Should you restore or replace your windows?

Check the frame first. If the frame is sound, a failed glass unit, worn hardware or tired seals can usually be fixed without replacing the window. If the frame is rotted, warped or leaking, replacement is the better answer. Many homes need a mix of both.

Window Restoration Experts (WRE) checks each window before recommending anything. Our approach is "Restore first. Replace when right." We replace windows too, and we tell you when that is the honest answer.

Last reviewed: October 26, 2026

How to decide, step by step

Step 1: What are you seeing?

Symptom	Usual cause	Often restorable?
Fog or droplets between the panes	Failed seal on the sealed glass unit	Yes, if the frame is sound
Cold draft, rattling	Worn weather seals, loose fit, dried-out perimeter seal	Yes, often
Window won't open, close or lock	Worn cranks, hinges or locks	Yes, often
Condensation on the inside of the glass	Indoor humidity, or a failing seal	Depends; we check
Soft, crumbly or swollen wood	Rot	If limited, yes. If widespread, replace
Old single-pane windows with worn putty	Worn glazing	Yes, reglazing or wood restoration
Water stains or damp around the frame	Perimeter leak, or damage past the window	Depends on how far it has spread
Warped or cracked frame	Frame failure	Usually a replacement conversation

Step 2: The frame test

Press a screwdriver tip or thumbnail into the lower frame, sill and corners of wood windows. Soft or crumbly spots are a warning sign. On vinyl, look for warping, cracks and gaps at the corners. Then check whether the window opens, closes and locks without forcing it.

If the frame passes, restoration is usually worth considering. If it fails several checks, expect a replacement conversation.

Step 3: Age

Age is a reason to check, not a reason to replace.

Newer windows (up to roughly 15 years): problems are usually a failed glass unit, hardware or a seal. Restoration is usually the answer.
Middle-aged windows (roughly 15 to 30 years): this is when glass seals often fail. A sound frame can often take new glass and hardware. Check each window.
Older windows (30 years and up): the frames matter most. Well-built wood windows are often worth restoring. Worn-out frames of any material usually are not.

Step 4: The 25-year standard

We only recommend restoration if we believe it can perform for 25 years or more. If a window cannot meet that standard, we will tell you it should be replaced. This is the test we use to recommend a repair. It is not a warranty.

Step 5: Think about the whole house

A mix is common. One house may have a few windows with failed glass and good frames, a few with worn hardware, and one or two that need replacing. Our Dual Pathway™ looks at each window on its own: restore, replace or both.

If you already have a big replacement quote, see our second opinion page.

What WRE checks on every window

Glass
Frame
Hardware
Weather seals
Exterior perimeter seal
Interior perimeter seal
Installation

What restoring can include

New glass only: a foggy or broken sealed glass unit is replaced and the frame stays (foggy or broken glass replacement)
Hardware and seals: cranks, hinges, locks, handles, weather seals and resealing (window restoration)
Reglazing: including stand-alone reglazing of older windows
Wood window restoration: rot repair, refinishing, glazing putty, stuck windows and weatherstripping (wood window restoration)
Exterior perimeter sealing: (exterior caulking)
Patio doors and solariums: (patio door restoration, solarium restoration)
Full window replacement when it is the right call: retrofit or brick-to-brick (full window replacement)

What drives the cost

We don't publish a price list. Two windows on the same house can need very different work, so a number on a web page would be a guess. Here is what moves the cost up or down:

