. Fog between the panes, a soft sill, a sash that won't stay up, or a draft you can feel with the window locked are. Windows with none of those can usually stay.
How do I pick a window replacement company?
Ask who does the installing, the company's own people or a subcontracted crew. Ask for the window's NFRC ratings in writing, what the labor warranty covers, and whether trim, haul-off and rot repair are in the price. A company that measures every opening is quoting your house and not an average one.
Get your windows measured
Tell us how many windows or doors and your ZIP code. The estimate is free.