How to Plan a Window Replacement Project in Phases (Without Regrets)

Hello and welcome! I’m a Tampa homeowner too, and I actually did my window replacement in 2 phases just last year. It can definitely work out well if you plan it right. In our case, we prioritized the windows that were in the worst shape and most exposed. For us that meant the west side of the house (brutal afternoon sun and the direction storms usually blow in from) and a couple of front windows that were really drafty. We did those in Phase 1, then tackled the rest (mostly north and east side windows) in Phase 2 a few months later.
A few tips from my experience:

Keep the look consistent: We made sure to choose the same window style, frame color, and manufacturer for both phases. This way, the windows installed in Phase 2 matched Phase 1 exactly. You don’t want half your windows looking one way and the rest another. Even if you think you might change your mind on style, try to decide upfront and stick to it. A neighbor of mine did one phase with white frames and the next with bronze frames – yikes, it looked mismatched until they repainted the older ones.

Plan around the weather: We scheduled our installs in the spring and fall to avoid the peak of hurricane season. Also, cooler weather is easier when you have open window holes during install. In Tampa’s summer heat and daily thunderstorms, that can be a challenge.

Use the same installer if possible: We used the same company for both phases (I let them know from the start we’d likely do multiple rounds). They kept our info and made sure to order the same products again. It also helped because they knew our house layout already, making the second install go smoother.

Overall, phasing was a good solution for us financially, and we don’t have any regrets because we planned ahead. Happy to answer any specific questions you have!

I considered doing my windows in phases but ultimately bit the bullet and did all 15 at once (financed it). However, I did get a lot of info on phased replacements during my research. Here’s my two cents:
If you can manage all at once, it can sometimes save money – the contractor gave me a better per-window price for a full house job. In my case, ProTech Windows & Doors offered 0% financing for 18 months, which made doing everything at once more doable. I decided to go that route to get it over with and ensure everything matched perfectly.

That said, not everyone can or wants to do that, and phasing can be a smart approach. If I were to do phases, I would have done exactly what you’re considering: hit the trouble spots first. High-priority would be any windows leaking water or air, and those getting slammed by sun and weather (west and south facing here in FL). Also, any street-facing ones that ruin your curb appeal – replacing those can make your house look nicer even while others are still old.

One thing I’ll note: check with the window companies about pricing for a partial job. Some might charge a bit more per window if you’re only doing a few at a time because they still have to cover their crew and overhead. Others might give you a deal if you promise the rest of the job later. In any case, get a few quotes and mention your phasing plan to see who’s flexible. Good luck!

Hey @geocacher77, fellow Tampa Bay homeowner here (over in St. Pete). I did a phased replacement on my old house about 5 years ago. Deciding which windows to do first can depend on your goals:
For me, the priority was stopping rain leaks and reducing our electric bill. So we replaced the two windows that had minor water intrusion during heavy rains and the large west-facing living room window that was basically an oven from 2 pm onward. Those made an immediate difference in comfort. We also did the master bedroom windows in that first phase because we wanted better noise reduction (street noise was annoying and the new double-pane windows helped a lot).

The remaining windows (mostly on the east side and a couple small ones in the kitchen) we did in phase 2 the next year. They weren’t as critical, just old.

If your front windows are old single-pane and, say, fogged up or ugly, you might prioritize them for the sake of appearance (and possibly HOA expectations). But if they’re not too bad, and perhaps your side or back windows are worse, do those first. Many people here mention west-facing since our storms often drive rain from the west and the sun beats in – I’d agree, those take a beating.

One planning tip: measure or note which direction each window faces and how it impacts your home’s comfort. That can guide you. Also consider usage – if you have a room you use a lot that’s uncomfortable due to bad windows, do those first.

I didn’t regret phasing at all. Just make sure whatever you do first will make you feel a noticeable improvement; it helps you feel better about waiting for the rest!

