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Wood Windows Replacement in Los Angeles New Wood and Clad-Wood Windows for Craftsman and Spanish Homes
New wood windows cost $600 to $1,400 each installed, and wood-clad windows run $700 to $1,300, per HomeGuide. In the 2025 Cost vs. Value report, LA wood window jobs got back 81.9% at resale. PaneRight LA connects you with independent local contractors who handle wood windows replacement across Los Angeles, with sash kits, insert windows and full-frame installs that keep your trim and plaster intact.
Call (424) 230-8336 for a free wood window quote.
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Are Your Wood Windows Past Saving?
Many old wood windows can be repaired. Replace them when rot runs through the frame, the sashes won’t hold paint or the glass and seals can’t keep heat and drafts out.
01
Is the Rot in Your Sills and Sashes Too Deep to Repair?
Push a screwdriver into the sill and the bottom rail of the sash. If it sinks in only a little, epoxy filler and a wood patch can fix it. If the wood is soft through the joints or the sill crumbles, a wooden sash window replacement or new frame makes more sense. For windows worth saving, see our historic window restoration service.
02
Are Condensation and Drafts Ruining Your Wood Frames?
Single-pane glass gets cold on winter mornings, and water beads up and runs down onto the sill. That wet wood grows mildew, the paint lifts and rot starts where the sash meets the sill. Loose sashes and worn weatherstripping let drafts and dust in.
03
Did Cheap Vinyl Replace Your Home’s Original Wood Windows?
It’s common in Craftsman and Spanish homes across LA. White vinyl with wide frames and flat grilles doesn’t match a 1920s bungalow. Replacement wood windows with simulated divided lites bring back the original look.
What’s Included in Our Wood Windows Replacement Service?
Every job covers measuring, windows built to size, removal, a sealed install, interior and exterior trim work, the permit and haul-away.
01
Can You Replace Just the Wood Sash and Keep the Frame?
Yes, when the frame and sill are sound. Sash replacement kits, such as Marvin’s Tilt Pac for double-hung windows, fit new sashes and jamb liners into your old frame. Your casing, trim and plaster stay untouched.
02
Can New Wood Windows Go In Without Tearing Up Plaster and Trim?
Yes. An insert, also called a pocket window, is a complete wood window that fits inside your old frame after the sashes and stops come out. The interior casing and exterior brickmould stay in place. Full-frame installs are for rotted frames and do need trim and plaster work.
03
Can New Wood Windows Match Your Old Trim and Grille Pattern?
Yes. Contractors match the grille pattern with simulated divided lites (SDL) or true divided lites, and pick a sash profile, such as ogee or putty glaze, that looks like the original. Douglas fir, pine, mahogany and alder take paint or stain to match your trim.
How Much Does Wood Windows Replacement Cost in Los Angeles?
HomeGuide puts standard wood at $600 to $1,000 per window installed and premium or custom wood at $900 to $1,400 and up. A whole-house job in LA averages $19,356 across all frame types, per Angi.
| Window | Installed price per window (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|
| Vinyl, standard | $250 to $600 |
| Wood, standard | $600 to $1,000 |
| Wood-clad (aluminum or fiberglass) | $700 to $1,300 |
| Wood, premium or custom | $900 to $1,400+ |
Why Are Wood Window Quotes So Much Higher Than Vinyl?
HomeGuide says wood costs 50% to 100% more than vinyl. Wood species, custom sizes, divided lites and trim work add labor and material. HomeGuide adds that trim work can add $50 to $100 per opening.
How Can You Get Wood Windows Without Paying a Premium Brand Price?
Choose sash kits or inserts instead of full-frame installs where frames are sound. Use SDL grilles instead of true divided lites, standard sizes and paint-grade pine. Put wood replacement windows on the street side and use lower-cost windows at the back.
All-Wood or Aluminum-Clad Wood: Which Fits LA Weather?
All-wood windows need paint on the outside, and HomeGuide says that means repainting every 3 to 7 years. Aluminum-clad wood keeps a wood interior but covers the outside in metal, so there’s no exterior painting. Clad wood suits sunny walls and the coastal marine layer.
