What we repair
| Problem | Repair | Typical cost (2026 planning band) |
|---|---|---|
| Fogged or hazy double-pane glass (seal failure) | Replace the insulated glass unit in the existing sash | $220 – $550 per unit |
| Cracked single pane | Reglaze | $120 – $260 |
| Broken sash cord or chain (weight-and-pulley) | New cord or chain, weights rehung | $110 – $220 per sash |
| Sash will not stay open (spring balance) | Replace balances | $90 – $200 per window |
| Painted-shut sash | Free, plane, re-weatherstrip | $150 – $350 per window |
| Rotted sill nosing or lower jamb, limited | Epoxy consolidation or dutchman repair | $200 – $600 |
| Loose, failed glazing putty on wood sash | Reglaze and prime | $120 – $300 per sash |
| Drafty meeting rail | Weatherstrip, adjust lock | $80 – $180 |
The quote is exact after we have seen the window. On pre-1978 houses, repairs that disturb more than six square feet of painted surface in a room fall under lead-safe rules and are priced with containment; a sash-cord job usually does not, a full sash removal and reglaze often does. See lead-safe window replacement.
Original wood sash: worth saving
Most of the City and the inner ring — University City, Webster Groves, Richmond Heights, Maplewood, Clayton — was built with weight-and-pulley double-hung windows in old-growth wood. They are heavier and better made than anything in a mid-range replacement, and they were designed to be taken apart and repaired. A restored sash with new cords, fresh glazing, weatherstripping and a good interior storm performs far better than people expect and keeps the house looking like itself.
In a City Historic District, the standards say it outright: Soulard's standard begins with "existing window repaired," and the Cultural Resources Office's approved list puts wood sash replacement kits — which keep your frame — ahead of full replacement. If your street-facing windows are original, restoration is usually both the cheapest route and the one that sails through review. See historic district windows.
When repair is not the honest answer
- The frame is rotted through at the sill or jambs, not just the nosing.
- A steel casement has rusted at the hinges or the frame has bowed.
- The opening has settled out of square so far that the sash binds.
- The insulated glass has failed in a vinyl window whose frame has also warped or whose welds have cracked — replacing the glass in a failing frame is money twice.
- You want a meaningful change in energy performance from a single-pane window with no storm; a storm window gets you part of the way, but a new double-pane low-e unit is the real step.
We say which it is on the quote. The decision guide is repair or replace, and the replacement services are window replacement and full-frame replacement.
How it works
Repairs do not need the full online estimate. Send photos of the problem windows and a sentence on what each one does wrong through the quote form. For glass-unit replacement we need the glass size and a photo of the spacer bar; for cords and balances, a photo of the sash and the jamb. We quote in writing, order glass or parts, and do the work in a single visit for most houses.
Not ready to talk yet?
Start with the planning layer: the complete St. Louis replacement window guide — the "repair or replace" section — and repair or replace windows.
Frequently asked questions
Can you fix fogged glass without replacing the window? Yes. The insulated glass unit is replaced in the existing sash. The frame has to be sound; if it is, this is the right fix and far cheaper than a new window.
Can I get new glass in my old wood sash? Yes. A single pane is reglazed; some wood sash can be routed to accept a thin double-pane unit, which we evaluate case by case.
Do you make old windows energy efficient? Restoration plus weatherstripping plus a good storm window gets an original single-pane double-hung surprisingly close to a modern unit on air leakage, less so on U-factor. We lay the numbers out so you can choose.
Is repair covered under a storm claim? Glass broken by hail or debris usually is; see storm damage window replacement.