I’ve done a phased window replacement and have one big regret to share: mismatched frames. Learn from my mistake!
Phase 1, I replaced 5 windows and chose almond (light tan) color frames to match my house trim at the time. A year later, before Phase 2, we repainted the house a different color and decided we wanted white window frames instead. We went ahead and got white for the new windows, figuring we’d “eventually repaint the Phase 1 frames or something.” Well, that turned into a headache. The two sets of windows looked obviously different (two-tone frames) and my wife hated it. We ended up paying extra to have a wrap put on the almond frames to make them white so everything matched. I should have just picked a neutral color and stuck with it from the start.

So my advice: commit to a frame color and style and stick to it throughout all phases. Even if your tastes or house colors might change, try to choose something you’ll be okay with long-term. Changing mid-stream is costly and frustrating.

Another thing – if you can, use the same manufacturer for all phases. In my case, we used the same installer but the window manufacturer they used in Phase 1 stopped making that particular model by Phase 2. The installer assured me the new model was “almost identical.” It was close, but not 100%. The grids (muntins) on the new ones were slightly different width, so up close you can tell. Not end-of-the-world, but as a picky homeowner I notice it. If having a uniform look is super important to you, maybe consider buying all the windows at once to lock in the same model (some people order everything together, then install in waves). Or at least do your phases fairly close together time-wise so the product lines don’t change too much.

Despite those hiccups, I still love having new windows. Just trying to save you the little annoyances I went through!

We did our window project in two phases as well, mainly for budget reasons. I’m also in the Tampa Bay area (Pinellas County). A few planning tips we found really helpful:
Hurricane Season Timing: We deliberately scheduled Phase 1 for November (right after hurricane season) and Phase 2 for the following March. This way, we avoided having any windows out or installation ongoing during the peak storm period. It gave us peace of mind that we wouldn’t have an open hole when a surprise hurricane pops up. Also, many window companies here are slammed in late spring/early summer as people rush to upgrade before hurricanes, so doing it in the off-season (fall/winter) meant we got on the schedule faster and even got a small off-season discount.

HOA Approval: Don’t forget to check with your HOA if you have one. Our HOA is pretty chill, but they did require that we submit the window style and color for approval. In our submission we made it clear we were doing a multi-stage project. They actually appreciated that we did all the front-facing windows in the first phase so the house didn’t look patchy from the street. (They didn’t require it, but I figured it’d keep the peace with the neighbors to have the front uniform right away.)

Installation Convenience: Phasing meant we had installers at the house twice, which is a bit of a hassle. But we planned it when it would be least disruptive. For example, Phase 1 we did while we were on holiday break (we were around but off work, so could supervise and deal with it). Phase 2 we did during spring when weather was mild enough to not mind windows being out for a day. If you work from home or have pets/kids, consider how two installs might affect your schedule and plan accordingly.

One more thing: We used ProTech Windows & Doors for our installs, and they were super accommodating with our phased plan. We told them up front we’d do half now, half later, and they were fine with it. They kept our info on file and made sure to use the exact same materials in Phase 2. They even honored the original per-window price in the second phase (we had that written into the contract). So definitely choose an installer that’s on board with your phased approach.

Overall, phasing was a bit more work logistically, but it allowed us to afford quality windows on our timeline. No regrets here!

Subscribing to this thread. I'm also planning a phased window replacement in Tampa next year. Thanks for asking this, @geocacher77 – and thanks to everyone sharing experiences! Following with interest.

Lots of great advice here. I’ll add some thoughts on the financial and logistical side since you mentioned budget consciousness. As a fellow budget-conscious Tampa homeowner, here are a few strategies we found useful:
Look for financing deals or rebates: Many window companies offer financing. In my case, I got a 12-month same-as-cash deal which helped spread out payments. Also, don’t forget the federal tax credit for energy-efficient windows. Currently, you can get up to $600 back on your taxes for installing Energy Star rated windows (just keep the receipts and manufacturer certification). Florida also occasionally has programs for storm mitigation – for instance, check if the My Safe Florida Home program is offering any grants for impact windows (it was revived recently and sometimes helps pay for upgrades like windows or shutters).

