Window Replacement During Your Siding Project in Surrey
Mi Casa Exteriors installs new windows in Surrey while the siding is off, so we can repair and flash every opening the right way.
The best time to replace a window is when the siding around it is already off. It’s the only time anyone can see the rough opening, fix the wood under the sill and flash it the right way.
So that’s the only way we do it. At Mi Casa Exteriors, window installation is part of a siding replacement or stucco conversion in Surrey, never a job on its own. If your siding’s coming off anyway, here’s why your windows belong on the list.
Retrofit Windows vs. Windows Set During a Re-Side
Many standalone window jobs are retrofits. The new window is set inside or over the old frame, the siding is cut back around it, and the edges are sealed with caulk. The old flange and the paper behind the siding stay as they were, gaps and all.
With the siding off, the whole opening is in plain view. We can see if the sill framing is soft, and every layer can be lapped so water runs out of the wall instead of into it.
That’s why it’s part of our exterior renovation services and not a stand-alone trade. If you only need windows and your siding is in good shape, a window company is the better fit. We’ll tell you that on the phone.
Signs Your Windows Should Go With the Siding
You don’t need every sign on this list. Two or three, plus siding that’s due, is a strong reason to do both at once.
- Fog between the panes. The seal in the glass unit has failed, and the fog won't clear up on its own.
- Stains or soft wood below the sill. Water is getting past the window and into the wall. That's often where we find rot behind the siding.
- Frames that drip on cold mornings. Heavy condensation on old aluminum frames can soak the sill and the wall below it.
- Drafts near the frame. If you can feel air moving, water can find the same path.
- Sashes that stick or won't latch. Warped frames often mean the opening around them has moved too.
Doing windows and siding together means your walls only get opened once, so you don’t pay for the same trim and flashing twice.
How We Install Windows During a Re-Side
1. We Expose Every Opening
When the old cladding comes off, each rough opening is in plain view, so we check the sill, the sides and the header for soft wood and old leaks.
2. We Repair the Opening First
Rotted framing gets cut back to sound wood and replaced before a new window goes in, because a new window set on a soft sill won’t stay sealed for long.
3. We Flash the Opening, Not Just the Window
The rough opening gets its own membrane before the window goes in, and head flashing after, so the window becomes one part of the drainage path instead of a hole in it.
4. We Plan for the Rain Screen
On our full replacements, new siding usually sits on strapping that leaves a drained gap behind it. That’s our rain screen siding system. The strapping moves the face of the siding out from the wall. We plan the sill and trim so water leaving the window drops past the siding, not behind it.
5. We Finish the Trim and Siding
Casings go on over the flashing, and then the new siding goes up around them. We check every joint at every window before we call the job done.
BC's Window Rules, in Plain Language
Windows sold in BC have to meet the province’s Energy Efficiency Standards Regulation. For windows and sliding glass doors made on or after January 2, 2022, the highest U-value allowed is 1.61 W/m²K, and a lower number means a warmer window. The provincial bulletin on residential windows explains the rule.
Here’s the part most people miss. The rule is tied to the date a window was made, not the date it’s sold. Stock made before that date can still be sold until it runs out. So check the label on any window before it goes in, because it should show the U-value.
The BC Building Code also covers how windows are installed in renovations, not just in new homes. Following both rules is part of doing the job right.
Meeting the legal limit doesn’t mean a window qualifies for a rebate. As of March 2026, FortisBC says its window and door rebates are for products with a U-factor of 1.22 or less, and it can change or cancel programs at any time. Check the current rules before you order.
Window Replacement Across Surrey and Nearby
Many homes in Fleetwood and Cloverdale went up before 2006. That’s the year the BC Building Code started requiring rain screen walls in coastal BC. When we re-side one of those homes, we’re rebuilding the wall around every window anyway. It’s the simplest time to change them.
Stucco homes are the other big group. On a stucco-to-siding conversion, the openings get rebuilt as part of the job, so new windows fit in with no extra tear-out.
Fort Langley is a special case. Much of the village core sits in a Heritage Conservation Area, and altering a building there needs a Heritage Alteration Permit from the Township. If your home is inside that area, check with the Township before you order new windows.
We do window replacement with siding across Surrey, White Rock, South Surrey, Langley, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
What Window Replacement With Siding Costs
We price it on site, because no two houses have the same openings. These change the number most:
- How many windows you're replacing, and their sizes
- How much rot we find in the openings
- The windows you choose
- The trim material around each one
In any quote, ours included, ask for the window work on its own line. That way you can see exactly what it adds to the siding job.
There’s no deposit. You pay once the work is done and you’re satisfied. Our crews are in-house. We’re registered with WorkSafeBC (clearance C136733062) and carry $2,000,000 in liability coverage.
Siding Coming Off Soon?
Call 604-603-0257 or email info@micasaexteriors.ca. We’ll check every window opening during your free inspection and tell you which ones are worth replacing now.
Ready to Get Started?
No matter the size of your project, we’re committed to helping you create an exterior that’s built to last. Contact our team today to discuss your project and discover the right solution for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you install windows without replacing the siding?
No. We only install windows when the siding around them is coming off. That’s when the opening can be repaired and flashed properly. If you just need new windows, a window company is the better choice.
Do new windows in BC have to meet energy rules?
Yes. Under BC’s Energy Efficiency Standards Regulation, windows made on or after January 2, 2022 can’t have a U-value higher than 1.61. Check the label before any window is installed.
Should I replace my windows or my siding first?
If both are due, do them in one project. The windows go in after the old siding comes off and before the new siding goes up. If you re-side now and change windows later, the new ones usually end up as retrofits set into the finished wall.
Do you replace windows on stucco homes in Surrey?
Yes, as part of a stucco-to-siding conversion. The stucco comes off, the openings are rebuilt and flashed, and new windows go in before the siding.
Is there a deposit for window replacement with siding?
No. You don’t pay anything before the job starts. The final invoice comes once the windows and siding are done and you’re happy with the result.
Do you serve Langley and White Rock for window replacement?
Yes. We cover Surrey, White Rock, South Surrey, Langley, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, as long as the windows are part of a siding job. Call 604-603-0257 to check your address.
Are there rebates for new windows in BC?
Sometimes, but the bar is higher than the law. FortisBC’s current rebates need a U-factor of 1.22 or less, while the legal limit is 1.61. Programs change, so check before you order.