AMN Construction
805 886 0988Contact
AMN Construction · Finish carpentry · Window installation

Window installation, flashed, level and trimmed.

We install replacement windows in existing homes and new windows in additions and remodels. The window is set level and square, flashed so water runs out and not in, sealed, and trimmed on the inside.

Email photographs and measurements805 886 0988

In short

  • Most window trouble is water, not glass. How the opening is flashed matters more than the window itself.
  • A retrofit keeps the old frame. A full-frame replacement removes it. They suit different houses.
  • Some exterior window changes need a permit or design review. We tell you which applies before you order.
Drawing: A room in elevation: the window, and the trim that finishes it on the inside.123
  1. WindowSet level and square, and flashed so water that gets behind the trim runs back out.
  2. Window casingThe trim around a window. Its width and profile should agree with the door casing.
  3. Stool and apronThe inside sill, and the trim piece beneath it.
A room in elevation: the window, and the trim that finishes it on the inside.

Step by step

How a window is flashed, frame by frame.

sill pan first, lapped outset level, fastened at the flangesides, then head:each layer over the one belowwater behind runs down and out
1 / 4

How a window is flashed

  1. Sill panA sill pan goes in first, sloped and lapped over the wall barrier, so any water reaching the sill drains out.
  2. Set the windowThe window is set level and square, and fastened through its flange.
  3. Flash in orderFlashing tape goes on the sides, then the head, each layer overlapping the one below like shingles.
  4. Water runs outWater that gets behind the siding or stucco meets a layer that sends it down and out, never in.

Built by Tom. Fifty years of custom cabinets and finish carpentry, from Oregon and Hawaii to Malibu, Pacific Palisades and Westlake Village, and now from Goleta to Carpinteria. Meet the carpenter

What we do

What is included.

  • Retrofit installation: a new window fitted inside the existing frame, leaving the exterior wall undisturbed.
  • Full-frame replacement: the old window and frame removed down to the rough opening in the wall.
  • Flashing: layered waterproof tape and membrane that steer rain out and away from the framing.
  • Setting the window level, plumb and square, shimmed so it opens and locks without binding.
  • Insulating and sealing the gap around the frame against drafts.
  • New interior casing, stool and apron, or reinstalling the existing trim where it can be saved.

How it goes

  1. Step 1

    You email photographs of the windows from inside and outside, with rough sizes, and tell us what is wrong with them.

  2. Step 2

    We look at the openings on site, check for signs of past leaks, and tell you whether your town needs a permit or design review for the change.

  3. Step 3

    Once that is settled, each opening is measured exactly and the windows are ordered.

  4. Step 4

    The old window comes out, the opening is repaired and flashed, and the new window is set, shimmed, fastened and sealed.

  5. Step 5

    Interior trim goes on, and the exterior is patched or trimmed to match the wall around it.

Yours to decide

Decide these first.

  • Retrofit or full-frame. Retrofit is quicker and leaves stucco alone, but keeps the old frame and loses a little glass. Full-frame lets us see and fix what is behind the old window.
  • Frame material. Wood, fiberglass, vinyl and aluminum each handle sun and salt air differently, and each looks different from the street.
  • How it opens. Casement windows swing out and seal tightly. Double-hung and sliding windows suit spots where a swinging sash would be in the way.
  • Glass. Coatings and double glazing affect heat, glare and noise. Bedrooms and rooms facing a road may want something different from the rest.
  • Whether the size or look from outside changes. That is what can bring in a permit or design review, depending on the town.

How to tell good work

  • The window opens, closes and locks with one hand, and stays where you leave it.
  • The gap between the sash and the frame is even all the way around.
  • Outside, the sill slopes away from the house and water has a clear way out.
  • No daylight, draft or rattle around the frame on a windy afternoon.
  • Interior trim with even reveals, so the window looks as though it was there from the start.

What moves the price

  • The number of windows, their size, and how hard they are to reach from outside.
  • Retrofit or full-frame. Full-frame means opening and patching the exterior wall, which is more work in stucco.
  • What is found in the wall. Rot or old leak damage has to be repaired before the new window goes in.
  • The window itself. Frame material, glass and custom shapes move the price more than the labor does.

Prices vary with the materials and the hours a job takes. Each job is custom and unique, so we price it once we have seen the room.

Questions

Window installation: what owners ask.

What is the difference between retrofit and full-frame window replacement?
A retrofit window fits inside the old frame, which stays in the wall. A full-frame replacement removes the old window and frame entirely. Retrofit is less disruptive and leaves the exterior alone. Full-frame gives new flashing, a little more glass, and a look at any hidden damage.
Do I need a permit to replace windows in Santa Barbara?
It depends on the town and on what changes. Swapping a window for one of the same size and look is treated differently from changing its size, material or appearance from the street. Some areas also have design review. We tell you which applies to your house before you order anything.
Why do new windows leak?
Almost always because of the flashing, not the window. Flashing is the layered waterproofing around the opening, and it has to overlap in the right order so water runs down and out. If one layer is reversed or a corner is left open, rain gets behind the wall.
Can you replace windows in a stucco house without damaging the stucco?
Often, yes. A retrofit window is set into the existing frame and the stucco is left alone. A full-frame replacement means cutting the stucco back around the opening and patching it afterward. The patch can be blended in, though a keen eye may find it until the wall is repainted.

Where we do this

Built in our small boutique shop in Carpinteria where the piece is custom, and fitted on site in:

CarpinteriaSummerlandMontecitoSanta BarbaraHope RanchGoleta

RelatedDoor and window casingRelatedDoor installationRelatedExterior trim

All finish carpentry · see the projects

  1. Custom cabinetry
  2. Baseboards
  3. Door and window casing
  4. Window installation
  5. Door installation
  6. Custom shelving
  7. Hardware installation
  8. Crown molding
  9. Wainscoting and wall paneling
  10. Built-ins
  11. Custom closets
  12. Stair railings and treads
  13. Fireplace mantels and surrounds
  14. Ceiling beams and coffered ceilings
  15. Kitchen cabinet installation
  16. Bathroom vanities
  17. Custom furniture and pieces
  18. Trim and door repair
  19. Exterior trim

Inquiries

Have a room in mind? Send us the photographs.

Email photographs of the room and rough measurements to purchasing@amnbuild.com. Matt reads it himself. No forms.

Email Matt the photographsOr call Matt · 805 886 0988

Updated October 2026

Email Matt