Kingston windows: what to fix, what to keep, what to replace
Window trouble in Kingston, Ontario follows the house. In the stone-and-brick core it's wood sash behind storm windows: loose putty, broken cords, a cracked pane. In the later suburbs and the west end it's thermal units fogging and cranks wearing out. Either way, the part usually fails first. Pick what yours is doing below, and we'll connect you with an independent local pro who handles that repair, or the replacement if it comes to that.
Glass problems
Glass problems: fog between the panes, or a cracked pane
Foggy sealed units
Haze between the panes that won't wipe off means the thermal unit's seal has failed. A new unit usually fits the frame.
Broken window glass
A cracked pane in wood sash is reglazed; a cracked thermal unit is replaced whole. First make the room safe.
Single panes cut to size
Replacement glass for storm windows, old sash and small panes, cut to your measurements or to a template you bring.
Hardware and seals
Hardware problems: cranks, balances, locks and weatherstripping
Window repair
A spinning crank, a drifting sash, a lock that won't catch, a whistle in lake wind. Often one worn part.
Window screens
Torn mesh or a bent frame on a window screen, including screens on combination storms. Rescreening often saves the frame.
Sliding patio doors
A patio door that drags or won't latch usually needs rollers, track work or a new lock before anything bigger.
Older homes
Older homes: wood sash and storm windows worth keeping
Wood window repair
Rattling sash, crumbling putty, broken cords, soft sills. Original wood windows in the old core can usually be restored, not replaced.
Storm windows
A storm over old sash blocks lake wind and warms the inner glass. Deep stone openings and old sills decide the fit.
Repair or replace?
When new glass or parts will do, and when the frame has had its day, for both kinds of Kingston house.
Window styles
Window styles you'll find here
Sliding & double-hung windows
Sliders and hung sash appear in suburbs and older brick houses alike. Rollers, balances and latches wear before the frame does.
Basement & egress windows
Small basement sliders, window wells that fill with water, and bedrooms that need a larger egress opening. Check permits before cutting.
Vinyl & hybrid windows
The usual choice when later suburban frames are done: low upkeep, many styles. Hybrids suit houses where wood's look matters.
Before you start
Permits and heritage approvals before you start
Same size, same opening
The City generally doesn't require a building permit for same-size replacements, but new or enlarged openings need one. Confirm before ordering.
Heritage status first
Barriefield, Market Square, Old Sydenham and individually designated houses need heritage approval for window changes. Call the City's Heritage Planning first.
Renting? Ask first
Tenants report broken glass and worn hardware to the landlord, who books the repair. Landlords can get quotes from photos.
Repair or replace
When a new window makes more sense
Fix the part when
- A sound frame with one or two fogged or cracked units
- A worn crank, balance, lock or weatherstrip
- Wood sash that can be restored and fitted with storms
Replace the window when
- Soft wood or vinyl split at the corners
- Water getting in around the frame
- Most units failing in the same season
Questions
Window questions from Kingston homeowners
Where pros work
Window help across Kingston and nearby
Pros cover the city and many reach Loyalist Township and Gananoque. For Wolfe Island and other outlying addresses, we'll check whether a pro covers yours.
Not sure which it is? Photograph the window from inside and out
Two photos and a line on what the window does are enough. We'll pass them to a local pro who can tell a part from a replacement.