For those who've used PGT versus Simonton, did you notice any differences in quality or features? The quotes I'm getting seem to mix these brands. One company pushes PGT, another Simonton. Both are impact, vinyl, double-pane. Is one better than the other for our area (Tampa Bay)? Or are they about the same and I should just go with the installer I like better?
@psage55 - I had the option of PGT vs Simonton for my job. Honestly, both are well-regarded brands for Florida. In my case I ended up with Simonton because that’s what Home Depot offered and my local guy could get either, and the price was similar.
From what I gathered:
PGT: Very popular in Florida, especially their WinGuard line for impact windows. They have a slight edge in name recognition here and some say their customer service (for any issues/replacements) is top-notch since they’re Florida-based.
Simonton: Also solid, they’ve been around a long time (they're owned by PlyGem now). Their StormBreaker (impact) series is comparable to PGT's offerings in ratings. Some installers prefer one brand over the other just out of familiarity.
I asked a couple installers this same question and most said both are good, just don’t mix brands on the same house if you care about all windows looking exactly the same. Minor aesthetic differences (frame style, hardware style) can exist.
Long story short, I’d focus more on the installer’s reputation and who gives you a better vibe/price. The product itself should be fine with either PGT or Simonton. If anyone else has different experiences, chime in, but that’s my take.
I'll admit I went the bargain route for a rental property I own in Tarpon Springs. I used Window World and got their basic, non-impact windows installed. This was 3 years ago, 8 windows for around $4,000 (about $500 each installed). These were just standard single-hung, double-pane, no Low-E (at the time I was pinching pennies).
Honestly, for a rental it did the job: the place is quieter and my tenant’s electric bill went down a bit. But comparing those to the PGT impact windows I later put in my own home, the quality difference is noticeable – the Window World ones have flimsier feeling locks and you can tell the frame is not as heavy-duty. Also, I had one seal fail within 2 years (condensation between the panes). To their credit, Window World did replace that under warranty, but it took about 6 weeks.
So if it's your primary home and you can afford better, I'd say go with a higher tier product. But if budget is the top concern, Window World's product is functional. Just make sure you compare apples to apples (my $500/window was non-impact, no extras). Their impact window pricing as others noted ends up similar to other companies, so they're only a bargain on the lower end stuff.
Hi from Sun City Center (south Hillsborough)! A lot of us retirees here have been upgrading to impact windows for insurance savings and ease of storm prep. In my case, we actually coordinated with two neighbors and approached the same contractor to do three homes around the same time. We ended up each getting about 5% off our quotes because we gave them essentially a bigger job (3 homes, 28 windows total among us).
My house had 9 windows done, all PGT impact single-hungs, white frames, for about $9,000 (after that group discount, it would have been around $9,500 alone). One neighbor had 12 windows and a sliding door, their cost was higher (I think around
14k),andtheotherhadjust6windows(
14k),andtheotherhadjust6windows(
6k). We all used Karoly Windows since they were familiar with working in our community and had good prices.
It might not always work out, but if you have a friend or neighbor nearby who also needs windows, see if the installer will give a small discount for doing projects together. It made scheduling easy too – they did our three homes over a week and we joked that our street got a mini window makeover.
Just another idea to potentially save a bit of money and get your neighbors involved.
Reading these experiences reminds me – be prepared for possible delays. I signed a contract for 11 impact windows in October 2021 for my home in Odessa (Pasco/Hillsborough line). They told me 8-10 weeks lead time. It actually took almost 5 months for the windows to come in and get installed, partly due to supply chain issues at the time (pandemic backlogs).
The wait was frustrating (my house was fine, old windows were just old, not broken, so it was okay). The company did keep me updated and ultimately delivered, but anyone getting windows now, make sure to ask about current lead times. I think things have improved since then, but just in case – get an expectation in writing if possible.
Also double-check the order details on your contract. In my case, one window was mis-ordered (they sent a wrong grid pattern), and it was another headache to get the right one re-ordered and swapped out (took an extra month). These things happen, but it taught me to triple-check that every line of the quote/contract matches what you want (style, grids, tint, etc.).
