A lot of Novato's postwar and mid-century homes are still working through their original single-pane windows — the aluminum sliders and wood double-hungs that came with the ranch subdivisions of the 1960s and '70s. Bay Area Siding Company replaces and installs windows across northern Marin, out of our shop in Larkspur, and we run the full job: measuring each opening, sorting out glass and frame, permitting, removal, flashing and air-sealing, and a final walkthrough.

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

Telltale signs your windows are done

Old windows tend to give themselves away. Watch for:

• A draft you can feel standing next to a closed window, or a room that never quite holds temperature.
• Fog or moisture trapped between the panes — a blown seal on a dual-pane unit, which can only be replaced, not repaired.
• Sashes that stick, drop, or won't latch — swollen wood, painted-shut frames, or worn-out balances.
• Single-pane glass with no Low-E, which shows up on the heating bill through Novato's damp winters.
• Soft sills, rot, or water staining at the frame or the surrounding trim.

Two or more of these together, and replacement usually makes more sense than chasing repairs.

The three decisions that matter

• Energy performance. You want dual-pane insulated glass with a Low-E coating. California's Title 24 energy code sets ceilings on U-factor and solar-heat-gain for replacement windows, and those figures vary by climate zone and change across code cycles — so the units need to meet the code in force at permit time. We confirm the current numbers for your address rather than quote a figure that may be out of date.
• Frame material. Vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum-clad wood, and aluminum each balance cost, thermal performance, and appearance differently. On a Novato ranch or a downtown bungalow with original wood detailing, a clad-wood or a carefully chosen profile often sits better in the opening than a stock frame.
• Retrofit vs. new-construction install. A retrofit (insert) keeps the existing frame and is less disruptive; a new-construction install takes the window back to the framing so the flashing can be fully renewed — the better call where there's rot or past water intrusion. We do both and recommend based on what we find.

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

What to expect: our process

1. Consultation — we look at the existing windows, the openings, and your goals.
2. Measure — precise field measurements for every opening.
3. Product and energy selection — glass package, frame, and finish chosen to meet the Title 24 code in effect.
4. Permit — window replacement is permittable through the City of Novato Building Division.
5. Removal and prep — old units out, openings checked for rot or 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, operation check, and cleanup with you.

Novato-specific things to know

Permits. The City of Novato Building Division is the permitting authority, and a like-for-like window (and door) replacement is one of the categories eligible for the City's Residential Express Permit — "Residential Window/Door Replacement Like-for-Like." Changing an opening's size or configuration, or reframing, moves the work into a standard permit. Because window replacement is an alteration under the state Energy Code, a Title 24 compliance form is part of the submittal; we handle that as part of the job.

Fire-zone glazing on the edges. Novato's higher fire-hazard and Wildland-Urban Interface parcels — concentrated around the wooded hills and open-space edges like Indian Valley, Black Point, and Bahia — fall under Chapter 7A of the building code, which reaches exterior glazing, not just walls. In those zones, altered openings generally have to use multi-pane glazing with at least one tempered pane, among other requirements. Whether that applies depends on your parcel's designation and whether the work is classed as a repair or an alteration, so it's worth confirming early — we build it into scoping and verify with the Fire District and City.

Mid-century single-pane stock. Because so much of Novato went up in the postwar tract era, original single-pane windows are still common, especially in neighborhoods like San Marin and Pleasant Valley. The comfort-and-efficiency jump from those to a modern dual-pane, Low-E unit is one of the more noticeable upgrades on this kind of home — steadier temperatures in the dry-summer heat and less heat loss through the wet winters.

Handling the whole exterior? We also do siding replacement and James Hardie siding in Novato, and serve the wider Marin area. See finished work in our project gallery.

What affects the cost

We don't post prices because no two jobs match. The drivers are the number and size of openings, frame material and brand, retrofit versus new-construction, whether fire-zone tempered or multi-pane glazing is required, 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 Novato? Yes. Window replacement is permittable through the City of Novato Building Division, and a like-for-like swap can use the City's Residential Express Permit. A Title 24 energy compliance form is part of the submittal, which we handle.

My home is near open space — do my windows need to be tempered? Possibly, if the work is an alteration. In Novato's WUI and higher fire-hazard parcels, altered openings generally require multi-pane glazing with at least one tempered pane under Chapter 7A. The exact requirement depends on your parcel and scope, which we confirm before ordering.

Can I keep the character of an older Novato 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.

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 the openings and recommend.

Get started

Get your Novato windows sized, specced, and installed right the first time. Request an estimate or call Bay Area Siding Company at (415) 619-5167.