Window Replacement for a 1950s Rambler — Picture Window to Bedrooms
A one-story house from the 1950s with original wood windows, aluminum storms and a big picture window facing the street. The windows follow a pattern, and so does the fix.
JMB Builders does window replacement for 1950s ramblers across the Twin Cities metro: the big living room picture window, the high bedroom windows, and old wood double hungs with aluminum storms. We measure each opening, order the windows, remove the old sashes and storms, insulate the gaps, set and seal the new units, and trim them out. Priced per window, quoted from photos within one business day.
- Priced per window, windows supplied
- Old storms and weights removed
- Quote from photos in 1 business day
- Licensed MN contractor BC809005
First-ring suburbs across the Twin Cities have whole streets of 1950s ramblers, and their windows are much alike: a large picture window in the living room, sometimes with double hungs on each side, wood double hungs in the kitchen and bath, and short, wide bedroom windows set high on the wall. Most have aluminum combination storms screwed over the outside and years of paint on the sashes.
Those high bedroom windows are the main thing to plan. They are often too small or too high to meet today's egress rules, and replacing them the same size does not change that. We note which ones they are at the measure; enlarging an opening for egress is a separate line if you want it.
The rest is a straightforward job. Storms off, old sashes out, weight pockets insulated, the new windows set as inserts or full-frame, sealed and trimmed. Houses built before 1978 may have lead paint on original sashes and trim; tell us if yours has been tested. Painting is quoted as a separate line — or leave it primed and caulked and paint it yourself.
What you supply
- Your pick of window style, color and glass for each room
- Which bedroom windows you would like larger, if any
- Photos of the front of the house and each window inside and out
What JMB supplies
- In-home measure of every opening
- The windows, ordered to size
- Removal and haul-away of old sashes, frames and aluminum storms
- Insulation in empty weight pockets and around the frames
- Sill pan, flashing, foam and sealant on full-frame units
- Interior stops or casing and exterior capping or trim
- Photos of the finished windows in your job folder
How it is priced: per window
Quoted in writing from your photos within one business day. What moves the number:
- The picture window: one large fixed unit vs. a unit flanked by operating windows
- Insert vs. full-frame on each opening
- Enlarging bedroom windows for egress, quoted separately
- Exterior: aluminum capping over old wood trim vs. new trim
- Plaster or drywall returns and trim condition inside
- Glass package and how many windows in the job
Send one photo of the front of the house and one of each window inside. Mark which rooms are bedrooms.
How long it takes
Most 1950s ramblers: two to four days for the whole house, with every opening closed up at the end of each day. The picture window takes most of a day by itself.
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 quote within one business day. We only come out to measure first when the job needs a tape measure — no pressure, no games.
- 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.
Situations and options
Picture window
The large fixed living-room window. Replaced with one fixed unit, or a fixed center with casements or double hungs on each side for air.
High bedroom windows
Short, wide sliders or awnings set high on the wall. Replaced the same size, or the opening is enlarged down for egress as a separate job.
Kitchen and bath double hungs
Original wood double hungs with weights and pulleys. Replaced as inserts to keep the trim, with the weight pockets insulated.
Window Replacement for a 1950s Rambler — Picture Window to Bedrooms: questions, answered
What kind of windows do 1950s ramblers have?
Typically a large living-room picture window, wood double hungs in the kitchen and bath, and short, wide bedroom windows set high on the wall. Most have aluminum combination storms outside. Many have had some windows replaced already, so a house can have three kinds at once.
Can the high bedroom windows in my rambler be made into egress windows?
Often, by cutting the opening down toward the floor and putting in a larger window with a new header if needed. It is framing work and usually needs a permit. We quote it as its own line so you can decide window by window.
Should I replace the whole house at once in a rambler?
Doing the whole house at once gives one measure, one order and matching windows, and the per-window cost is lower. Doing it in phases works too; we note the style and color so later rounds match.
What happens to the aluminum storm windows?
They come off and are hauled away with the old sashes. The screw holes in the exterior trim are filled or covered by new trim or capping. New windows do not need storms.
Do old rambler windows have lead paint?
Houses built before 1978 may have lead paint on original sashes and trim. Tell us if your house has been tested. It affects how the old windows come out, and we cover it on the quote before work starts.
How long does rambler window replacement take?
Most whole-house jobs on a rambler take two to four days once the windows arrive. Single-story access makes it quicker than a two-story house. Each opening is closed up at the end of the day.
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 for the builders and dealers we sub for. Counts come straight from our job log; no customer names.
Get a written quote for this job
Three photos and a sentence is enough. You hear back within one business day. Or text the photos to 763-204-2099.
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Read morePage reviewed September 26, 2026 · JMB Builders LLC, MN license BC809005 · All windows pages
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