Heide and her husband built their lake home in Bumpass, Virginia, for one reason: the view of Lake Anna. About six months after they moved in, the large picture windows facing the water started leaking every time it rained.
For more than four years, the problem kept coming back. This post covers what happened, why the fix required a different kind of window, and what every Lake Anna homeowner should ask before replacing large lake-facing windows.
Watch: Heide's Lake Anna Window Replacement Story
Hear Heide tell the story in her own words. In this video, she explains what it was like to find water on the floor of a home she wasn’t there to watch, why replacing the glass never solved the problem, and how she kept the view her family built the house for. You’ll also see our installers at work on the lake side of the house and drone footage of the finished home.
Why Lake Anna Homes Put Windows to the Test
Lake Anna is a roughly 13,000-acre reservoir with about 200 miles of shoreline. It sits mostly in Louisa and Spotsylvania counties, with a small section in Orange County, inside the triangle formed by Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Charlottesville. Virginia’s tourism office lists it as the state’s third-largest lake.
Virginia Electric and Power Company (now Dominion Energy) created the lake to supply cooling water for the North Anna Power Station. Rain from Hurricane Agnes in 1972 filled it well ahead of schedule.
The lake is split into two sections:
- The public side (“cold side”): About 9,000 acres with marinas, public boat ramps, and Lake Anna State Park.
- The private side (“warm side”): About 4,000 acres connected by canals. Only property owners and power station employees can reach it by water, and it has a longer water sports season.
Heide’s home sits in a quiet cove on the private side.
Most Lake Anna homes are weekend homes, many owned by families from Northern Virginia, Richmond, and the D.C. area. That’s the detail that matters most for windows. When you aren’t there full time, a window problem can go unnoticed for days. Lakefront homes are also built to face the water, which means big glass taking direct sun and wind.
The Problem: Picture Windows That Leaked Every Time It Rained
Heide’s family built the house about five years ago, during COVID, as an affordable second home about two hours from their primary home in Northern Virginia.
“We bought the land, it was all wooded… We knew that we wanted a view of the water, and the most important feature of this house for us was that view. It’s not a fancy house… but we have a view, and that’s why those windows were so darn important to us.”
The lake-facing windows are about 70 inches square. Roughly six months after move-in, the leaks started.
“First it was just a little bit of water, then we noticed some puddling on the ground, and then at one point I actually had to hold a bucket under the water because it was pouring… through the top of the window.”
Why the original warranty didn't solve it
The original window manufacturer replaced the glass in several windows, some more than once. The leaks continued. Heide described three problems that made the situation worse:
- The warranty covered glass only. The homeowners had to find and pay for an installer each time new glass arrived.
- Response times were slow. Heide said it often took about six weeks to hear back after filing a complaint.
- The underlying issue never changed. New glass went into the same frames, and the leaks returned. Heide also noticed streaking inside the glass that made it hard to see through.
What it’s like to own a leaking weekend home
Being two hours away added a layer of worry.
“I never knew what I was going to find when I got here.”
Neighbors checked on the house during bad storms. Heide often drove down herself. She usually found rust-colored water stains on the frames and sills after the water had evaporated. She was there once, with her brother, when water poured through the top of a window.
“This is the house that we love, and we don’t want the windows rotting from the inside, you know. It’s all wood around there.”
Good to know: If you own a weekend or rental home on Lake Anna, check your window sills and frames after every major storm, even if the floor is dry. Rust-colored or dark staining on the frame can mean water got in and evaporated before you arrived.
The Turning Point: Keeping the View Without Splitting the Glass
Heide’s brother, an engineer, suggested the windows might be too large to handle the sun and wind on that side of the house. One option was adding a divider down the middle.
“Of course that broke my heart because the view is what I like the most about this house.”
He suggested calling Renewal by Andersen to see whether the problem could be solved without giving up the view. Within a couple of days, design consultant Anthony was at the house.
Anthony showed Heide the Fibrex® composite frame used in Acclaim® windows and compared it to the vinyl frames on her house. Heide came away believing the original frames were flexing with the wind, sun, and heat.
“It became pretty clear that we needed a different product surrounding [the glass]. The other manufacturer only has vinyl windows.”
She didn’t shop around much after that.
“I was confident with the [Renewal by Andersen] presentation. I liked their material, and I just needed to get it fixed, to be honest.”
Why Picture Windows Work for Lake Views
A picture window is a fixed window. It doesn’t open, and that’s the point. Here’s what Renewal by Andersen’s Acclaim® picture windows offer a lake home:
- Large sizes in a single pane. Because picture windows don’t open, they can be built much larger than windows that vent. Acclaim® picture windows range from about 10.5 inches to 108 inches in width or height, within a combined size limit.
- A frame built to carry heavy glass. Fibrex® material can support the weight of the heavy glass large picture windows need. Renewal by Andersen rates Fibrex® as two times stronger than traditional vinyl.
