Residential Window Replacement in Troy
These are the residential window jobs we pass on. Prices for each type are in the cost section below; the measure visit decides which ones your house needs.
Full-Frame and Insert Window Replacement
An insert (or pocket) window slides into the existing frame after the old sashes and stops come out. The interior trim stays, the job is quick and it costs less. Full-frame replacement strips the opening to the rough framing: the old frame, sill and brickmould come out, the crew flashes the opening and sets a new window with its own frame. Choose full-frame when the sill is soft, the frame is out of square or you want more glass area. An insert is a bit like a new drawer in an old cabinet: it only works if the cabinet is still straight, so the frame has to be sound, dry and square. If you're not sure, ask the installer to probe the sill with a screwdriver during the measure. Soft wood under the paint settles it. Either way, the old exterior wood is often wrapped in aluminum capping.
See Insert replacement windows in Troy and full frame window replacement in Troy.
Bay and Bow Windows
A bay window is three units, usually a large fixed center flanked by two angled casements or double-hungs. A bow window curves out in four to six equal units. Both hang out past the wall, so they need a proper header, a seat and head board, and either a small roof or a cable support. The visit also settles the alternative: some owners swap a tired bay for a single picture window, others add a bay where a flat window was.
Double-Hung and Single-Hung Windows
Double-hung windows suit the traditional houses Troy built from the 1960s through the 1990s, the decades behind about 73% of its homes. Both sashes slide, and both tilt in so the outside glass can be cleaned from the bedroom. On a single-hung, only the bottom sash moves. That means one less seal to wear, a little less money and a fixed top sash that can't let air in. On a street-facing colonial we'd still lean toward double-hung, because it keeps the look the house was built with.
Casement and Awning Windows
A casement hinges on one side and cranks outward. When it closes, the sash presses against its weatherstrip instead of sliding past it. Its full-height opening also makes a casement the easy way to meet bedroom egress size without a bigger hole. Over a kitchen counter we like casements: turning a crank is far easier than leaning across a sink to lift a sash. An awning window hinges at the top and can stay open in light rain, which is why you see them over sinks and in basements.
Picture Windows and Specialty Shapes
A picture window is fixed glass: no sash, no moving seal to wear out, and a lot of glass for the money. Living rooms often pair one with an operable window on each side for air, and add an arched or half-round transom above. Large panes near the floor or a walkway count as hazardous locations under the residential code and need safety glass. A good quote says so.
See Picture windows in Troy and specialty shape windows in Troy.
Sliding and Garden Windows
A sliding window has one sash gliding sideways past a fixed one. It's a sensible choice for wide, short openings: over a counter, in a family room or along a basement wall. Nothing projects inside or out. A garden window replaces the window over the sink with a small glass box that pokes out a foot or so, with a shelf for herbs and vents on the sides. It sticks out from the wall, so it needs the same flashing care as a bay.
Egress Windows and Window Wells
A basement bedroom needs an escape window, and the residential code (IRC R310) sets its minimum opening and sill height, plus the size of the well outside. Cutting the foundation, digging and setting the well make egress one of the priciest single openings on a quote.
See Egress window installation in Troy and window well installation in Troy.
Basement and Glass Block Windows
Basement windows in houses of this age are usually small hoppers or sliders set in block or poured walls. Old steel frames rust and wood ones rot where they meet the concrete. Replacement options are a vinyl hopper or slider in the same opening, or a glass block panel. Glass block lets light in, hides the room from the street, and can have a small vent built into the middle. Glass block can't be the escape window for a basement bedroom, so plan egress separately.
See Basement window replacement in Troy and glass block windows in Troy.
Patio Doors and Sliding Glass Doors
A patio door is a big piece of glass that people walk through, so code requires safety glazing in it and in any glass within 24 inches of it. Sliding doors save floor space. Hinged French patio doors swing open, which some people prefer for the look. Replacement doors come in the same frame materials and low-e glass packages as the windows, so they match the windows next to them.
See Patio door replacement in Troy, French patio doors in Troy and patio door repair in Troy.
Window Frames and Glass Packages
The frame and the glass do most of the work of keeping heat in. DOE puts heat gain and loss through windows at 25% to 30% of a home's heating and cooling energy use.
Vinyl
Vinyl sits at the low end of the price range: HomeGuide's installed range is $200 to $1,500 per window nationally, against $175 to $1,000 for aluminum. DOE rates vinyl frames about as insulating as wood.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass barely changes size with temperature, so seals and corners hold up through big seasonal swings. The hollow frame has insulating cavities and can be painted. Expect $400 to $2,000 per window nationally.
