Retrofit Windows / Las Vegas
Retrofit windows in Las Vegas
The old sash and glass come out, the new window sets into the frame that’s already there, and the stucco is left alone. No wall cut, no tear-out, faster and cheaper than full-frame when the frame is sound.
- Since 1953 in Las Vegas
- 4.9 stars across 400+ Google reviews
- Nevada C-8 license 0004490A
- No stucco tear-out
The basics
What a retrofit window is
A retrofit window is a replacement window that sets into your existing frame. The old sash and glass come out, the new window fits inside the frame that’s already there, and the exterior stucco or siding is left alone. No wall cut, no tear-out of the frame. That’s the whole idea, and it’s why a retrofit is faster and cheaper than the alternative.
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Retrofit vs new construction
The difference is what the window ties into.
| Retrofit | New construction | |
|---|---|---|
| Ties into | Your existing frame | The wall framing, via a nailing fin |
| Exterior | Left intact | Stucco or siding cut and patched |
| Install time | Shorter | Longer |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Used when | Frame is sound | Frame is failing, or new build / remodel |
Most replacements on a sound home are retrofits. New construction is for a remodel where the wall is open, or when the old frame itself has to go.
Honest advice
When a retrofit is the wrong choice
A retrofit isn’t always the right call. Skip it when:
- The frame is rotted or damaged. A retrofit sets into the old frame, so if that frame is failing, you’re building on a bad base.
- The stucco or siding is shot around the opening. Sometimes the exterior has to come off anyway.
- You’re changing the opening. A different size or a structural change means new construction.
- The room needs egress and the retrofit would shrink the opening. Bedrooms and other sleeping rooms generally require a window that opens wide enough to climb out of, and a retrofit slightly reduces the glass size. Where a room is close to the minimum, we confirm the current requirement with Clark County before committing to a retrofit.
A retailer selling windows won’t tell you a retrofit is wrong for your house. We will.
Pricing
What it costs
A retrofit costs less than full-frame replacement because it skips the stucco and framing work. The gap is the labor and the patching you avoid. We price the actual openings and put the number in writing.
Built for the heat
Retrofit in a desert climate
In Las Vegas, a retrofit is the common way to move an old single-pane or failed dual-pane house up to a dual-pane, low-E package without tearing into the stucco in 110-degree heat. See Window Replacement Las Vegas for glass packages, and Window Replacement Cost for the numbers.
Questions
Retrofit windows FAQ
Are retrofit windows cheaper than full-frame replacement?
How long does a retrofit install take?
Do retrofit windows look different from the outside?
Can any window be retrofitted?
Do retrofit windows need a permit?
The trade-off
What you lose, and whether it matters
A retrofit window fits inside the frame you already have, so you give up typically about an inch of glass all the way round. On a big picture window nobody notices. On a small bathroom window it can be the difference between meeting egress and not, so we check that before we quote. You also keep the existing frame, which means keeping whatever condition it is in. If it is square and sound, that is a saving. If it is racked or the stucco is cracked at the fin, a retrofit just seals the problem in.
Getting a number
What we need to quote it
To put a real number on the job we need three things: the exact opening measurements, the condition of the existing frame, and the glass package you want. If the frame is square and sound, the glass goes straight into it. If it’s racked or rotted, we’ll say so, because forcing new glass into a bad frame just moves the problem. Send measurements or have us come out and measure. Either way the quote is in writing before anything is ordered. For how the glass itself stands up to the afternoon sun, our Henderson window page walks through the solar heat gain spec, which applies anywhere in the valley.
Weighing retrofit against replacement?
We’ll price both and tell you which your house actually needs. No wall cut when the frame is sound.