In Antioch, the case for new windows is usually written in July and August. Single-pane and older aluminum-frame windows let the afternoon sun pour heat straight into the house, and the air conditioner spends the summer fighting it. Bay Area Siding Company — a Larkspur-based siding and window contractor — installs replacement windows across Antioch that are specified for a hot, high-sun inland climate, so the west-facing rooms stop turning into ovens and the cooling bill comes back down.

Ready to cool the house down? Request an estimate or call (415) 619-5167.

Start with the glass: heat is the local problem

For most of the Bay Area the window conversation is about drafts and heat loss. In Antioch it's the reverse — keeping the summer heat out is the bigger prize. That puts two glass properties front and center:

• Low-E coating. A low-emissivity coating reflects a large share of the sun's radiant heat back outside while still letting light through. On the east- and west-facing walls that take the harshest low-angle sun, it's the single biggest comfort upgrade.
• Solar heat gain. How much solar heat a window admits (its SHGC) is what you're managing in this climate. California's Title 24 energy code sets the limits that apply to replacement windows, and window replacement is treated as an "alteration" that carries an energy-compliance requirement — so the units have to meet the code in effect when you permit. We confirm the current numbers rather than quoting figures that shift by climate zone and code cycle.

Pair a dual-pane, Low-E, high-performance package with a well-sealed install and the difference on a hot afternoon is immediate.

The frame and the install method

Two more decisions shape the result:

Frame material. Vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum-clad wood, and aluminum each balance cost, thermal performance, and looks differently. Vinyl and fiberglass carry less heat than bare aluminum, which matters in this climate; on older Rivertown-area homes with wood detailing, a clad-wood or a profile that respects the original opening often looks right. We'll match it to the house.

Retrofit vs. new-construction. A retrofit (insert) install keeps the existing frame and is less invasive — a good fit for many sound Antioch tract homes. A new-construction (full-frame) install removes the window down to the rough opening so the flashing and water-resistive barrier can be fully renewed — the right call where there's rot, water intrusion, or you're re-siding at the same time. We do both and recommend based on what the opening actually shows.

Comparing brands

We install a range of lines so the window fits the home and the budget rather than the other way around. Start at our window hub, then read the specifics:

• Anlin — vinyl, California-focused
• Milgard — widely used West Coast vinyl and fiberglass
• Andersen — clad-wood and composite
• Marvin — wood and clad-wood
• Pella — wood, vinyl, and fiberglass

We also install aluminum windows where they're the right fit.

Permits, Title 24, and fire-edge parcels

Permit. Window replacement is permitted work in Antioch, handled by the Building Inspection Services Division in the Community Development Department (200 H Street). Because the city treats window replacement as an energy-code alteration, a Title 24 fenestration compliance form is part of the submittal. We handle the paperwork.

Fire-edge glazing. Some homes along Antioch's southern and southwestern edge — where Cal Fire's 2025 maps show High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones — fall under California Building Code Chapter 7A for exterior glazing. In fire-hazard areas, an altered opening in a single-family home generally has to use multi-paned glazing with at least one tempered pane, among other requirements. Whether that applies depends on your parcel and whether the work is classed as a repair or an alteration, so we check the designation before ordering glass. This is a minority of Antioch addresses, not all of them.

What affects the cost

We don't quote online because every job is different. The drivers: the number and size of openings; frame material and brand; the glass package; retrofit vs. new-construction; whether fire-zone tempered/multi-pane glazing is required for the parcel; the condition of the existing framing (rot repair adds scope); and access for upper-story openings. A walkthrough gives you an accurate number.

FAQ

What kind of glass should I get for Antioch's heat? Dual-pane with a Low-E coating and a solar-heat-gain rating suited to a hot, sunny climate. It reflects radiant heat before it enters, which is what makes west-facing rooms livable in summer and takes load off the AC.

Do I need a permit to replace windows in Antioch? Yes. It's permitted through the City's Building Inspection Services Division, and a Title 24 energy-compliance form is part of the submittal since the work is treated as an alteration. We handle it.

I'm near the south/southwest edge of town — do my windows need tempered glass? Possibly. Homes in Antioch's higher fire-hazard zones can fall under Chapter 7A, which generally requires multi-paned glazing with at least one tempered pane for altered openings. It depends on the parcel and scope; we confirm before ordering.

Retrofit or new-construction — which is right for my home? Retrofit is faster and less invasive and suits sound openings; new-construction is better where there's rot or water damage or you want the flashing fully renewed. We assess the opening and recommend.

Get your Antioch windows specced right

Get windows sized, specced for the heat, and installed the first time. Request an estimate or call (415) 619-5167. Already looking at the walls too? We also do siding replacement and James Hardie siding in Antioch, and we serve the wider Contra Costa County area. See finished work in our project gallery.