Bay Area Siding Company installs replacement windows throughout Palo Alto, from Eichler and mid-century homes in Greenmeadow, Fairmeadow, and Green Gables to traditional homes in Old Palo Alto, Crescent Park, and Barron Park. When your windows are drafty, fogged, or single-pane, we help you upgrade performance without losing the look your home is known for. We're a Marin-based contractor serving the Peninsula.

Talk through your project: call (415) 619-5167.

Signs it's time to replace your windows

Many Palo Alto homes still carry their original glass, and it shows:

• Drafts and cold glass that make rooms uncomfortable even with the heat running.
• Failed seals and condensation — fog trapped between panes means the insulating seal is gone and can't be repaired.
• Single-pane inefficiency. Expansive single-pane glass — a signature of mid-century and Eichler design — is a major source of heat loss and comfort complaints.
• Sticking, painted-shut, or failing sashes and hardware that no longer operate smoothly.
• Rot or water staining at sills and trim, often pointing to old flashing issues.

If these sound familiar, replacement typically restores comfort and efficiency better than repeated repairs.

Choosing the right replacement windows

Energy performance. Dual-pane glass with a Low-E coating dramatically outperforms original single-pane glazing on both heat loss and comfort — the core upgrade for Palo Alto's older homes. California's Title 24 energy code sets prescriptive maximums for a replacement window's U-factor and solar-heat-gain coefficient, and those targets vary by climate zone (Palo Alto falls in California Energy Commission Climate Zone 4). The current 2025 code cycle took effect January 1, 2026, so we spec to the standard in force for your project and walk you through ENERGY STAR-rated options.

Preserving mid-century sightlines. For Eichler and mid-century homes, the challenge is gaining dual-pane performance while keeping the slim frames and clean, expansive sightlines the architecture depends on. We help you choose frames and configurations that upgrade efficiency without turning glass walls into chunky, mismatched openings.

Frame materials. Vinyl, fiberglass, and aluminum each trade off cost, thermal performance, and profile. Slim aluminum and fiberglass lines are often the better aesthetic fit for mid-century glass; we match material to the home.

Retrofit vs. new-construction. A retrofit (insert) install works within the existing frame and disturbs less finish. A new-construction install removes the window to the framing so the opening can be inspected and re-flashed. We recommend based on your frames' condition.

Comparing brands? See our pages for Anlin, Milgard, Andersen, Marvin, and Pella.

Our window replacement process

1. Consultation — goals, existing windows, and the look you want to keep.
2. Measure — precise field measurements of every opening.
3. Product and energy selection — frame, glass package, and Title 24-compliant specs.
4. Permit — the City of Palo Alto requires a building permit when the size or shape of the window frame is altered, when existing flashing is altered, or when the work is part of another permitted project; we handle the paperwork for your scope.
5. Removal and prep — careful removal and inspection of each opening.
6. Installation, flashing, and air-sealing — set level, plumb, and square, with proper flashing and sealing against water and air.
7. Finish and walkthrough — interior/exterior finish, operation check, and a final review with you.

Local relevance for Palo Alto homeowners

Palo Alto is known for its Eichler and mid-century homes, whose floor-to-ceiling single-pane glass is both a defining feature and a real energy and comfort liability. The upgrade goal here is dual-pane performance without sacrificing slim sightlines. The city publishes Eichler design guidelines to help owners preserve that character — these are guidance for the neighborhood's look, separate from Title 24 energy compliance and separate again from single-story-overlay zoning, which governs building height and stories rather than windows. When frames are altered, bedrooms still have to meet emergency-egress opening sizes, and safety glazing is required in hazardous locations. We work to your home's actual conditions and character, not a generic template.

Trust and proof

We're a Marin-based siding and window contractor serving the Peninsula, handling both window replacement and exterior work. See finished installs in our project gallery. Because windows and siding meet at the flashing, there's real value in one contractor owning both.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to replace windows in Palo Alto? Often yes. The City of Palo Alto generally requires a permit when the size or shape of the window frame is altered, when flashing is altered, or when window work is part of another permit. We confirm the requirement for your scope and handle the permit.

Can I keep the mid-century look of my Eichler while upgrading to dual-pane? Yes — that's the goal. We select slim-profile frames and configurations that deliver dual-pane efficiency while preserving the clean sightlines mid-century glass is known for.

Will new windows meet California's energy code? We spec windows to meet the Title 24 prescriptive targets that apply to Palo Alto (Climate Zone 4) under the code cycle in effect for your project, using ENERGY STAR-rated dual-pane, Low-E options.

Which window brands do you install? Anlin, Andersen, Milgard, Marvin, and Pella, plus aluminum lines — matched to your home's style and performance needs.

Ready to start?

Get straight answers on the right windows for your Palo Alto home. Call Bay Area Siding Company at (415) 619-5167.

Related: Bay Area window replacement · James Hardie siding in Palo Alto · Siding replacement in Palo Alto · Peninsula service area