Bay Area Siding Company installs replacement and new-construction windows across Richmond — from the compact shipyard-era cottages on the flats to the hillside houses now inside the city's updated fire zones. We're a Larkspur-based siding and window contractor, and we run the whole job: field measuring, energy and glazing selection, permitting, removal, flashing and air-sealing, and a final walkthrough.

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

Signs your windows are done

Much of Richmond's housing went up during and just after the WWII shipyard years, and a lot of it still carries original single-pane sash. Older aluminum units from later decades are common too. The tells are hard to miss:

• Drafts you can feel at the glass with the window shut, and rooms that never quite hold temperature
• Fog or moisture trapped between the panes — a blown seal on a dual-pane unit, which is a replace-only problem
• Sashes that stick, drop, or won't latch — swollen wood, painted-shut frames, or spent balances
• Corroded hardware and pitted frames near the shoreline, where salt air is relentless
• Rot or soft wood at the sill or surround, or water staining on the interior trim

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

Choosing the right replacement window

Three decisions carry most of the weight:

• Energy performance. Aim for dual-pane insulated glass with a Low-E coating. California's Title 24 energy code caps U-factor and SHGC for replacement windows, and those targets shift by climate zone and code cycle — so the units have to meet the code in force at permit time, and we confirm the current numbers rather than quoting a figure that may be stale.
• Frame material. Vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum-clad wood, and aluminum each balance cost, thermal performance, and looks differently. Richmond's older bungalows and Point Richmond Victorians often read best with clad-wood or a profile that respects the original opening; near the water, corrosion resistance moves up the priority list.
• Retrofit vs. new-construction. A retrofit (insert) keeps the existing frame and is less invasive; a new-construction install goes back to the framing so flashing can be fully renewed — the right call where there's rot or past water intrusion. We do both and recommend based on what the openings show.

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 your existing windows, openings, and goals.
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 file with the City of Richmond Building Regulations Division.
5. Removal and prep — old units out, openings checked for rot or damage.
6. Install, flashing, and air-seal — set level and plumb, flashed and sealed against water and air.
7. Finish and walkthrough — trim, caulk, an operation check, and cleanup with you.

Richmond-specific things to know

Permits. Window replacement in Richmond is a permitted alteration through the City of Richmond Building Regulations Division, and California's Energy Code brings Title 24 fenestration compliance into the submittal. We handle the permit and the energy paperwork.

Fire-zone glazing in the hills. Richmond's 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for the Local Responsibility Area expanded the Very High zone — reported at roughly 4,500 acres and about 1,800 parcels — adding neighborhoods like May Valley and East Richmond Heights and the slopes toward the El Sobrante and Mira Vista ridgelines, while removing Point Richmond and downgrading Point Pinole. Where a parcel is in a Very High or High zone, California Building Code Chapter 7A governs exterior glazing, and altered openings typically call for multi-paned glazing with at least one tempered pane, among other requirements. Because the boundaries moved in 2025 and the rules hinge on whether work is a repair or an alteration, we confirm your parcel and scope with the AHJ before ordering glass.

Shipyard-era stock on the flats. On the bay plain, the win is comfort and efficiency: original single-pane sash swapped for a modern dual-pane, Low-E unit makes an immediate, noticeable difference in drafty rooms and heating bills. Near the shoreline, we also weigh hardware and frame finishes that stand up to salt air.

What affects the cost

We don't quote prices online because every home is different. The drivers are the number and size of openings, frame material and brand, retrofit vs. new-construction, whether fire-zone tempered or multi-pane glazing applies, 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 Richmond? Yes. Window replacement is a permitted alteration through the City of Richmond Building Regulations Division, and Title 24 fenestration compliance is part of the submittal. We handle both.

I'm in a Richmond hills fire zone — do my windows need to be tempered? Likely, if the work is an alteration. In a Very High or High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, Chapter 7A generally requires altered openings to use multi-paned glazing with at least one tempered pane. Since Richmond's 2025 maps changed the boundaries, we confirm your parcel and scope before ordering.

Can I keep the look of my older Richmond 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 whether it's a Victorian, a bungalow, or a postwar cottage.

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

Get started

Get your windows sized, specced, and installed right the first time. Request an estimate or call Bay Area Siding Company at (415) 619-5167. Handling the exterior too? See Richmond siding replacement and Richmond James Hardie siding, browse the project gallery, or explore the wider East Bay service area.