All-wood fits historic homes where the rules call for wood outside. Replacing wooden windows with aluminium frames cuts upkeep, but it changes the look of a period home.
Pella, Andersen or Marvin: Which Wood Window Line Is Worth It?
| Brand | What to ask about |
|---|---|
| Marvin | Wood and clad-wood lines, plus Tilt Pac sash kits |
| Andersen | 400 Series wood windows with vinyl exterior cladding |
| Pella | Wood windows with aluminum-clad exteriors |
| Sierra Pacific | California-based maker with Ponderosa pine or Douglas fir and extruded aluminum cladding |
Kolbe and Loewen make higher-end wood lines too. Compare the wood species, cladding, NFRC label and warranty for the exact series, not just the brand name.
How Are New Wood Windows Installed, Step by Step?
- Measure. Every opening, plus a rot check on sills and jambs.
- Quote. A written price for each window.
- Permit and review. Contractors file the permit and any historic review.
- Remove. Old sashes and stops come out, plus the frame on full-frame jobs.
- Install and seal. Windows go in level, flashed, insulated and caulked.
- Trim and finish. Contractors reset casing, then paint or stain to match.
What Should LA Homeowners Know Before Replacing Wood Windows?
01
Can You Replace Wood Windows in an LA Historic District?
Yes, with review first. In Pasadena landmark districts like Bungalow Heaven, exterior changes need a Certificate of Appropriateness before a building permit. City of LA HPOZs like Hancock Park and Highland Park-Garvanza review window changes under each district’s Preservation Plan.
02
Why Do Wood Window Bottoms Rot, and How Is It Prevented?
Water runs down the glass and sits on the sill and the bottom rail. Once paint or glazing putty cracks, the wood soaks it up. Keep paint and caulk tight, clear the sill after rain and fix sprinklers that hit the windows.
03
How Frequently Do Wood Windows Need Painting in LA Sun?
HomeGuide puts painting or staining at every 3 to 7 years and caulking at every 2 to 5 years. South and west walls in the Valley and Pasadena sit at the short end of that range. North walls last longer.
Why Do LA Homeowners Choose PaneRight LA for Wood Windows?
- Repair first. Contractors tell you when a sash kit or repair is enough.
- Matched details. Grilles, profiles and trim that fit your home’s style.
- Historic review help. Drawings and specs for HPOZ and landmark review.
- Itemized quotes. Brand, series, wood species, U-factor and SHGC for every window.
- Warranty in writing. Ask for a written labor warranty on top of the manufacturer’s warranty.
Where Do Contractors Install Wood Windows in Los Angeles?
Contractors work across Pasadena, Altadena, Glendale, Burbank, the San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades, the South Bay and Long Beach. That covers Craftsman bungalows near the Arroyo Seco, Spanish homes in Los Feliz and Tudor and Colonial homes around Larchmont Village.
Wood Window FAQs
Are New Wood Windows Worth the Cost?
Yes, for historic homes and for owners who want real wood inside. In the 2025 Cost vs. Value report, a wood window job in LA cost $27,913 and added $22,850 in resale value. If upkeep worries you, see our fiberglass window replacement page.
How Long Do New Wood Windows Last?
InterNACHI puts wood windows at 30 years or more, and HomeGuide says 30 to 50+ years with care. Paint and caulk decide which end you land on.
Can You Mix Wood and Vinyl Windows in One House?
Yes. Many owners put wood frame window replacement on the street side and use vinyl at the back. See our vinyl window replacement page.
Can You Replace Foggy Glass in a Wood Window Instead?
Yes, if the sash is sound. Wood window glass replacement swaps the sealed glass unit behind the glazing stops. See our foggy window repair service.
Do Wood Windows Add Value to an Older Home?
They help. Original-style wood windows keep the character buyers pay for in Craftsman and Spanish homes. Replacing old wood windows with matching wood keeps that look intact.
Ready to Bring Wood Windows Back to Your Home? Call (424) 230-8336
Call (424) 230-8336 or send photos of your windows and trim through the form. Tell us your home’s style and age, and a local contractor will send a written price for each window.
PaneRight LA is an advertising and referral service, not a contractor. We connect you with independent local window contractors who may pay us for referrals. Calls may be recorded.