What to know before you start
Two window quotes can look alike and describe very different jobs. One slips a new window into the old frame. The other pulls the whole unit, replaces the flashing and rebuilds the trim. The glass, the frame material and the install method all change the price and how long the windows last.
Our estimator measures every opening, notes the frame condition and photographs the trim inside and out. The True Bid spells out the window type, glass and install method for each one, so every installer bids on the same list.
What the job includes
- Measurement of every opening, including custom shapes
- Removal and disposal of the old windows and doors
- Insert or full-frame installation, as the scope specifies
- Flashing and sealing tied into the wall's water barrier
- Insulation around each new frame
- Interior and exterior trim, repaired or replaced
- Safety glass where the building code requires it
- Hardware, screens and adjustment of every sash and door
What we scope
Replacement windows
Vinyl, fiberglass, wood and clad-wood windows, installed as inserts or full-frame replacements.
Entry doors
Fiberglass, steel and wood front doors, with sidelites, transoms and new hardware.
Patio doors
Sliding, hinged and folding doors out to decks and patios.
Egress windows
Larger basement windows with a window well, needed for a basement bedroom.
Storm doors
Added protection and ventilation for an existing entry door.
What drives the cost
Every project is different, so your True Bid prices yours line by line after the site visit. These are the things that move the price most.
- Number and size of openings
- Standard sizes cost less than custom shapes, arches and oversized units.
- Frame material
- Vinyl is usually the least expensive. Fiberglass, wood and clad wood cost more.
- Insert or full-frame
- Full-frame replacement takes more labor and trim work, but it lets the crew fix flashing and rot.
- Glass package
- Low-E coatings, triple panes and tempered or laminated glass add cost.
- Structural changes
- Enlarging an opening or cutting a new egress window means framing, concrete cutting and usually a permit.
- Access
- Upper-floor windows and tall walkout walls may need scaffolding or lifts.
Permits and HOAs in Douglas County
Whether a same-size window replacement needs a permit depends on your jurisdiction. Castle Rock, Parker, Lone Tree, Castle Pines and Larkspur each set their own rules, and unincorporated areas, including Highlands Ranch, go through Douglas County's Building Division. Enlarging an opening, adding a door or cutting a new egress window is structural work and usually needs a permit.
Basement bedrooms need an egress window that meets code, so if you plan to finish a basement, size those windows first. HOAs often review frame colors and grille patterns that show from the street. We note every approval in the scope.
Built for Douglas County
Douglas County sits more than a mile high, and that matters for glass. Insulated glass built at low elevation can bulge or lose its seal up here, so ask how the units are made for altitude and whether that affects the gas fill. Strong sun fades finishes and heats west-facing rooms, which is where low-E coatings earn their keep.
Hail cracks vinyl frames, tears screens and dents aluminum cladding. Wide temperature swings stress seals and caulk. Good flashing and a careful install matter as much as the window itself.
How DougCO Builds runs your project
- Tell us about itSend the basics through the project form. We call to set up a site visit.
- One site visitOur estimator measures, photographs what's there and talks through what you want.
- Your True BidYou get a written, line-by-line scope and a budget before any contractor sees the job.
- Contractors bid on the same scopeVetted local contractors bid without your contact details. You compare the bids side by side.
- We manage it with youWe check insurance and licensing before work starts, then walk the job at milestones and at the finish.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Is this an insert or a full-frame replacement, and why?
- What glass package is included, and is it built for our altitude?
- How will you flash and seal each opening, and who repairs the trim?
- If the house was built before 1978, are you certified for lead-safe work?
- What does your installation warranty cover, and what does the manufacturer cover?
Windows and Doors questions
Do I need a permit to replace windows in Douglas County?
It depends. Some jurisdictions require one for same-size replacements and some do not. Changing the size of an opening almost always needs one. Your contractor checks with your town, or with Douglas County in unincorporated areas, and we note it in the scope.
Insert or full-frame replacement?
An insert fits inside the old frame and costs less. A full-frame replacement comes out to the rough opening, which lets the crew fix rot and flashing. Our estimator checks the old frames and notes which makes sense.
What makes a basement window an egress window?
It has to be large enough and low enough for a person to climb out, with a window well that leaves room to do it. The exact sizes come from the building code your jurisdiction has adopted, and your contractor sizes the window to it.
Can I replace a few windows now and the rest later?
Yes. The scope lists each opening separately, so you can start with the worst ones. Picking the product line up front makes it easier to match colors and styles later.
