Milliken Mills · Markham
Milliken Mills: 1980s houses, failing seals and busy plazas
Most of Milliken Mills went up in the 1980s, when the farms left, and much of it is two-storey houses with garages. At that age, original sealed units and hardware wear out, often several windows within a few years. The neighbourhood also meets the dense retail at Steeles and Kennedy. We connect homeowners and shop owners here with independent local glass pros, and the most useful first step is simple: a photo of the fogged window and your cross-streets.
At a glance
- Housing
- Mostly 1980s two-storey detached homes
- Common jobs
- Fogged sealed units, casement cranks, sliding patio doors
- Retail
- Plazas and condo-owned mall units near Steeles and Kennedy
- Boundary
- South of Steeles is Toronto; ask about coverage
1980s two-storey homes: what's failing now
A house from the 1980s that still has its first windows is running on glass and hardware several decades old. Three things tend to give out:
- The seal. Fog or a milky film between the panes that won't wipe off means the sealed unit has lost its seal.
- The crank and weatherstrip. Casement operators strip, hinge arms stiffen and weatherstrip flattens, so the sash no longer pulls tight and the room feels a draft.
- The patio door. Rollers flatten and tracks wear until the door drags or won't lock.
Each has its own fix, and a house can need all three without needing new windows. Window repair covers cranks, hinges and weatherstrip.
Sealed-unit swaps versus new windows
When only the seal has gone, the common repair keeps the frame and replaces the glass unit: the pro measures the glass, has a unit made to size and fits it. It keeps the window, usually costs less than replacing it, and suits a house whose frames are still sound. See foggy window repair.
New windows make more sense when frames are cracked or warping, several units have failed together, or you want better performance throughout. Ontario's Home Renovation Savings program offers rebates on qualifying ENERGY STAR windows and doors, usually through a home energy assessment; replacing only the glass doesn't qualify. The repair or replace guide walks through the choice.
Sliding patio doors from the same era
What usually fixes a 1980s slider:
- Sliding door repair: a door that has dropped, grinds or jumps its track usually needs new rollers and an adjustment.
- Door glass: a fogged or cracked panel can be replaced in the door; glass in a sliding door must be safety glass.
- Patio door replacement: the better option once the frame has twisted, the sill has gone soft or rain finds its way in at the threshold.
- Screen doors: new rollers and fresh mesh usually do it.
Shops and plazas near Steeles and Kennedy
The retail around Steeles and Kennedy includes Pacific Mall, on the northeast corner, which operates as a condominium corporation with individually owned units. That changes who signs off on glass work: depending on the corporation's rules, a shopfront pane may be the unit owner's responsibility or the corporation's. For plate glass and temporary boarding, see storefront glass repair.
South of Steeles is Toronto
Milliken proper, south of Steeles, is part of Scarborough in the City of Toronto, which issues its own permits. Whether a pro we work with covers an address there depends on the job and who is taking work in that direction, so send the request with your address and we'll check. North of Steeles, Milliken Mills is Markham, and Markham's permit rules apply. See all service areas.
Milliken Mills questions
Can the fogged glass in my 1980s windows be replaced?
Usually. Where the frame and sash are still solid, the pro orders a new sealed unit to the glass size and fits it in place, keeping the window. The exceptions are frames that have cracked or warped, or a sash so weathered it won't hold new glass securely; then a new sash or window is the fix. A photo of the whole window and a frame corner lets the pro tell which you have.
Is it time to replace my original patio door?
Not necessarily. A 1980s slider that drags or won't lock often needs rollers, a new lock or an adjustment, and fogged glass can be replaced in the panel. Replacement is worth pricing when the frame is bent, the sill has rotted, or cold air comes through with the door shut. Ask the pro to price repair and replacement side by side. See sliding door repair.
Do you cover the Toronto side of Milliken?
Sometimes. South of Steeles is the City of Toronto, and coverage there comes down to whether a pro who does your kind of job works that far south. Send the request with your full address; we'll look for a pro who works there and let you know honestly if we can't find one. Toronto, not Markham, handles any permits on that side.
One window has fogged. Are the rest about to go?
Not necessarily, but units of the same age and exposure often follow one another. Look at the other windows on the same side of the house in low morning or evening light, when a faint haze between the panes is easiest to see. If several show it, ask the pro to price each window separately and the whole set together, so you can decide how far to go.
I own a unit in a condo-run mall near Steeles. Can I hire my own glass pro?
Often, but the condominium corporation usually has a say, even when you pay. Check its rules with management before booking: it may control the storefront frame, the entrance glass or when contractors can work. Once you know who authorizes the job, the pro we match you with can quote it. See commercial glass.