Aluminum Replacement Windows in San Francisco & the Bay Area
Thermally improved aluminum windows with slim frames, installed by our own crew. Retrofit and full-frame replacement in San Francisco and across the Bay Area.
Premium Aluminum Windows
Most original aluminum windows in the Bay Area are single-pane. On a foggy morning there’s water on the sill and black mildew in the track. Stand next to one in January and you can feel the cold coming off the glass, and street noise comes through almost as if it were open.
New aluminum windows are built differently. A strip of insulating material separates the outside metal from the inside, so the frame no longer turns ice-cold, and the glass is dual-pane with a Low-E coating. The look stays the same: frames are still thin, and you don’t lose glass area the way you often do with vinyl.
Our own installers handle the job from measurement to final inspection. We don’t hand projects to subcontractors, and you deal with the same people throughout.
Retrofit or Full-Frame: Two Ways to Replace Aluminum Windows
Most aluminum windows in Bay Area homes can be replaced without tearing into stucco or siding. During your free estimate we check the existing frame and recommend one of two methods.
Aluminum retrofit windows (insert replacement)
We take out the old sashes and glass and leave the original frame in the wall. The new window goes inside that frame and gets sealed to it, so nobody cuts stucco or pulls off interior trim. This is how we replace most single-pane aluminum windows in San Francisco, and it’s the cheaper and faster of the two methods. A typical window takes a few hours. Learn more about our retrofit installation.
Full-frame (new construction) replacement
The entire window, frame included, is removed down to the rough opening. We choose this when the frame is damaged, there is water intrusion or rot behind it, or you want to change the size or style of the opening. It takes longer, and the stucco and interior trim around the opening need patching afterward. In return, we can see and repair any damage behind the old frame. See retrofit vs. new construction for a side-by-side.
| Retrofit | Full-frame | |
| Stays in place | Existing frame | Removed |
| Untouched | Stucco / siding / trim | Patched or replaced |
| A few hours | Time on site, per window | Half a day or more |
| Lower | Cost | Higher |
| Sound frames, single-pane upgrades | Best for | Damaged frames, size changes, remodels |
Aluminum Replacement Windows We Install
We install thermally improved Milgard A250 and standard Milgard aluminum windows as a Milgard® Certified Dealer. If you want the same slim look with better insulation, we also offer premium Marvin windows. At the estimate we show you the options side by side and explain the difference in price and performance.
Replacing a sliding door at the same time? We match it with aluminum doors so the frames look the same.
Aluminum Window Styles for Replacement
Single-hung
The bottom sash slides up and the top one stays fixed. Fits tall, narrow openings.
Casement
Hinged at the side, opens outward with a crank. Lets in the most air for its size.
Radius and specialty shapes
Arches and custom shapes to match the original openings.
Aluminum Windows for San Francisco Homes
Which window fits depends on when the house was built, how close it is to the ocean, and what style it is. This is how aluminum fits the homes we work on most.
Mid-century homes (1950s–70s)
Many Bay Area homes from this period were built with aluminum sliders. They are the best candidates for aluminum replacement: in-kind windows keep the original proportions, and the old frames are often sound enough for a retrofit.
Victorian and Edwardian homes
These houses were built with wood double-hung windows, often set in a bay on the front. On the street-facing side we usually recommend staying with wood to keep the original look. The rear, light wells, and converted ground floors often have aluminum sliders from 1960s–80s remodels, and those can be replaced with aluminum. On a typical Victorian we quote wood windows or double-hung units for the facade and thermally improved aluminum or vinyl for the rear.
Modern homes, hillside lots, and views
Aluminum is stiffer than vinyl, so wide picture windows and multi-panel openings need less frame. Architectural aluminum windows with narrow sightlines suit glass-forward remodels and homes built around a view.
Coastal and fog-belt neighborhoods
In the Sunset, the Richmond, and Pacifica, fog and salt air are hard on window frames. Aluminum won’t rot, swell, or warp. Near the ocean we use finishes rated for salt-air exposure.
Rentals and multi-unit buildings
Aluminum windows hold up to heavy use and need almost no maintenance, which is why owners of apartment buildings often replace old aluminum with new aluminum. Working on a larger building? See our services for contractors.
