Full Home Window Replacement in Tampa Bay

Hey @lisa_moon, welcome! I went through a full-home window replacement last year. We have a 1970s single-story house in Clearwater (Pinellas County) and replaced all 12 windows. We decided to go with hurricane impact-resistant windows for peace of mind during storm season. The total cost was about $18,000, including installation and everything. We chose Karoly Windows & Doors for the project. They weren’t the cheapest option (we had a lower quote around $15k from a handyman-type crew), but we felt more comfortable paying a bit extra for Karoly’s solid reputation and warranty.

One unexpected add-on: once they removed our old frames, the installers discovered some wood rot in the window framing. 😕 Fixing that added roughly $800 to the bill on the spot. So, if you have an older home like mine, keep a little contingency in your budget for surprises behind the walls.

Despite that, we’re very happy with the outcome. No more wrestling storm shutters or plywood whenever a hurricane threatens – impact glass means we’re already protected. Plus, the house is noticeably quieter and more energy-efficient now (those old single panes were so drafty). Overall, spending $18k was well worth the peace of mind and improvements we got.

Quick question for those who’ve done this: Did your quotes include stucco or drywall repair if needed? I’m in Hillsborough (Brandon area) with 15 old metal-framed windows. My neighbor had theirs done and a lot of the interior trim got cracked when the old steel frames were removed. The installer then charged extra to fix the drywall and stucco around the windows after installation. I want to make sure I ask upfront: do your quotes typically cover any necessary interior trim repair or exterior stucco patching, and things like permit fees and old window disposal? I don’t want any surprise add-on costs later. Thanks!

Great thread idea. 😊 I’ll share our story: We have a 1965 block home in South Tampa (Hillsborough County) and we replaced all 11 windows two years ago. We were on a tight budget, so we decided not to get impact glass. Instead, we went with good quality double-pane vinyl windows (non-impact) and we use accordion-style hurricane shutters for storm protection. We got three quotes at the time. The prices were $4,800 on the low end (from a small one-man operation), around $5,500 from a mid-sized local company, and about $7,200 on the high end (from a company that advertises constantly on the radio). We chose the middle quote – roughly $5.5k for all 11 windows, installed – because the contractor had solid reviews and a fair price.
For comparison, we did ask each company to price out impact vs. non-impact glass. Going with impact would have raised the cost by roughly 40-50% more in our case. We decided it wasn’t worth the extra cost for us, since we already have hurricane shutters for every window. Our old windows were those louvered jalousie style and super drafty, so even with just non-impact double-pane replacements, the difference in comfort was huge. No more drafts, and the AC doesn’t run 24/7 now. If you’re on a budget, one strategy is to do the project in phases (like front of the house first, then the back later) to spread out the cost. We elected to do everything at once to avoid multiple mobilization fees and permit hassles, but I know others who split the project over a year. In our case, the quote was all-inclusive – it covered the permit, removing and hauling away the old windows, and even minor touch-up painting. We made sure to clarify that up front. There were no major surprises during install, but the contractor did tell us beforehand that if they encountered termite damage or rotten sills, repairing those would be extra. (Luckily, our old wood was in good shape.) My advice: definitely ensure your quotes are itemized and inclusive of things like permits and repair work, so you’re comparing apples to apples.

@apolloparker907 – Good question. In my experience, some quotes include minor stucco/trim repairs and some don’t, so you absolutely want to ask each contractor. When I had my windows done, the installer had a line item in the quote for “stucco repair allowance” which was basically a set amount included to patch up around the windows on the outside. In my case they didn’t end up needing much of it because the install was pretty clean, but it was nice to know it was covered. Interior trim was not an issue for us (we had wood buck frames that they left intact), but the quote did mention that any interior drywall repairs or repainting were extra if needed.
My neighbor in New Tampa had a different experience: his contractor’s quote did not include interior repairs, and a couple of his window openings had plaster damage after the old frames came out. He got hit with a change order for a few hundred dollars to fix and repaint those areas. He wasn’t thrilled. So, yes, definitely pin them down on that in the quote stage. Also ask about permit fees – most good companies will include the permit cost in the quote (could be a few hundred bucks). And don’t forget to ask who is responsible for pulling the permit (it should be the contractor, not you). Lastly, verify if they include hauling away the old windows/frames. Some budget outfits might leave that to you. Mine included it by default (they carted off all the old aluminum frames to recycle). Bottom line: get it in writing to avoid surprises.

