A replacement window looks simple once it is in: new glass, a clean frame, fresh trim. The craftsmanship is in the steps homeowners rarely see. The DC Pines Education Center put together this look at a DC Pines window installation day, using photos from a recent Houston job, to show what the crew does between taking out the old window and handing the homeowner a finished opening.
The photos come from the company’s own job files. They show the crew in DC Pines shirts working a brick two-story home: opening up the old window, forming trim on site, and setting new windows from a ladder on the second floor.
It Starts Before the Old Window Comes Out
Every DC Pines window is custom built to the measured size of its opening. That means the real work begins before install day, when each opening is measured so the new unit fits the space instead of being forced into it. The crew arrives knowing which window goes where and whether the job is an insert or a full-frame replacement, a choice the Education Center’s insert vs full-frame guide explains in detail.
On install day, protecting the house comes first. When an old window comes out, the opening is temporarily open to the inside of the home. The crew hangs plastic sheeting across the inside of the opening so dust and debris stay on the work side, not in the living room.
What a Clean Opening Looks Like
Once the old sash and frame are out, the opening tells the crew a lot. Old caulk lines, worn paint and gaps around the frame show where air and water have been getting in. That is the moment to clean up the opening so the new window sits square, level and fully supported, rather than covering an old problem with new trim.
This is also where craftsmanship separates a lasting install from a quick one. A window that is shimmed and fastened correctly operates smoothly for years. A window pushed into an out-of-square opening can bind, leak at the corners or crack its seal over time.
Trim Formed on Site
One of the more distinctive parts of a DC Pines window install happens in the driveway. The crew sets up a portable metal brake under a canopy and forms trim coil to the exact dimensions of each window’s exterior trim. Bending the metal on site lets each piece match the opening it covers, instead of relying on one-size pieces that leave gaps.
Covering the exterior trim this way gives the wood around the window a clean, sealed finish that does not need regular painting. In Houston’s heat and humidity, bare or painted wood trim is one of the first places homeowners see peeling and rot, so a tight, custom-fit cover matters.
Working Safely on the Second Story
Many Houston homes have second-story windows over brick, which means ladder work. In the photos, the crew uses a ladder fitted with a standoff stabilizer that rests against the wall instead of the window, keeping the ladder steady and off the new glass and frame. Tool belts keep fasteners and sealant within reach so the installer is not climbing up and down for every step.
The products going into those openings matter too. DC Pines installs Evergreen Platinum windows with Evergreen Silver Low-E glass rated at a solar heat gain coefficient of 0.23 and a full argon fill between the panes, built for long, hot Houston summers.
Leaving the Job Better Than It Was Found
The last step of a window install is the one homeowners notice right away: cleanup. Old windows are hauled off, the protective sheeting comes down, and the work area is cleaned before the crew leaves. The standard is the same one owner Jeff Ternois holds across every DC Pines trade, from roofing to gutters: the finished work and the condition of the home should both reflect well on the company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does DC Pines Roofing install windows as well as roofs?
Yes. DC Pines Roofing installs replacement windows, along with roofing and seamless gutters, for homes across the Houston area.
Are DC Pines windows custom sized?
Yes. Each window is custom built to the measured size of its opening.
How does the crew protect the inside of the home?
The crew hangs plastic sheeting across the inside of the opening when an old window comes out, keeping dust and debris on the work side.
Why is exterior trim formed on site?
Forming trim coil on site with a portable brake lets each piece fit its specific window, which leaves fewer gaps than standard pre-cut pieces.
What windows does DC Pines install?
DC Pines installs Evergreen Platinum windows with Evergreen Silver Low-E glass and a full argon fill.
The Bottom Line
A good window install is measured before it starts, protected while it happens, and finished with trim made for that exact opening. Those steps are what turn a new window into one that keeps working for years.
Written by the DC Pines Education Center for Jeff Ternois, Army veteran and owner of DC Pines Roofing.
Thinking about replacement windows?
DC Pines measures every opening and custom builds each window to fit, with trim formed on site.
Jeffrey Ternois
Jeff Ternois is the owner and founder of DC Pines Roofing, a veteran-owned roofing, gutter, and window company in Houston. A former U.S. Army Infantry Captain, he led an infantry platoon in Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge. After the Army he earned an MBA focused on real estate and learned homebuilding from the studs out before founding DC Pines. DC Pines Education Center guides are published under his direction.