Charles Window & Door Company

I recently had my house resided by Charles Windows & Doors and could not have been more pleased with the entire process from quote, to installation, to follow-​up. They basically re-​built the exterior of my house in four weeks. After removing the old siding, they sheathed the house (which it did not previously have), replaced all the doors and windows, and then resided everything to perfection.. Their attention to detail at every steps was remarkable, even down to accommodating some of my thoughts as a self-​proclaimed «HGTV-​junkie.» And having received multiple quotes for the same work, they were only slightly higher than the other quotes and the quality of their work and professionalism of the team certainly makes them worth it.

JUST SAY NO to these jackasses! they gave me a sleazy, disrespectful, bait-​n-​switch sales job when all I wanted was a price for a door I had already researched online! yuck.
I talked to Bernard on the phone, told him the exact door I wanted with brand, style #, features & dimensions, and he sent me an estimate for about $ 700. he suggested I come to the showroom to see samples of glass & wood. when I showed up there, Bernard was busy chatting w/​another employee and kept me waiting for 20min. when he finally came out, they couldn’t find any samples for the manufacturer in question. he said their installers had all the samples & I should schedule an appt to finalize my order & recheck my measurements.
Michael showed up to the appt 30 min late and turned out to be a salesman, not an installer. he proceeded to bore the crap out of me showing me each and every award they’ve ever received and explain over & over how great they were. I kept telling him I would install the door myself, and could he please just give me some prices. he stalled me & tried to up-​sell me another door. after an hour of BS, where he pretended to look things up, he finally wrote $ 3800 on a piece of paper & handed it to me. there was no itemized list of what was included — it did not even show the brand or style # of the door!!! I asked what I got for $ 3800, and he said, «the door you asked for». how did we go from $ 700 to $ 3800, since there were no changes to the original door? he told me I was confused — so I showed him Bernard’s written estimate. he said I didn’t understand the complex process of putting in a door, he’s been doing it 20 yrs, etc. I told him for the 20^th time that I wanted a price for the door, and I was installing it myself. he said that I was obviously confused about what door I wanted. what?! I had enough of this game, and I asked him to leave. what a total waste of time. he couldn’t give me a straight answer to a single question. nor was he ever able to come up with a solid price for the door.
maybe this crap works on elderly people with dementia, who can’t keep track of numbers or what’s been said, or maybe it works on people who have never done construction before. but I’m outraged. unless you enjoy a good runaround, avoid these A-​holes.

Charles Windows last year installed 3 windows (large bedroom window with picture and 2 side slides; hall picture window and in garage traditional window) all in one day. They were on time, did an excellent job, cleaned up, were courteous and reasonably priced. This year the garage window cracked and they worked with manufacturer and replaced it for free. They are top notch professionals, highly recommend.
Grace G

I hired Charles Windows to replace nine windows in my home about six months ago. Three of those windows were a ‘custom’ job, changing to windows much larger than the windows being replaced so it required thoughtful installation. Now six months and one rainy season later and I can confirm that we are really happy that we went with Charles Windows. The windows look terrific and the installation seems to be perfect.
We had a lot of windows replaced which required the install team to be in my home for five days. The team was extremely professional, friendly and as non-​intrusive as possible. They also kept me apprised of progress throughout the project. Second, when we had someone in to discuss and price out our project, this representative quickly and clearly outlined what types of windows needed to be used (in certain areas) in order to be within building code guidelines /​fire safety issues. That was very helpful.
Replacing so many windows was an investment, but the finished product was definitely worth it.

This is a thoroughly professional company, with high quality products, and an experienced, skilled staff.
We contracted with them to furnish and install a new front door and one rear window. We chose a Plast-​Pro door during a home visit sales call with Kevin, who is a great sales rep to work with.
Work was done around our scheduling requirements, and was done in perfect fashion.
Let me also say that the door is beautiful. I never thought I would say that about a door, but it really is a great piece of craftsmanship.
If you choose Charles for your new front door or windows, they will exceed your expectations!
Special mentions for Vlad, Yuri, Kevin.

