DC · Maryland · Northern Virginia
Window Replacement in the DMV
Full-frame and insert replacement in vinyl, fiberglass, and clad wood. Correct sizing, correct flashing, no drafts at the sill.
- Free inspection with photos and a written report
- Fixed written price before any work starts
- We pull the permit where one is required
- Building in the DMV since 2012
Free windows estimate
Tell us what is going on. We reply the same business day.
Scope
What is included
We self-perform this trade. Everything below is work our own crews do, not something we hand off after you sign.
- Full-frame replacement where the frame or sill has failed
- Insert (pocket) replacement where the frame is sound
- Vinyl, fiberglass, and aluminum-clad wood units
- Double- and triple-pane low-E glass packages
- Bay, bow, casement, and picture windows
- Historic-district-appropriate profiles where required
What it costs
Windows pricing in the DMV
Window replacement is the most variable of these trades because the unit itself drives so much of the cost. Published regional data commonly shows whole-house projects of eight to ten windows running in the mid four figures to high four figures for standard vinyl inserts, with fiberglass, clad wood, historic-appropriate profiles, and full-frame replacement moving the number substantially higher.
These are planning ranges, not a quote
We publish ranges because a real number requires measuring your house, and because any contractor who gives you a firm price over the phone is guessing or anchoring you. Priced per window opening. After we inspect, you get a fixed written price — including what a likely surprise would cost — that is yours to keep and compare.
Where the money goes
Vinyl insert (pocket) replacement
Lowest per opening
Fastest install, preserves interior trim, keeps the existing frame — including whatever is wrong with it.
Fiberglass and aluminum-clad wood
Above vinyl, sometimes well above
Better profiles and durability. Often the only approvable option in a historic district.
Full-frame replacement
Adds materially to any unit price
Takes the opening back to the rough framing so the sill can be inspected and re-flashed. The only correct answer where there is water damage.
Bay, bow, casement, and specialty shapes
Priced individually
Not comparable to a standard double-hung count.
What moves your number
Insert versus full-frame
The biggest single swing. An insert is cheaper and faster; full-frame is the only way to find and fix a rotted sill. If there is any staining or soft wood, insert pricing is not really an option.
Historic district requirements
In Old Town Alexandria, parts of DC, and designated Montgomery County properties, profile, material, and grille pattern can all be regulated. Budget for the approvable product.
Egress at bedrooms
An insert shrinks the clear opening. At bedrooms that can fall below the emergency escape minimum, which forces a larger unit or full-frame work. We measure this before quoting.
Glass package
Double versus triple pane, low-E coatings, and gas fill all move the unit price.
On resale value
Be skeptical of energy-savings payback math. Utility savings alone rarely justify replacement on their own — comfort, noise, operability, and resale are the honest reasons.
Permits & code
Does windows work need a permit?
It depends on which government reviews your address, and the difference is not small — the same job can be permit-exempt in one jurisdiction and a filed permit a mile away.
| Jurisdiction | Status | What that means for windows |
|---|---|---|
| DC | Depends | DOB Instant Permits cover "replace in kind of up to 15 windows" — matching the original in appearance, material, design, detail, location, and size. Over 15 windows, any change in appearance or size, or a property in a historic or Commission of Fine Arts jurisdiction, and you are out of the instant path and into full review. |
| Montgomery County | Usually exempt | Exempt for "windows and doors without changing the opening size and without changing the net clear opening dimensions." That second clause matters: bedroom windows have an egress minimum, and a replacement unit that shrinks the clear opening below it is a code violation even though no permit was pulled. |
| Prince George's County | Depends | In-kind replacement without altering the opening is the low-friction path. Changing opening size brings a permit into play — and the IRC bedroom egress minimum applies regardless of whether a permit does. |
| Arlington | Usually exempt | USBC §108.2 exempts replacement windows and doors "of similar operation and opening dimensions that do not require changes to the existing framed opening." Enlarging the opening, or a full-frame replacement that alters the rough opening, needs a permit. |
| Fairfax County | Usually exempt | "Direct replacement of existing windows and doors" is exempt. Changing the framed opening is not. |
| Alexandria | Usually exempt | USBC §108.2 exempts replacement windows and doors "of similar operation and opening dimensions that do not require changes to the existing framed opening." Enlarging the opening, or a full-frame replacement that alters the rough opening, needs a permit. |
Permit-exempt does not mean code-exempt
Where no permit is required, no inspector ever sees the work — but the code still applies in full. That is precisely why we photograph the concealed conditions before they are covered. On a permit-exempt job, that documentation is the only proof you will ever have.
Straight answers
What homeowners ask us about windows
Is it worth replacing windows for the energy savings alone?
Usually not on energy savings alone — payback on utility bills is long. The honest case for replacement is comfort, noise, operability, and resale. If your windows are painted shut, fogged between the panes, or you can feel air at the sash in January, replacement is worth it. If they simply look dated, that is a preference call and we will say so.
What is the difference between full-frame and insert replacement?
An insert drops a new unit into the existing frame — faster, cheaper, and it preserves interior trim, but you lose a little glass area and you keep whatever is wrong with the old frame. Full-frame takes it back to the rough opening so we can inspect and re-flash the sill. If there is any water damage, full-frame is the only correct answer.
Do I need permits or historic review?
In parts of DC, Alexandria, and other historic districts, yes — profile, material, and grille pattern can all be regulated. We handle the permit filing and will tell you before you sign if your address is in a district that limits your options.
How much does windows cost in the DMV?
Window replacement is the most variable of these trades because the unit itself drives so much of the cost. Published regional data commonly shows whole-house projects of eight to ten windows running in the mid four figures to high four figures for standard vinyl inserts, with fiberglass, clad wood, historic-appropriate profiles, and full-frame replacement moving the number substantially higher. Those are planning ranges drawn from published regional data, not a quote — the number for your house depends on the specifics, and we put a fixed price in writing after we measure.
Do I need a permit for windows work?
It depends entirely on your jurisdiction. DC: depends. Montgomery County: usually exempt. Prince George's County: depends. Arlington: usually exempt. Fairfax County: usually exempt. Alexandria: usually exempt. We confirm your specific address with the permit authority before work starts and pull the permit where one is required.
Service area
Windows across the DMV
We quote windows work throughout the District, close-in Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
- Washington, DC
- Bethesda, MD
- Chevy Chase, MD
- Potomac, MD
- Silver Spring, MD
- Rockville, MD
- McLean, VA
- Arlington, VA
- Alexandria, VA
- Falls Church, VA
- Vienna, VA
- Fairfax, VA
While we are there
The rest of the envelope
These details all meet each other. If you are doing one, it is worth knowing the condition of the others — and combining them into one mobilization is usually cheaper.
Roof Replacement & Repair
Architectural shingle, standing-seam metal, and flat/low-slope systems. Leak diagnosis, storm damage documentation, and full tear-off replacement.
Costs & details →Siding Replacement
James Hardie fiber cement, insulated vinyl, and cedar. We correct the wrap and flashing behind the siding, not just the panel you can see.
Costs & details →Gutters & Downspouts
Seamless 5" and 6" aluminum, half-round copper, and guard systems — sized and pitched to actually move DMV storm volume away from the foundation.
Costs & details →Get a real number for your windows
Free inspection, written scope, fixed price. Same-business-day reply.