Tampa Bay Homeowners Compare Window Replacement Quotes and Costs

Hi @lindafisher438, I'm over in St. Pete and went through this process last year for my 1985 block home. I had 10 openings replaced (8 windows and 2 sliding glass doors). We got quotes from three companies:

Karoly Windows: They quoted us around $9,800 for 8 PGT WinGuard impact windows (white frames) plus $4,200 for the two sliding doors, total came out to roughly $14k. This included everything: permits (~$400), old window/door removal, and even some interior trim work because our old frames were thinner. We ultimately chose Karoly and went with bronze frame exteriors (to match our house trim) which added about 10% more to the cost, but we're happy with the look.

Renewal by Andersen: This quote was outrageous – about $28,000 for the same scope (their Fibrex windows, not even impact-rated I think). It was nearly double others. They had a slick presentation but we couldn't justify the cost.

Local independent (ProTech Windows): Their quote was in between – around $16k for PGT windows similar to Karoly's quote. They had a slightly higher labor charge and they were including some upgrade for foam insulation around the frames.

We ultimately chose Karoly and went with bronze frame exteriors (to match our house trim) which added about 10% more to the cost, but we're happy with the look. Renewal by Andersen: This quote was outrageous – about $28,000 for the same scope (their Fibrex windows, not even impact-rated I think). It was nearly double others. They had a slick presentation but we couldn't justify the cost. Local independent (ProTech Windows): Their quote was in between – around $16k for PGT windows similar to Karoly's quote. They had a slightly higher labor charge and they were including some upgrade for foam insulation around the frames. We ended up going with Karoly as they had the best balance of price and reputation. All our windows are impact glass with Low-E. We did notice the difference in price for frame colors: white was standard, bronze (dark frames) cost a bit more and also had a longer lead time since they're special order. One thing to budget for: if you have old aluminum jalousie windows like we did, removing them can be a pain. Karoly included removal in the price but ProTech had a separate line item for removal/disposal ($50 per opening). Also, Pinellas County permitting was about $300 for us (we had to pull a permit for window replacement due to impact glass and structural changes), which was included in the quotes but make sure any quote you get includes that. Overall, $11.5k for 12 windows sounds decent for impact windows. Ours averaged a bit more per opening because sliders are pricier than windows. If you had any non-impact or if you went with single-hung vs sliders, it could be cheaper. But I think you're in the right ballpark. I'd say get one or two more quotes if you can, just to be sure. We found that asking for a quote breakdown (window cost vs labor vs permits) helped us see where the money was going. Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any questions about the install process or anything.

I'll chime in from Hillsborough. I replaced 8 windows in my townhouse in Carrollwood (north Tampa) two years ago. I actually opted for non-impact, double-pane windows with aluminum hurricane panels (I install the panels when storms come). At the time, it saved me quite a bit of money versus impact glass.
Quote for impact (PGT WinGuard): I was quoted about $8,000 for 8 impact windows (white vinyl, Low-E) from a local installer (not a big name, a guy my friend recommended).

What I did (Simonton Non-impact): I went with Simonton Reflections (vinyl, double-pane, non-impact) for about $5,500 total installed for all 8 windows. This was through a small family-run window company in Tampa. That $5.5k included permits (around $250), removal of my old single-pane windows, and they also hauled away the old aluminum frames. I then separately bought aluminum hurricane shutters for about $1,200 for all openings (one-time cost, and I store them in my garage).

So overall even with shutters, it was slightly cheaper than impact. However, keep in mind with non-impact windows I had to make sure the shutter anchors were installed and it’s a bit of work to put them up for a hurricane watch. Also, my home insurance still gave me a credit because I have approved shutters on all openings (though if I had impact windows, they'd give a similar credit).

If I had the budget, I probably would have gone impact for the convenience and added security, but going non-impact was a reasonable choice at the time. Your quotes for impact windows seem on par with what I saw ($1k or more per window for impact). If you’re planning to stay long-term and don’t want the hassle of shutters, impact is worth it IMO.

Just wanted to share another approach in case anyone is considering non-impact + shutters to save some cash.

Hello from Pasco County! I live in Wesley Chapel, and we just got 15 windows replaced in our 1990s two-story home. We gathered multiple quotes too, and I'll share what we found:
We wanted all impact windows as well (hurricanes don't hit Tampa as often, but I like the peace of mind and the insurance discounts). We have mostly single-hung windows, plus one 3-panel slider window in our living room.

Window World: They advertise super low prices, but for impact windows the cost jumped. Our quote for their impact windows (they use an in-house branded window, I think made by AMI or Associated Materials) came to about $14,000 for 15 windows. The base price per window was low (like $500 each) but once you add impact glass, Low-E, and installation, it averaged around $933 per window. They also didn't include permit fees in the initial number – those would be extra. Removal of old windows was included.

