Get Quotes from Top Window Repair Contractors in Los Angeles, CA

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Window Contractor in Los Angeles?

Any individual or business in Los Angeles that wishes to provide window installation, repair, or replacement services worth a total value of $500 or more to residents of the city must be licensed by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Note that this monetary value includes the cost of labor and materials associated with the job. The CSLB issues several license options for window-related services, such as the C-61/D-52 - Window Coverings Contractor License and the C-17 - Glazing Contractor License.

Interested parties that wish to obtain window contractor licenses from the CSLB will be required to complete and submit an Application for Original Contractor License Form to the board. Submission channels are provided in the form. Other requirements for obtaining CSLB-issued licenses include:

• Attaining at least four years of journeyman-level work experience in the specific license classification that is being applied for and submitting acceptable documentation to verify this work experience. Note that this work experience must have been attained no later than 10 years before the license application is submitted to the board
• Paying a non-refundable license application fee
• Successfully passing a CSLB-administered licensing examination
• Complying with CSLB-mandated bond and insurance obligations

Window contractors who violate the CSLB's licensing requirements by bidding for or working on jobs worth $500 or more in Los Angeles without holding a valid and appropriate contractor license are considered guilty of committing a misdemeanor offense. These violators can receive statutory and administrative penalties of up to six months in jail, $15,000 in fines, or a combination of both. The board can be contacted at (800) 321-2752 to get additional information on its licensing requirements and procedures for Los Angeles window contractors.

You should always hire CSLB-licensed contractors for your window projects in Los Angeles, regardless of the total cost of the job, as these contractors have met minimum regulatory standards that typically translate to satisfactory service delivery. You can verify your intended contractor's licensing status either online via the CSLB's Check a Contractor License platform or by calling the board at (800) 321-2752.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Window Repair Contractors in the City?

In addition to confirming a window contractor's licensing status, finding out how much they charge for their services is another essential criterion to consider before hiring them for your project. The cost of window repair, replacement, and installation projects in the Los Angeles area is largely dependent on several variables, such as:

• The window shape, style, and design
• The window frame material
• The type of window glass
• The nature and scope of the job
• Accessibility to the affected windows
• The labor intensity of the job
• Your specific location within the city

It is advisable to get bids for your window projects from at least three different contractors and compare their rates before selecting one to work on your project. Ensure that the project requirements and parameters you give these contractors are as similar as possible, and look out for quotes that are significantly higher or lower than the others. This is often an indication of dishonest and possibly fraudulent behavior on the part of the contractor.

Window replacement, repair, and installation contractors in Los Angeles earn approximately $44,840 every year. Listed below are the hourly average wages for Los Angeles window contractors compared with the average hourly wages of these professionals across other parts of California as well as several other major cities in the United States:

Will You Get the Window Installation Permits as Required by the City Code?

The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) issues building permits for all construction, home improvement, and home repair work in the city. These include new window openings and installations, replacement of window frames attached to walls, and work involving pop-in windows. However, exemptions may be made for window treatments and window work worth less than $500 that do not affect a building's structural stability or public safety.

Permits for window projects can be obtained at any of the following LADBS office locations:

Permit applicants will be required to complete and submit an Application for Building Permit or Grading and Certificate of Occupancy Form to the department, along with any necessary project plans and drawings. Applicants are advised to utilize the city's ZIMAS online tool to verify that their property falls within Los Angeles city lines before making permit applications.

Application submissions can also be made online via the LADBS's ePlanLA platform. Note that online submissions for projects that do not require project plans and drawings should be made via the department's PermitLA platform. Examples of these types of projects include same-size and type window change-outs for residential buildings.

Requested building permits are typically issued after all required documentation has been successfully reviewed, and all stipulated fees have been paid. Once these permits are issued, applicants are expected to carry out the window work in accordance with all relevant provisions of the city's building codes and standards, and the LADBS typically conducts inspections of the work to ensure compliance with this requirement.

You can contact the LADBS at 311 and (213) 473-3231 for callers within and outside the city to get additional information on its permit-issuing process for window-related projects. Queries on this subject can also be directed to any of the department's office locations mentioned above between 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. However, it should be noted that the South LA and San Pedro locations are closed to visitors between 12 noon and 1:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.

What Kind of Window Replacement Services Do You Offer?

Determining the types of services that your preferred window contractors are equipped to offer and confirming that these services align with your specific needs is another key criterion to consider when undertaking window projects in Los Angeles. Professional window contractors in the city typically provide the following types of services:

• New window installations
• Cracked/broken glass replacements
• Faulty window frame repairs and replacements
• Window tinting
• Window caulking and sealing

Note that contractors in the city also typically specialize in one or more of the following window types, styles, and designs:

• Single Hung Windows
• Double Hung Windows
• Sliding Windows
• Arched Windows
• Casement and Awning Windows
• Tilt-Turn Windows
• Bay and Bow Windows
• Picture Windows
• Hopper Windows
• Architectural Shape Windows
• Acrylic Block Windows
• Egress Windows
• Garden Windows
• Skylight Windows
• Fixed Windows
• Specialty/Custom Windows

Each window type has unique operating styles and features and may require specialized knowledge and tools for proper installation or repairs. Thus, you should always confirm that any window contractor you plan to hire is suitably equipped to handle your specific window type before they commence any work. You should also consider finding out if the window contractor offers additional services, such as siding, gutter, roofing, and insulation repair, replacement, or installation. Note that contractors that offer these extra services may be required to hold separate CSLB-issued licenses in addition to their window contractor license.

