Window Replacement in Gorham, Maine

About 38 percent of Gorham's homes were built before 1980, and about 14 percent before 1940, so plenty of houses still have original wood sashes, loose storm windows or early replacement units. On the Federal and Greek Revival houses of the village, window proportions are part of the architecture, and replacements should keep the sash size and muntin pattern rather than shrinking the glass. Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint on window parts; the EPA requires anyone paid to disturb painted surfaces in those homes to be certified in lead-safe practices.

Newer houses have different trouble. Double-pane glass from the 1980s and 1990s often shows failed seals, with fog between panes, and vinyl frames from that era can warp or pull away from the trim. In Gorham's winters, a leaky window means frost on the inside of the glass and drafts at the sill, and a replacement flashed into the wall stops wind-driven rain better than caulk. Bedrooms need a window with a code-sized egress opening. Cardinal installs vinyl replacement windows and wood or clad units from Andersen, Marvin, Pella and Integrity, in double-hung, casement, sliding and awning styles.

Gorham counts about 6,800 housing units in the 2020 to 2024 Census estimates, with a median year built of 1988. Roughly a third of homes, about 33 percent, were built in 2000 or later, and about 29 percent date from the 1980s and 1990s, so most of the town's houses are under 45 years old. The older layer is substantial: about 14 percent of homes predate 1940 and about 21 percent predate 1960, including the wooden 19th-century houses of the Gorham Village historic district. Another 17 percent or so went up between 1960 and 1979. About 80 percent of homes are single-family detached and about 82 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied. The estimates show essentially no seasonal housing, so nearly every house here is lived in year-round.

Gorham was first settled in 1736 and incorporated in 1764. Gorham Village is the town center, with South Gorham, West Gorham, North Gorham, Little Falls and White Rock beyond it. The Gorham Historic District, listed on the National Register in 1992, covers about 25 acres and 42 historic buildings, mostly wooden houses in the Federal, Greek Revival and Italianate styles, with brick commercial blocks on School Street; the First Congregational Church dates from 1797. Next door, the Gorham Campus Historic District holds the University of Southern Maine campus, which grew from Gorham Academy, founded in 1806. The McLellan House, Baxter House and Stephen Longfellow House are also on the Register.

Permits in Gorham are handled by the Code Division of the town's Community Development department, and applications are now filed online through the SmartGov system. The town lists a Building Permit for Minor Projects that covers decks, sheds and pools, so a new deck or a deck replacement is permitted before construction; ask the Code Division whether a roofing, siding or window job needs one. Lots along the Presumpscot and other rivers fall under shoreland zoning and need a Shoreland Zoning Permit for work in that zone. Gorham also has a Historic Preservation Commission, which issues Historic Preservation Certificates for designated historic properties and districts.

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