Windows in Hyde Park, Austin, TX

Why did this Hyde Park home need these specific windows?

The homeowner came to us knowing exactly what they wanted. Kolbe Forgent isn't a line we run every week, so this took some legwork on our end.

Hyde Park is full of older homes with real architectural detail worth protecting. Swapping in generic replacement windows would have flattened that character. The homeowner wanted units that fit the house, not the other way around.

• Product requested by name: Kolbe Forgent
• Style preserved: original window proportions in the living room
• Neighborhood context: one of Austin's oldest platted areas
• Lead came in through an internet search back in July 2022

What did we find when we inspected the home?

The living room windows carried the whole project. Nine openings needed attention, and the existing jambs were not in shape to reuse.

Older Austin homes shift over decades. Limestone soil moves under the foundation, and the framing follows it, so openings that were once square rarely stay that way. When we measured, several of the nine living room openings were out of true. That meant we couldn't just drop in stock jambs and expect a clean seal. We built jambs to match each opening, which is the step most crews skip when they're rushing. Skipping it leaves gaps that leak air and let Austin's 100-plus-degree heat right into the room.

• Nine living room openings measured individually
• New jambs fabricated to fit each one
• Old windows removed and hauled off
• Existing framing checked for movement

What materials did we use, and why?

We went with Kolbe Forgent in a mix of aluminum-clad and wood-clad. The wood interior keeps the warm, period-correct look inside. The clad exterior handles the weather outside.

That combination matters in Central Texas. Bare wood exteriors bake and crack under our summer sun, and they take a beating during cedar pollen season and spring hail. Cladding gives you the wood feel indoors with a tough shell facing the elements.

• Aluminum-clad units for the toughest exposures
• Wood-clad units where the interior finish mattered most
• Clad exterior resists fading and cracking in direct sun
• Wood interior matches the home's original trim tone

How did the installation go?

We pulled the old windows, hauled them off, and set the new Kolbe units over multiple days, with completion on September 12, 2024. Custom jamb work in nine openings kept the crew busy, but the schedule held.

Each window got seated, squared, and sealed. A permit through the City of Austin was part of the scope, so the work stayed above board.

• Single-day install with full haul-off
• Disposal handled as a line item, no debris left behind
• City of Austin permit pulled for the job
• Final adjustments made after the units were set

What were the results?

The living room now holds the exact windows the homeowner wanted, sealed tight and built for the climate. The clad exteriors won't fade or crack the way old wood frames do here.

This was a retail project in the $5k–$10k range, closed out on September 19, 2024. It's a good example of tracking down a niche product instead of talking a homeowner into something easier for us.