Bay Area Siding Company replaces windows throughout Larkspur, from the old cottages along the Magnolia Avenue corridor to the hillside and canyon houses up toward King Mountain. We're based in town, on Magnolia Avenue, and we run the whole job in-sequence: field measuring, energy and glazing selection, permitting, removal, flashing and air-sealing, and a final walkthrough with you.

Ready to talk windows? Request an estimate or call (415) 619-5167.

Signs your windows are due

In a damp, marine-influenced climate like Larkspur's, tired windows tend to give themselves away:

• Fog or moisture trapped between the panes — a blown seal on a dual-pane unit, which can't be repaired, only replaced.
• Cold, drafty edges near the glass even when everything's latched, especially on shaded canyon elevations.
• Sashes that stick, drop, or won't lock — swollen wood, painted-shut frames, or worn balances after years of humidity.
• Condensation puddling on interior sills through the wet months, sometimes with staining or soft wood below.
• Single-pane glass with no Low-E quietly driving up what you spend to heat the house.

Two or more of these usually means replacement is the better long-term move than another round of fixes.

Choosing the right replacement window

Three decisions carry most of the outcome:

• Energy performance. Aim for dual-pane insulated glass with a Low-E coating. California's Title 24 energy code caps the U-factor and SHGC allowed for replacement windows, and Larkspur enforces the Energy Code as part of its permit — the units you pick have to meet the numbers in effect when you pull the permit. We confirm the current requirements at permit time rather than assume them.
• Frame material. Vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum-clad wood, and aluminum each balance cost, thermal performance, and looks differently. Older Larkspur homes and anything near the historic downtown often read best with clad-wood or a profile that respects the original opening.
• Retrofit or new-construction install. A retrofit (insert) keeps the existing frame and is less invasive; a new-construction install takes the window back to the framing so flashing can be fully renewed — usually the right call where there's rot or past water intrusion, which is common in this climate. We do both and recommend based on what we find.

Comparing brands? Start at our window hub, then read up on Anlin, Milgard, Andersen, Marvin, and Pella. We install aluminum windows as well.

What to expect: our process

1. Consultation — we look at the current windows, the openings, and what you want to improve.
2. Measure — precise field measurements for every opening.
3. Product and energy selection — glass package, frame, and finish chosen to meet Title 24.
4. Permit — we pull the City of Larkspur permit and file the energy documentation it requires.
5. Removal and prep — old units out, openings inspected for rot or water damage.
6. Install, flashing, and air-seal — set level and plumb, then flashed and sealed against water and air.
7. Finish and walkthrough — trim, caulk, an operation check, and cleanup together.

Larkspur-specific things to know

The permit is a City of Larkspur matter. Larkspur runs its own Building Division within Community Development, working from the 2025 California Building, Energy, and Fire codes as amended by the Larkspur Municipal Code. It requires a permit for window replacement — it lists like-for-like window swaps among the jobs that still need one — and Title 24 energy documentation comes in with the submittal depending on scope. We handle the paperwork.

Fire-zone glazing on the slopes. Larkspur's canyon and hillside neighborhoods carry real wildfire exposure, and Central Marin Fire adopted California's updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps in 2025. Where a home sits in a High or Very High zone or the Wildland-Urban Interface, California Building Code Chapter 7A reaches the windows too — exterior glazing in these areas generally has to be multi-pane with at least one tempered pane, among other requirements. Whether it applies, and whether your work counts as a repair or an alteration, depends on your parcel and scope, so we confirm the designation with the City and Central Marin Fire before ordering.

Downtown character and damp air. In and around the Magnolia Avenue historic district (National Register, 1982), profile and proportion matter, and design-review or heritage considerations can apply — we match frames and sightlines to the original openings. Across the low-lying flats near Corte Madera Creek, where king tides and marine humidity are a fact of life, careful flashing and air-sealing are what keep a new window performing.

Looking at the exterior envelope too? We also do James Hardie siding and siding replacement in Larkspur, and serve the wider Marin area. Finished projects are in the gallery.

What affects the cost

We don't post prices, because every home is different. The drivers are the number and size of openings, the frame material and brand, retrofit versus new-construction, whether fire-zone tempered or multi-pane glazing is required for your parcel, the condition of the existing framing (rot repair adds scope), and access — upper-story or hillside openings take more setup.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to replace windows in Larkspur? Yes. The City of Larkspur's Building Division requires a permit for window replacement, including like-for-like, and Title 24 energy documentation is part of the submittal. We take care of it.

I'm on a canyon lot — do my windows have to be tempered? Possibly. In High/Very High fire zones and the WUI, Chapter 7A generally calls for exterior glazing to be multi-pane with at least one tempered pane. Whether it applies depends on your parcel and whether the work is a repair or an alteration, which we confirm with the City and Central Marin Fire before ordering.

Can I keep the look of an older Larkspur home? Yes. Frame material and profile can be matched to the original openings — clad-wood and specific vinyl or aluminum profiles all work depending on the house and its setting near the historic district.

Retrofit or new-construction — which do I need? Retrofit is less invasive and keeps the existing frame; new-construction is the better choice where there's rot or water damage and you want the flashing fully renewed. We assess each opening and recommend.

Get started

Let's get your Larkspur windows measured, specced, and installed right the first time. Request an estimate or call Bay Area Siding Company at (415) 619-5167 — we're local, on Magnolia Avenue.