I’m in Pinellas County as well, and I just got a quote last week that might be useful for comparison. It’s for 8 windows (about 36” x 50” each) plus 1 sliding glass door (8-foot). We want all impact glass because we live near the coast and hurricane protection is a big priority. The first quote came in around $13,000 from a local window company a friend of mine used. For that price, the sliding door alone was about4kofthecost(impact−ratedslidingdoorsarepricey!).The8windowsmadeuptheother 
4kofthecost(impact−ratedslidingdoorsarepricey!).The8windowsmadeuptheother 
9k, which averages out to roughly $1,100 per window installed. Those would be PGT Winguard impact windows, according to the quote.

We’re in a one-story house, which helps keep the install cost down. (The rep did mention if we had a two-story, it might be more due to needing scaffolding or extra labor for second-floor windows.) I’m actually getting a second quote from ProTech Windoors next week to compare, since I’ve heard good things. From what I gather asking around, about $1,000 to $1,500 per window for impact windows (including installation) is pretty typical in our area, depending on the window size and difficulty. I’ll update once I have the ProTech quote, so we can see how it stacks up.

Just chiming in with a bit of advice on frame materials, because that can affect price and longevity. I initially thought we wanted aluminum frames for our windows (for strength and because that’s what a lot of old Florida homes have), but a lot of folks and contractors recommended going with vinyl frames instead for our area. We’re near the bay, so salt air corrosion is a concern – aluminum can corrode over time, whereas vinyl won’t. We ended up choosing vinyl impact windows and have been happy so far. Modern vinyl is quite sturdy and often has internal metal reinforcements, so it can handle high winds well. And yes, vinyl can be a bit cheaper than aluminum for similar styles, depending on the brand.
Also, if energy efficiency matters to you (it was a priority for us), check the window’s ratings like U-factor and SHGC. Some window packages come with better low-e coatings or argon gas fills that improve those numbers. A good contractor will walk you through the options. For example, we paid about $50 more per window to upgrade to a high-performance glass package that blocks more heat, and it’s totally worth it in the Florida heat 🔥. So don’t forget to compare not just impact vs non-impact, but also vinyl vs aluminum vs fiberglass frames, and basic glass vs upgraded glass. Each of those choices impacts cost a bit and you want the combo that suits your needs.

We actually used ProTech Windoors for our window project, so I can speak to that. Our house (in Tampa, Town ’n’ Country area) had 8 old single-pane windows and we replaced all 8 with new double-pane impact windows. The cost was $9,000 total, which breaks down to about $1,125 per window on average. We chose ProTech because our neighbors had used them the year before and their windows looked great and held up well through storms. ProTech’s quote was competitive for impact windows – for comparison, another quote we got for the same 8 windows was $10,200 (from a big name company), and we had a cheaper quote around $8,500 but that one was from a less established outfit that we weren’t sure about. We went with ProTech in the end for the balance of price, reputation, and the fact they’ve been around Tampa Bay a while.
The installation team from ProTech was very professional. They showed up on time with a big enough crew to do all 8 windows in one day. They also did a good job cleaning up (I didn’t find stray screws or broken glass bits afterwards, which was a relief). We did have one small issue: one of the new windows had a tiny scratch on the glass, barely noticeable but we caught it. We pointed it out, and ProTech ordered a replacement sash for that window under the manufacturer’s warranty. A few weeks later they came back and swapped it out, no hassle. 👍 So I’d say their customer service was great in addressing even a minor flaw. All in all, I’d recommend giving ProTech a shot – at least get a quote from them. We’re really happy with our windows and it’s nice knowing a local, trustworthy company did the work.