Cost estimates for common window installation, replacement, and repair services offered by professional window contractors in Los Angeles are provided below. Note that your location in the city, as well as the specific nature and scope of the job, may affect the actual costs of these services:

Estimates for window installation or repair based on task

Estimates for window repair/replacement based on faulty component

Estimates for window repair based on the type of window

Estimates for window repair based on window frame material

What Brands of Windows Do You Work With?

In addition to confirming that your intended window contractors offer the specific types of window replacement services that you require, it is equally important to learn which window brands they are most experienced with. Doing this dramatically increases the likelihood that your window installation or replacement project will be completed successfully. Common window brand manufacturers readily available in the Los Angeles area include:

• California Deluxe Windows
• Milgard Windows & Doors
• Veracity Windows & Doors
• Pella Corporation
• Ply Gem Windows & Doors
• J & A Windows
• Simonton Windows
• Cascade Windows
• Sierra Pacific Windows
• Kobi's Windows $ Doors
• Jeld Wen Windows
• Anderson Windows & Doors
• Alside Excalibur

A key advantage of utilizing well-known window brands for your window replacement or installation projects is that these brands are typically made with quality materials, come in a wide range of affordable and attractive styles and designs, and are tried and trusted locally. Nevertheless, you should always consider certain key features when choosing the window brand to go with:

• Security and safety
• Compatibility with your home's interior and exterior finishes
• Ease of cleaning
• Ventilation
• Climate control
• Insulation

Another key feature to look out for is the warranty option provided by the manufacturer. Window brand manufacturers typically offer two main types of warranties, namely:

• Lifetime Warranty: This warranty covers the expected lifetime of the window, which is usually determined by the window brand manufacturer. Many homeowners often interpret the term "lifetime" to mean their own lifetimes; however, this assumption is incorrect.
• Limited Lifetime Warranty: This warranty covers defects, damages, and other similar performance errors to a window for a stipulated period. Note that these defects typically have to occur under specified working conditions for the warranty to be effective.

Some window brand manufacturers also offer several warranty options to homeowners in Los Angeles, such as:

• Double Lifetime Warranty: This warranty option offers homeowners warranty coverage for installed and replaced windows for as long as they own the homes where these windows are installed. In some cases, this warranty may be transferred to a new homeowner.
• Prorated Warranty: This option allows the homeowner to steadily decrease the overall cost of repairs and replacements that will be covered by the window brand manufacturer over the years of the window's continued use
• Transferable Warranty: This option allows the coverage provided by the warranty to be transferred to a new homeowner and is useful in preserving the value added to homes by window replacements and upgrades

Note that the specific terms and conditions of these warranties are primarily dependent on the window brand manufacturer. You should always review any warranties you are correctly offered to ensure that you do not void them.

How Energy-Efficient Are Your Windows?

Installing energy-efficient windows in your new home or replacing your old windows with energy-efficient ones should be among your top considerations when contemplating window projects. Per data published by the US Department of Energy, residents of the Los Angeles area can save up to 31 percent on their annual heating and cooling bills by installing energy-efficient windows in their homes. Other benefits of installing energy-efficient windows for both residential and commercial property in the city include:

• Increased indoor comfort
• Protection from UV sun damage
• Certified performance
• Access to local energy efficiency money-saving rebates and programs offered by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)

You can find available financing options, rebates, and tax incentives to help offset the relatively expensive costs of installing new energy-efficient windows in your home via platforms like the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) website. You can equally find rebates and financing offers specifically for ENERGY STAR-certified products via the US Department of Energy's Energy Star Rebate Finder webpage.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Window Replacement Contractors in Los Angeles?

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, injuries in the installation, maintenance, and repair industry accounted for more than seven percent of the work-related deaths that occurred in California in 2020. Window contractors, in particular, are routinely exposed to physical risks like cuts and lacerations from broken glass, falls from heights, and injuries from collapsing glass sheets. As such, even though window contractors in Los Angeles are not required to carry general liability insurance, it is always in your best interest to hire contractors that do so. Doing this provides you with financial and legal cover if bodily injuries and property damage occur due to your window project.

While window contractors in Los Angeles do not have to carry general liability insurance, they must maintain a surety bond of $15,000 and also comply with state-mandated workers' compensation requirements for their employees. These contractors must also disclose their general liability insurance status to any homeowner who wishes to retain their services.

Always request proof of insurance and bonding from your intended window contractors and authenticate this proof with the appropriate organization before they begin any work in your home. You can also reach out to the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) by calling (800) 321-2752 to get additional information on the necessary insurance and bonding requirements for Los Angeles window contractors.