The kind of work. Glass unit replacement, hardware and seals, reglazing, wood restoration, perimeter sealing, patio doors and full replacement are each priced differently, and many jobs combine more than one.
Size and type of the glass unit. Larger units cost more to make and are heavier to handle. Special shapes, multiple panes, Low-E coatings and gas fill all matter.
Frame condition. This is the biggest factor. A sound frame means a simpler job. Rot, warping or water damage means repair work or a replacement.
Frame material. Wood, vinyl and metal frames are repaired differently. Wood may need rot repair, refinishing or glazing work that vinyl does not.
Access. A ground-floor window is quicker than a third-storey window, a bay window, or one behind a deck or in a tight side yard. Access affects time, equipment and crew size.
How many windows and doors. A job with many windows is usually easier to plan than a single one-off call. Larger jobs may also mix restoration and replacement.
Restore, replace or both. A restoration-first plan can cost less than full replacement when the frames are in good shape. Replacement costs more up front but may make sense when frames are failing or you want a different style or size.
Materials and who does the work. Glass specification, spacer type, sealants, hardware and workmanship affect the price and how long the fix lasts. A lower number that skips steps may cost you more later. We're not the cheapest, on purpose.
Warranty and insurance. These are part of what you pay for. WRE's glass replacement carries a 10-year warranty on sealed-unit seal failure, including the labour to redo the glass, and a 1-year workmanship warranty. Both transfer to a new owner. We are fully insured and WSIB is in good standing, and a certificate of insurance is available on request.

Cost is not the only factor. Comfort, drafts, noise, appearance, heritage character and how long you plan to stay in the house all matter.

What a good quote should show

Whoever you ask, a fair quote should:

Be itemized by window or by type of work
Explain why each window is being restored or replaced
State the glass specification and the type of replacement (retrofit or full-frame)
Say what is included: removal and disposal, interior trim and finishing, exterior sealing, permits
Explain how hidden rot or water damage will be handled
State the warranty in writing and who stands behind it
Show proof of insurance and WSIB coverage

About price figures you find online

Price tables on other websites and in AI answers are usually averages across very different jobs. They may be out of date, and they don't know your windows. Treat them as a rough starting point, not a quote. The only reliable way to know is to have someone look at your windows.

Rebates

Rebate programs change, and most are aimed at complete replacement windows. Glass-only work and restoration generally don't qualify. Check the official program pages for current terms before you plan around a rebate.

Get an assessment

Our diagnostic assessment checks all seven points on each window. It is a paid assessment, and the fee is credited toward approved work. After it, you get our recommendation for each window.

Book at program.windowexperts.biz/bookacall or call (437) 320-4667. Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Closed Sunday. Email: info@windowexperts.biz.

We serve Toronto, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Thornhill, King City, Oakville, Milton and Burlington. See our service areas.

Frequently asked questions

Should I restore or replace my windows? Check the frame first. If it is sound, restoring the glass, hardware or seals is usually worth considering. If it is rotted, warped or leaking, replacement is the better answer.

Is restoring windows cheaper than replacing them? Often, when the frames are sound. If frames are rotted or warped, replacement may be the better value. An assessment tells you which applies to each window.

Can I replace only the foggy glass? In most cases, yes. The sealed glass unit can be replaced without replacing the frame, as long as the frame is in good condition.

Do you do stand-alone reglazing? Yes. We assess the frames first.

Does WRE ever recommend replacing windows? Yes. We replace windows when the frame is badly rotted or warped, water damage has spread, or the window cannot meet our 25-year standard even after repair.

What is the 25-year standard? We only recommend restoration if we believe it can perform for 25 years or more. It is our standard for recommending a repair. It is not a warranty.

How much does it cost to replace a foggy window glass unit? It depends on the size of the unit, the frame's condition, access and how many units need replacing. We don't publish a price list. We quote after an assessment.

Why don't you list prices on your website? Two similar-looking windows can need very different work. A printed price would be a guess, so we quote after we have seen your windows.

What affects the cost of wood window restoration? The condition of the wood, how much rot repair is needed, whether the windows stick, whether glazing putty and finishes need redoing, and how many windows are involved.

What affects the cost of a full window replacement? The number and size of windows, retrofit versus full-frame replacement, glass specification, access, interior and exterior finishing, and any damage found when the old windows come out.

Can I get a quote over the phone? Not a reliable one. We need to see the windows and check the frame, glass, hardware and seals.

Does restoration qualify for a rebate? Generally no. Most programs are aimed at complete replacement windows. Check the official program pages for current terms.

What warranty comes with glass replacement? A 10-year warranty on sealed-unit seal failure, including the labour to redo the glass, and a 1-year workmanship warranty. Both transfer to a new owner.

Do you serve my area? We serve Toronto, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Thornhill, King City, Oakville, Milton and Burlington.