@fitness113 Good reminder about the stickers. Our installer told us the same – leave every sticker on until the inspector sees them. They also taped our permit and documents to a front window, which the inspector appreciated because he found everything easily.
In Pinellas, the inspector mostly just checked one window of each size/type for anchors and label, then he was satisfied. If something were wrong, they'd flag it and you'd have to address it and get re-inspected, but sounds like that's rare with experienced contractors.
Oh, and keep that signed permit or a copy of it. It's proof for your records that the work was done to code, which can be important for insurance or future buyers.
I found it interesting how some companies break down the costs in their quote. One actually gave me a line-item style breakdown: materials vs labor vs permits, etc. For 15 impact windows, the materials (windows + basic supplies) were ~$12k, labor ~$7k, and permit/fees ~$1k, totaling about $20k. Another company just gave a lump sum of $19k with little detail.
Understanding that breakdown helped me. It showed me they weren't just pulling a random high number; there was reasoning behind it. It also helped when I considered dropping a couple of windows to save money – they explained that the per-window cost would rise a bit if I did fewer, because the fixed costs (permits, crew setup, etc.) would be spread over fewer windows.
In the end, I did all 15 because I figured I'd want them done eventually and it was more cost-effective to do in one go. But seeing the numbers itemized made me more comfortable with the investment, knowing how it was allocated.
@cooking518 That is interesting. Most quotes I got were lump sum with maybe a sentence of what it includes. I agree though, doing all at once tends to be more efficient. I thought about doing just the upstairs windows first and downstairs later, but the price difference wasn't proportional. There are base costs that don't change much whether you do 5 windows or 15.
One estimator told me straight up: "Honestly, you'll get a better per-window price if you do them all now." It did feel like a lot at once, but I'm glad I did everything. No sense having half new, half old windows lingering.
I'll add my numbers too: I replaced 11 windows in Pasco for $9,500 (non-impact vinyl) last year. That was after negotiating down from about $10,500. I got four quotes and this was the middle one which I pushed a bit on price. The highest quote I got was $14k and the lowest was $8k (but I didn't trust that lowest guy, seemed too flaky).
Anyway, I'm happy with $9.5k. The house is a single-story block home. They finished in two days. Now I'm eyeing my old front door – it looks a bit sad next to the new windows, so that's next on the list!
I want to mention exterior finishing: my house has decorative foam stucco trim around each window. Some companies I got quotes from said they'd remove those to take out the old windows and not put them back (basically just caulk the gap). Others said they'd replace or repair the trim as needed.
I made sure to go with a company that would restore that look. They did end up having to break off some of the foam trim when taking out the old windows. But after the new ones were in, they installed new foam trim pieces and stuccoed over them to match the others. Once I painted them, you can't tell the difference.
A neighbor across the street went with a cheaper contractor who didn't replace his trims – now his windows have no frame around them, just flat stucco patches, and it looks a bit plain compared to before. He might have to pay someone else to redo the trims to satisfy HOA aesthetics.
So if you have any kind of decorative molding or trim around your windows, clarify what will happen to it. If it's important to you, get it in writing that they'll restore or replace to maintain the look. It's those details that can separate a satisfactory job from an excellent one.
@robertblogger Good tip. My home has brick mold trim around the windows and I asked upfront how they'd handle it. The company ended up removing and re-attaching the trim carefully. They cracked one piece but they replaced that entire piece and repainted it to match. I appreciated that level of detail.
Some neighbors who didn't ask wound up with missing or simplified trim after their window jobs. It does affect curb appeal. It might cost a bit more or you might have to find a company willing to do the extra, but it's worth it if you care about those finishing touches.
In our subdivision in Lutz (built 2005), a bunch of us coordinated our window replacements. About four neighbors all needed them, so we talked to a contractor as a group. He offered a small group discount (I think it was like 5% off each if we all signed with him).
It helped him because he could schedule our installs back-to-back, and it helped us save a few bucks. We each had around 12-15 windows. He basically moved from house to house over a month.
It was actually kind of fun - we'd chat outside in the evenings about the progress, compare notes, and share cold drinks with the crew. By the end, our street had a mini face-lift with several houses sporting identical new windows. Definitely noticed by the HOA (in a good way).
So if you know neighbors who also need window work, it might be worth teaming up. Contractors like getting multiple jobs in one spot, and you might get a better price or priority scheduling out of it.
@dukep90 That's a great idea. I wish I had done that with at least one of my neighbors. We both ended up doing windows within a year of each other with different companies. Could've possibly gotten a deal if we joined forces.
It’s like getting a volume discount. Plus, as you said, you see the work at your neighbor's house which builds confidence for yours. If I ever have another project (like roofs or driveways), I'll remember to ask around the neighborhood to see if we can package a deal.
Based on all the posts here, it seems for early 2000s homes in Tampa Bay:
Non-impact vinyl windows: roughly $600-$800 per window installed on average.
Impact vinyl windows: roughly $900-$1,300 per window installed on average.
Larger sizes or special shapes and sliding glass doors will cost more (a standard slider can be a few thousand dollars by itself).
Small jobs (only a few windows) might have a higher unit cost, while bigger jobs (whole house) get a bit lower unit cost.
Extras like fancy grids, special glass, or extensive trim work can add to the total.
So a typical full-house job (let’s say 10-15 windows) might range from around $8k on the very low end (if all basic non-impact) to $20k+ on the high end (impact, bigger house). Most seem to fall somewhere in the middle of that depending on choices.
Does that sound about right? Just trying to summarize the pricing landscape from everyone’s input, since it's been super helpful.
@apolloparker907 That summary sounds spot on to me. I'd say the low end might be closer to $6-7k nowadays even for basic 10 windows, given material costs have risen. But yes, generally:
I rarely hear anyone getting under $500 per window anymore, even with simpler windows.
And $1,000+ per window is common for impact or more complex jobs.
For example, a friend in Bradenton just did 8 impact windows for $10k (so $1,250 each). Another in Tampa did 12 non-impact for $8k (about $667 each). Those fit in your ranges.
And absolutely, if you have a lot of big windows or special conditions, you could see beyond $20k. But for early 2000s tract homes, not mansions, I think your range covers 95% of cases.