Free written scope consultation - allowances, timeline, and change-order rules on paper before a single trade is scheduled
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AfterFast, Reliable Windows & Doors Across San Marino
Window and door work in San Marino costs more than in neighboring cities, and for good reason: most homes here are 1920s-1940s estates, and the city’s Design Review Board requires any replacement to match the original architectural style. Window replacement in San Marino typically runs $4,500-$15,000, while impact window installation runs $8,000-$25,000. We know the DRB process inside out, and we’ll walk you through it before you spend a dime. Call (877) 610-1318 to schedule a free estimate.
We’ve been doing this since 1998, and Tom Barrett’s name is still on the truck. When you call, you get a live person, not a call center. We’ll come out, look at your windows and doors, and tell you exactly what the DRB will and won’t approve. No guesswork.
Why Barrett & Sons Construction Is San Marino’s Preferred Windows & Doors Company
San Marino does not tolerate generic work. The DRB will reject a replacement window that doesn’t match the original muntin profile, trim depth, and material. We’ve submitted enough packages to know what passes the first time. That’s not something a national franchise can claim.
Our crew members are background-checked and wear the Barrett & Sons name on their uniforms. Tom’s sons run the crews, and Tom is on-site for most San Marino jobs. We live close enough that if something’s not right, we hear about it at the hardware store on Saturday. That’s the kind of accountability you get with an owner-operated company.
Every window and door job in San Marino gets a written scope of work before we start. Every change, every allowance, every price adjustment arrives as a written change order. The permit inspector works for you, not for me – that’s why we like him. And every job is backed by our 90-Day Done Right Promise, written on the contract.
Our Windows & Doors Services in San Marino
We’re the Windows & Doors team that San Marino homeowners call when the DRB is involved. Here’s what we handle most often.
Window Replacement
In San Marino, window replacement almost always means custom. The original windows on a 1930s Spanish Colonial Revival have specific muntin profiles – often 5/8-inch or 3/4-inch – and standard off-the-shelf units won’t match. We order windows with correct profiles, correct trim reveals, and correct materials. Window replacement in San Marino typically runs $4,500-$15,000 depending on how many openings and whether the originals are casement, double-hung, or fixed.
Custom Windows & Doors
This is the heart of our work in San Marino. When a 1920s Tudor Revival needs a new front door, it needs an arched door with period-correct hardware. When a 1940s Mediterranean needs replacement casements, they need Douglas fir frames and true divided lites. We submit shop drawings and finish samples to the DRB as part of the scope, then wait for sign-off before anything gets ordered. It’s slower, but it’s the only way to avoid a stop-work order.
Door Installation
Front doors, interior doors, French doors, Dutch doors – San Marino homes have all of them, and they’re original. We install doors that match the home’s era and style, from hand-forged iron hardware on a Spanish Colonial to brass and glass on a Tudor. We also handle the structural work that older openings need: new jambs, new thresholds, and rot repair where old-growth Douglas fir has finally given out.
Impact Windows & Doors
Impact windows are a smart upgrade in San Marino for a different reason than in Florida. Here, it’s about Santa Ana winds and debris. San Marino sits below the San Gabriel Mountains, and when the winds channel through, aging clay tile roofs shed pieces and tree limbs fly. Impact windows protect against that, and against seismic shattering. Expect $8,000-$25,000 for full impact window installation on a typical San Marino estate, depending on opening count and whether you need custom profiles to satisfy the DRB.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Trusted Brands We Service in San Marino
We install Simonton, Ply Gem, and PGT windows and doors – brands you can look up, not mystery units off a van. For San Marino’s historic homes, we often pair these with custom millwork that matches the original profiles. For newer construction in the 91108 and 91118 zip codes, we install standard units that still meet the city’s architectural standards. We keep common replacement parts in stock, so hardware swaps and weatherstripping don’t take weeks.
Common Windows & Doors Problems We See in San Marino Homes
- DRB stop-work orders on unauthorized replacements. A homeowner replaces a few windows with standard vinyl units from a big-box store. The DRB finds out, issues a stop-work order, and fines follow. We get called to fix it, which means ordering custom units and resubmitting plans. It costs more than doing it right the first time.
