Skip to main content
Fulltext search
FILTER RESULTS BY:
RECOMMENDED IN RENT
Moving to NYC after college? Here's how to find a rental apartment
RECOMMENDED IN BUY
How buying real estate in NYC is unlike anywhere else
RECOMMENDED IN SELL
A guide to using a no-fee renovation loan from a NYC real estate firm
RECOMMENDED IN IMPROVE
How to make your NYC renovation more pet-friendly
BEST REAL ESTATE WEBSITE!
National Association of Real Estate Editors
BEST REAL ESTATE WEBSITE! National Association of Real Estate Editors
Brick Underground
Social Links
follow:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Flipboard
  • search
Brick Underground
☰ Brick Underground
Brick Underground
Brick Underground
☰
Brick Underground
  • Buy
    • Buy
    • The Market
    • Investing
    • New Construction + Condos
    • Affordable Housing
    • Co-ops
    • Negotiating + Financing
    • How to Buy in NYC Guide
    Haley and JP move to Prospect Lefferts Gardens
    New Construction + Condos
    From Prospect Heights to Prospect Lefferts Garden: We wanted three bedrooms so we could each have a home office
    An image of the top of a brick New York City apartment building, including its parapet.
    Design + Architecture
    Parapet inspections: What NYC boards and building owners need to know about Local Law 126
    one-bedroom condo at 702 Hancock Street
    The Search
    7 reasons why ground-floor apartments are desirable—instead of dealbreakers
  • Rent
    • Rent
    • Affordable Housing
    • Roommates + Landlords
    • The Market
    • The Search
    • How to Rent in NYC Guide
    Midtown Manhattan seen from Roosevelt Island tramway
    The Market
    Manhattan median rent spiked 6 percent to $4,500 in April
    Tenant protest outside Rent Guidelines Board preliminary vote
    Affordable Housing
    Rent Guidelines Board intends to raise stabilized rents for a fourth time
    A beautiful pink flowering cherry tree next to an old brick residential building with a fire escape in Astoria Queens New York during spring
    The Search
    A wet, hot, broker fee-free summer? A major change to rental broker fees is supposed to start in June
  • Sell
    • Sell
    • Staging + Open Houses
    • Negotiations + Closings
    • Getting Ready
    • How to Sell in NYC Guide
    Madison avenue and East 67th Street, Manhattan, New York City
    Sell
    Median sales price for Manhattan co-ops and condos jumps to $1,165,000
    new condo building and older co-op buildings in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
    Sell
    Brooklyn median price nears $1 million but the spring market is a question mark
    View of NYC condo buildings from New Jersey
    Sell
    Private listings: What NYC sellers and buyers need to know about the off-market controversy
  • Live
    • Live
    • Neighbors
    • Kids + Pets
    • Neighborhood Intel
    • Products + Test-drives
    • Troubleshooting
    FlatRate moving brick underground
    Live
    How to troubleshoot your move in advance
    Sponsored By flatrate
    big apple moving NYC
    Troubleshooting
    How can I save money when hiring a moving company in NYC?
    Sponsored By Big Apple Moving
    Houses and apartment buildings in Queens, NYC
    Troubleshooting
    Mayor Adams is bringing the tax lien sale back. Here’s how to get your property off the list
  • Improve
    • Improve
    • Small Spaces
    • Small Projects + DIY
    • Renovations
    • Design + Architecture
    • Products + Services
    • How to Renovate in NYC Guide
    An image of the top of a brick New York City apartment building, including its parapet.
    Design + Architecture
    Parapet inspections: What NYC boards and building owners need to know about Local Law 126
    solar panels on a small house roof
    Design + Architecture
    Simple Yet Powerful Steps To Turn Your Apartment Eco-Friendly
    Sponsored By Ecoflow
    This is a photograph of a street in the Upper West Side in NYC viewed from the Summit in Central Park through bare tree branches.
    Renovation
    Fewer buyers, steeper rents, and costlier renovations: How tariffs could impact NYC real estate
  • Boards & Buildings
    • Boards & Buildings
    • Boards
    • Finance
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Property Management
    • Structure & Systems
    • Sustainability
    Burned and Boarded Up Windows
    When should your board hire a public adjuster?
    Manhattan GM
    What should we consider when renewing insurance for our building?
    Facade of NYC buildings
    How much is insurance on a NYC co-op or condo building?
  • Advertise
    • Advertise with us
    • Sponsored Content
    • Experts
    FlatRate moving brick underground
    Live
    How to troubleshoot your move in advance
    Sponsored By flatrate
    Apartment buildings at Grand and Crosby streets in Soho, Manhattan
    Affordable Housing
    Ask Altagracia: My mom is moving out of our rent-stabilized apartment. How do I take over the lease?
    Sponsored By Outerbridge Law P.C.
    big apple moving NYC
    Troubleshooting
    How can I save money when hiring a moving company in NYC?
    Sponsored By Big Apple Moving
  • Brick Report
  • About Us
  • About Us
Email Address
Fulltext search
FILTER RESULTS BY:
New Main menu
  • Buy
    • Buy
    • The Market
    • Investing
    • New Construction + Condos
    • Affordable Housing
    • Co-ops
    • Negotiating + Financing
    • How to Buy in NYC Guide
  • Rent
    • Rent
    • Affordable Housing
    • Roommates + Landlords
    • The Market
    • The Search
    • How to Rent in NYC Guide
  • Sell
    • Sell
    • Staging + Open Houses
    • Negotiations + Closings
    • Getting Ready
    • How to Sell in NYC Guide
  • Live
    • Live
    • Neighbors
    • Kids + Pets
    • Neighborhood Intel
    • Products + Test-drives
    • Troubleshooting
  • Improve
    • Improve
    • Small Spaces
    • Small Projects + DIY
    • Renovations
    • Design + Architecture
    • Products + Services
    • How to Renovate in NYC Guide
  • Boards & Buildings
    • Boards & Buildings
    • Boards
    • Finance
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Property Management
    • Structure & Systems
    • Sustainability
  • Advertise
    • Advertise with us
    • Sponsored Content
    • Experts
  • Brick Report
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertise
  • About Us
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER →
Social Links Footer
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Search
NYC Renovation Q's [ SPONSORED ]