West Shore Home: This was another company we got a quote from (they’re big on advertising). They quoted us a whopping $22,000 for 15 windows, all impact, claiming their product was superior and could be installed faster. We were not convinced; the salesman was pushy and the price breakdown was not very transparent (they lumped everything together).

ProTech Windows (Local): ProTech came recommended by a neighbor. Their quote was $15,500 for PGT impact windows, including a couple of larger sizes we have. They broke it down by window – smaller bedroom windows were about $800 each, bigger ones $1,100 each. They did include permits and even noted an allowance for any stucco repair (up to $300 included, since sometimes removing old windows in stucco walls can cause chips that need patching). I appreciated that detail.

We ultimately went with ProTech Windows. The final invoice was pretty much the quote – around $15.5k, which included everything (permit from Pasco County was about $200; I think it's slightly lower fees up here than Pinellas/Tampa). They did a great job, and as expected we had a few spots of stucco that needed patching, which they took care of without extra charge.

One tip: watch out for Window World’s tactic of quoting the window price without all the necessary upgrades and costs. It looked cheaper at first but ended up similar to others once apples-to-apples. Also, always verify if the quotes include the exterior finishing (caulking, stucco, trim). Some companies might leave that out.

Your quotes seem in line with what we saw. $11.5k for 12 windows (impact) vs our $15.5k for 15 windows. Yours might actually be a tad higher per window, but maybe your sizes or product might differ. PGT and Simonton are both good brands that a lot of folks here use.

Good luck and keep us posted on who you end up choosing!

Thanks so much for the input, everyone! This is super helpful.
@hiker61 – Wow, your detailed breakdown is amazing. The Renewal by Andersen price you got is crazy, that’s even higher than the NewSouth quote I had. It’s good to know Karoly treated you well; they are currently my front-runner too, especially now that I see others had good experiences with them. And thanks for the tip about frame colors affecting lead time – I was debating white vs bronze frames. White might be fine if it’s quicker and cheaper, but bronze would look nicer with my trim... decisions!

@jroberts86 – Appreciate hearing the non-impact + shutters route. I hadn’t considered doing that here, mostly because I dread putting up shutters every time (and I travel a lot, so if a storm comes while I’m away, that could be an issue). But it sounds like you saved a good chunk. $5.5k for 8 windows is quite affordable. Simonton is a good brand too from what I've read. If I were on a tighter budget I might consider that route more seriously.

@charlie_woof – Great info. I actually had Window World come out early on. You’re right, the initial quote they gave sounded low until I realized it didn’t include impact glass or a bunch of other things. By the time they recalculated for impact glass and everything, it wasn’t really cheaper than the others. Also interesting to hear about the stucco repair inclusion. My house has stucco exterior too, so I’ll double-check if that’s covered in the quote. Karoly said something about doing “stucco stops” around the windows to minimize damage – not entirely sure what that means, but I think it’s to avoid cracking the stucco.

I’m feeling better that my quotes ($11.5k and $15.3k for 12 windows) are in the ballpark. I might still get one more quote just to have three for comparison (maybe I’ll try a Simonton dealer or someone independent). And yes, I will definitely compare line items and make sure everything is included.

Thanks again, everyone. I’ll keep checking back and will update you all on what I end up doing!

Jumping in here with some budgeting/negotiating tips from my window replacement last year in Clearwater (Pinellas). I had 12 windows done as well, and one thing I learned: don't be afraid to negotiate or ask for price matching.
I got quotes from 4 companies, and I essentially took the lowest one (which was from a smaller outfit) and showed it to one of the more established companies. They actually beat it by a small margin just to win the business. This saved me about $800 overall on a $10k project. It helped that I had the quotes in writing and the specs were comparable (all quotes were for impact windows, white vinyl frames, similar sizes).

Another tip: ask if there's a discount for paying cash or check (instead of financing or credit card). One of the companies knocked off 3% because I was willing to pay by check, since that saved them credit card fees. Also, some will give a discount if you sign during a certain promotion period. Just be careful with the high-pressure "sign today for 10% off" sales tactics – only commit if you're comfortable and have done your research.

And definitely scrutinize the line items. On one quote, I saw a charge for "installation supplies $300" and "disposal fee $200." I asked another company if they charged those, and they said those were already factored into their base price. When I pointed out those extra fees to the first company, they actually agreed to remove them (so sometimes those fees are a bit of padding).

Bottom line: treat the quote like a starting point. Many window companies expect customers to haggle a bit, especially in a competitive market like Tampa Bay. As long as you're comparing apples to apples (same number of windows, impact vs non, etc.), use the competition to your advantage!

