Retrofit windows

Insert windows for frames that are still sound

If the frame is straight and dry, a new unit can sit inside it. The sashes come out, the frame stays, and the surrounding stucco and interior trim are usually left alone. That is the insert path. Pane Pro SD will connect you with a contractor who should probe the sill before recommending it.

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New window unit being set inside an existing frame in a San Diego house

What's included in this service?

Connect you with a contractor who measures the existing opening, not a catalog guess
Ask them to check the frame for rot and for plumb before an insert is ordered
The install leaves the host frame in place and seals the new unit to it
You hire that contractor directly after you read the written scope

When do you need this service?

The glass is drafty or fogged but the frame is still solid
You want to avoid opening the stucco or interior trim
The house has single-pane glass in frames that still operate
A prior inspection showed the sill is dry and the corners are tight

What do homeowners ask about Retrofit windows?

Will an insert make the glass area smaller?

Yes. The new frame sits inside the old one, so the view opening shrinks a little. On a small window that loss is easier to notice. Ask the contractor to show you the daylight size before you order.

When is an insert the wrong choice?

When the host frame is rotten, racked, or so corroded that a new unit would be fastened to a failing box. In that case the conversation turns to full-frame replacement.

Do insert windows need a permit in San Diego?

City of San Diego Information Bulletin 203 describes conditional exemptions and a no-plan permit path. Confirm the proposed work with the building department that covers the property, and agree who handles any required permit.

Who measures the opening?

The contractor who would install it. Pane Pro SD does not measure. A phone width is not an order size.