- Thinner frames, more view. The strength of Fibrex® allows slimmer frames, so more of the opening is glass.
- Energy efficiency. With no moving parts and a tight seal, picture windows are Renewal by Andersen’s most energy-efficient window style.
- Custom fit. Every window is made to order for the exact opening.
Learn more on our picture windows page.
Good to know: Picture windows don’t open. If a lake-facing room needs airflow, a common approach is pairing a large picture window with casement windows on each side. Heide’s project used picture windows only.
Installation Day: A Day and a Half on the Ladders
Our installers replaced Heide’s lake-facing windows in late summer, after the busiest part of the lake season. The project took about a day and a half.
Heide described the process:
- Installers removed the old windows and set the new Acclaim® picture windows, working from ladders on the lake side of the house.
- They applied foam around each window, then returned the next day to trim it.
- They reinstalled the exterior trim, added extra trim inside, and caulked everything.
- They cleaned up before leaving.
“They were great. They were friendly and professional. I can’t believe how they stood on those ladders and hopped around between one ladder to the next.”
What Made the Difference for Heide
Two things mattered most:
- The frame. Asked what sets these windows apart, Heide pointed to the rigidity of the Fibrex® frame.
- Who stands behind the installation. Renewal by Andersen’s warranty covers installation, and our installers are trained by us.
“We wanted not only windows that didn’t leak, but in case there was a leak, we knew who we could call, and we felt confident that they were going to fix the problem.”
Heide was also honest that the real test is still ahead.
“Hopefully these won’t leak. That remains to be seen, I suppose, but I’ll sit with my chair watching the windows through the next storm.”
We appreciate that honesty. It’s the right way to judge any window.
5 Questions to Ask Before Replacing Windows on a Lake Home
Heide’s experience points to questions every Lake Anna homeowner should ask, whichever company you choose:
- Does the warranty cover installation, or only the glass and frame? Glass-only coverage can leave you paying for labor every time something fails. Renewal by Andersen windows are backed by The Nation’s Best Warranty Coverage.¹ The fully transferable limited warranty covers glass and Fibrex® material for 20 years, hardware for 10 years, and installation for 2 years. See our warranty information.
- What is the frame made of, and can it carry the size of glass you want? Large lake-facing windows put real weight and stress on the frame.
- Can you keep one large pane, or will you need dividers? If the view is the reason you bought the property, ask this up front.
- Who installs the windows? Ask whether the installers are employees or subcontractors, and how they’re trained.
- Who do you call if something goes wrong, and how fast do they respond? If you’re two hours away, response time matters.
Planning Window Replacement at Lake Anna
Lake Anna’s busy season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Many weekend homeowners and rental owners prefer to schedule exterior work before or after that window to avoid disrupting their own lake time or guest bookings. Heide’s installation took place in late summer.
Our Central Virginia team serves Lake Anna-area communities in Louisa, Spotsylvania, and Orange counties. See our Central Virginia, Fredericksburg, Orange, and Charlottesville pages for more on the areas we cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you replace windows at Lake Anna?
Yes. Our Central Virginia team serves Lake Anna homeowners on both the public and private sides of the lake, including Bumpass, Mineral, and Spotsylvania-area communities.
Can a picture window open?
No. Picture windows are fixed. For ventilation, pair them with operable windows like casements, or consider gliding windows for a wide view that also opens.
How big can a picture window be?
Acclaim® picture windows can range from about 10.5 to 108 inches in width or height. The width and height combined can’t exceed 170 inches, so a window that’s 108 inches wide can be up to 62 inches tall. Heide’s windows are about 70 inches square. Your design consultant will confirm what’s possible for your openings and glass options.
How much do picture windows cost?
It depends on size, glass, and options. Because picture windows have no moving parts, they can cost less than an operable window of similar size. Every Renewal by Andersen window is custom-made, and installation is included in your price. Schedule a free consultation for an exact quote.
Is it worth replacing windows on a vacation home I’m not at full time?
If your windows leak, yes. A weekend home can go days without anyone noticing water damage. Heide’s family dealt with recurring leaks for more than four years before replacing the windows.
How long does installation take?
It depends on the number and size of windows. Heide’s lake-facing picture windows took about a day and a half. Your design consultant will give you a timeline for your project.
Own a Home on Lake Anna? Let's Talk About Your View.
If your lake-facing windows are leaking, fogging, or blocking the view you bought the property for, we can help. Schedule a free in-home consultation with our Central Virginia team.
¹ It is the only warranty among top selling window companies that meets all of the following requirements: easy to understand terms, unrestricted transferability, installation coverage, labor coverage, geographically unrestricted, coverage for exterior color, insect screens and hardware, and no maintenance requirement. Visit renewalbyandersen.com/nationsbest for details.
