Frequently Asked Questions

It starts with a free in-home estimate where we measure, discuss materials, and give you a written price. Once you approve, we order your windows or doors, which usually takes two to four weeks depending on the manufacturer. On install day, the crew covers floors with drop cloths, lays down shoe covers at the door, and protects furniture near the work area. We remove old units, install the new ones, insulate, trim, seal, and clean up fully before leaving. Our C.A.R.E. code means we ask before moving anything and clean up like it's our own home.

For a typical single-story San Antonio home with 10 to 15 windows, installation takes one to two days. Larger homes, second-story work, or projects involving stucco and brick exterior cuts can run three to four days. A single window replacement often takes under two hours once the crew is on site. We schedule around quiet hours when kids are sleeping and keep the workspace contained to the rooms being worked on. We'll give you a clear timeline before the job begins, and we'll let you know promptly if weather, like a Hill Country thunderstorm rolling through Helotes, changes the schedule.

We handle both. Common repairs include replacing fogged insulated glass units, fixing broken balances and sash springs, replacing worn weatherstripping, and adjusting doors that stick or sag. If a window has a broken seal but the frame is still square and solid, a glass replacement often makes more sense than a full tear-out. For homes in Timberwood Park with builder-grade windows from the early 2000s, we'll give you an honest read on whether repair or replacement is the better long-term value. Call (325) 420-4173 and describe what's happening; we'll point you to the right solution.

Yes. Brick veneer and stucco are common throughout San Antonio, especially in neighborhoods like Terrell Hills, Alamo Heights, and parts of Castle Hills. We use proper flashing, sealants, and expansion considerations for masonry openings so the installation sheds water correctly and doesn't crack surrounding stucco. Older homes often need custom sizing because the rough openings are no longer standard. We measure every opening individually and order accordingly. The result is a clean fit without awkward trim gaps or oversized caulk lines.

Always. The Cedarwell Care Promise, which every Lightwell Windows & Doors location works under, includes shoe covers and drop cloths inside the house, quiet tools when kids are asleep, and pet-safe products where there's a choice. We ask before moving or touching anything and we photograph the clean-up before we leave. If a sofa needs to shift two feet so we can reach a window safely, we'll ask first and cover it while we work. Your home should look as good as it did when we arrived, minus the old windows.

We work with brands that hold up to South Texas heat and humidity. That includes ECO Window Systems for vinyl and aluminum frames, Therma-Tru for fiberglass and steel entry doors, Mr-Glass for insulated glass replacement, and ViewLux for specialized glass performance. Each manufacturer earns a place on our truck by proving their products survive San Antonio's UV exposure, humidity swings, and occasional hail. We'll match the brand to your home's style, exposure, and budget rather than pushing a single line. You'll see the exact product name and spec on your written quote.

Both perform well here, but they suit different situations. Vinyl, like the lines from ECO Window Systems, resists the humid San Antonio climate well and offers excellent value for most homes in Schertz, Selma, and Kirby. Fiberglass costs more but handles extreme temperature swings without expanding or contracting, making it a strong choice for large picture windows or dark-colored frames that absorb sun. Aluminum, once common across San Antonio, conducts heat too readily for energy-conscious buyers. We'll show you samples and explain the trade-offs honestly before you commit.

In most cases, yes. If you're replacing one window in a room full of originals, we match the frame color, grid pattern, and glass tint as closely as possible. For doors, we match the swing, handing, and finish to blend with adjacent trim. Homes in Alamo Heights and Terrell Hills often have specific architectural character that matters to homeowners, and we respect that. When an exact match isn't available because a product line was discontinued, we'll tell you upfront and show you the closest alternative before ordering anything.

Low-E, or low-emissivity, glass has a microscopic coating that reflects heat while letting visible light through. In San Antonio's climate, where summer highs regularly sit in the upper 90s and cooling runs from May through October, low-E glass makes a measurable difference in how hard your AC works. Most replacement windows sold here include at least one low-E coating as standard. Double-pane low-E with argon gas, like what we install from ECO Window Systems and Mr-Glass, provides the best balance of heat rejection and visible clarity. Your east- and west-facing windows benefit most.