Wood and Clad Wood
Wood looks right in older and higher-end homes and insulates well, but it needs paint or a clad exterior of aluminum or vinyl. It is the priciest frame, at $800 to $3,800 a window in HomeGuide's data.
See Wood windows in Troy.
Double- vs Triple-Pane Glass
Double glazing cuts heat loss by more than half compared with single-pane glass, by DOE's figures. Triple-pane glass adds a third pane and a second gas-filled space. It costs and weighs more, so compare the U-factor on both labels before paying for it.
Low-E Coatings and Gas Fills
A low-e coating is a thin, nearly invisible metal layer. DOE says it cuts radiant heat transfer between the panes by a factor of 5 to 10. Argon or krypton fill between the panes insulates better than air.
See Low-E glass in Troy.
The NFRC Label
U-factor measures heat loss, and lower is better. SHGC measures solar heat gain. Air leakage should be 0.30 cfm per square foot or less.
Window Repair and Specialty Services
Plenty of windows don't need replacing. Send these smaller jobs through the same request: window repair for cranks, locks, hinges and drafts, and window leak repair when water gets in around the frame.
Foggy Window Glass Replacement
Fog or water droplets between the panes mean the seal of the insulated glass unit has failed. The fix is a new glass unit in the old sash, ordered to size, and the frame stays put.
Broken Window Glass
A cracked or broken pane can be made safe first. Then the installer measures it and comes back with a new pane or a sealed unit made to fit.
Window Sash Replacement
If the frame is sound but a sash is rotted or its balances have failed, a sash kit replaces just the moving parts. It costs less than a full window and leaves the trim alone.
Rotted Sill and Frame Repair
Soft wood at the sill or the bottom of the brickmould gets cut out and patched or replaced before it reaches the wall framing. Widespread rot is the signal for full-frame replacement.
Window Capping and Exterior Trim
Bent aluminum capping covers old wood brickmould and sills and keeps rain off the wood. It's often added when windows are replaced, but it can be done on its own.
Storm Windows and Screens
Storm windows over existing windows are a low-cost upgrade for old wood windows worth keeping. Torn screens and bent screen frames get remade to size.
Window Replacement Cost in Troy
Replacing a window typically costs $450 to $1,500 installed, about $900 on average, in HomeGuide's 2026 national data. Fixr puts the average near $800. We haven't found reliable Michigan-only per-window prices, so the ranges below are national. The Detroit-area figure at the end is regional.
| Window type | National installed range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Double-hung | $350 to $2,500 | HomeGuide, 2026 |
| Casement | $400 to $3,000 | HomeGuide, 2026 |
| Picture | $300 to $1,300 | HomeGuide, 2026 |
| Bay | $2,000 to $6,000 | HomeGuide, 2026 |
| Bow | $3,000 to $8,000+ | HomeGuide, 2026 |
| Egress with well and excavation | $6,000 to $8,000 | HomeGuide, 2026 |
Detroit
Remodeling's 2025 Cost vs Value report models a vinyl window replacement project in Detroit at $22,597, recouping 69.7% at resale. The wood version cost $26,326 and recouped 72.9%.Frame material
Vinyl sits at the low end; fiberglass and wood push each opening up.Full-frame vs insert
Tearing out the frame adds labor, flashing and interior trim.Size and shape
Custom shapes, large picture units and bays cost more than standard double-hungs.Lead-safe prep
In a pre-1978 home, EPA rules require containment and cleanup by a certified firm.Rebates
DTE lists a $15-per-window rebate for qualifying windows when DTE is your main heating provider, and you'll need the U-factor and SHGC stickers. The federal 25C tax credit ended for windows installed after December 31, 2025.
Should You Repair or Replace Your Windows?
Age alone isn't the reason. HomeGuide says windows typically last 15 to 30 years, and the condition of yours matters more than the date on them. Old wood sashes that are still sound can often be saved with window restoration, and worn hardware with window repair.
Fog between the panes
The seal has failed. Replace the glass unit if the sash is sound; replace the window if several have gone.Soft wood at the sill
Small spots can be repaired. Rot that spreads into the frame calls for full-frame replacement.Sashes that won't stay up
Worn balances can be replaced. Warped or swollen sashes usually mean new windows.Frost or heavy condensation inside
On a cold day, the inside of single-pane glass is only 10 to 15°F warmer than outdoors, by DOE's figure, so moist room air condenses on it. Glass with a lower U-factor stays warmer.Single-pane glass
ENERGY STAR estimates replacing single-pane windows with certified units cuts energy bills by an average of up to 13%.Drafts with the window locked
Check the weatherstrip first. Air coming around the frame is an installation problem that new sashes won't fix.