Not trying to scare anyone, just sharing that patience is sometimes needed with window projects!
I'm in a high-rise condo in downtown St. Pete and we went through a building-wide window replacement last year. Slightly different scenario, but could be useful info for any condo owners.
Our HOA negotiated a deal with a window contractor to replace all old single-pane windows with impact windows (required by the building code updates). We had 50 units participate. The cost for us as individual owners was about $7,000 per unit for a standard package (which in my case was 5 windows). These were PGT aluminum frame impact windows, because in high-rises they often use stronger aluminum frames.
It came out to about $1,400 per window, including some complicated rigging (they had to use a crane for the upper floors!). The price was decent considering the logistics. The HOA covered the permit costs out of our reserves, so that $7k was basically the install and materials.
Key takeaway: if you’re in a condo, see if a group project is possible. Doing it as an association can get bulk pricing and ensure uniform appearance. But it also means you might have less personal choice in brand/style (we all got the same windows).
Not exactly a homeowner single-house situation, but thought I'd share the cost context for condos.
Haha, some of these sales tactics mentioned sound familiar. When I was shopping for windows (in Dunedin, Pinellas), one company sent a salesman who spent 2 hours giving me the hard sell. The initial quote for my 10 windows was like $20k. I said no way, then suddenly there was a "special today only" that brought it down to $14k if I signed on the spot. I still passed.
It pays to be patient and get multiple quotes, as everyone here has done. The difference in sales approach is huge: one guy was high pressure, another company just emailed me a quote after a 20-minute measurement visit with no pressure. Guess which one I chose? (the no-pressure one, and it was cheaper too).
So if you get an absurd quote or a pushy pitch, don't be discouraged – get a few opinions.
My home in Seminole Heights (Tampa) is a 1940s wood-frame house (with wood siding), and I went through window replacement last summer. One thing to note: installation can be a bit different for wood-frame homes vs the common block/stucco homes around here.
In my case, after the old windows were removed, the installers had to add new exterior wood trim around each window to cover the gaps and blend with the siding. This was included in my quote (thankfully) and they primed the wood, but I had to paint that trim myself to match the house. Not a big deal, but just something to be aware of if you have a frame house – ask if painting is included or not. Stucco homes might need stucco touch-up, whereas wood homes need trim carpentry.
Cost-wise, I had 7 windows done (went with non-impact, vinyl, double-pane by CWS). It was about $5,000 total. They charged an extra $50 per window for the custom exterior trim work.
So yeah, just check your quote for any extras related to your house’s construction. Each type has its own quirks.
(Just following along, planning a window project next year. This thread is super informative – thank you all!)
Has anyone here actually gone with NewSouth? I did, and I'll share my experience. I'm in Temple Terrace (Hillsborough), and last year I ended up signing with NewSouth Window Solutions for 8 windows and a patio slider.
Their pitch was that they manufacture their own windows in Florida (custom for Florida climate) and cut out the middleman. The quote was higher than others (as @lindafisher438 mentioned): mine was
12,000for8windows+1slider(impact,Low−E,vinyl).Ihadalowerquotefromanotherlocalcompany(
12,000for8windows+1slider(impact,Low−E,vinyl).Ihadalowerquotefromanotherlocalcompany(
10k for similar), but I was somewhat swayed by NewSouth’s lifetime warranty on both product and installation. They also had a promotion throwing in free installation (which I suspect was just built into the price).
Installation went smoothly, but it did take almost 4 months from order to install. The windows themselves are good quality, very solid. The slider door is excellent – probably my favorite part, it glides nicely and feels sturdy.
In hindsight, I probably paid a bit of a premium (maybe ~$2k more than if I'd gone with the other company). Would I use them again? Possibly, for the peace of mind of that warranty and because they handled everything very professionally. But if you're purely cost-focused, you can get similar windows for less through other dealers.
Just wanted to put it out there since NewSouth was mentioned. They deliver a good product, just not the cheapest.