Window replacement in Des Moines

What a replacement job includes

1. Measuring. Each opening is measured, because older Des Moines houses rarely have two windows the same size. Custom sizes are normal and ordered from the factory.
2. Removal. The old sashes come out. In an insert job the old frame stays; in a full-frame job the frame and stops come out, often with the interior trim, down to the rough opening.
3. Rot check. Sills and the bottom of the frame are checked for soft wood. A good quote says how rot repair is priced, because nobody knows until the old window is out.
4. Setting the new window. Shimmed level and square. Then fastened and sealed with low-expansion foam or insulation around the frame.
5. Exterior capping and trim. Aluminum capping or new trim covers the old wood. Flashing or sealant sheds water.
6. Cleanup and disposal. Old windows hauled away. In a pre-1978 house, lead-safe cleanup too.

What it costs

Your price depends on how many windows you have and their sizes. The frame and the glass package matter too, along with the installation method and any rot. The full cost guide.

Insert or full-frame?

An insert (also called pocket) replacement slides a new window into the existing frame. It costs less and disturbs less trim, but it only works when the old frame is square and solid, and it gives up some glass area. A full-frame replacement removes everything down to the rough opening, which lets the installer fix rot and insulate the gap around the frame. You also keep the full glass size. More on installation methods.

Rules that apply in Des Moines

• The City of Des Moines' permit exemption policy (effective July 1, 2023) lets window replacement skip a building permit only when the rough opening keeps its size and the finished egress opening is not reduced. The window also must not be one the code requires for smoke control, fire separation distance or safety glazing.
• Iowa's lead-safe renovation rules cover target housing, meaning housing built before 1978, plus pre-1978 child-occupied buildings such as daycares. In Iowa, a company that does renovation in that housing must be certified as a lead-safe renovator firm, and at least one certified lead-safe renovator must be assigned to each job. DIAL runs the program.
• Des Moines has three local historic districts: Sherman Hill, plus Owl's Head and River Bend. Before any exterior alteration there, the Historic Preservation Commission must issue a Certificate of Appropriateness.
• You may cancel a door-to-door sale without penalty within three business days of the transaction (Iowa Code 555A.3). Business days do not count weekends or public holidays.

Who should do it

Iowa does not issue a general contractor license. Instead, Iowa Code Chapter 91C requires anyone who earns at least $2,000 a year from construction work to register with DIAL, the state licensing department. You can look up any contractor's registration on the Iowa Labor Portal public search at laborportal.iwd.iowa.gov. Ask for the registration number, the insurance certificate and, for a pre-1978 house, the lead-safe firm certification. How to check.