Window and Door Replacement in Toronto
Fortress Windows & Doors is a Toronto company. Our head office is at 4725 Sheppard Ave E in Scarborough, and we have been installing replacement windows, entry doors, patio doors and eavestrough across the city since 1989: North York, East York, the Beaches, Leaside, Don Mills, Etobicoke and the older streets downtown. Family-owned, Ontario-built windows, and a real office you can drive to. Call (416) 291-5795.
Reviewed by Steve McCue and Steve Mercer, owners, Fortress Windows & Doors Inc.
What Toronto homes usually need
East York, the Beaches and the old east end
Pre-war semis and bungalows with original wood windows, sash weights in the walls, and openings that have not been square in 60 years. We replace full-frame, keep the sightlines and the divided-lite look where the street has it, and can supply wood-look or colour-matched exteriors.
North York and Don Mills
The 1950s and 60s bungalows and split-levels have big single-pane picture windows at the front and aluminum sliders everywhere else. Full-frame replacement with a structural check on the picture window header is the usual job.
Leaside, Lawrence Park and the rebuilds
Custom rebuilds and large renovations with oversized, shaped and floor-to-ceiling openings. We template on site, build to the curve, and spec heavier frames and multipoint hardware on anything large.
Entry and patio doors
Insulated steel or fibreglass entry systems with the frame and threshold replaced, and vinyl sliding, garden or French patio doors for the backyard. A new slab in an 80-year-old frame does not fix the draft.
Eavestrough and downspouts
Five-inch seamless aluminum, formed on site. On Toronto’s narrow lots the downspout location matters; we route it to where the grading actually takes water away from the foundation and the neighbour’s wall.
Why Toronto homeowners call Fortress
There are a lot of window companies in Toronto and a lot of them are a phone number and a showroom in Vaughan. Fortress has a real office in the city, 37 years of installs, and crews that know what is behind the brick on a 1920s semi. The number on this page rings at the office. Before you call anyone, read our comparison of window replacement companies in Toronto.
Installing since 1989
Family-owned and still run by the family. Thousands of Toronto homes over 37 years.
HomeStars winner every year since 2014
Verified reviews from real installs. Read them before you book.
Canadian-made, CSA A440 certified, Energy Star
Built in Ontario, certified to CSA A440, Energy Star rated for Canada.
City of Toronto permits handled
Same-size replacements need no permit. Enlarging an opening or adding a basement egress window does, and Toronto Building is not quick. We prepare the drawings and file it.
Financing available
Flexible financing on windows and doors so a whole-house job does not have to be split across several years.
How a Toronto job runs
It starts with a measure at your house, not a quote over the phone. We check every opening, the sills and the wall around them, and give you one written price for the whole job. That price includes:
- Written quote with no hidden extras
- Removal and disposal of old windows and doors
- Low-expansion foam around every frame
- Colour-matched exterior aluminum capping
- Interior trim and caulking
- Permit drawings and filing where the City requires it
- Same-day clean-up
- Warranty registered in your name
Service Steps
1. Book a measure
Call (416) 291-5795 or use the quote form. Tell us which openings and roughly when.
2. In-home measure
We measure every opening, template any shaped ones, check for rot or water damage, and go through frame colour, grilles and glass options with you.
3. One written price
One number for the whole job. It only changes if you change the scope.
4. Build and install
Custom-built to your measurements, which takes a few weeks and longer in spring. Most Toronto homes are installed in one to two days.
5. Walk-through and warranty
We walk every unit with you, show you the hardware, and register the warranty.
Need windows, doors or eavestrough replaced in Toronto?
What changes after the install
Lower heating and cooling bills
Going from single-pane wood or 1960s aluminum to low-E argon-filled glass shows on the Enbridge bill the first winter and on the hydro bill in July.
No more cold pocket by the window
That cold spot by the living room window is the frame leaking, not the glass. Foamed frames fix it.
Quieter rooms
Sealed double or triple glazing takes the edge off the DVP, the 401, streetcar lines and the neighbours ten feet away.
Rebates when they are open
Ontario and federal energy rebate programs change. We check what is open when you book and tell you what your job qualifies for.
Drier basement
Eavestrough pitched properly with downspouts extended away from the wall is the cheapest basement waterproofing in Toronto.
Resale
Home inspectors look at the windows first. New, warrantied units go in the listing; original 1950s glass comes up in the negotiation.
Other areas we cover
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to replace windows in Toronto?
Not for a like-for-like replacement in the same opening. You need a City of Toronto building permit if the opening is being enlarged or a new one cut, which covers most basement egress windows. We prepare and file the permit as part of the job.
Can you replace windows in a pre-war semi without wrecking the plaster?
Yes. Full-frame replacement in an old house is done from the outside where possible, and the interior trim is removed and reinstalled rather than pried off. Some touch-up is normal; a rebuilt wall is not.
How long does window replacement take?
A typical Toronto house with 10 to 15 windows is installed in one to two days once the windows arrive. Lead time from measure to install depends on the season; spring and early fall are the busiest.
Where is Fortress located?
Our head office is at 4725 Sheppard Ave E, Unit 405, Scarborough, ON M1S 5B2. Call (416) 291-5795. We also have a Barrie office at 15 Pepin Ct for Simcoe County.