How to upgrade the windows in your NYC apartment

By Bolster  | June 21, 2018 - 1:00PM
image

Changing your windows can make a world of difference in terms of acoustics, heat and cooling efficiency, and aesthetics.

iStock

SHARE:
Share to Facebook
Share to Twitter
Print
More...

A major renovation is always a good opportunity for New York City homeowners to replace or upgrade their windows, particularly if they are drafty and performing poorly, which is not uncommon in aging NYC buildings. This is because changing your windows can make a world of difference in terms of acoustics, heat and cooling efficiency, and aesthetics.

“Basic performance issues can sometimes be addressed by re-caulking the frames or re-glazing the glass panes,” says Paul Capece, an architect with Bolster, a New York City company that empowers homeowners to control their major renovation by delivering industry-leading expertise and a radically transparent online platform. “However, sometimes the windows aren’t installed properly in the first place, are of poor quality, or simply don’t meet the homeowner’s aesthetic or functional requirements.”

Homeowners might also be motivated by a desire to change the style of the window—from a double-hung to casement window, for instance, or vice versa—or they may want to upgrade the look of the window with new, superior products. In these cases, replacing or upgrading the windows is the best option.

Making changes to your windows, though, can entail some complications, particularly if you live in a landmarked building or historic district. And even if you don’t, you may need to go through an approval process with your building’s board.

The work itself is also fairly specialized, and there is a limited number of people who know how to replace windows in accordance with city guidelines and are familiar with all the materials involved.

“Having a team of experts on your side is essential to taking the guesswork out of complex projects like window updates,” says Bolster Founder and CEO Fraser Patterson. “We carefully vet each professional we work with so that NYC homeowners who hire us can rest assured their projects will be delivered on time and on budget.”