I liked these guys — friendly, professional, and very informed about their products. We learned a lot and they are good to have on your short list. Initially I thought we were going to go with them. However, there were two things that caused us to go with another vendor, which I expect they will be able to take care of in the future.
One problem was the lack of an efficient bidding process. Everyone else returned a quote within a few hours. I told them that we needed to move quickly, because a mold issue was causing health problems and we wanted new windows ASAP. There were three different delays that meant it was ultimately a week before receiving our quote, and then instead of the itemized proposal, the signable contract I expected, we received an email with a few sentences with numbers — requiring more back and forth if we wanted to proceed with them.
Also, with the exact same product, their bid was significantly higher than other vendors.

Had a great experience with Charles Windows — we got 7 windows replaced in our house. Their quote was a little higher, but the windows they carry were higher quality. They were completely professional the entire way through and we are happy with the product and installation. In fact they told us one of the windows was not fitting properly and took it upon themselves to have it replaced. I wonder how many other companies would have taken it upon themselves to have done this, unprompted.

Charles seems like a very good company to work with. I had someone come out for a quote and he was wonderful, spent time explaining the products. I decided to get a few more quotes and the unfortunately it was a 15% cheaper than Charles. Their sales man did follow up with me and was very responsive. I would go with them in a heart beat as their professional and up front. In this case they simply got out bid.

Our neighbor referred Charles Window and Door Company to us and I must say, they are a delight to work with. I am so impressed with our new windows and the excellent service to match that I have recommended them to our friends and neighbors on the other side!
From start to finish, my wife and I experienced quality and professionalism well beyond our expectations. I think its the attention to detail that impressed me the most. The crews showed up on time, they cleaned up at the end of each day, they clean the windows after they are installed! We mistakenly chose a different company years ago to replace two front windows and they left the windows with the stickers and fingerprints on them!
I cannot recommend this company highly enough. Expect quality, true craftsmanship and the highest integrity.

As part of my remodeling, Charles Window replaced numerous family room windows and two French doors. From the early questions on my part to the last signoff on the completed project, they were always the highest professional standard, helping me understand the process and product choices, and always counseled me well. The actual installation was superb, and I was particularly impressed with daily cleanliness by the crews, who at all times showed great respect fro my home. I cannot recommend this company enough to anyone considering new windows/​doors.

This was going to be a five star review. Everything was amazing, on time, and super professional until the day before the install, when my contractor called me and said, «I thought you said the windows were supposed to be clear? They say you ordered all white»
There ensued several category 5 phone skirmishes before they admitted they had made a mistake on the order, and somehow not seen the specification that three of the windows be the wood-​encased. Since I had a tenant moving in the following week and was in the process of moving across the country, I decided not to wait the 5 weeks for replacements and go ahead with the install, which went without a hitch and the windows look great.
I want to emphasize that everyone I had any interaction with here was polite, prompt and professional. Especially great was Mary, who came in to the situation late and got the brunt of my unhappiness, and always responded with professional courtesy as well as warmth and compassion. I’d recommend using them, but I’d say check, re-​check and triple check your order, as I’ve learned one should always do when one is relying on others to get you what you want.

Big waste of time–
This company has a great website, information and initial follow up; however, there is a huge DISCONNECT after the initial contact– lack of follow-​up and failure to track appointments made.
For example, no one showed up for the original appointment made and no call. I called to reschedule the appointment for the following week; and, when I called again to confirm, they said my appointment was not on the schedule and someone should have called me… Additionally, they mentioned they are currently not servicing the East or South Bay and their business is primarily in the Marin area. They should update their website to reflect changes in their service area…

Good experience with this company. We had initially gone with a low-​priced company (not Charles Window) for our first set of windows. They installed one window incorrectly (leaked after rain) and had to come back and do it again. The workers spoke no English, reeked of smoke, and we couldn’t ask questions.
Next set of windows were done by Charles Window. A friend with an Eichler recommended them — Eichler houses have windows as walls — so I figured the company must be good. They were professional and prompt. The estimate may have been a bit higher than others, but — quality of work was excellent compared with the first company. The workers who did the install were employees of the company and were happy to answer questions. The main installer guy (I think his name was Vlad) even took pictures of his work afterwards and helped me install blinds, which he didn’t have to do.
Overall a very positive experience. They’ll be the first people I call next time for windows.

The team at Charles Window & Door are simply the best in the business. I’m a developer in San Francisco and don’t provide that endorsement lightly. Niko personally visited the job site multiple times and ensured a very smooth project execution. The entire team is first class, extremely professional and a pleasure to work with. I was so impressed that I immediately contacted Niko and his team to complete my current 2 unit remodel in Noe Valley (SF). That is one part of this project that I’m not going to worry about. Feel free to contact me and I will be happy to go into further detail if you need additional assurance. I wish more companies cared like these guys.

