Bay Area Siding Company installs replacement and new-construction windows across Piedmont — from the Tudors and Mediterranean-style homes near the center of town to the houses up in the southeastern hills. We're a Larkspur-based siding and window contractor, and we handle the full job: field measuring, energy and glazing selection, permits and any design review, removal, flashing and air-sealing, and a final walkthrough.

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

Signs it's time to replace your windows

Many Piedmont homes still run their original wood sash, and old windows rarely stay quiet about it:

• Drafts and cold spots at the glass even with the window latched shut.
• Fog or moisture trapped between the panes — a failed seal on a dual-pane unit that can only be replaced, not repaired.
• Sashes that stick, drop, or won't lock — swollen wood, painted-shut frames, or worn balances.
• Heating bills driven by single-pane glass with no Low-E coating in a damp, cool climate.
• Soft sills, rot, or water staining at the frame or surround.

Two or more of these usually means replacement is the sounder long-term call than another round of patching.

What to look for in a replacement window

Three decisions carry the most weight:

• Energy performance. Look for dual-pane insulated glass with a Low-E coating. California's Title 24 energy code sets maximum U-factor and SHGC values for replacement windows, and the units have to meet the code in effect when you pull the permit — so we confirm the current numbers rather than quoting fixed figures that shift between climate zones and code cycles.
• Frame material and profile. Vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum-clad wood, and aluminum trade off cost, thermal performance, and appearance differently. On Piedmont's period homes, the profile and how the window sits in the wall matter as much as the material — which is also what design review pays attention to (more below).
• Retrofit vs. new-construction. A retrofit (insert) install keeps the existing frame and is less invasive; a new-construction install takes the window back to the framing so the flashing can be fully renewed — often the right call where there's rot or water intrusion. We do both.

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, 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 (and design review path) — we prepare the building permit and confirm whether your replacement qualifies for Piedmont's in-kind design-review exemption or needs a submittal.
5. Removal and prep — old units out, openings inspected 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, an operation check, and cleanup together.

Piedmont-specific things to know

Permits — and a real design-review exemption for in-kind work. Piedmont requires a building permit to replace windows and doors. It also reviews exterior appearance, but there's a genuine shortcut for like-for-like jobs: a replacement in-kind can be exempt from design review (under the city's design-review exemption for windows and doors) as long as there's no change in the window's size or location, its operation, its recess from the exterior wall surface, or its divided-lite pattern — and any new divided lites are true divided lites or three-dimensional simulated divided lites. Step outside those bounds — enlarging an opening, changing operation, or altering the muntin pattern — and design review generally comes back into play. We confirm which path your project falls under before ordering anything.

Egress in bedrooms. For sleeping-room windows, Piedmont holds to the emergency-egress minimums — a clear opening at least 20 inches wide and 24 inches high, at least 5.7 square feet of clear net opening, and a sill no higher than 44 inches above the finished floor. If your existing bedroom windows don't meet those, we account for it in the spec.

Fire-zone glazing on southeastern parcels. Roughly 20% of Piedmont — the southeastern area around Park Boulevard, St. James Drive, and Tyson Lake — sits in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone under Ordinance 755 N.S. (2020). Where a fire-hazard designation applies, California Building Code Chapter 7A governs exterior glazing and generally calls for multi-pane units with tempered glazing in altered openings. Whether that applies to your home depends on your parcel and whether the work is classed as repair or alteration, so we confirm it early as part of scoping.

Period homes reward a careful match. The single-pane wood windows common in Piedmont's older homes make the jump to a modern dual-pane, Low-E unit especially noticeable for comfort and quiet — and the right frame profile keeps the upgrade from looking out of place on a Tudor or revival facade.

Working on the exterior too? We also do James Hardie siding and siding replacement in Piedmont, and we serve the wider East Bay. See finished work in our project gallery.

What affects the cost

We don't quote prices online because every job differs. The drivers are the number and size of openings, frame material and brand, retrofit vs. new-construction, whether fire-zone tempered/multi-pane glazing is required on a southeastern parcel, whether design review is triggered or the in-kind exemption applies, the condition of the existing framing (rot repair adds scope), and access — upper-story and hillside openings take more setup.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to replace windows in Piedmont? Yes. Piedmont requires a building permit for window and door replacement, and a Title 24 energy form is part of a compliant submittal. We handle the permitting.

Can I skip design review if I'm just replacing like-for-like? Often, yes. Piedmont allows an in-kind exemption from design review when there's no change in the window's size, location, operation, recess, or divided-lite pattern (with new divided lites being true or 3-D simulated). Change any of those and design review generally applies. We confirm which path fits before ordering.

I'm in the southeastern fire zone — do my windows need tempered glass? Possibly, if the work is an alteration. In designated fire-hazard areas, Chapter 7A generally calls for multi-pane units with tempered glazing in altered openings. The exact requirement depends on your parcel and scope, which we verify before ordering.

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

Get started

Get replacement windows sized, specced, and installed right the first time — with the permit and review path sorted before we order. Request an estimate or call Bay Area Siding Company at (415) 619-5167.