Commercial Window Replacement in Troy
We pass commercial requests on too. Each building type brings its own questions for the quote, and our commercial window replacement page covers them.
Offices
Office suites and small professional buildings, often with fixed glass where a failed sealed unit is the usual repair. Work happens in occupied space, so ask how the schedule works around tenants.
Retail and Storefront Glass
Storefront panes and doors. Glass in and beside doors must be safety glazing, so a replacement pane has to match that, not just the size.
Apartments and Multifamily
Window replacement across a building, unit by unit, and escape windows for lower-level bedrooms, which follow the same code sizes as a house.
Condominium Associations
Association-wide replacement where the bylaws may set frame color and style. Ask for a per-unit price so each owner can see their share.
How a Window Replacement Referral Works
- 1
Send the Request
Call or use the form. Tell us how many windows, which rooms, and whether you see fog, rot, drafts or broken glass.
- 2
In-Home Measure
The installer measures every opening, checks the frames and sills for rot, and notes the style, egress needs and any safety-glass locations.
- 3
Written Quote
The quote should list each opening with its type, frame material, glass package and NFRC numbers. It should also say full-frame or insert, and cover capping and trim, disposal and the permit.
- 4
Lead-Safe Prep and Install Day
In a home built before 1978, EPA rules require a certified firm with lead-safe containment and cleanup, so ask to see the certificate. Each opening is then removed, flashed, set, insulated and sealed.
- 5
Walkthrough
You open, close and lock every window with the installer, check the trim inside and out, and keep the NFRC labels for any rebate.
Get a free windows estimate in Troy
- Free in-home measure of every opening
- Written, itemized quote before any work
- Frames and sills checked before a price
- One local window installer, not a call list
- No charge to homeowners for the referral
Things to Know Before Replacing Windows in a Troy Home
Most Troy Homes Are Old Enough for New Windows
The median Troy home was built in 1978, and about 57% of the city's housing units went up before 1980, according to the Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey. The 1970s alone account for about 31% of homes. Windows from that decade are now close to 50 years old, unless someone has already replaced them.
Pre-1978 Homes Mean Lead-Safe Work
EPA rules say anyone paid to replace windows in a home built before 1978 must be a certified firm using lead-safe work practices, however little paint is disturbed. Window sills are a common source of lead dust because the sashes rub on them. EPA estimates about three-quarters of U.S. homes built before 1978 still contain some lead paint. Ask for the firm's RRP certificate.
Permits from Troy's Building Department
Michigan's list of residential work that needs no permit doesn't include window replacement. Troy's Building Department takes residential window permit applications online. It also suggests checking with your homeowners association first, since some subdivisions set rules on color and style. Ask whether the quote includes the permit.
Oakland County Is Climate Zone 5A
Michigan's energy code caps window U-factor at 0.32 in Oakland County's climate zone. ENERGY STAR's Northern zone criteria, in effect since October 23, 2023, go further: a U-factor of 0.22 or lower with an SHGC of at least 0.17, or an equivalent combination up to 0.26. The Pontiac airport station logs about 6,680 heating degree days a year, so a low U-factor matters here.
The Federal Window Tax Credit Has Ended
Until the end of 2025, the federal 25C credit covered 30% of the cost of ENERGY STAR Most Efficient windows, up to $600 a year. The IRS says it doesn't apply to windows placed in service after December 31, 2025. Be wary of a 2026 sales pitch that counts it in the price.
Michigan Licensing and the Three-Day Rule
Michigan requires a state-licensed residential builder or maintenance and alteration contractor for residential jobs of $600 or more, labor and materials together. If a seller comes to your home and you sign for more than $25, Michigan law gives you three business days to cancel. A refund is due within 10 days. If you finance the job through the contractor, the Home Improvement Finance Act gives you until 5 p.m. the next business day.
Why Use Troy Windows
One Installer per Request
Each request goes to one installer. Your number doesn't go out to a list of window companies.
No Fee for Homeowners
You pay the installer for the work. The referral is free.
Window Replacement Service Area in Troy
Troy Windows takes requests from all of Troy, about 33 square miles in Oakland County, roughly 15 miles north of downtown Detroit. Not sure whether your address counts? Send the form and we'll check whether the installer covers it.