A sash that won’t budge in February is rarely a lost cause. Most wood windows in Chicago’s bungalows and greystones can be repaired, if the shop knows old wood. Here are four Chicago-area companies to call, and what to ask first. For everyday sash and sill work, see our window repair service.
Chicago Companies That Restore and Repair Original Wood Windows
The list below draws on company websites and public business profiles. Apex Window Werks appears first because it is our company; the other three are in no ranked order.
Apex Window Werks
Rating: 4.8 stars (based on 3,400+ Google reviews)
Best for: Owners who want rotted wood fixed and failed glass swapped by one crew, without a long wait.
- Rebuilds rotted sills, sashes, and frames on original wood windows, and repairs balances and hardware so sashes open and hold again.
- Manufactures its own insulated glass units, so when only the glass has failed, a window can be replaced within 48 hours.
- Appears among wood window repair contractors in the City of Geneva’s historic preservation guide (revised July 2025).
- BBB accredited since 2008, with a 5-year workmanship warranty covering materials and labor.
- Repair-first approach: replacement is recommended only when the frame is past saving.
Contact: https://apexwindowwerks.com/ | (847) 557-9600
Wood Windows Sticking, Rotting, or Fogging Up?
Send photos and Apex will tell you whether the sash can be saved, what it involves, and how long it takes, with a 5-year workmanship warranty on the work.
or call us(847) 557-9600
Oak Brothers Historic Restoration
Rating: 5.0 stars (based on 11 Yelp reviews)
Best for: Owners who want windows restored alongside the rest of a home’s original woodwork.
- Chicago-based, and says its artisans have worked on Chicagoland’s historic homes for more than 25 years.
- Restores windows and doors, plus stairwells, fireplace surrounds, and built-in cabinets.
- Shows Window Preservation Alliance and Chicago Bungalow Association membership on its site.
- A Rogers Park reviewer on the company’s site describes a building association hiring it to restore 27 casement windows and 7 half-circle transoms.
Fortune Restoration
Rating: 4.8 stars (based on Google reviews)
Best for: Owners whose original windows need repair alongside exterior painting, masonry, and trim work.
- Family-owned company in Lincolnwood, IL, which a public business profile says was established in 1975.
- Describes itself as a painting, tuckpointing, and restoration firm, with window repair among the services listed.
- Names work on the Noble-Seymour-Crippen House, described as Chicago’s oldest home, built in 1833.
- Serves homeowners from Hyde Park to Lincoln Park, plus Oak Park, River Forest, the North Shore, and the western suburbs.
ARGO Glass & Windows
Rating: 4.8 stars (based on Google reviews)
Best for: Suburban owners with rotted sashes, sills, or frames who want a repair-first shop.
- Lists wood window restoration and glass replacement as its main focus, with repair favored over replacing a whole window or door.
- Handles rotted sash, sill, and frame work, plus balancers, tracks, hardware, weatherstripping, and caulking.
- Its public listings show offices in Naperville, Lisle, and Palatine.
- Says it services Andersen, Pella, Marvin, Hurd, and Norco windows, and describes itself as licensed and insured.
How to Vet a Restorer Before You Hire
Old wood windows reward careful work and punish shortcuts, so a few questions up front can save a season of rework. Put each of these to every company on your shortlist.
- Lead-safe certification. If your home was built before 1978, the EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting rule usually applies when work disturbs paint. Ask for the firm’s certification and confirm it in the EPA’s public lookup.
- Jobs on houses like yours. Ask for photos or addresses of work on windows from the same era, such as pre-1940 double-hungs or leaded casements.
- A written scope for every window. It should state what gets repaired, what gets rebuilt, and who handles glazing, paint, and weatherstripping.
- A storm window plan. Restored sashes paired with a well-fitted storm are the usual route to a tighter, quieter window in a Chicago winter.
- Shop or on-site work. Find out how long each opening stays uncovered, and what protects your home from cold in the meantime.
- Written warranty terms. Confirm the length, what it covers, and whether it applies to labor as well as materials.
Walk away from anyone who pushes full replacement before measuring how deep the rot goes, cannot document lead-safe credentials, or asks for a deposit before putting the scope in writing.
Picking Between a Restoration Specialist and a Repair-First Crew
A museum-grade restoration shop and a crew that gets your windows working again are different purchases, and both have a place. A landmark-district facade with custom divided lites may call for a millwork specialist. A bungalow with swollen sashes, a rotted sill, and one foggy pane usually needs something simpler.
For the second kind of job, Apex Window Werks fits well. The crew repairs wood in place, and because it builds its own glass units, a failed pane does not stall the project while a supplier ships a replacement. Combine that with 15+ years in business and a 5-year workmanship warranty, and it is a sensible first call for homeowners who want original windows kept and working. Schedule a free virtual estimate to find out what yours need.
Keep Your Original Windows Working
Apex repairs wood sashes, sills, and frames and replaces failed glass fast, backed by a 5-year workmanship warranty.
