Although most things in San Diego are back to normal since the COVID-19 pandemic started more than two years ago, we are still seeing some lingering effects in everyday life. Some places still require you to wear a mask. Other businesses now have a fully remote workforce, with no intention of ever bringing employees back to the office. As far as the replacement window industry, everything is pretty much back to normal, with a few minor exceptions.
First of all, homeowners in San Diego should expect the process to take a bit longer than it used to. If you had new windows installed before the pandemic, it might have been a four- to six-week process from beginning to end (from the time the contract was signed to the completion of the window installation). Now, the timeline is typically eight weeks or more. This is largely due to lingering supply chain issues. Window manufacturers are still having a hard time getting certain materials, which is slowing down window production. In addition, some manufacturers are still catching up from the high demand for new windows during the pandemic. Everything is still backed up, although we are hoping that timelines will get back to pre-pandemic levels soon.
Some replacement window companies are seeing labor shortages as well, which can also affect timelines. My company is fortunate to have a dedicated crew that has continued to work throughout the pandemic. This has allowed us to complete projects in a timely manner. This isn’t the case for all replacement window companies in San Diego, however—especially those that outsource the installation to subcontractors. Your windows may sit in a warehouse until the replacement window company can find someone to complete the installation. Because of this, it’s important to go with a replacement window company that has their own team of installers. (This is important for other reasons as well.)
In addition, just like most things, the prices on replacement windows in San Diego have gone up in the last two years. As much as we hate to raise our prices, all of our costs have gone up, and we unfortunately have to pass on the increases to our customers. At our replacement window company, we do our best to keep our prices as low as possible, so new windows are still affordable for most homeowners, but we just can’t keep prices at the same level they were before the pandemic, or we would go out of business in no time. Please know that if the quote you get on new windows is higher than you expected, the replacement window company is probably not trying to gouge you—they’re just trying to pay their bills and still make a modest profit. That being said, it’s a good idea to compare quotes from a few different reputable companies so you don’t overpay.