Here’s what you need to consider when replacing your windows in NYC.

Pro Tip:

Whether you're renovating a two-bedroom prewar co-op or a 4,000-square-foot brownstone, Bolster guarantees a beautifully designed home renovation risk-free and on-budget. "Expect flawless communication, white-glove service, and absolutely no surprise costs," says Bolster's CEO and co-founder Anna Karp. Ready to start your renovation? Learn more >>

Replacing windows in landmark properties

If you own a landmark apartment or house, or live in a historic district, you’ll need approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission before you make any changes to your windows, to ensure that your renovation plans won’t interfere with the historic character of your home.

Note that for any project on landmarks that requires permits from the Department of Buildings—as most major renovations do—you will also need to go through the LPC. (See Brick’s previous story on what goes into updating landmark properties.) 

“The LPC’s prime directive is to keep the historical profiles of buildings,” says Bolster’s Lead Project Manager, Chris Amplo. “They’ll want to see drawings of what you’re proposing, and know about the color, glass, and frames of your replacement windows.”

The LPC has jurisdiction over the appearance of windows of landmarked properties (as it does with other exterior features of these buildings), and will expect homeowners to maintain the glass-to-frame proportions of their windows. Depending on the building, the LPC might also require specific materials be used for the frame, and for decorative molding to be preserved.

“If you’re in an ornamental Art Deco building with elaborate molding profiles, the LPC often requires that to be replicated, and there’s a significant expense goes along with doing that kind of work,” Paul says.

The LPC could also require that you use specific materials—for example, wood rather than aluminum frames—on your replacement windows, though this varies on a case by case basis, depending on your building and district. The LPC’s website notes that the commission does take into account the needs of today’s homeowners.

“The LPC cares about materials, but not on every building,” Paul says. “They might give you the latitude to use aluminum windows since they are typically the best-performing.” 

That said, landmark property owners should anticipate additional expenses in replacing their windows. Some landmark buildings, for instance, have curved glass windows with wooden frames, which Chris says are the most expensive type in the city, starting at $10,000 to replace. For the more straightforward window, expect to pay up to $3,000 per unit.

Non-landmark properties

For non-landmark buildings, the process of replacing windows tends to be less complex, though there are still plenty of decisions homeowners need to make regarding products.

“If you own a townhouse, for instance, it’s very straightforward,” Paul says. “You just need to meet the energy code and follow standard practices that include proper installation.”

Co-ops, on the other hand, are likely to impose some limitations on shareholders. Many co-op boards have agreements with specific companies, and homeowners who are replacing their windows may be obligated to work with their preferred installers.

“They don’t want every unit in the co-op to replace windows over time with different companies, so that from the outside there’s a mishmash of styles,” Paul explains. “That does happen sometimes, and it usually does lead to an unsightly situation.”

Even if your building does not have preferred installers, your board can withhold approval of your plans if your proposed windows could create a mismatched façade or fail to adhere to other building guidelines. To avoid delays because of complications with approvals, it’s crucial to hire contractors who are well-acquainted with the process.

“It’s really a specialty business,” Chris says. “You need a contractor who has a good relationship with manufacturers and knows how to navigate the approval process.”  

You should also consider which products are appropriate for your particular situation, if you aren’t facing strict restrictions. At the high end, Chris says, many homeowners prefer the aesthetics of wood windows, which can cost between $2,200 and $2,600 per unit. Aluminum, on the other hand, is cheaper, with high-quality products available at about $1,500 per unit.

“The right product for you is important to consider. Think of your timetable—if you won’t be in the property for a long time, maybe you don’t need the most expensive product,” Chris advises.

You Might Also Like

A renovated NYC kitchen
Improve What you need to know about upgrading your electrical system when renovating
image
Improve I want to upgrade the HVAC in my apartment. What do I need to know?
image
Improve What NYC homeowners need to know about updating their plumbing

Major renovations versus standalone window replacements 

If you’re upgrading your windows as a standalone project, you’ll likely want the work to be minimally disruptive to your life in the apartment. Many companies make replacement windows, Paul says, that can be installed without removing your window’s casings and other exterior components, a simpler process that can save you time and money.

