Window & Door Guides
46 years of installs condensed into plain-spoken answers — sizes, costs, brand comparisons, and what actually holds up in Idaho.
Guides
Sizes, measuring, materials, and how-to knowledge.
How We Install a Window: Step by Step, Done Right
Every step of a correct full-frame window install — sill pans, shims, low-expansion foam — and what each skipped step costs you. From 46-year employee crews.
12 Questions to Ask Any Window Installer Before You Sign
Print this list and use it on every window company you interview — including us. Twelve questions, why each matters, and what a good answer sounds like.
Standard Window Sizes: Charts by Type (2026 Guide)
Standard window sizes from 46-year installers: double-hung, casement, picture & egress size charts, how to read '2850' notation, and when custom makes sense.
Window Installation Day: What to Expect in Your Home
An honest hour-by-hour look at window installation day — timeline, dust, pets, weather calls, surprises behind old trim, and the final walkthrough.
Cost Guides
Real price ranges for windows, doors, and installation.
Big Glass Doors: Multi-Slide & Bi-Fold Wall Costs for 2026
What multi-slide and bi-fold glass walls cost in the Treasure Valley: from ~$8,000 for smaller systems into the $30,000s for large engineered openings.
Patio Door Replacement Cost in Idaho: 2026 Installed Prices
Patio door replacement costs in the Treasure Valley: sliders $1,800–$3,200, French doors $3,000–$6,000, multi-slides from $8,000 — and what moves the number.
Skylight Installation Cost: What Boise Homes Pay in 2026
Skylight installation costs in the Treasure Valley: fixed $1,800–$3,200, venting $2,500–$4,500+, Sun Tunnels from $800 — plus what drives the quote up or down.
Window Replacement Cost in 2026: Real Numbers from Installers
What window replacement really costs in 2026: $650–$1,800 per window installed by material, whole-house budgets, and where not to cheap out.
Comparisons
Brand vs. brand and material vs. material, specs on the table.
Andersen 400 vs. Marvin Elevate: Head-to-Head by Installers
Andersen 400 Series vs. Marvin Elevate compared by a dealer for both: construction, tested U-factors, price gap, and which Idaho homes suit each line.
Andersen vs. Marvin Windows: An Installer's Honest Comparison
Andersen vs. Marvin compared by a dealer who installs both: construction, U-factors, warranty, price, and which one fits Idaho homes. Spec table included.
Andersen vs. Milgard: Premium or Value? A Dealer Compares
Andersen vs. Milgard windows from a dealer for both: the real price gap, clad-wood vs. vinyl trade-offs, warranties, and which Idaho homes suit each.
Casement vs. Double-Hung: Which Style Fits Which Room?
Casement vs. double-hung windows from 46-year installers: sealing, ventilation, cleaning, cost and wind performance — and a room-by-room answer key.
Jeld-Wen vs. Milgard: The Builder-Vinyl Successor Question
Jeld-Wen vs. Milgard vinyl windows compared by Idaho installers — the brands most Treasure Valley homes choose between when builder windows fail.
Marvin vs. Milgard Windows: A Dealer for Both Compares
Marvin vs. Milgard from an authorized dealer for both: price gap, materials, warranties, and which Idaho homes each brand actually fits. Spec table included.
Pella vs. Andersen: An Idaho Installer's Unsponsored Take
Pella vs. Andersen windows compared by Idaho installers — construction, warranties, local service reality, and which fits your home. We sell one, service both.
Pella vs. Marvin: Features or Materials? Installers Weigh In
Pella vs. Marvin windows from Idaho installers — feature innovation vs. fiberglass materials science, price tiers, service reality, and who should buy which.
Vinyl vs. Fiberglass Windows: The Idaho Math, Honestly
Vinyl vs. fiberglass windows compared by installers of both: real price gap, lifespan in Idaho's climate, dark-color truth, and a decision framework.
Wood vs. Vinyl Windows: What Each Is Actually For
Wood vs. vinyl windows compared by the company named for wood: price gap, maintenance truth, historic-district rules, and a straight decision guide.
FAQ
Direct answers to the questions we hear every week.
When Is the Best Time of Year to Replace Windows?
Windows can be replaced in any season. Winter brings the shortest waits and best promotions; order by early fall to beat the cold. What actually matters most.
Do New Windows Increase Home Value? The Honest ROI
New windows recoup roughly two-thirds of their cost at resale. The full return — energy savings, comfort, avoided rot, listing appeal — is the real story.
Egress Window Requirements in Idaho: IRC Rules Explained
Idaho egress window rules under the IRC: 5.7 sq ft clear opening, 20-inch minimum width, 24-inch height, 44-inch max sill — plus window well requirements.
How Long Does Window Installation Take?
Window installation takes 30–90 minutes per window and 1–3 days for a whole house. The real wait is the 3–8 week manufacturing lead time. Here's the timeline.
Is Wood Windows Inc the Same as Renewal by Andersen?
No. Renewal by Andersen is Andersen's own Fibrex replacement division; Wood Windows Inc is an independent Idaho dealer for the full Andersen line and more.
Replacement vs. New Construction Windows: The Difference
Insert replacement windows go into your existing frame; new-construction (full-frame) windows strip to the studs. Which is right, and the 15-30% cost gap.
What Is Low-E Glass and Which Type Does Idaho Need?
Low-E glass explained: how the invisible metallic coating works, U-factor vs SHGC, passive vs solar-control coatings, and which Idaho elevations need which.
Why Do My Windows Fog Up Between the Panes?
Fog trapped between panes means the insulated glass seal has failed. Why it happens, why cleaning is impossible, and when to swap glass vs the whole window.
Why Do My Windows Sweat on the Inside in Winter?
Interior winter condensation is indoor humidity meeting cold glass — usually not a broken window. What fixes it, and when sweating glass says upgrade.