The Exteriors Company is a licensed window replacement contractor based in Madison, installing vinyl, fiberglass and clad wood replacement windows across Dane County, from our window installers in Madison to crews working in Sun Prairie, Middleton and Verona. As a Pella Certified Contractor, every window we quote lists its NFRC U-factor and SHGC, so you can see exactly how it measures against the ENERGY STAR Northern zone criteria that apply in Wisconsin.
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Whole-house replacement, single-opening swaps, and the structural work that sometimes comes with them.
The opening goes back to rough framing so we can inspect the sill, correct flashing, and install a properly integrated unit. What older Madison homes usually need.
New unit fits inside the existing frame. Faster and cheaper, appropriate when the frame and sill are genuinely sound.
Code-compliant basement egress for finished living space, including window well and cutting the opening where needed.
Very common on pre-1960 stock. We repair the structure before setting a new unit, rather than covering the problem with trim.
Larger openings that need structural headers and independent support. Handled under our general contracting side when framing changes.
Hail-broken glass and wind-damaged frames, documented for your insurer. Learn more about storm damage repair in Madison.
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Fiberglass is a strong fit for Madison homeowners planning to stay long-term. It expands and contracts at nearly the same rate as glass, so the seals hold up through Wisconsin’s freeze-thaw swings, and its narrow frames give you more glass than vinyl in the same opening. Fiberglass frames can be painted, typically carry U-factors of 0.20–0.26, and run $900–$1,600 per window installed. Compare all three materials in the table below.
| Vinyl | Fiberglass | Clad Wood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical Cost | $650–$1,100 / Window | $900–$1,600 / Window | $1,300–$2,400 / Window |
| Service Life | 20–30 Years | 40–50 Years | 30–40 Years |
| Typical U-Factor | 0.27–0.30 | 0.20–0.26 | 0.22–0.28 |
| Northern Zone Rated | Better Lines Only | Yes, Most Lines | Yes, Most Lines |
| Thermal Expansion | Highest — Seal Stress | Lowest — Matches Glass | Moderate |
| Frame Width | Widest — Least Glass | Narrow — More Glass | Narrow — More Glass |
| Paintable | No | Yes | Interior Only |
| Historic District Fit | Often Rejected | Case By Case | Usually Approved |
| Installation Warranty | 10 Years | 10 Years | 10 Years |
| Best For | Whole-House Replacement On A Budget, Rentals, Post-War Ranches And Split-Levels | Long-Term Owners, Large Openings, Anyone Prioritizing Efficiency Per Dollar | Historic Districts, Craftsman And Victorian Stock, Visible Interior Wood |
Prices are installed, per window, for standard double-hung sizes. Bays, bows, and oversized picture windows price separately.
Max U-factor, Northern zone
Wisconsin sits in the ENERGY STAR Northern climate zone, which requires a U-factor of 0.22 or lower with an SHGC of at least 0.17, or a U-factor of 0.23–0.26 paired with an SHGC of 0.35–0.40. Plenty of windows sold as “energy efficient” miss this standard. Every unit we quote lists its NFRC numbers so you can check.
Most homes finish in 1 to 3 days.
We measure every opening, check sills for rot, and talk through material and method.
Line-item quote naming brand, line, U-factor, and SHGC for every unit.
Custom-built to your openings. Typically 3–6 weeks, shortest in late winter.
One opening at a time, so the house is never open. Most homes finish in 1–3 days.
Interior and exterior trim, caulk, cleanup, and we register your manufacturer warranty.
Your local exterior experts
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Service area
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Madison Window Questions
Keep the current answer, then add at the end: See our window replacement cost guide for full pricing by material and style, and ask about 0% window replacement financing.
Wisconsin is in the ENERGY STAR Northern climate zone. Under the current Version 7.0 criteria, a window qualifies with a U-factor of 0.22 or lower and an SHGC of at least 0.17, or through an equivalent-performance path that allows a U-factor of 0.23 to 0.26 when paired with a higher SHGC of 0.35 to 0.40. Lower U-factor means better insulation. Plenty of windows marketed as energy efficient don’t meet the Northern criteria, so check the NFRC label rather than the brochure.
Insert replacement keeps the existing frame and is faster and cheaper, but it only works if that frame and sill are genuinely sound, and you lose an inch or two of glass area. Full-frame takes the opening back to rough framing, which is necessary when there’s rot, when the originals are failing at the sill, or when the flashing needs correcting. On pre-1970 Madison housing stock we recommend full-frame more often than not, and we check every sill before advising either way.
Spring through fall is easiest, but window replacement runs year-round here. Crews work one opening at a time so the house is never open to the weather, and winter installs are routine. Manufacturer lead times are typically shortest in late winter, which often means a faster start date than a summer order.
It depends where the moisture is. Condensation on the room-side surface usually means indoor humidity is too high for the glass temperature — common in winter, and often fixed with better ventilation rather than different windows. Fog between the panes means the insulated glass seal has failed and the unit needs replacing, which is a manufacturer warranty claim. Frost on the frame in one corner points at an air leak at the rough opening, which is an installation issue and covered under our warranty.
If your home is in Mansion Hill, Third Lake Ridge, University Heights, Marquette Bungalows, or another designated district, street-visible window changes go through Landmarks Commission review. Material, profile, sight lines, and grille pattern all matter. We’ve been through the process and can bring options likely to be approved, but plan for extra time in the schedule.
Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide utility program, periodically offers incentives on qualifying windows. The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ended for windows installed after December 31, 2025, so it doesn’t apply to new projects. Programs change from year to year, so we’ll tell you what’s actually available when we quote rather than promising a number that may have expired.
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