Replace Front Windows First — Street Side Now, the Rest to Match Later
The front of the house is what you see from the street every day. Do it first, and do it so the rest of the house can catch up without looking patched.
Reply within one business day. Or call / text 763-204-2099.
To replace front windows first, JMB Builders measures every window in the house but orders only the street-side elevation now: each front opening replaced, exterior trim or capping redone so the front looks finished, and the brand, color, glass and grille pattern written down so the sides and back match later. Twin Cities metro and north to St. Cloud. Priced per project; photo reply within one business day or a free in-home estimate.
- Priced per project, front elevation listed
- Exterior trim done so the front looks finished
- Later phases written down to match
Plenty of people replace the street side first: they are selling in a few years, the front faces the weather, or that is what the budget covers. It works when the front is treated as a finished elevation, not three new windows next to old trim.
That means the front windows, the exterior trim or aluminum capping around them, and the grille pattern you want people to see, all done together. Inside, those rooms get new trim too. If the front entry door is tired, it is the obvious one to add, since it sits on the same elevation.
The catch is matching later. The sides and back are measured at the same visit and listed on the plan, with the brand, series, frame color, glass and grille pattern written down. When you are ready for the next phase, it is ordered from that list.
Get a written quote for this job
Three photos and a sentence is enough: a reply within one business day, or ask for a free in-home estimate. Or text the photos to 763-204-2099.
What you supply
- Which wall counts as the front: some houses face a corner or a lake
- Grille pattern and exterior color, picked for the whole house
- A rough idea of when the rest of the house will follow
- Paint colors — Painting is quoted as a separate line — or leave it primed and caulked and paint it yourself.
What JMB supplies
- One measure of every window, with the front elevation quoted now
- Front windows replaced, flashed and sealed, closed the same day
- Exterior trim or capping redone around each front opening
- Inside trim in the front rooms
- A written spec for the rest of the house so later phases match
- Photos of the finished front in your job folder
How it is priced: per project
Quoted in writing from your photos, with a reply within one business day. What moves the number:
- Number of front openings, and any bay, bow or picture unit among them
- Exterior trim: new wood or composite trim vs. aluminum capping
- Insert vs. full frame, opening by opening
- Siding, stucco, brick or stone on the front
- Adding the front entry door to the same order
- Brand, glass and grille pattern
Send a photo of the whole front from the street, and one of each front window inside and out.
How long it takes
Lead time depends on the brand and is written on the quote. Most fronts install in one to three working days, more with a bay or a lot of new trim.
How your project works
- 1
Send photos, get a written quote
Send three photos of the space and a sentence about what you want. You get a clear, itemized reply within one business day. Prefer a look in person? A free in-home estimate is always an option.
- 2
Pick materials, or bring your own
We help you choose profiles and materials that fit the house and the budget, or match your existing millwork exactly — or you buy the door or trim yourself and we install it. Everything is confirmed before the crew is scheduled.
- 3
Clean, precise installation
The crew shows up on time, protects floors and furniture, and installs with tight joints and consistent reveals. Photos of the finished work go in your job folder.
- 4
Walkthrough and invoice
We walk the finished work with you. If anything is not right, we fix it before we call the job done. Then one invoice, paid by check or direct deposit — no card fees, no payment links.
Replace Front Windows First — Street Side Now, the Rest to Match Later: questions, answered
Can I replace just the windows on the front of my house?
Yes. The front is quoted as its own phase, with new exterior trim or capping so it looks finished. The rest of the house is measured at the same time and written down so later windows match.
Will the new front windows look different from the old ones on the side?
From a corner you will see both until the rest are done. New frames and glass will look newer. Keeping the same frame color and grille pattern you plan for the whole house makes the gap look intentional instead of patched.
Should I add the front door when replacing front windows?
If the door is tired, it is a good time: same elevation, same exterior trim work, and the colors can be chosen together. It is listed as its own line so you can decide.
Does replacing front windows help curb appeal?
The front is what people see from the street and in listing photos, so new windows and clean trim there show the most. How much it adds to value is a question for a real estate agent. We can tell you what each front window needs.
Does doing the front first cost more overall?
A little, per window, because the measure, order and setup happen again for later phases. The tradeoff is spreading the spend out. The whole-house list shows what each later phase includes.
Which side should come after the front?
Usually whichever side has leaking, broken or fogged windows, then the side that takes the most weather. If nothing is failing, many people do the back next because of the patio door and the rooms they use most.
Recent JMB work, from our job log
59 installs recorded across 30 Twin Cities communities since Dec 2025. Window and door installs for homeowners and the builders we work with. Counts come straight from our job log; no customer names.
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Read morePage reviewed October 9, 2026 · JMB Builders LLC, MN license BC809005 · All whole-house projects pages
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