Frequently Asked Questions

Expect a crew that shows up with shoe covers, drop cloths, and a plan for keeping your floors clean. We protect the area around each window before we start, and we ask before we move any furniture or belongings near the work zone. Most single-window replacements take a few hours; a full home averages two to four days depending on count and condition. We use quiet tools when kids are napping and clean up daily. Before we leave, we send you a photo of the clean-up, per the Cedarwell Care Promise.

A typical San Francisco home with 10 to 14 windows takes two to four working days from start to finish. That includes removing old units, reframing where needed, installing new windows, trimming, sealing, and clean-up at the end of each day. Bay window replacements and custom picture windows can add a half day each. If your home is in an HOA, budget a few extra weeks up front for approval paperwork before we can schedule. We'll give you a clear timeline with your quote.

Yes. San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection requires permits for window and door replacements that alter openings or involve structural changes. We handle the permit application, schedule inspections, and make sure the work passes before we call the job done. Same-size window swaps sometimes qualify for an express permit path, but we'll tell you exactly what your project triggers. Keeping the paperwork right protects your home's resale value. Call (831) 480-4124 and we'll figure out what your project needs.

Often yes, but it depends on the condition of the existing trim and how the original window was framed. In Victorian and Edwardian homes, we can use a pocket or insert replacement, which leaves the interior and exterior casing intact and slides a new unit into the old frame. That preserves the character of homes in the Mission and Noe Valley. If the trim is rotted or the frame is out of square, we'll tell you before we start and price the trim repair separately with your written approval.

You don't need to stay for the whole job, but we do need someone home at the start so we can walk through the plan, confirm window locations, and show you how we're protecting the area. After that, you're welcome to go about your day. If you have pets, we'll coordinate so they're secure and calm. We respect quiet hours and keep the workspace contained. Keith Yamada and the crew will check in at the end of each day with progress and any decisions that need your input.

We install proven brands that hold up in San Francisco's salty air, fog, and wind: ECO Window Systems, Mr-Glass for custom glass replacement, and Therma-Tru for entry doors. Each has performed well for our customers from Daly City to Walnut Creek. We match the brand to your need instead of pushing one product on every house. Tell us your priorities, energy bills, noise, or preservation, and we'll recommend a specific line. Call (831) 480-4124 to talk through options with an actual estimate.

Yes, and this is one area where we do a lot of work in San Francisco. We match muntin profiles, frame proportions, and exterior trim details on Victorian, Edwardian, and craftsman homes, so the new unit reads as original. For wood windows, we spec full-frame replacements that preserve sightlines. For aluminum, we color-match where possible. The Planning Department may require design review in historic districts like Jackson Square or parts of Pacific Heights, and we'll help with that process.

Both. If the frame is square and solid, and the issue is just a fogged or cracked double pane, we can replace the glass alone, or the insulated glass unit (IGU), at a lower cost than a full window. That's common for newer windows and for single-window failures. If the frame is rotted, the hardware is shot, or you want better energy performance, a full replacement makes more sense. We'll show you both prices and let you choose. Estimates are free at (831) 480-4124.

For exterior doors, we recommend marine-grade stainless steel or powder-coated hardware that resists the fog and salt air that eat cheap finishes within a couple of years. For wooden entry doors, Therma-Tru fiberglass doors with stainless hardware have held up well across the city. We also suggest a quality threshold and compression weather stripping to keep the wind and damp out of drafty entries in neighborhoods like the Outer Sunset and the Bayview. We'll spec the right hardware with your door quote.

Every pro working under the Lightwell Windows San Francisco name is required to carry the license and insurance their state requires. We're an independently owned and operated location of Lightwell Windows & Doors, part of the Cedarwell family of brands. When you book with us, you're getting a local San Francisco team that works to the Cedarwell Care Promise, including shoe covers, drop cloths, and a written price before any work starts. Call (831) 480-4124 to confirm coverage details for your project.

In San Francisco, homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint, and some older homes have asbestos-containing materials around windows, particularly in caulking and glazing. We take those risks seriously. Our team follows required safety practices for containment and disposal, and if we identify material that needs specialized abatement, we pause and connect you with a certified removal pro before we continue. We won't put your family at risk for the sake of a faster job. That's a core part of the Cedarwell Care Promise: safe products and a clean house.

