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Santa Monica Home: Old Aluminum Sliders With Grids Replaced by White Vinyl Retrofit Sliders
This stucco home in Santa Monica had old mill-finish aluminum sliders, many with grids, set in wood trim that had worn down to bare wood. The contractor pulled the old sashes and frames, set new white vinyl sliders into the same openings and covered the old trim with a wide retrofit frame, so the stucco and the board siding below stayed untouched. 4 windows were replaced in 1 day.
Example project. Photos and figures are for illustration.
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Project Snapshot
| Detail | Example |
|---|---|
| Location | Santa Monica |
| Home | Single-story stucco home with board siding along the patio |
| Old windows | Mill-finish aluminum horizontal sliders, most with grids, screens on the vent side |
| New windows | White vinyl horizontal sliders, no grids, dual-pane low-E glass |
| Install method | Retrofit into the existing openings, stucco and siding left in place |
| Windows replaced | 4 |
| Time on site | 1 day |
| Permit | City of Santa Monica building permit |
What Was Wrong With the Old Windows?
The before photos show the same problems on every wall. The wood trim around the frames had peeling paint and bare wood at the corners, and the aluminum frames had turned dull and chalky. Screens were worn and dark, and the grids split the view into small panes.
Several openings sit high on the wall above a covered patio, so the old sliders were hard to reach, open and clean.
How Was the Work Done?
Step 1: Removing Screens and Old Sashes
The crew lifted out the old screens and sliding sashes first, working from both inside and outside the house.
Step 2: Pulling the Old Frames
Installers pried the old aluminum frames loose and pulled them out in pieces. That exposed the wood framing underneath, which was checked before the new windows went in.
Step 3: Setting the New Vinyl Sliders
Each new slider was lifted into its opening from outside, set level and fastened. The wide white retrofit frame sits over the old trim and seals against the stucco, so no stucco was cut.
Step 4: Sealing and Final Check
The edges were sealed, and each slider was opened, closed and locked to check the fit. The NFRC labels stayed on for the inspector.
Before and After
| Before | After | |
|---|---|---|
| Frames | Mill-finish aluminum | White vinyl |
| Grids | Grids on most windows | No grids, clear view |
| Trim | Peeling, weathered wood | Covered by a clean white retrofit frame |
| Style | Horizontal sliders | Horizontal sliders, same layout |
| Stucco and siding | Unchanged | Unchanged |
Why Keep Sliders Instead of Switching Styles?
The openings on this home are wide and short, which is the shape sliders are built for. Keeping the same style meant the new windows fit the existing openings without changing the walls. Dropping the grids gave the patio and back rooms a wider, cleaner view.
New sliders roll on fresh rollers and come with an anti-lift device that stops the sash from being lifted out from outside. Vinyl frames also won’t pit or corrode in Santa Monica’s salt air and marine layer the way bare aluminum does. See sliding window replacement for layouts and locks.
What Does a Job Like This Cost in Los Angeles?
For planning, Angi puts sliding windows at about $300 to $1,000 each, and a whole-house job in Los Angeles averages $19,356. Size, glass package and access to high openings set the final price. Santa Monica homes are on Southern California Edison, so check its current rebate list before you order.
Planning a Similar Project?
If your Santa Monica home still has old aluminum sliders with grids, see retrofit windows to learn how new windows go in without cutting stucco. Call (424) 230-8336 or use the free quote form.
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