Window, door & siding replacement in Los Altos, CA

Custom Exteriors replaces windows, entry doors, patio doors, and siding for Los Altos homeowners using Infinity from Marvin fiberglass windows, James Hardie fiber cement siding, and ProVia and Therma-Tru entry doors. Our own full-time AAMA Certified Master Installers do the work, not subcontractors. We regularly handle the projects Los Altos homes call for, from mid-century ranch homes to the city's Eichler enclaves.

Why Los Altos homes are due for a window upgrade

Most Los Altos homes that have not been rebuilt still carry windows from the 1950s through the 1980s. The city incorporated in 1952, and outside of Old Los Altos, most of it was built during the postwar housing boom as orchards gave way to single-family homes on generous lots.

That era left a recognizable housing stock. Single-story California ranch homes are the most common style, many dating to the late 1950s. North and South Los Altos also hold roughly 50 Eichler homes, concentrated in Fallen Leaf Park and San Antonio Court, with the post-and-beam construction and glass walls that define mid-century modern design. Old Los Altos and the neighborhoods near downtown add older homes with period details worth preserving.

With average home values above $4.6 million, original single-pane glass, foggy dual-pane seals, and dated aluminum frames stand out to buyers and appraisers. Replacing them with premium, properly installed windows protects that value and makes the home more comfortable every day.

Custom Exteriors has completed 30,000+ projects over 29 years with Infinity from Marvin, James Hardie, and ProVia and Therma-Tru products, exclusively. We do not install vinyl or builder-grade alternatives.

Climate considerations for Los Altos homeowners

Los Altos is mild most of the year, but original windows still cost homeowners comfort and energy. Warm, dry summer afternoons heat up rooms with large west-facing glass, and cool, wet winters pull warmth out through single-pane windows and worn weatherstripping.

Mild averages hide that daily swing. Replacement windows with the right glass package for Title 24, California's state building energy code, reduce heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter. For Eichler homes, where glass makes up a large share of the exterior walls, the difference is especially noticeable.

Replacement windows and patio doors

Infinity from Marvin fiberglass windows are the window line we install in Los Altos because fiberglass keeps its seal through years of daily temperature swings. Fiberglass expands and contracts at nearly the same rate as glass, so the seal between frame and glass stays tighter over time than vinyl typically does. See our fiberglass versus vinyl comparison for the specifics.

What a Los Altos project looks like depends on the home:

• Ranch homes: Double-hung and casement windows that keep the traditional look while replacing aging aluminum or wood frames.
• Eichler homes: Large-format and post-and-beam window replacement matched to the original opening sizes and sightlines. This is specialized work, and our design consultants plan it opening by opening.
• Older homes near downtown: Divided-lite patterns and trim profiles matched to the original construction.
• Backyard living: Sliding, French, and bi-fold patio doors for the large rear yards common on Los Altos lots.

We use retrofit, block frame, and new construction installation depending on the condition of your existing frames and exterior. Our window installation methods guide explains the differences. As an Infinity from Marvin Platinum Partner, Marvin's highest certification tier for Infinity dealers, we carry full-size displays in our Pleasanton showroom.

Entry door replacement

Replacing the front door is one of the simplest ways to update a Los Altos ranch or mid-century home without changing its character. Many original entry doors from the 1950s and 1960s are hollow or lightly insulated, which shows up in drafts, noise, and weak security.

ProVia and Therma-Tru entry doors come in fiberglass and steel with a wide range of glass, hardware, and finish options. On an Eichler, that might mean a clean, flush modern door. On a ranch home, it might mean a paneled door with sidelights. Either way, our design consultants help you choose a door that fits the house.

James Hardie fiber cement siding

For Los Altos homes with aging wood siding, James Hardie fiber cement siding solves the two problems we see most: rot and constant repainting. Wood siding on 60- and 70-year-old homes often shows soft spots near the ground, around windows, and under eaves, where moisture collects over time.