We WORKED with Charles windows in february and the replaced the entire wall of windows and reinstalled a new siding where it was needed. They did an outstanding job, the team was on time, really knowledgeable and helpfull. They cleaned the place every evening before leaving, looked for the best solutions and offered options to work with.
Finally, we didn’t get the «surprise» bill we get with so many contractors who are very cheap at the beginning, and then change their price in the middle of the road for a bunch of different reasons.
They did a wonderfull, professional job and I can really recommand them.

I have used this company several times over the years for windows and siding. They have always given me a competitive price and delivered expert craftsmanship and quality. I would recommend Charles Windows without hesitation to any one seeking a good quality window job.

They’re up front about costing more than average but supposedly do a «better job». We got three quotes and could not justify paying the extra for them. Very helpful/​friendly during the quote process but the charm ended once they learned they didn’t win the business.

First let me say that the team from Charles Windows is outstanding. They just finished a job for me here in North Beach-​Telegraph Hill, and it’s one of the best construction experiences I’ve had in a long time. I have a background in construction so I’m speaking from more than a casual handyman experience.
The entire team truly understands customer service as well as excellent communication. From Susan who answers the phones, Rick in Sales, the fellow who came to do the measurements, Keith in Operations and finally today, Chris and Sean who performed the installation. Each and every person let me know I was a valuable customer not just in their words but in their actions. I will definitely use them again as the need arises. And, in the mean time, I will recommend them to friends without hesitation.
They are price competitive despite what one Unilocal contributor has written. Often, what I find is that most people have little understanding of the subtle issues associated with window replacement. Typically, they think out comes the old window and in goes the new one. Well, often times what they don’t see is the lack of care taken to properly fit and seal the window from the elements, and I don’t mean just gobs of caulking. I’m not suggesting other installers are deliberately doing a bad job. It’s just that they often don’t really know how to do it right. Not until time passes and they end up with rotten frames and water leaking into their exterior walls causing damage they dont’ see until it’s way too late such as dry rot. Chris and Sean used care and were skillful about what they did. I don’t have to second guess anything they did and to me that’s a huge relief.
On a separate subject, I’ve noticed people on Unilocal slamming contractors and it infuriates me to see that type of «ripping» of honest hard-​working vendors. Why would someone give one-​star over an issue of a price quote. No need for that and it’s terribly malicious.
I also saw someone left a low review from Arizona. Charles Windows doesn’t even serve Arizona. I even sent a note to that person asking for details before I decided to use Charles Windows so they could explain what happened. I got no response. I have to assume that the person doesn’t exist and simply spends time ripping vendors on Unilocal.
Charles Windows team, thanks again for your help on this window project along with your honesty, integrity and great customer service.
Sincerely,
Gary

I just had a fantastic experience, start to finish. The sales woman was highly consultative. I received far more information and guidance from her than the two other companies I received bids from.
The communication was great throughout the process — from bid, to scheduling, to getting the job done.
The team of installers were prompt, polite, and pleasant. They kept my house tidy during the process, cleaning up at the end of each day. (It took all week, as I was replacing all windows and doors). They even worked in a sudden downpour of rain one day, just to get the big window in (so I wouldn’t be stranded with a gaping hole). The office called to reconfirm each time the staggered payments were being charged to my card. They even sent a lovely thank you letter at the end.
I’ve already referred a friend to them. I am very confused by the negative comments here as I received no hint of any of these problems. Makes me wonder if competitors are posting bogus reviews. Who knows…

We just used Charles Windows to replace 5 big windows in our living and dining rooms. The process went SO EASILY and SO SMOOTHLY that my husband and I are now busy figuring out what our next round of windows will be! Of all the remodeling jobs we’ve done on this 1880’s Victorian, THIS was the simplest and most satisfying job we’ve completed.
The estimate process with Rick was fast and easy; he was so accommodating! And the installation team took 5 hours to do 5 windows — they were unbelievably wonderful and amazing and FAST. Plus, if you didn’t look carefully, you wouldn’t know the interior trim had even been removed.
We will absolutely use Charles Windows again, and will most certainly give them A++++ to anyone looking for window replacement.