Exterior
Window Installation and Replacement in Pittsburgh, PA
Original windows in a 1960s Shaler split-level, sticky sashes in an older brick house in the city. We replace them and flash each opening so it stays tight in January.
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Window Replacement for Post-War Homes and Older Brick
Window replacement in Pittsburgh usually starts with a draft. Old windows leak air, fog between the panes, stick in the frame or let water in at the corners. Straight A Exterior Renovations replaces windows and installs new ones in the North Hills and the city, working from our Warrendale office.
Two kinds of houses make up most of the calls. The first is the post-war ranch, split-level or colonial in McCandless, Ross Township or Shaler, built in the 1950s to 1970s and still running on some of its original windows. Those sashes have seen decades of freeze-thaw. Seals are gone, balances are worn, and the sill underneath may be soft.
The second is older brick in the city and in borough cores like Zelienople and Mars. Openings there are often out of square after a century of settling, and the gap between frame and masonry is where cold air and wind-driven rain get in.
Either way, most of a window's performance comes from the install. Shim it square and the sash runs smoothly. Flash it in the right order and water leaves the wall. Seal the gap and the draft is gone. That's the part we're responsible for.
Why Straight A
What you get with our window installation
A window that fits the opening, sheds water and stops the draft. We install windows the way we install roofs, from the bottom up, with every layer lapping over the one below.
Window frames and sills probed first
We check each sill and frame for rot before the new window goes in and show you anything soft.
Window flashing lapped like a roof
Sill first, sides next, head last, so every layer sheds water over the one beneath it instead of into the wall.
Windows shimmed square in old openings
Out-of-square openings in older brick get shimmed so the new window sits level and the sash opens without a fight.
Two-year guarantee on window installs
Our 2-year workmanship guarantee covers the fit, flashing and sealing around every window we set.
Window work tied into your siding
Because we also hang siding, we can flash new windows into new walls as one system, which is the best defense against leaks.
Room-by-room window cleanup
Window work happens in your living room. We cover floors and furniture and clean each room before moving to the next.
What's included
Window work we do
One stuck window in the kitchen or every window in the house. Here's what our window work covers.
Full-house window replacement
Worn windows come out and new ones sized to each opening go in. On a post-war North Hills home, that often means all of the original windows in one project.
New windows in additions and new openings
On additions and new walls, we set windows into the framing with a complete flashing sequence. Get the order wrong and the wall stays wet.
Bay and projecting windows
A bay window has its own small roof and more joints to seal. As roofers, we pay close attention to the top, where water and snow sit.
Frame and sill repair
Older homes often have soft wood around the window. We find it during the visit and include the repair in your quote, so the new window sits on sound material.
Sealing windows into brick
In brick homes, the joint between the frame and the masonry is where drafts start. We seal it and finish the exterior trim so water runs off the opening.
Insulation and interior trim
The gap around each frame gets insulated, and the interior trim is finished so the window looks like it belongs in the room.
How it works
How window replacement works with us
We look at every window first and close up every opening the same day it's opened. Here's the full sequence.
- Step 1
Walk each window, inside and out
We note drafts, fogged glass, stuck sashes and water stains, and check each frame and sill for rot.
- Step 2
Measure each window opening
Every opening gets measured, because in older brick no two are quite the same size, then we go over your options.
- Step 3
Quote each opening, then order and schedule
Your written estimate lists each window, the work and the cost. Once you approve it, your project manager orders the windows and books the install when they arrive.
- Step 4
Swap one window opening at a time
Old window out, opening checked, new window shimmed, flashed, insulated and sealed before the next one comes out.
- Step 5
Open, close and check each new window
We run every sash with you, check the seals inside and out, clean up and answer your questions.
FAQ
Windows questions from Pittsburgh homeowners
Is it worth replacing the original windows in my 1960s North Hills house?
Often, yes. Original windows in post-war McCandless, Ross Township and Shaler homes have been through decades of freeze-thaw. If you feel drafts, see fog between the panes or fight the sashes, replacement usually makes more sense than repair. If only one or two are bad, we'll say so, and you can start there.
Can you fit new windows into an old brick house in the city?
Yes. Older brick openings are often out of square and may hide rot behind decades of paint. We measure each opening on its own, check the frame, then shim and seal the new window so it sits level and the sash works. The joint between the frame and the brick gets sealed carefully, since that's where drafts start.
Will my house be open to the weather during the install?
Only one opening at a time, and only briefly. We take out an old window, check the opening, and set, flash and seal the new one before moving on. Rooms aren't left open overnight. If a summer thunderstorm rolls in, the crew closes up the opening they're on before anything else.
Should I replace windows and siding at the same time?
If both are due, it's the best way to do it. With the old siding off, we can flash each new window into the weather barrier and the new siding as one system. That's harder to do perfectly when the siding stays on. If only the windows need work, we'll tie them into your existing walls carefully.
What does your window installation guarantee cover?
Straight A's 2-year workmanship guarantee covers the installation: the fit, the flashing and the seal around the frame. If a leak comes from our work, report it within 30 days and we repair or redo it at no charge. Coverage on the window units themselves comes from the manufacturer, and we list those terms in your written quote.
Do you offer discounts on window replacement?
Yes, for first responders and military. Mention it when you call the number on this page or fill out the form, and it goes on your written estimate. The estimate itself is free, done on-site, and comes with no obligation, so you can compare it with any other quote on your own time.
Where we work
Windows across Pittsburgh
We provide windows for homeowners throughout the City of Pittsburgh. Find your neighborhood below, or call with your address and we will confirm right away.