Every professional working under the Lightwell Windows & Doors name in San Antonio is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires for the work they perform. We maintain general liability coverage and follow local building code requirements for window and door installations. Keith Yamada runs our San Antonio branch with a simple standard: if a crew member isn't qualified and covered, they don't step onto your property. We're glad to point you to the appropriate channels to verify credentials before you book.

Whether a permit is required depends on the scope and the local jurisdiction. In San Antonio proper, simple replacement of existing windows and doors with units of the same size typically does not require a permit. Structural changes, enlarging openings, or work in certain historic districts may trigger the requirement. We handle the permitting process when it's needed, coordinate inspections, and make sure the final work passes before we call the job done. We'll tell you during the estimate whether your project falls into a permit-required category.

Our San Antonio area installations are performed by crews that work to the Cedarwell Care Promise and are expected to meet the same standards on every job. Each trade professional working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires. The crew lead on your project will introduce themselves, walk the job with you before starting, and confirm the written price and scope. What matters to us is that the people in your home are careful, qualified, and accountable to you and to Keith Yamada's team.

First, keep kids and pets away from the glass. Sweep up large shards carefully while wearing gloves, then vacuum the area including any carpet fibers near the break. Cover the opening with plywood or heavy-duty plastic sheeting secured on the outside to keep weather, insects, and critters out until a replacement arrives. If the broken window faces a street in New Braunfels or Schertz, you may also want to check your HOA rules about temporary coverings. Call (325) 420-4173 and we'll get your replacement on the schedule as quickly as our calendar allows.

Yes, temporary board-up is a service we provide to secure your home until the new unit arrives. A clean, square-cut plywood sheet with proper fasteners is the safest temporary fix, especially during storm season when a broken window in Helotes or Lackland AFB housing can leave a home exposed overnight. We'll measure the opening, cut the board to fit, and secure it without causing extra damage to the frame or surrounding trim. Board-up keeps pests out and gives you peace of mind while your replacement window or door is being manufactured.

We schedule estimates during our regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Sundays from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. When you call (325) 420-4173, a live coordinator will find the earliest available time that fits your schedule. Most homeowners in San Antonio get an estimate visit within a few days of calling, often sooner if our calendar has openings. The estimate itself takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on how many windows and doors you want priced.

Your new windows and doors carry the manufacturer's warranty on materials, which varies by brand and product line. For example, fiberglass entry systems from Therma-Tru and vinyl lines from ECO Window Systems each come with their own published coverage terms. Our installation workmanship is backed by the Cedarwell Care Promise, which ensures the job is done cleanly and correctly. If something isn't right after installation, call us. We'll assess the issue, determine whether it's a material or workmanship concern, and make it right. We'll spell out all warranty details on your written quote before you sign anything.

The Cedarwell Care Promise is the standard every Lightwell Windows & Doors location works under. It includes shoe covers and drop cloths inside the house, quiet tools when kids are asleep, pet-safe products where there is a choice, a photo of the clean-up before we leave, and a written price before any work starts. It's a care standard, not a legal document, but it shapes how our crews behave in your home. We protect floors, furniture, and air quality while we work, and we explain the price before the first tool comes off the truck. That's what clear views and a clean install means in practice.

Fogging between the panes means the insulated glass seal has failed. If this happens within the manufacturer's warranty period, the glass unit is typically replaced under that warranty. We handle the claim paperwork and the replacement installation for you. Outside of warranty, we can supply and install a new insulated glass unit for far less than a full window replacement, as long as the frame itself is still sound. This is a common issue in San Antonio's high-humidity climate, and it doesn't mean the entire window is failing. Call (325) 420-4173 and we'll identify which path applies to your situation.

Yes, we stand behind our installation work. If something related to how we installed your windows or doors goes wrong, like a door that shifts out of square or trim that separates, we'll come back and correct it. We want you to feel confident in the work long after our crew has packed up and left. The specific coverage details are included in your written estimate and final paperwork. Our goal is that you never need it, but knowing we'll answer the phone if you do matters. That's how Keith Yamada has run this branch from the start: be reachable, be accountable, and treat every San Antonio home like it's our own.

Written by Keith Yamada, Owner at Lightwell Windows San Antonio, serving San Antonio and surrounding communities since 2010.