This thread is great, thanks to everyone sharing details! I'm a new homeowner in Tampa (moved from up north), so this is my first time dealing with Florida window replacements. I have a couple of newbie questions if folks don't mind:
Low-E glass: How important is the Low-E in Florida? I know it helps with energy efficiency by blocking heat. Are most quotes including it standard? I see many of you mentioning it. Should I ensure any window I get has Low-E coating, or is it optional here?

Timeline: Once you sign a contract for windows, how long did it take to actually get them installed? I've heard impact windows can have long lead times. I'm trying to plan around some other home improvement projects.

Warranty/Service: Did you all consider the warranty or service aspect when choosing a company? I'm nervous about spending so much; I want to make sure whichever company I choose will take care of any issues down the line.

Thanks in advance! And sorry if these questions are basic – I'm learning a lot from this discussion.

@hcarter30, great questions. I’m a long-time Tampa homeowner (and have done window replacements twice over 20 years), so I’ll share what I know:
Low-E Glass: In Florida, Low-E is highly recommended. It significantly cuts down on the UV and heat coming through, which helps keep your home cooler and protects against sun fading your furniture. These days most quality window packages include Low-E as a standard or minimal upgrade. Given our intense sun, I would definitely ensure your windows have it. It might be optional on some quotes, but the cost difference is usually worth it in energy savings (and comfort). Some windows come with different levels of Low-E (like double-coating), but generally one good Low-E coating is standard in our market.

Timeline: Lead times can vary. When I replaced windows in 2021, it took about 10 weeks from contract sign to install. The supply chain was a bit backed up. Lately I hear it’s around 6-8 weeks for companies like PGT or Simonton, but if you choose an uncommon frame color or less common brand, it could be longer. Impact windows have to be manufactured to order typically, so expect maybe ~2 months before installation. The actual installation for my 10 windows took 2 days (they did half one day, half the next).

Warranty/Service: This is important! Most window manufacturers (PGT, Simonton, etc.) offer a decent warranty on the product (often lifetime on the vinyl frame, and some years on the glass). But the installer's labor warranty is key too – e.g., if there’s a leak or installation issue, will they come fix it and for how long? I chose a company that offered a lifetime labor warranty (rare, many do 5-10 years). Also consider how long the company has been in business; you want them to be around to honor that warranty. Big companies like RBA have a long warranty but are pricey; smaller local guys might give more personal service. I ended up needing one adjustment on a window a year later (it wasn’t locking smoothly) and the company I used sent someone out in a week to fix it free of charge.

Hope that helps! And welcome to Florida homeownership – lots to learn, but these forums are a great resource.

We’re in Seminole (Pinellas County) and we decided to do our window replacements in phases due to budget constraints. Our house has 12 windows total, but we did the front 4 windows last year and will do the rest next year.
For the first phase, we had 4 windows (including one big picture window in the living room and three standard bedroom windows) replaced with impact vinyl windows. We used a local company called StormFitters in St. Pete. They installed Custom Window Systems (CWS) impact windows:

The large picture window (roughly 6 ft by 4 ft fixed window) was about $1,500 by itself.

The three single-hung windows (each roughly 36x50 inches) were about $700 each.

All together, our bill for those 4 windows was around $3,600, plus about $400 in permits and fees, so just over $4,000 total. That included exterior trim wrap and stucco touch-ups around the big window because they had to slightly enlarge the opening to fit a standard size.

Doing just 4 windows probably cost a bit more per window than if we did all 12 at once (economies of scale). The company did mention if we did all 12, the average per window would have been a little lower. But splitting it up helped us manage the cost over time.

I chose CWS windows because the contractor recommended them and said they perform well in our coastal environment. So far they’ve been great – no leaks, noticeably quieter inside, and we can already feel the difference in reducing afternoon heat.

We plan to do the remaining 8 windows in a few months. We’ll likely use the same company; they gave us a quote of about $8,000 for those remaining ones (which are all standard sizes) if we do impact glass again. They said if we opted for non-impact on some of the less critical openings, it could shave maybe $1,500 off, but we want all impact for consistency and insurance.

Just wanted to share that doing windows in stages is an option if the total cost is too much at once. It worked well for us, even though you might pay slightly more in the long run.

@lindafisher438 - You mentioned "stucco stops" that Karoly talked about. I’m not from Tampa, but I'm a retired GC (General Contractor) from South Florida originally, and I'm familiar with the term. Stucco stop (also called a stucco flange) is basically a finishing strip that goes around the window frame which lets the installer blend or terminate the stucco cleanly to the new window. It helps minimize stucco damage because they don’t have to chip out as much around the old window to fit the new one.
In practical terms, it means they can install the new window with a nice border piece that covers the edge, so they aren't having to do extensive stucco repair after. It's a good thing if the installer is planning for that, since stucco repair can be a headache (matching texture and paint, etc.).

Just wanted to clarify that term for anyone else scratching their head. Back to the regularly scheduled programming of quotes and costs!