Aluminum vs. Vinyl, Fiberglass, and Wood
Aluminum doesn’t suit every house. This is the comparison we walk through at the estimate.
Aluminum doesn’t suit every house. This is the comparison we walk through at the estimate. For a deeper look, read window frame materials compared.
| Aluminum (thermally improved) | Vinyl | Fiberglass | Wood | |
| Frame profile | Thinnest | Thicker | Thin | Medium |
| Insulation | Good | Very good | Very good | Very good |
| Strength for large spans | Excellent | Fair | Very good | Good |
| Maintenance | Very low | Very low | Very low | Regular painting |
| Rot / warping resistance | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Needs care |
| Price | Mid | Lowest | Mid–high | Highest |
| Best for | Modern and mid-century homes, views | Budget-focused full-house projects | Long-term performance | Historic homes |
Signs It Is Time to Replace Your Aluminum Windows
- Condensation or mold on the frames on cold mornings
- Single-pane glass that makes rooms cold and noisy
- Sliders that stick, jump the track, or will not lock
- Pitted, chalky, or corroded frames
- Fogging between panes on older dual-pane units
- Drafts you can feel around closed windows
Not sure yet? Read how to tell if your windows are actually failing.
How Our Aluminum Window Replacement Works
Free In-Home Estimate
We come to your home, measure every aluminum window, and check the condition of the old frames: corrosion, bent tracks, signs of water behind the frame. This tells us whether a retrofit will work or the opening needs a full-frame replacement. The visit is free and you’re not obliged to order.
Personalized Recommendation
We go over what makes sense for your openings. Usually that’s thermally improved aluminum; sometimes standard aluminum is enough, and sometimes vinyl or fiberglass is the better buy for the house. Once you’ve picked style, finish, and glass, you get a written quote broken down line by line. After you sign off, we order the windows to size. They normally take a few weeks to arrive.
Professional Installation
Our own crew removes the old aluminum windows, installs and seals the new ones, and cleans up after each day. The people who measured your windows are the ones who install them. Most homes are done in one to three days.
Post-Installation Support
Before we leave, we open, close, and lock every window with you and go over the warranty. If a window sticks or a seal needs adjusting later, call us and the same team comes back.
Aluminum Window Replacement Across the Bay Area
We replace aluminum windows in every San Francisco neighborhood, including the Sunset, Richmond, Parkside, and Excelsior, and across the Peninsula, Marin, East Bay, and South Bay. See all service areas.
Visit our showroom at 191 Beacon St, South San Francisco (by appointment) to see Milgard aluminum frames and finishes in person.
What Homeowners Say
Aluminum Replacement Windows: FAQ
depends mostly on how big the windows are, thermally improved or standard frames, and whether we can retrofit or need to take out the whole frame. Glass upgrades, like laminated glass for street noise, add to it. After we measure, you get a written quote with removal, haul-away, and installation already in it. Financing is available.
In most cases, yes. If the old frame is straight and not badly corroded, we pull the sashes and set the new window inside it. Stucco and trim stay as they are. If we find corrosion or water damage behind the frame, we’ll show you and suggest taking the whole frame out instead.
Modern thermally improved aluminum windows with dual-pane Low-E glass are far more efficient than the single-pane aluminum windows found in many 1950s–70s Bay Area homes. They reduce drafts and condensation noticeably. Vinyl and fiberglass still insulate somewhat better, which we explain at the estimate.
For a lot of houses, vinyl is the cheaper choice and insulates a little better. Aluminum wins when you want thin frames, more glass, or a wide opening where vinyl would need a heavy frame. It also looks right on mid-century and modern houses. At the estimate we’ll tell you which way we’d go for yours.
A good aluminum window can easily last a few decades. The frame itself won’t rot or warp. What wears out is the weatherstripping, the seals, and the rollers on sliders, and those can usually be replaced. Close to the ocean, ask for a finish rated for salt air. Our warranty covers both the product and our installation.
A single retrofit window takes a few hours. A typical whole-house project takes one to three days on site. Custom windows are ordered after measuring and usually arrive within a few weeks.
Yes. Many homeowners replace old aluminum windows with vinyl or fiberglass in the same openings. If you want to keep the slim original look, we recommend thermally improved aluminum.