We're a local San Francisco branch of Lightwell Windows & Doors, which is part of the Cedarwell family of brands. Each location is independently owned and operated. Ours is led by Keith Yamada, with a local crew that knows San Francisco's building codes, neighborhoods, and housing styles. That means you get the brand's standards and the Cedarwell Care Promise, plus a team that actually lives and works here. No pretending to be from every town, just a real local business doing this work well.

First, keep kids and pets away from the glass. Sweep up what you safely can, then cover the opening with a thick plastic sheet or cardboard secured with painter's tape to keep out wind, fog, and anything curious. For safety, don't try to remove the broken pane from a double-pane unit yourself, the exposed edges are sharp. Call (831) 480-4124 during our regular hours, Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Sunday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and we'll get your replacement scheduled quickly.

We don't promise same-day installation, and honestly, we'd rather be upfront about that than promise something we can't reliably deliver. What we do promise is a real person on the phone during business hours, a clear timeline for getting your window measured and replaced, and help securing the opening until we can get there. For broken glass, we'll often get a temporary measure in place fast and then complete the permanent fix as soon as materials arrive. Call (831) 480-4124 and we'll tell you exactly when we can help.

In most cases we can get a patio door measured within a day or two of your call, and the replacement installed within one to three weeks depending on the door type and whether it's a stock or custom size. If the door is just off its track and not broken, that's often fixable the same visit. We stock common replacement parts for sliding and French doors, which speeds things up for homes all over San Francisco. Call (831) 480-4124 and describe what's happening, and we'll give you a realistic timeline.

The windows and doors we install carry the manufacturer's warranty for the glass seal, frame, and hardware, and our installation workmanship is backed by the Cedarwell Care Promise. That promise includes a written price before any work starts, shoe covers and drop cloths inside, quiet tools when kids are asleep, pet-safe products where there's a choice, and a photo of the clean-up before we leave. If something goes wrong with the install, you call us and we make it right. Specific warranty terms come with your written quote.

Yes. The written price you approve is the price you pay. We don't tack on surprise charges, and if we uncover rot or structural issues behind an old frame, we stop, show you what we found, and get your written approval on any change before we continue. That's the Cedarwell Care Promise in action, and it's how we do every job from Burlingame to Berkeley. If a change order is needed, you'll know the new number before the work happens. Start with a free estimate at (831) 480-4124.

Call us. We keep records of every job, and if a window is fogging, a door is binding, or something isn't right, we'll come look at it. The manufacturer's warranty covers glass seal failures and frame defects, and our workmanship is covered by the Cedarwell Care Promise. We'd rather address a problem early than let it sit. Most issues are resolved in one visit. If you're in San Francisco or anywhere in our service area, reach us at (831) 480-4124 and we'll get it sorted.

Yes, and we see it regularly in San Francisco homes where a previous install wasn't flashed or sealed correctly. Common signs are water stains around the frame, drafts even when the window is closed, or windows that don't open and close smoothly. We'll inspect the installation, explain what's wrong in plain language, and give you a written price for the fix. In many cases we can correct the issue without a full replacement. Call (831) 480-4124 and let us take a look at what's going on.

For most San Francisco homes, no, and here's why: window openings in older houses are rarely perfectly square, and getting a new unit to seal properly against our wind-driven rain and fog takes experience. A badly flashed window lets water behind the siding, and you won't see the damage for years. There's also the safety side: window glass is heavy and breakable, and working on ladders or upper floors adds risk. The honest answer from a pro: some door hardware and weather stripping is DIY-friendly, but full window replacement is best left to a trained installer.

Cleaning the tracks, wiping down seals with a mild soap solution, and re-caulking small gaps around the interior trim are all safe DIY tasks that extend the life of your windows. Lubricating hinges and rollers on doors and casement windows also helps in San Francisco's damp climate. What we don't recommend doing yourself: reglazing a failed double-pane unit, removing a window to fix a broken balance, or any work that could affect the waterproofing of the frame. If you're unsure, call (831) 480-4124 and ask, we're happy to tell you what's safe to tackle.

Written by Keith Yamada, Owner at Lightwell Windows San Francisco, serving San Francisco, Castro Valley, Danville, Berkeley, San Leandro, Walnut Creek, Burlingame, Piedmont, Daly City, South San Francisco, Martinez, and Lafayette since 2010.