Free in-home measure and quote - PGT, CGI and CWS impact lines compared on your actual openings, style by style
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterWindow Company in Hillsborough, CA
Window and door work in Hillsborough runs $1,500 – $2,000 per opening for ARB-compliant steel casement replacements, with most full-home projects spanning 12 – 20 weeks due to custom fabrication and mandatory Architectural Review Board approval. We’re Lightwell Windows & Doors, and we coordinate every Hillsborough job from our San Francisco Bay Area office with crews who serve the Peninsula locally. Call (562) 478-8017 to schedule your free estimate, and we’ll walk you through the ARB timeline before any work is priced.
Hillsborough’s estate homes weren’t built to catalog dimensions. Spanish Colonial Revival, Tudor, and Mediterranean manors from the 1910s through the 1960s carry original steel casements, arched masonry surrounds, and divided-light patterns that the city’s Architectural Review Board protects aggressively. That protection is good for the neighborhood’s character, but it changes everything about how we spec, order, and install windows and doors here. We carry CGI, CWS, and ES Windows products, and we know which lines can be customized to match original sightlines without triggering an ARB rejection.
Why Hillsborough Homes Are Different
The western, uphill neighborhoods of Hillsborough sit closer to the fog-producing ridgeline of the Peninsula hills than flat Bay-side towns like Burlingame. That marine moisture collects in original wood window frames and accelerates rot in ways we simply don’t see across the county line. South and west exposures take direct afternoon sun after fog burns off, creating thermal stress that cracks old wood sash joinery and fails glazing seals in mid-century aluminum systems.
Then there’s the ARB. Virtually every window or door replacement on Hillsborough’s large historic estates must receive design approval before the city will issue a permit. The board consistently requires matching original material profiles and divided-light patterns, which rules out standard vinyl or aluminum units and pushes projects toward custom-manufactured wood, clad-wood, or steel windows built to original opening sizes. In-kind steel replacement, often required for 1920s – 1940s Spanish Colonial and Tudor casements, means 12 – 20 week lead times and costs that can exceed $1,500 – $2,000 per opening. Contractors from outside the Peninsula regularly underestimate this at bid time, leaving homeowners mid-project with change orders we don’t believe in.
Our Main Hillsborough Services
Most Hillsborough homeowners who call us need one of three things: replacing failing original windows, installing new openings in additions or renovations, or upgrading entry doors to match restored architectural details.
Window Replacement in Hillsborough
We replace original steel casements, wood double-hungs, and mid-century aluminum systems with ARB-compliant units sized to existing openings. Our crew photographs every original sash, muntin pattern, and casing profile before removal so the new window replicates what the board expects. We spec CGI and CWS lines with custom-divided-light options, and we never start demolition until the replacement is fabricated and delivered. Window Replacement in Hillsborough
Window Installation in Hillsborough
New window installation in Hillsborough typically involves additions, dormer expansions, or converting screened porches to conditioned space. Because the ARB reviews even new openings for visual compatibility, we prepare elevation drawings and material samples as part of our proposal, not as an afterthought. Our technicians follow C.A.R.E. values on every visit: Clean up like it’s our own home, Ask before moving anything, Respect quiet hours, and Explain the price before starting work. Window Installation in Hillsborough
Door Installation in Hillsborough
Hillsborough entry doors often sit within arched masonry surrounds or under original lintels that can’t be modified without structural review. We measure the rough opening, the jamb depth, and the surrounding masonry to spec doors that fit without destructive modification. Therma-Tru and ECO Window Systems lines offer the custom heights, widths, and sidelite configurations these homes require. Door Installation in Hillsborough
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service in Hillsborough
We stock parts and coordinate warranty support for eight manufacturer brands: PGT, CGI, CWS, ES Windows, ECO Window Systems, Mr-Glass, Therma-Tru, and ViewLux. For Hillsborough’s custom-fabrication needs, we lean on CGI and CWS for steel-look and divided-light options, with ES Windows for coastal-rated clad-wood systems. Most custom orders ship within 8 – 14 weeks; in-kind steel replacements through specialty mills run 12 – 20 weeks. See our brands for full specifications.
Pricing for Window Company in Hillsborough, CA
| Service | Typical range in Hillsborough |
|---|---|
| Standard wood/clad-wood replacement window | $800 – $1,400 per opening |
| Custom divided-light wood window (ARB match) | $1,200 – $1,800 per opening |
| In-kind steel casement replacement (Optimum/Crittall-profile) | $1,500 – $2,000 per opening |
| Large custom picture window (new installation) | $2,500 – $4,500 per opening |
| Entry door with sidelites (fiberglass/steel) | $3,200 – $5,800 installed |
| Custom wood entry door (ARB-matched profile) | $4,500 – $8,500 installed |
| French door system (hinged patio, two-panel) | $3,800 – $6,500 installed |
| Sliding glass door replacement | $2,800 – $5,200 installed |
| ARB design review and permit coordination | $450 – $850 (varies by project scope) |
What pushes Hillsborough prices above neighboring cities: custom fabrication to original sightlines, ARB-required material upgrades, and extended lead times that tie up project scheduling. We put every price in writing before any work starts, with no change orders for conditions we should have caught during measurement. That’s our no-hassle upfront pricing promise, stamped on every job.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Hillsborough
We work across Hillsborough’s full footprint, from the older estate parcels near Crystal Springs Road to the mid-century homes on the western hillside above Interstate 280. Crews dispatch from our San Francisco Bay Area office and typically arrive within 45 – 60 minutes of scheduled appointment times.
- Upper Hillsborough / Westridge area
- Carolands / Crystal Springs corridor
- Trousdale Drive vicinity
- Skyfarm Drive hillside homes
- Central Hillsborough estates near El Cerrito
Service Area – Cities Near Hillsborough
Our crews serve the full Peninsula corridor. We regularly schedule neighboring jobs in San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, and Los Angeles, CA for homeowners with multiple properties, and we coordinate with San Diego, CA teams on large commercial projects requiring consistent product lines across locations. Every appointment is backed by the Cedarwell Care Promise and our 365-Day Done Right guarantee.
Serving Hillsborough, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Hillsborough 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 About Window Company in Hillsborough
Most Architectural Review Board applications for window and door replacement are reviewed within 4 – 6 weeks, though complex estate projects with multiple openings or material changes can extend to 8 – 10 weeks. We prepare all drawings, material samples, and comparison photos as part of our proposal to avoid submission delays. Call (562) 478-8017 for a timeline estimate on your specific property.
Yes. We prepare the full submittal package, attend ARB meetings when required, and pull the building permit after approval. The permit coordination fee is included in our written quote, not added later. Call (562) 478-8017 to schedule a free estimate and review what your project will need.
Yes, through custom fabrication with CGI, CWS, and specialty steel-window mills. We photograph original muntin widths, sightlines, and casing profiles before ordering, and we submit mock-ups to the ARB when the board requests verification. Lead times run 12 – 20 weeks for in-kind steel replacements. Call (562) 478-8017 to discuss what’s possible for your home’s original windows.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees - talk to a local windows & doors pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you - the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Hillsborough Customers Say
"Lovely windows and a tidy install. One window came in a couple weeks late from the factory, so that opening finished after the others. They kept me posted and the rest was spotless."
- Mia Donnelly"Quiet, considerate install of several windows. They cleaned the glass and the sills and vacuumed every room. You'd never know a crew had been through. House is quieter and brighter."
- Brent Sakamoto"New patio slider. Clean install, they protected the floor and hauled off the old door. Quiet, polite crew that worked around my work calls without complaint."
- Andre Bellamy