Take advantage of seasonal promotions: As @breezetraveler said, off-season can net discounts. We actually signed our contract during a Black Friday sale – the window company gave us an extra 5% off. If you’re phasing, you might try to schedule one phase during a promotion period. For example, do Phase 1 in winter when they run sales, and maybe lock in Phase 2 dates then too.

Bulk ordering vs. separate: Ask your installer if ordering all windows at once could save money. Some will give you the bulk price even if you install in phases. In our case, the company was willing to place the factory order for all 10 windows to get a bulk rate from the manufacturer, then install half now, half later. We did have to pay a deposit for all of them, but it saved us about 10%. They stored the second batch in their warehouse until we were ready. Not every company can do this, but it’s worth asking.

Utility incentives: Check with local utilities (TECO or Duke Energy). Last I checked, neither had a direct rebate for window replacement (they used to offer free energy audits though). Still, upgrading windows should reduce your energy usage. After our Phase 1, our electric bill dropped enough to notice (~$20 less per month in summer). Over time that adds up.

Hope these tips help on the budgeting side. Phasing or not, new windows are an investment, but these tricks can ease the financial bite a bit.

I want to echo what @tylerclark995 said about negotiating with the installer. We had 18 windows total and did it in 2 phases, but we signed one contract for the whole job up front. The company treated it as one project split into two installation dates (about 6 months apart). This approach had a few benefits:
We locked in a bulk discount for all 18 windows. The price per window was the same as if we’d done them all at once. If we had done separate contracts, Phase 2 would likely have been priced higher per window due to being a smaller job on its own.

They ordered all the windows in one go. This meant all our windows came from the same manufacturer lot, so there were no differences in glass tint or frame color between Phase 1 and 2. Everything was perfectly uniform.

The company (it was ProTech Windows & Doors, for reference) was great about storing the second batch for us. We did Phase 1 in the spring, and waited until fall for Phase 2 due to our personal schedule. They kept the windows safe in their warehouse over the summer at no extra charge.

Warranty-wise, each window had its individual warranty, but having the same installer for all meant if there were any issues, we’d just call them and they know the whole job.

If you have the means to commit up front (and trust the company), this hybrid approach can get you the best of both worlds: phased installation with one-time pricing. Just be sure to get all details in writing, especially that Phase 2 installation is guaranteed at the agreed price, and maybe a clause about what happens if the company for some reason can’t do phase 2 (cover your bases).

Wow, I’m blown away by the responses – thank you all! This is incredibly helpful information.
To answer a couple questions and clarify my situation: we have 12 windows total and one big sliding glass door. All are old aluminum single-pane (circa 1980s). A few are definitely drafty and one has a slight leak in heavy rain. We absolutely can’t afford to do everything this year. Our plan is to do maybe half the windows now and the rest in a year or so.

A lot of you mentioned doing front (street-facing) windows first for looks vs. west-facing for weather. Our front faces east and those windows are pretty old-looking, but they don’t leak. The west side gets brutal sun and driving rain, and we have two windows there that get condensation and some water intrusion in storms. So I’m thinking the west side might be more urgent from a functional standpoint, as several of you suggested. Perhaps we’ll do the west and south-facing ones in Phase 1 (that’s like 7 windows including our living room and a bedroom), and then do the front and north side in Phase 2.

Regarding the sliding glass door, does anyone have experience including that in a window project phase? It’s our back patio door (west-facing as well). It’s old and not impact-rated, so I worry about it in hurricanes. But it’s also a lot more expensive than a window, so I wonder if I should lump it in with the first phase or leave it for the second when we have more funds.

We will definitely check with our HOA before starting. They’re somewhat picky but not too bad. I think as long as the external appearance is cohesive (and probably we stick to white frames like we have now) it’ll be fine. I’ve seen neighbors slowly replace windows over a year or two with no drama, so that’s reassuring.

Again, thank you all. This thread is already easing my anxiety about the project. Any thoughts on the slider issue or anything else I should plan for, keep ’em coming!