Applewood · East Mississauga
Applewood: updating the windows in a 1950s neighbourhood
Applewood was one of Mississauga's first postwar subdivisions, begun in 1955, in a city built mainly from the 1960s on. Many houses have had their windows changed already, so the question now is often what to do about the replacements. Its townhouses and apartments follow different rules. We connect you with independent local pros; the pro measures, quotes and does the job.
At a glance
- Began
- 1955, on a former farm at Dundas Street and Tomken Road
- Housing
- Detached and semi-detached houses, townhouses, apartments and mobile homes
- Common jobs
- Replacement windows, storm doors, entry door glass, basement windows
- Permits
- Same size: no City building permit. New or bigger opening: permit
Applewood's 1955 beginnings
Applewood Heights began in 1955 on a former farm at Dundas Street and Tomken Road, with several hundred homes in the first project. Today Applewood runs from Burnhamthorpe Road down to the QEW, between Cawthra Road and Etobicoke Creek. It has detached houses, semis, townhouses, apartment buildings and mobile homes.
That mix is why the first question is about the building, not the window. A bungalow owner can decide on new windows alone. An owner in a condo townhouse or an apartment suite usually cannot, because the windows may belong to the condominium corporation.
Replacement windows for older bungalows and splits
A 1950s house may be on its second or third set of windows. When the whole house is due, the quote turns on how many windows there are, what type each is, and whether the frames are sound.
An insert goes into the existing frame and disturbs less of the wall. A full-frame replacement takes the old frame out, so the pro can deal with rot or air leaks around it. The condition of the old frame decides which fits.
You don't have to do every window at once; a house can be done a side or a floor at a time. If only a few sealed units have fogged, the glass can be replaced on its own. Our guide to repairing or replacing helps sort which windows need what.
Storm doors and entry glass
Many postwar houses have a storm door in front of the entry door. A new closer, sweep or glass panel can each be fitted without a new door; a new storm door is worth pricing when the frame is bent or rusted through.
If the glass insert in your entry door or a sidelight beside it has cracked or fogged, the glass can usually be replaced and the door kept. See door glass replacement.
Townhouses and apartments in the area
If you live in an Applewood townhouse or apartment, find out first whether the building is a condominium. In most Ontario condos, the windows and the balcony or patio doors are common elements that the corporation looks after. An owner who wants to change them needs the board's approval before work starts.
Call your management office before you ask for a quote; it may have a pro, a window program or rules on colour and style. Our page for condo owners sets out who usually handles what. In a rental, start with your landlord or the management office.
Permits: same-size windows, bigger basement windows
The City of Mississauga says replacing a window or door with one of the same size needs no building permit. A new window or door, or making an existing one bigger, does. Zoning rules still apply even when no permit is needed. The City's permit page has the current list.
This matters most in the basement. Bungalow basements often have small windows set high in the wall. If you want a bigger one, for light or for a bedroom, enlarging the opening is permit work, and a bedroom window also has to meet the building code's escape rules. The pro can tell you what the job involves, and our basement windows page goes further.
Applewood questions
Should I replace all the windows in a 1950s house at once?
Not necessarily. Doing them together can mean one order, one visit and windows that match. But if some windows are sound, or only the sealed units have fogged, you can fix those and replace the worst first. Ask the pro to price the whole house and the most urgent windows separately, so you can compare. Replacement windows explains the insert and full-frame options.
Can a storm door be added to an older entry?
Usually, yes. The pro checks that the door frame is square, that there is room to mount the storm door, and that it can swing open without hitting the steps or a railing. An opening that is slightly out of square can often be shimmed. Storm doors come in several styles, including full-view glass and ones with a screen panel. Send a photo of the whole entry from outside.
Can I replace my bungalow's picture window without a City permit?
Yes, if the new window fits the same opening. No City building permit is needed for a same-size window or door. Making the opening wider or taller, or adding a window, does need a permit, and zoning still applies either way. A condo townhouse or suite needs board approval first, and a designated heritage property has its own process. The City updates its permit page from time to time, so check it before work starts.
What does it cost to replace one window in an Applewood house?
It depends on the window. The main factors are its size, its type (slider, casement or picture window), the glass, whether it is an insert or a full-frame replacement, the condition of the frame, and access, such as a basement or upper-floor window. One window can cost more per window than a batch, because the visit is the same. Request a written quote after the pro measures.