- Rotted original casement frames. San Marino’s 1920s-1940s estates were built with old-growth Douglas fir. It’s strong, but after 80 years of sprinkler overspray and Santa Ana-driven moisture, the sill and jamb corners rot. We replace the rotted sections and rebuild the frame to original dimensions.
- Ghost lines around new doors from generic stucco patch. When a new door goes in and the contractor patches with modern stucco instead of matching lime-based plaster, you see a visible outline within a year. The DRB rejects it, and you’re patching again. We match the original plaster formula.
- Missing the 4-inch exterior trim reveal. San Marino’s architectural consistency check requires a specific trim reveal on replacement windows. Contractors who don’t know this get failed inspections. We measure and document the reveal on every opening before ordering.
Pricing for Windows & Doors in San Marino, CA
Here’s what you can expect to pay in San Marino, based on the work we’ve done here over the years.
| Service | Price Range in San Marino |
|---|---|
| Window Replacement | $4,500-$15,000 |
| Impact Window Installation | $8,000-$25,000 |
| Custom Windows & Doors | Call for a site quote – custom work is priced per opening after we measure and check DRB requirements |
What drives the cost: the number of openings, whether the DRB requires custom profiles, the material (Douglas fir costs more than vinyl, but most pre-war San Marino homes require wood), and whether we’re matching existing hardware or sourcing period-correct replacements. We give you a written line-item quote before any work starts, and every change arrives as a written change order. No surprise invoices at the end. Call (877) 610-1318 for a free estimate.
Standing offer for San Marino homeowners: $40 off any repair over $200, and a permanent 10% discount for seniors and veterans.
We Also Serve Cities Near San Marino
Our crews live and work throughout the San Gabriel Valley. In addition to Windows & Doors in San Marino, we serve San Gabriel, East San Gabriel, Alhambra, and East Pasadena. Same owner-operated company, same written change orders, same 90-Day Done Right Promise.
Serving San Marino, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the San Marino area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs - Windows & Doors in San Marino
Yes. San Marino’s Design Review Board requires approval for any window change on a home built before 1950, and that includes swapping original single-pane windows for modern energy-efficient units. The catch is that the new windows must match the original muntin profiles, trim depth, and material. You cannot drop in standard off-the-shelf vinyl windows on a 1920s estate. We prepare the submittal package – shop drawings, finish samples, and a written scope – and we don’t order anything until the DRB signs off. Call (877) 610-1318 and we’ll walk you through the process.
No – not without a change order, and not without DRB approval. A single-hung to casement conversion changes the window’s operation, often the frame dimensions, and always the exterior appearance. On a 1940s San Marino home, the DRB will require the casement to match the home’s original style, which may mean custom units. Any scope change like this arrives as a written change order before we proceed. That’s how we work on every job.
Using a generic door that doesn’t match the home’s era. A Spanish Colonial Revival in San Marino typically has an arched or rectangular door with hand-forged iron hardware and a specific wood finish. Contractors who install a standard pre-hung fiberglass door get flagged by the DRB, and the homeowner pays twice. We match the door style, material, and hardware to the original, and we submit samples before installation.
You have two layers of approval. The HOA has its own architectural guidelines – often stricter on color and material – and the city’s DRB has its own standards for architectural consistency. Both must sign off. We’ve worked in newer San Marino developments where the HOA required specific window brands and the DRB required specific trim profiles. We coordinate both submittals so you don’t get stuck between two boards.
It’s worth it, and the DRB does not prevent it – but you’ll likely need custom impact windows rather than standard units. On a 1920s estate, the DRB requires matching muntin profiles and trim, so we order impact-rated glass in custom wood frames. The cost lands between $8,000 and $25,000 for a full house, but you get Santa Ana debris protection and seismic safety without changing the home’s character. Call (877) 610-1318 for a free estimate on impact windows for your San Marino home.
Call Barrett & Sons Construction for Windows & Doors in San Marino
If you live in San Marino and you’re thinking about window or door work, call us first. We’ll tell you what the DRB requires, what it’ll cost, and whether it’s worth doing now or waiting. Tom Barrett answers his own phone at (877) 610-1318. Free estimates, written change orders, and a 90-Day Done Right Promise on every job.
Written by Tom Barrett, Owner at Barrett & Sons Construction, serving San Marino and the San Gabriel Valley since 1998.