Window Replacement in Cumberland, Maine

About 46 percent of Cumberland homes were built before 1980, which means a lot of original single-pane sashes, aging storm windows and first-generation double-pane units with failed seals. Federal EPA rules require lead-safe work practices when a paid contractor disturbs paint in a home built before 1978, so window replacement in those houses is set up with containment and cleanup.

Replacement windows come as inserts that fit into the existing frame or as full-frame units that expose the rough opening, which is the better choice when old frames are rotten or out of square. Cardinal Exteriors installs vinyl replacement windows and wood or clad windows from Andersen, Marvin, Pella and Integrity, in double-hung, casement, slider and awning styles. On the Foreside, bay-facing windows need tight flashing against wind-driven rain; in West Cumberland, shaded north walls benefit from warm-edge spacers and low-E glass that limit condensation. Bedroom windows must meet egress sizing under the 2021 residential code the town enforces, and the Code Enforcement Office can tell you whether your project needs a permit. Measuring each opening before ordering prevents surprises on install day.

Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 put Cumberland at about 3,300 housing units, with a median year built of 1984. About 15 percent predate 1940, roughly 24 percent were built between 1960 and 1979, about 26 percent in the 1980s and 1990s, and about 29 percent in 2000 or later. Around 91 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied, and about 82 percent of units are single-family detached houses; only about 60 are held for seasonal use. The town's 2025 draft comprehensive plan counts 27 houses built before 1800 and another 190 built during the 1800s, about 7 percent of the stock. Most recent building has come as conservation or cluster subdivisions, such as the 72 homes of Mineral Springs in West Cumberland, plus condominiums and apartments near Route 1.

Cumberland split from North Yarmouth in 1821. Its town charter divides it into three areas: Cumberland Center, the largest, along Route 9 and Tuttle Road, with the Prince Memorial Library, the MSAD 51 schools and the Congregational Church, founded in 1793; Cumberland Foreside, where the Foreside Community Church building dates to 1811 and trolleys ran along Route 88 from 1898 to 1933; and West Cumberland, with its 1848 Methodist church and farm fields. Chebeague Island left in 2007, leaving Basket and Sturdivant Islands. The Cumberland Fair has run every September since 1868.

The Cumberland Code Enforcement Office handles building permits and inspections, which it schedules Monday through Thursday, and applications can be sent by email. Construction must meet the 2021 International Residential Code, the 2021 International Building Code and the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code under the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code. The Shoreland Overlay District generally reaches 250 feet from rivers, streams, saltwater and associated wetlands, and 75 feet from certain streams; any building permit there needs a Shoreland Zoning Permit first or alongside it. The town has no historic preservation ordinance, though the draft comprehensive plan asks the council to consider one.

A new window is only as good as the way it is set into the wall. Replacement windows go in either as inserts inside the existing frame or as full-frame units after the old frame comes out; the right choice depends on the condition of the frame, the trim you want to keep, and the siding around it. The site lists vinyl replacement windows and wood or clad units from Andersen, Marvin, Pella and Integrity, in double-hung, casement, picture, bay, sliding and awning styles.

• Each opening is measured and checked for rot in the sill, jambs and framing.
• Old sashes or whole frames come out; damaged wood is repaired before the new unit goes in.
• Units are set level, plumb and square, shimmed, and fastened as the manufacturer requires.
• Low-expansion foam and backer rod seal the gap without bowing the frame.
• Flashing, exterior trim or capping and interior casing are finished so the opening sheds water.

• Fog or condensation between the panes of insulated glass
• Sashes that stick, will not stay up, or let in drafts
• Soft or rotted sills and frames
• Single-pane glass or storm windows you take on and off every year
• Frost or ice on the inside of the glass in winter

• Number of windows, their sizes, and any custom shapes
• Vinyl versus wood or clad units, and the brand and series
• Insert versus full-frame replacement
• Glass package and grille options
• Interior and exterior trim work, and whether siding is open around the opening

Every job is priced from a free on-site visit. Typical ranges for the trade are on our window replacement page, and the details of this service are on the window replacement overview.

Back to the Cumberland exterior services overview, or see every town on our Cumberland County service areas page.