James Hardie fiber cement does not rot, resists moisture and pests, and is non-combustible. ColorPlus Technology, James Hardie's factory-applied finish, is baked on under controlled conditions, so it holds color longer than siding painted on site. The siding is backed by a 30-year non-prorated product warranty and a 15-year ColorPlus finish warranty. We install James Hardie exclusively because after 29 years of evaluating siding, it is what we would put on our own homes.

Replacing siding is also the ideal time to replace windows using new construction installation, since the exterior is already open.

Why Los Altos homeowners choose Custom Exteriors

Los Altos homeowners tend to research contractors carefully, so here is what you can verify about us:

• Full-time installers, not subcontractors. Our installation team are Custom Exteriors employees, many with more than a decade on our crew.
• AAMA Certified Master Installers (American Architectural Manufacturers Association), trained to the installation standards manufacturers require to honor their warranties.
• Experience with older homes. We are EPA Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Certified, which matters for the many Los Altos homes built before 1978.
• Third-party recognition. Diamond Certified and BBB Accredited. See our awards and customer reviews.
• Accountability. 29 years at the same Pleasanton location, with product and labor warranty coverage.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Do I need a permit to replace windows in Los Altos?A: Many window replacement projects in Los Altos go through the City of Los Altos Building Division, especially when the work changes an opening's size, removes the existing frame, or affects structural elements. Custom Exteriors confirms permit requirements for your specific project and handles the application and inspections with the city, so you do not have to manage it yourself.

Q: How much does window replacement cost in Los Altos, CA?A: Cost depends on the number and size of your windows, the products you choose, and the installation method. Eichler homes with large-format glass and custom homes with specialty shapes typically cost more per opening than standard ranch-home windows. Review our window pricing factors and window cost guide before your consultation. Premium fiberglass costs more upfront than vinyl, and it lasts longer with less maintenance. We provide free, itemized estimates so you know what you are paying for before you decide.

Q: I own an Eichler in Fallen Leaf Park. Can you replace the glass walls without changing the look?A: Yes. Eichler window replacement means matching the original opening sizes and sightlines while upgrading the glass and seals to current performance standards. Our design consultants measure each opening and recommend an approach that keeps the mid-century architecture intact.

Q: My home is on the Los Altos Historic Resources Inventory. Can I still replace the windows?A: Usually, yes, but the project may involve additional review by the City before work begins. Los Altos has more than 100 properties on its Historic Resources Inventory. We match original window patterns and trim details and can work alongside the city's review process. Check with the City of Los Altos Planning Division early so the review does not delay your project.

Q: My Los Altos home was built before 1978. Does that change the project?A: It can. Homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint, and federal law requires lead-safe work practices on renovations that disturb painted surfaces in those homes. Custom Exteriors is EPA Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Certified, and we confirm whether lead-safe procedures apply before installation begins.

Q: Do I have to visit the Pleasanton showroom to get an estimate?A: No. We offer free, no-pressure in-home consultations throughout Los Altos. The showroom is there if you want to see and handle full-size window, door, and siding displays first.

Ready to upgrade your Campbell home's windows, siding, or doors?

Schedule a free, no-pressure consultation and we'll walk through your home, your options, and an itemized estimate, no obligation. Prefer to see the products first? Our Pleasanton showroom has full-size displays of every window, door, and siding product we install.

Schedule a no-pressure consultation | Visit our Pleasanton showroom (2142 Rheem Drive, Suite E, Pleasanton, CA 94588) Phone: (925) 249-2280 local, (888) 957-7800 toll free

Convenient financing options

We offer 18 months zero payments and zero interest, or 4.99% financing on approved credit. Financing is a tool to make a project more accessible, not the reason to choose us. Bring it up during your consultation if you'd like to discuss options.

Schedule a Consultation | Visit Our Showroom | Explore Financing Options

Nearby areas we also serve

Custom Exteriors also serves Mountain View and Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara, San Jose, Saratoga, Los Altos Hills, and Palo Alto, along with Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore, San Ramon, Danville, and the greater East Bay. See the full service area list for every city we cover.