It’s easy to replace your windows and improve energy efficiency and other benefits, but the real challenge in this neighborhood is installing new windows in a way that maintains the mid-century or California modern architectural style of the Mackeys, Eichlers and Mardells. Some of the issues are: 
1) Frameless (as in a typical Mackey) vs. framed windows (stronger, more durable) 
2) How will framed windows be trimmed & held in place? 
3) Will the trim produce a seamless effect and not require further window modifications? 
4) What are the sight lines in framed windows (e.g., thick frame vs. thin frame)? 
5) Wood vs. aluminum vs. vinyl vs. fiberglass frames? 
6) Will frameless windows come with a warranty? 
7) Do I have to reduce my single large opening into 2 smaller sections?

I hope some of the postings here explain how these issues were handled if they were indeed important in your decision to replace your windows. Good luck! 


GMason on Thompson Ave - Sept 2012

ANLIN WINDOW SYSTEMS

Posted by Nadine and Kevin O'Leary, July 2017

Best Exteriors Construction, Inc. installs the Anlin Window Systems. We  just replaced eight windows plate glass windows in our Mackay and they are beautiful. The price was reasonable and the workers were very professional. There is a YouTube video where you can see how the Anlin windows are made at their factory in Ceres which is near Fresno. Our new windows are double paned and filled with argon gas to slow the transfer of heat through the window, they are energy efficient, and they have an easy-clean coating on the outside. We chose the white vinyl frame, but they offer other colors.

Best Exteriors Construction Inc. is Diamond Certified; the license is #923505 and serves the greater Bay Area with offices in Sacramento. Their website is anlin.com; the branch sales manager is Daniel Yemiro at 415.720.4145 or email [email protected]. Response was immediate and the service was excellent. We highly recommend this company.

 

Brother's Home Improvements

Posted by Pat Jordan, 6/1/2010

This company specializes in replacing windows and doors. They are a big company, have lots of staff and trucks and do a great job. Their customer service is excellent. They have put new windows into three homes where I've recommended them, and in each case, the owners were very happy. I think they have the Alpine Brand window which retrofits into the same space as the old windows, and they don't break out any walls around them, thus providing affordable white vinyl windows with screens that are very attractive. Their sliding replacement doors and screens are also very appealing and attractive.

They give a lifetime transferable warranty on their products.

Call (408) 295-0852 for a free estimate. They do initial measuring to give the bid, and if it is approved, another person comes out to do the final measuring. Then they ask for a 50% deposit and order the windows, which takes about 4 to 6 weeks to arrive. Installation only takes one day.

Posted by Sarah Doxiadis, 8/23/2013

We contacted Brother's in June, 2013. The contractor was professional, thorough, knowledgeable and friendly. If we had chosen to go with replacement windows, rather than new construction window, it's quite possible we would have selected Brother's; Brother's only does replacement windows, no new construction.

In the end we decided on new construction windows, as we wanted to add transom windows across the front of the house, since we had no ventilating windows on that side of the house. This meant new construction, and we also had some issues with the framing on the original windows, so we chose Five Star Windows to do our "new construction" windows. See our review, below.

Anyway, do consider Brother's; we will keep them in mind for replacements in the future.

Efficient Windows

[WWW]http://www.efficientwindows.org/ 
posted by Bob on Laura Lane Oct 9, 2008

Five Star Windows

San Jose 408-370-3331

I was referred to 5 Star Windows by a former ML resident as well as a co-worker. We received three estimates for our window replacement project and this was by far the least expensive but with the same warranty, level of service and professionalism. 
We had four windows and three sliding doors replaced and the job took about 1.5 days (they had originally told us 2-3 so we were pleasantly surprised). 
They installed Simonton Windows and did a wonderful job. They did the replacements and clean up and offered to re-hang all of our curtain rods and window treatments. When they left, it was as if they were never there but we had gorgeous new windows. A few of our neighbors and friends have used them and were very happy with the job they did. == Kathryn Kane Posted 10/15/08

I also recommend 5 Star Windows. We had them replace all (minus master bedroom window) plus sliding glass patio door in 2008. They do excellent work, are courteous, conscientious and a pleasure to work with. They even worked with us on price so that we could do as much of the project as possible. Our budget wasn't going to allow us to do the patio door, but Terry worked hard to get it w/in our budget. Our project manager was friendly and efficient. We had them back in 2010 to replace our front door. 
Tonya B, Mardell Way 
June 2010

KS Construction (License B-554112)

Morgan Hill, 650-207-0881, Posted 7/22/2007

These are the sub-contractors used by Home Depot under the name of CTI Builders (...going direct to KS Construction saves you money). So far...they have replaced 2/3 of our windows and we're very satistified with the quality of their work. However, there were some things about the finish out that we wished we could have been better prepared for (i.e. we ended up framing the inside of some of our windows after-the-fact and we could have saved triming our blinds if the installers had made a slight modification). We intend to finish out the last 1/3 of our windows with KS Contruction. The measurer/sales contact is Bob Murphy who can be reached at 408-426-0548 (cell). Posted by Bob at 259 Diablo

INCOTEC Windows and Doors

I recommend INCOTEC Windows and Doors in Palo Alto. INCOTEC specializes in Simonton Windows — with one of the best warranties in the business. Patrick Flynn, manager, is very knowledgeable about windows (all brands) with over 28 years in the business. From order to finish, we had new windows within two weeks. The installers were perfectionists and we just love the windows! Contact INCOTEC at 650-461-0000. See them online at www.servicemagic.com or in the Palo Alto Daily Newspaper. 
Dawn on Mardell

Jim Larsen Construction

2288 Tripaldi Way, Hayward, CA tel 510.785.7887

Had a good experience w/ Milgard window replacement. Owner, Jim Larsen, is very nice and does all estimates himself. Actual window work was performed by Yurik, co-owner. Both fast and meticulous. Large showroom in Hayward. Selected Jim Larsen out of 6 other bids. -Elaine Diablo Av. 07/10/05

Palo Alto Glass

[WWW]http://www.paloaltoglass.com/, 650-494-7000

We received bids from 3 other vendors and chose PA Glass mainly because they provided double-pane windows with gray anodized aluminum frames that look very similar to our original Eichler windows. They were slightly more expensive than vinyl windows, but we were happy to pay the extra money to be able to keep the original look. The aluminum windows also provide a little more glass than vinyl windows because the frames are narrower. Dave Stellman (owner and salesperson) was very knowledgeable and low key. The sales people for the other vendors recommended low E glass (reduces heat and UV radiation), but only Dave pointed out an aesthetic issue it would cause in our home and that our large overhangs and nearby trees significantly reduce it's benefit. PA Glass replaced 10 windows and a shower door in one day.

Vince on Richard Court

Add tags