Absolutely loving all this info. I’ll add my experience for more data points. My home is an early-1980s build in Brandon (Hillsborough County), and we had 10 windows replaced (all were original single-pane aluminum windows before). I went out and got 5 quotes from different companies because I wanted to see the range. And wow, did they vary! The highest quote was nearly $20,000 😳 for 10 windows (from one of those well-known national window companies that spend a lot on TV ads). The lowest quote came in just under $8,000 from a small contractor who basically worked out of his truck. That’s a huge difference – literally $800 per window vs $2,000 per window at the extremes.
We ended up choosing Karoly Windows & Doors for about $12,000 total. So, kind of a mid-range price among our quotes. What sold us was their transparency and thoroughness. They actually invited us to their showroom in Clearwater so we could see and operate the different window products. The sales rep from Karoly then gave us a detailed breakdown of the quote: line by line for the window unit costs, installation labor, permit fee, materials (caulk, screws, etc.), and even an allocated amount for any stucco/trim repairs. Not every company does that – some just give a single number with no breakdown – but I really appreciated seeing exactly what we’d be paying for. Because of that, there were zero surprise add-ons; the final invoice was exactly what was quoted.

The installation itself went smoothly, though it did take a little longer than originally planned. They scheduled two days for 10 windows, but it ended up taking three days to finish because we got hit with a heavy rainstorm on day 2 that caused some delays (that’s Florida for you 🌦️). The crew was careful to temporarily seal up the openings when the rain came, so no issues there – it was just an extra day of work. After install, everything passed the county inspection on the first go. We’re very satisfied – the new windows (we got vinyl, impact-rated ones) made our home so much quieter and more comfortable. And as a bonus, like others have mentioned, our electric bill went down a bit after the upgrade. All in all, $12k felt like a fair price to pay for the quality and peace of mind we got. If you’re comparing quotes, don’t just look at the bottom line – consider how detailed and honest the companies are about what they provide. That made a big difference for us.

Here’s a breakdown of our costs, since I have the itemized quote in front of me. We did 12 windows in our house in North Tampa (all were custom-sized replacements, vinyl frames, impact glass with Low-E coating). This was completed last summer. The quote was from a local window company (not a major brand name, just a well-rated local business). Our total was $13,800 and it included basically everything. Here’s the rough breakdown:
Windows (materials) – $9,000 for 12 impact-rated vinyl windows (this is the price of the windows themselves, custom manufactured by PGT to our sizes, including tax on the materials).

Labor/Installation – $3,600 for the crew’s work to remove the old windows and install the new ones, including installing new interior trim where needed.

Permits & Inspection – $400 for pulling the building permit with Hillsborough County and the required inspection after installation.

Old Window Disposal – $300 for removing all the old window units and hauling them away (they said they recycle the aluminum).

Stucco Repair Allowance – $500 set aside for any needed exterior stucco patching or interior touch-ups. In our case, they did use most of this to patch some stucco around a couple of windows where they had to enlarge the opening slightly.

Total: $13,800 for 12 impact windows, which comes out to roughly $1,150 per window on average.

We did get another quote from one of the well-known companies (one of the forum “sponsors” actually – it was Karoly). Karoly’s quote was very close, about $1k higher total. We ended up going with the other guys only because we had a family friend working there who could oversee the project, so we felt comfortable. But honestly the pricing was similar. One thing to note: the timeline from signing the contract to final installation was about 10 weeks. The windows had to be manufactured to order (none of our windows were standard size), and there were some supply chain delays on the impact glass units. So if you’re doing impact windows, don’t expect it to happen within a couple weeks of order – plan for possibly 2-3 months lead time, especially in the busy season. We were told 8-12 weeks and it ended up being right in that range. The wait was a little frustrating, but everything came in and got installed before peak hurricane season, so it worked out.