However, there are some downsides to this type of work.

“The window function, material, and style options are typically more limited with replacement windows,” Paul says.

Furthermore, he adds, the frames for replacement windows are often thicker than window units designed for new construction, which can shrink the amount of glass in your window, and therefore reduce the natural light entering your apartment. For landmark property owners, these types of windows may not be an option, as they may not match the original style of the windows.

Homeowners who are replacing windows as one aspect of a larger renovation may opt instead to have the windows’ casings removed, which allows for more freedom in selecting materials. The best practice in these cases is to select windows designed for new constructions, Paul notes.

“With these windows, you can have any function, any operation, and many material choices,” he says.

Paul adds that removing the window casings makes it easier to install a new window with a better seal, which in turn means improved insulation and more natural light.

“You end up with a tighter, better performing, more beautiful window,” he says.

“At the end of the day, it’s about understanding the homeowner’s scope, budget, and vision–and ensuring we’re choosing the best materials that fit within the parameters of their building’s codes and regulations,” says Fraser.


Every year, New Yorkers waste over $700M following the usual renovation process.

Bolster has uncovered the drivers behind these inefficiencies and has developed a proprietary solution that applies to every home renovation project. Bolster is the first company to bring radical transparency, analytics, and accountability to the entire process. They promise that every project is thoughtfully designed and beautifully delivered for a fair price, on time, and on budget. To start your major home renovation project, visit bolster.us

Alanna Schubach

Alanna Schubach

Contributing writer

Contributing editor Alanna Schubach has over a decade of experience as a New York City-based freelance journalist.

SEE MORE BY Alanna Schubach »
Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.

topics:

architects contractors NYC Renovation Q's Renovation windows
SHARE
TWEET
BRICK’S PICKS
Historic brick facades of NYC apartment buildings
Getting overcharged by a landlord? Here’s how the Tenant Protection Unit helps rent-stabilized tenants
Apartment buildings in Soho
New Rent Guidelines Board report justifies a rent freeze, tenant advocates claim
Brooklyn apartment buildings
Understanding net effective rent: Here's how to calculate your real monthly rent
image
How much should you renovate your NYC apartment or house before selling?
Council Member Shahana Hanif hold press conference before the City Council vote on Arrow Linen spot rezoning.
City Council signs off on 10-story towers for Arrow Linen site
couple standing close, only jeans-clad legs showing
Can my boyfriend claim ownership of my condo if we break up?
Follow Brick on Instagram
@brickunderground | #brickunderground
Brick UndergroundBRICK UNDERGROUNDREAL LIFE. REAL ESTATE. REAL NEW YORK.
Social Links Footer
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Search
Main menu footer
  • Buy
    • The Market
    • Investing
    • New Construction + Condos
    • Affordable Housing
    • Co-ops
    • Negotiating + Financing
    • How to Buy in NYC Guide
  • Rent
    • Affordable Housing
    • Roommates + Landlords
    • The Market
    • The Search
    • How to Rent in NYC Guide
  • Sell
    • Staging + Open Houses
    • Negotiations + Closings
    • Getting Ready
    • How to Sell in NYC Guide
  • Live
    • Neighbors
    • Kids + Pets
    • Neighborhood Intel
    • Products + Test-drives
    • Troubleshooting
  • Improve
    • Small Spaces
    • Small Projects + DIY
    • Renovations
    • Design + Architecture
    • Products + Services
    • How to Renovate in NYC Guide

Get more news you can actually use...

The subscription service is currently unavailable. Please check again later.

Delivered to your inbox weekly - for free.

*By signing up you agree to receive occasional emails on behalf of our sponsors

Footer Menu
  • About Us
  • Advertise

Copyright 2009-2024 by BND Ventures Inc | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Ad Choices | Login