Before and After: Full Window Replacement in a 1970s Briargate Ranch Home

Every window replacement project has a story behind it. This one started with a phone call from a homeowner in the Briargate area who told us: “We love our house, but we dread winter.”

Here is how we transformed their 1970s ranch from a drafty, uncomfortable home into one they actually look forward to spending winter in.

The Home

This Briargate ranch was built in 1974, a single-story, three-bedroom home with approximately 1,800 square feet. Like many homes from that era, it was originally built with aluminum-frame, single-pane windows. At some point in the late 1990s, the previous owners had upgraded to double-pane windows, but those replacements were builder-grade products without Low-E coatings.

By the time our homeowners called us, those 25-year-old replacement windows were showing their age:

• Seals had failed on six of the fourteen windows
• The aluminum-clad frames were pitted and corroded from UV and weather exposure
• The master bedroom window would not lock properly
• Several windows were visibly fogged between the panes
• The homeowners were spending over $280 per month on heating during peak winter

The Assessment

During our free in-home consultation, Michael inspected every window and documented the issues:

Living Room (3 large windows, south-facing): All three had failed seals with visible fogging. The frames were discolored and the weatherstripping was cracked and compressed. These windows were getting the most UV exposure and had degraded the fastest.

Kitchen (2 windows, west-facing): One slider window would not close fully, leaving a visible gap at the bottom rail. The other had fogging between panes.

Master Bedroom (2 windows, north-facing): The primary window would not lock, which was both an energy and security concern. Both windows showed condensation on cold mornings, indicating poor thermal performance.

Bedrooms 2 and 3 (2 windows each): Functional but with worn weatherstripping and poor energy performance. Interior condensation was common during cold snaps.

Bathroom and Utility (3 small windows): Original aluminum frames from 1974, never replaced. Single-pane glass. These were the worst performing windows in the house.

The Plan

We recommended replacing all 14 windows with Andersen 400 Series in Fibrex composite frames. Here is what went into each window:

• Fibrex composite frames for durability and minimal expansion in Colorado’s temperature swings
• Low-E4 glass (Andersen’s premium coating) for maximum UV protection and energy performance
• Argon gas fill between panes for superior insulation
• Warm-edge spacer system to eliminate cold spots at the glass edge
• New weatherstripping on every unit
• Color: Sandtone exterior to complement the home’s existing brick, white interior

For the living room, we recommended double-hung windows to replace the existing double-hung style and maintain the home’s character. The kitchen got casement windows for easier operation over the counter. All other rooms received double-hung windows to match.

The Installation

Our crew completed the project in two and a half days with minimal disruption to the household.

Day One

We started with the living room and kitchen (5 windows). Each old window was carefully removed, and we inspected the rough openings for any structural issues. In this home, we found some minor wood damage around two of the living room openings from years of moisture infiltration through the failed seals. We repaired the framing before installing the new windows.

Each new window was set level and plumb, shimmed, insulated with low-expansion spray foam around the entire perimeter, and sealed with exterior-grade caulking. Interior trim was reinstalled and touch-up paint applied.

Day Two

Bedrooms, bathroom, and utility room (9 windows). The three bathroom and utility windows were the original 1974 aluminum frames, and removing them required extra care since the rough openings needed updating to accept modern window sizes. We built out the openings to the correct dimensions and installed the new units.

Day Three (Half Day)

Final window in the master bedroom, all hardware checks, final caulking, cleanup, and walk-through with the homeowners. We demonstrated how each window operates, how to tilt the sashes for cleaning, and went over the warranty information.

The Results

Energy Performance

The homeowners tracked their energy bills carefully after the installation. Here is what they saw:

• December heating bill (before): $285
• December heating bill (after): $178
• Savings: $107 per month, or roughly 37 percent

Over the first full winter (November through March), they saved approximately $480 in heating costs compared to the same period the previous year. At that rate, the energy savings alone contribute meaningfully to the payback on the investment.

Comfort

The difference was immediate. The homeowners told us:

“The first cold night after the windows went in, we could not believe the difference. No drafts. No cold spots near the windows. We actually turned the thermostat down two degrees because the house felt warmer.”

The north-facing master bedroom, which had always been the coldest room in the house, was finally comfortable. No more condensation on the glass. No more draft you could feel from across the room.

Curb Appeal

The new Sandtone frames gave the exterior a clean, updated look without changing the character of the home. The crisp lines of the Andersen 400 Series frames were a noticeable upgrade from the dated, pitted aluminum of the old windows.

Sound Reduction

An unexpected benefit the homeowners mentioned was noise reduction. Briargate has a fair amount of traffic, and the new windows made a noticeable difference in how much road noise entered the home.

What This Project Teaches Us

This Briargate ranch project is a great example of what we see regularly across Colorado Springs:

1. Age matters, but condition matters more. The 25-year-old double-pane replacements had failed, while homes with quality products can go 30+ years.
2. Not all double-pane is equal. The old windows had no Low-E coating and used air instead of argon gas. Modern double-pane with Low-E and gas fill is a completely different product.
3. The whole system matters. New glass in old, corroded frames does not solve the problem. Replacing the entire window unit, including frames, seals, and weatherstripping, is what delivers real results.
4. Proper installation is half the job. Finding and repairing that frame damage during installation prevented future problems and ensured the new windows will perform at their best for decades.

Is Your Home Ready for a Transformation?

If you have a ranch home, split-level, or any home in the Briargate area with aging windows, we would love to show you what is possible. Every project starts with a free, no-pressure consultation where we assess your current windows and walk you through your options.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

Call us at (719) 238-5419 or browse our whole-home window replacement options. Spreading the cost matters too — see our flexible financing options to make a full upgrade easier on the budget. Let’s make your home comfortable again.