Edmonds, WA
Window Replacement in Edmonds, WA
More than half of Edmonds was built in the three decades after 1950. Census data shows 55% of homes here date from 1950 to 1979, and the median home was built in 1974. Many of those houses still have the windows they were built with: single panes of glass, aluminum frames that sweat on cold mornings, and wood sills that have sat through decades of wet winters. Window replacement in Edmonds usually starts with those openings, because they cost the most to heat around and show their age first.
Windows in Edmonds homes today
The rest of the housing stock splits by age, and each group has its own window problems:
- Before 1950 (6% of homes): original wood sashes and single-pane glass, and paint on old frames and trim that may contain lead.
- 1950 to 1979: aluminum or early vinyl frames, often with single-pane glass.
- 1980 to 1999 (26%): first-generation vinyl windows, now old enough that the seals between the panes give out.
- 2000 and later (14%): builder-grade windows, some already due for replacement.
Some parts of Edmonds are far older than the citywide median. Snohomish County assessor records list 527 homes in the area labeled City Of Edmonds with a median build year of 1890, 270 in Meadowdale Beach (1904), 166 in the Lake Ballinger Land Co Subdiv (1915) and 100 in Talbot Park (1948). The same records put 34% of plat-matched homes in plats recorded before 1950. In those streets, expect original wood windows or a mix of originals and earlier replacements.
Edmonds is not only single-family houses. Census data shows 60% of homes are detached and 29% are apartments, and condos make up 22% of residential parcels in the assessor data.
Heating costs, comfort and efficiency in Edmonds
Edmonds homes are split almost evenly between two heating fuels. Census data shows 50% heat with gas and 47% with electricity, with propane and oil at 1% each. In an electrically heated house, the warmth lost through single-pane glass is paid for at electric rates, and that is where efficient windows earn back their cost fastest. Homes on propane or oil are in the same position. Gas-heated homes still gain, though the payback is usually slower.
The bill is only part of it. Old single-pane and aluminum windows make the room beside them feel cold, and they gather condensation on the glass and frame through the wet months. That water runs down onto sills and into the wall below. Vinyl frames with insulated glass keep the inside surface warmer, so less water forms in the first place.
Snohomish County PUD provides electricity in Edmonds. Check with the PUD for any current window programs before you order, since program details change.
Census data also shows 71% of Edmonds homes are owner-occupied. Long-term owners are the ones who collect the full return on efficient windows, winter after winter.
Choosing replacement windows for Edmonds
Every window we install is a Preservation 9000 vinyl replacement window, and our company is the only provider of that line in Washington. Vinyl frames will not warp or rot and never need painting. Here is how we match styles to Edmonds homes:
- Salt air on the waterfront: homes near the water take salt exposure, so we use corrosion-resistant hardware on operating windows, where locks, hinges and rollers are exposed.
- View homes: a large fixed picture window gives the widest unbroken glass, with casements on either side for fresh air. Bay and bow units add depth to a living room that faces the view.
- Historic downtown and older streets: double-hung units keep the two-sash proportions of original wood windows.
- Higher-value homes: Census data puts the median Edmonds home value at about $890,000, 37% above the Snohomish County median. Owners here more often choose premium details such as garden windows, bay and bow units and custom shapes.
Installation matters as much as the window. Each unit is fitted and sealed to its opening to stop drafts and leaks.
Signs your windows need replacing
In Edmonds, the warning signs follow the age of the house:
- Water on the inside of the glass most winter mornings. This is common on single-pane and aluminum windows, where the frame itself gets wet too.
- Fog or haze between the panes that will not wipe off. The seal on the insulated glass has failed, which is typical of first-generation vinyl in homes built from 1980 to 1999.
- Soft or dark wood at the sills, most often on north-facing walls, where rain and shade keep wood damp longest and moss and rot take hold.
- Old wood sashes that stick, rattle or will not lock, letting drafts in on windy days.
Get a free window consultation in Edmonds
Schedule a free in-home consultation: we will look at each window, talk through styles and give you a detailed estimate. Call 206-430-1927 or contact us. We also serve Lynnwood. Ask about our lifetime warranty, financing, and discounts for seniors, active military, veterans and first responders. See all our Edmonds home exterior services.
Edmonds window replacement FAQ
Does Snohomish County PUD offer rebates on replacement windows in Edmonds?
It may, so ask the utility before you order. Snohomish County PUD supplies electricity in Edmonds, and its programs change from year to year, so check what it offers on windows right now. The question matters most for the 47% of Edmonds households that heat with electricity, because that is where efficient windows earn back their cost fastest. Tell us what you find and we will plan the order around it.
What should I replace first in a 1950s or 1960s Edmonds house?
Start with any single-pane glass and aluminum frames. Houses built from 1950 to 1979, including the median Edmonds home built in 1974, often still have both, and they lose the most heat and collect the most condensation. If you plan to do the work in stages, begin with the rooms you heat most and the north side of the house, where frames and sills stay wet longest in a rainy winter.
Do Edmonds waterfront homes need different windows?
They need the right hardware more than a different window. Salt air near the waterfront is hard on metal parts, so on windows that open we use corrosion-resistant hardware. The vinyl frames of a Preservation 9000 window will not rust, rot or need paint. On view homes, a large fixed picture window gives you the most glass with the fewest moving parts to look after.
Can replacement windows keep the look of an older Edmonds home?
Yes, by choosing the style that matches the original openings. Double-hung units keep the stacked two-sash look of the wood windows in Edmonds homes built before 1950, which make up 6% of the housing stock. The vinyl frames will not need the scraping and repainting that old wood sashes do. If your home sits near the historic downtown, bring photos of the original windows to the consultation so we can match them.
