Before & After Gallery - Lightwell Windows Long Beach

Windows & Doors Before & After in Long Beach, CA

Photos do what promises can’t. A rotted frame, a fogged pane, a door that catches on the jamb every time you close it – those problems live in pictures. So do the fixes. Below are real scenarios our crews in Long Beach see and solve, from Naples Island bungalows to Bluff Heights condos and Alamitos Beach apartments where salt air does a number on metal and wood. Each project type shows the before, the work we did, and the after. Names and addresses stay private, but the details are exactly what we see on the job.

Call (562) 912-3327

Recent Transformations

Fogged Double-Pane Replacement in a Naples Island Canal Home

BeforeAfter

The problem: a second-story bedroom window facing the water had a failed seal. Between the double panes sat a permanent haze – moisture, salt residue, and condensation that never cleared. The homeowner couldn’t see the boats.

We pulled the old sash, measured the opening, and installed a new insulated glass unit with a Low-E coating suited to coastal sun exposure. The frame itself was still square, so we kept it and replaced only the glass. Result: a clear view of the canal and the same frame the homeowner liked. That job ran under $500 because the frame didn’t need replacing.

Rotted Wood Frame Replacement in Bluff Heights

BeforeAfter

The problem: a 1950s Bluff Heights bungalow had original wood windows that had been painted over for decades. Along the bottom rail of the kitchen window, the wood was soft enough to press a thumb into. Termite damage plus years of ocean moisture. The window would not lock.

Our crew removed the entire frame back to the rough opening, treated the surrounding wood, and installed a replacement vinyl window with a new sill and exterior trim. We used pet-safe sealant around the exterior, laid drop cloths over the kitchen counters, and vacuumed before we left. The window now locks, opens with two fingers, and sheds water. Most full-frame replacements like this in Long Beach run between $900 and $1,800 per opening depending on size and stucco work.

Single-Pane Aluminum Slider Swapped in an Alamitos Beach Condo

BeforeAfter

The problem: a condo on Ocean Boulevard had a floor-to-ceiling aluminum slider from the 1970s. Single pane. The track was worn. On windy afternoons, the glass flexed enough to whistle and let salt mist through the seams. The HOA had been putting off replacement for two years.

We installed a dual-pane vinyl slider with stainless steel rollers and a new interlock. The vinyl won’t corrode the way the old aluminum did, which matters two blocks from the beach. We showed the HOA rep the old roller tracks before we hauled them away – that sold the fix better than any brochure. Dual-pane slider replacements in Long Beach condos usually run $1,400 to $2,600 per unit depending on the size of the opening.

Entry Door Replacement in California Heights

The problem: a California Heights Tudor had a solid wood front door that had soaked up decades of rain. It swelled in winter and shrank in summer. The deadbolt only lined up about six months out of the year. The homeowner was done fighting it.

We installed a Therma-Tru fiberglass entry door in a finish that matches the Tudor style – wood grain, dark stain, no warp, no swelling. We set it in a new frame with fresh weatherstripping. The homeowner’s kids noticed it closed quietly on the first try, which is a detail we like. Entry door replacements in Long Beach typically run $1,800 to $4,000 including frame work, hardware, and finish.

Patio Door Swap in Bixby Knolls

The problem: a split-level Bixby Knolls home had a sliding patio door whose rollers had flattened. Opening it took a two-hand shove plus a hip check. The glass was original single-pane from the 1980s. The room ran hot in summer.

We pulled the old door and installed a PGT vinyl slider with dual-pane insulated glass. New track, new locks, new screen. We capped the job by showing the homeowner the old melted roller bearings. The door now glides open with one finger. Long Beach patio door replacements like this one generally land between $1,500 and $3,200.

Bedroom Window Sound Upgrade in Wrigley

The problem: a Wrigley home sits a few doors from a busy cross street. The kids’ bedroom faced it. Their old windows were thin single-pane units and every bus, truck, and loud motorcycle came straight through the glass. Nap time was a negotiation.

We replaced the windows with laminated glass from ES Windows, which uses a plastic interlayer that cuts noise far better than standard dual pane. We kept the install quiet and fast – tools off by early afternoon, drop cloths around the crib, shoe covers at the door. The room is noticeably quieter. Laminated glass adds roughly 20 to 30 percent to the per-opening cost, so expect $800 to $1,500 per window for this type of upgrade in Long Beach.

Want Results Like These?

Every one of these projects started with a phone call and a free estimate. We’ll walk the house with you, take measurements, and hand you a written price before any work starts. No invoice surprises at the end. Call (562) 912-3327 and we’ll put a time on the calendar. Keith Yamada and the crew will take it from there.

Written by Keith Yamada, Owner, Lightwell Windows Long Beach, serving Long Beach since 2010.