Prescott

Prescott, AZ Windows for Historic & Hillside Homes

Victorian homes near the square, cabins under the pines and glass-walled houses on the hillsides, each with its own window rules.

Historic homes and the Preservation Commission

Prescott has some of the oldest residential streets in Arizona. The East Prescott Historic District along Gurley Street includes buildings dating from 1899 to 1904, according to its National Register nomination, and many nearby streets have Victorian, Queen Anne and craftsman homes of similar age. Their windows are usually tall wood double-hungs, sometimes with original wavy glass.

Within Prescott's established preservation districts, city code gives the Prescott Preservation Commission review of plans that change a building's exterior appearance, using each district's design criteria as a guide (City Code 1-22). In practice, that means the window you choose for a historic home should match the original in proportion, profile and divided-light pattern. We recommend wood or wood-clad windows with simulated divided lites for these houses and help you prepare the details the commission will want to see. Sometimes repairing the original sash is the better answer, and we'll tell you if so.

The wildland-urban interface code

Much of Prescott backs onto the Prescott National Forest, and the city has adopted the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code with local amendments (City Code 6-2). Its glazing provisions recognize tempered glass, multilayered glazed panels, glass block and fire-rated glazing for homes in the interface. For new construction, additions and full-frame replacements in forested neighborhoods such as Forest Highlands, Timber Ridge and the areas off Copper Basin Road, we confirm the glazing requirement for your lot before ordering. Tempered dual-pane units satisfy many situations and add safety glass to the house.

View homes on the hillsides

Homes in Prescott Lakes, Hassayampa and along the ridges around Thumb Butte are often designed around big west- and south-facing glass. Those exposures take the strongest afternoon sun. Glass with a low solar heat gain coefficient keeps those rooms comfortable without dark tint, and slim-frame fiberglass or aluminum-clad wood keeps the view open.

1970s to 1990s homes

Many Prescott homes from this period still have their original single-pane or early double-pane aluminum windows. They're the easiest upgrade we do: insert replacements in vinyl or fiberglass with low-E glass, usually installed without disturbing stucco or trim.

Permits in the City of Prescott

Changing the size of an opening, adding a window or building an addition generally requires a City of Prescott building permit. We handle the permit when the project needs one.

FAQ

Prescott window questions.

Do I need approval to replace windows on a historic Prescott home?

If the home is in an established Prescott preservation district, changes to its exterior appearance go before the Prescott Preservation Commission. Matching the original window style makes approval far more straightforward.

Does Prescott's wildfire code affect my windows?

For homes in the wildland-urban interface, the code sets glazing options such as tempered glass and multilayered panels. We confirm the requirement for your lot before ordering.

Should I repair or replace my original wood windows?

If the frames are sound, repair and weatherstripping can preserve the original windows. If the wood is rotted or the sash is beyond saving, a matching wood-clad replacement is the usual choice.

Which glass is best for west-facing view windows?

A low-E coating with a low solar heat gain coefficient. It cuts afternoon heat without the dark look of tinted glass.

Free in-home estimate

Get Your Free Window Quote

We'll come out, measure every opening and give you a written price for each option. No pressure, and no price that changes later.

Prefer to talk? (928) 433-2873