Who it suits
Homes in historic districts where wood may be required, architecturally specific homes, and homes where the look of real wood is part of the character of the house.
Wood and Clad Wood Windows in North Alabama
Wood frames, usually clad on the outside, for homes where the architecture sets the rules. Clad means a shell of aluminum or vinyl over the outside of the frame that protects the wood from weather.
Exterior windows and doors only. We do not install interior doors or interior windows.
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Quick answer
Wood windows make sense in North Alabama where the house calls for them: historic districts, architecturally specific homes, and homes where the look of real wood matters. In this humidity, choose clad wood, with aluminum or vinyl cladding outside to protect the wood, and plan on regular upkeep. For energy performance alone, vinyl or fiberglass is the better buy.
At a glance
- Scope
- Exterior windows only. We do not install interior windows or doors.
- Frame
- Wood, usually clad outside in aluminum or vinyl
- Best for
- Historic districts and homes where real wood matters
- Upkeep
- Yearly finish checks and recoating on a schedule
- Relative cost
- Highest of the common frame materials
- Pricing
- Per opening, after measuring
The details
How it compares
We will recommend wood when the house calls for it and talk you out of it when it does not. Unclad wood on an exposed wall with no roof overhang is a maintenance commitment that many homeowners regret by year six.
A clad wood window, with aluminum or vinyl cladding outside to protect the wood from weather, is usually the better compromise. Choose it where the look of real wood matters. Energy performance is not a reason to choose wood, because vinyl and fiberglass do that job for less.
Wood in this climate
Maintenance is not optional here. Long, humid summers keep moisture pressure on any exposed wood, and once moisture gets into the wood, the repair is joinery (rebuilding the wooden parts), not painting.
Inspect the outside finish every year, and recoat on a schedule rather than waiting for it to fail. South and west walls take the most sun and fail first, so check those closely. Keep the weep holes clear and the outside sealant joint in good order too.
Clad or unclad
- Clad wood
- Aluminum or vinyl cladding covers the outside of the frame, so rain and sun hit the cladding, not the wood. Much less outside upkeep, and the right choice for most wood windows here.
- Unclad wood
- Painted or stained wood with no protective shell. Sometimes required for historic accuracy. Best on sheltered walls with a good overhang, and only if you will keep up the finish.
If you want to keep your original windows
In a historic home, replacement is not always the best answer. If the original wood sashes are sound and replacement is restricted, an exterior storm window can add a second air barrier while the originals stay in place. We will tell you honestly which approach suits your house.
What to check before you buy
- Any historic district rules for your street. Check with your city's historic preservation office before ordering.
- The wood species and grade.
- Clad or unclad outside, and the cladding color.
- Factory finish or a finish applied on site.
- The grille pattern and profile, if you are matching the original windows.
What affects the price
We price after measuring, line by line, with the materials named. These are the things that move the number.
- Wood species and grade
- Clad or unclad exterior
- Finish: applied at the factory or on site
- Grille pattern and profile
- Historic district requirements
How a job works
Step 1: Free in-home estimate
We walk your exterior, measure, and show you the options. There is no charge and no pressure.
Step 2: Choose your materials
You get a written scope with every line and material named. Then we order for your home.
Step 3: Installed and cleaned up
Cut, fitted, trimmed, cleaned up and hauled away the same day. You never look at a pile of old frames.
From our recent jobs
Real ACM job photos. Every photo marked “ACM job photo” is from one of our own jobs.
ACM job photoPorch window replacement
Old porch windows with failing frames replaced with a new picture window and sliders, set and sealed from the outside.
ACM job photoDouble-hung window replacement in brick
A worn double-hung window with a deteriorated sill replaced with a new white double-hung unit.
ACM job photoNew picture window on a brick ranch
A large picture window installed on a brick ranch home, finished and cleaned up the same day.
What homeowners say on Google
- Google review
ACM Pros replaced our windows and our front door in Hazel Green, AL. We are very happy with the work and the team.
Ben Stachowiak, Hazel Green
Questions people ask
Does wood make sense in this humidity?
Where the architecture requires it, yes, with the clear caveat that maintenance is not optional here. A clad wood window, with aluminum or vinyl cladding outside, keeps bare wood out of Alabama weather.
What maintenance does it actually need?
An inspection of the outside finish every year, and recoating on a schedule rather than when it fails. Once moisture gets into the wood, the repair is joinery, not painting.
Why choose wood at all?
Historic districts where it may be required, architecturally specific homes, and homes where the look of real wood matters. Those are real reasons. Energy performance is not one of them.
What is a clad wood window?
A wood window with a shell of aluminum or vinyl over the outside of the frame. The cladding takes the rain and sun so the wood does not, which cuts outside upkeep a great deal.
Are wood windows required in a historic district?
Sometimes. Rules vary by district, so check with your city's historic preservation office before you order. Where replacement is restricted, an exterior storm window may let you keep the originals.
How does wood compare with fiberglass?
Fiberglass can be painted, holds its shape through daily heat swings and needs far less upkeep. Wood gives you the real material, which matters on some homes. If real wood is not a must, fiberglass or vinyl will serve you better in this climate.
Do you install interior windows or doors?
No. We replace exterior windows, the windows in your home's outside walls, and install exterior doors. We do not install interior windows or interior doors, and we do no interior remodeling.
Related services
Exterior Window Replacement
Every window style and frame material, measured and installed from the outside with a sill pan and proper flashing.
Learn moreStorm Windows
A second pane fitted outside an existing window. A smart, reversible answer for single-pane and historic windows.
Learn more
Fiberglass Windows
Frames that expand with the glass they hold, can be painted, and earn their cost on sunny south and west walls.
Learn moreDouble-Hung Windows
Two sashes that both slide up and down. The most familiar style, and nothing swings out into a walkway or over a patio.
Learn moreCasement Windows
Side-hinged and cranked open, a casement seals tighter than any other common style and catches the breeze.
Learn moreWindow replacement in Huntsville
Ranch homes, historic districts and glass for afternoon sun.
Learn more
Guides on this topic
Exterior windows9 minute read
Best Windows for North Alabama Homes: Frames, Glass and Style
Frame material, glass package and window style, judged against what North Alabama's long, humid cooling season actually does to a window.
Exterior windows10 minute read
Signs You Need New Windows: Five to Act On, Two to Watch
Five window problems worth acting on in a North Alabama home, and two that look alarming but usually are not.
Exterior doors10 minute read
Best Entry Door Material for Alabama: Fiberglass, Steel or Wood
Fiberglass, steel and wood each have a place on a North Alabama front door. Here is how humidity, hail and hard afternoon sun should steer your choice.
Areas we serve
We're based in Madison and work across North Alabama, providing wood windows in every area below. We do not work in Tennessee.
Let's get your home looking its best.
Tell us what you're picturing. We'll come out, measure up, and give you a free written estimate, so you know exactly what to expect before any work begins.
- Free measuring and written estimate
- No pressure to sign, ever
- Alabama license #307601, licensed and insured
