Fairfax Andersen Windows

Andersen is the name most people already know before they start shopping windows, and it's earned that recognition with a genuinely premium product — most notably Fibrex, the composite material the company developed that blends wood fiber with polymer. For a Fairfax owner with a character home worth investing in, Andersen offers something the value-tier vinyl brands don't: the look and substance of wood-framed windows with far more stability and less upkeep. Bay Area Siding Company installs Andersen throughout Marin.

Considering Andersen for a home you plan to keep? Call (415) 619-5167 or request an estimate.

What sets Andersen apart

The heart of the brand is Fibrex — a composite of reclaimed wood fiber and thermoplastic polymer. It's more rigid and thermally stable than vinyl, which lets Andersen build narrower frames with more glass, and it holds up to weather and temperature swings without the movement that can loosen lesser frames over time. That stability matters on a Fairfax home that cycles between damp canyon cold and dry afternoons.

Andersen's range covers several tiers:

• 400 Series — the flagship clad-wood line: a real wood interior with a low-maintenance exterior, the classic choice for a period home where the interior wood is part of the look.
• A-Series — Andersen's top architectural line, with Fibrex exteriors and extensive style, color, and hardware options for design-driven projects.
• 100 Series — full-Fibrex windows (no wood), a more accessible way into the Andersen composite with strong efficiency and a clean look.

For the winterized cabins and Craftsman homes of the Ross Valley, that spread means you can match a window to the home's character — real wood inside where it shows, durable composite outside where the weather is.

The Fairfax context

A Fairfax address adds two considerations to the premium-window conversation.

Energy and comfort. Most of the town's older homes still carry original single-pane glass, and in a shaded, foggy canyon that means cold rooms and condensation. Andersen's dual-pane, Low-E units — with the efficiency that comes from stable Fibrex frames — make a marked difference in comfort and quiet.

Fire-zone glazing. Much of Fairfax lies in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone or WUI area, and the Town has adopted the California WUI Code (municipal code § 8.06.011). Where those rules and Chapter 7A apply, replacement glazing generally has to be dual-pane with at least one tempered pane (or a rated assembly), typically when you permit a replacement or alter an opening rather than as a forced retrofit. Andersen units can be specified with the required tempered glazing. Whether it applies to your parcel and scope is something we confirm with the Town of Fairfax when scoping.

Where Andersen fits among the brands

Andersen sits firmly in the premium tier, and its closest company is Marvin (premium wood and fiberglass) and Pella (wood, fiberglass, and vinyl across a wide range). Its distinguishing feature is the Fibrex composite and the strength of the brand name. If your priority is value and a strong warranty on vinyl, Milgard and Anlin are the West-Coast workhorses at a lower price. The window hub compares the field; Fairfax window replacement covers the local picture.

Install and cost

Whether it's a retrofit (insert) install for sound existing frames or a new-construction install that strips back to the framing to renew the flashing where a shaded wall has let rot start, we do both — and on a period home the choice often turns on preserving the interior trim. We measure each opening, confirm the glass package against Title 24 in effect at permit time plus any fire-zone tempering, pull the Fairfax permit, remove the old units, set and flash and air-seal the new ones, and finish with trim and an operation check. Cost turns on the Andersen series and options, the number and size of openings, retrofit versus new-construction, fire-zone glazing, framing condition, and hillside or upper-story access. See our project gallery and Marin service area.

Frequently asked questions

What is Fibrex, and why does it matter? Fibrex is Andersen's composite of wood fiber and polymer. It's more rigid and thermally stable than vinyl, which allows narrower frames and more glass, and it resists the movement that can loosen frames over time — a real advantage on a Fairfax home that swings between damp cold and dry warmth.

Which Andersen series suits an older Fairfax home? Often the 400 Series clad-wood, where a real wood interior matches the character of a cabin or Craftsman while the exterior stays low-maintenance. The A-Series suits design-driven projects, and the 100 Series is a more accessible full-Fibrex option. We'll match the series to the home.

Can Andersen windows meet Fairfax's fire-zone glazing rules? Yes. Where Chapter 7A and the Town's WUI Code apply, replacement glazing generally needs at least one tempered pane, and Andersen units can be specified that way. We confirm what your parcel and scope require with the Town before ordering.

Is Andersen worth the premium over vinyl? It depends on the home and how long you'll keep it. For a character home you're investing in, the Fibrex stability, the clad-wood look, and the brand's track record can justify the step up. For a straightforward efficient retrofit on a budget, a quality vinyl line may serve you just as well.

Get started

Call (415) 619-5167 or request an estimate. We'll measure, walk through the Andersen series, and handle the permit and any fire-zone glazing for your Fairfax home.