I have a slightly different perspective to add as someone who isn’t always at my Florida home year-round. We’re “snowbirds” (here in winter, gone in summer). We did our window replacements in phases mainly because we weren’t around in the summer to schedule things.
What we did: we replaced a few windows while we were here one winter, then waited until the next winter when we came back to do the rest. If anyone reading this is part-time in FL, it’s definitely doable, but coordination is key.
I made arrangements with our HOA and a neighbor to oversee the first phase install because I actually had to head back north before the job was completely done (one window was delayed). It went okay, but I felt a bit nervous not being there. For Phase 2, I planned it early in our winter stay so I could personally be present from start to finish.
So tip for part-timers: either schedule your phases during the time you’ll be in Florida, or have someone you trust locally to handle things if you can’t be there. Also, let your alarm company know, as I did, since I wasn’t around the first time – they put our system on test while the neighbor let the installers in.
All in all, phasing worked out even with our weird schedule. Just required some extra communication. Now we enjoy our new windows when we’re down here, and we know the house is secure while we’re away in summer storm season, which is a big relief.
A practical little detail for when you actually do phase 2: try to remember any specific materials or finishes from phase 1 so you can match them. By this I mean things like caulking color, trim pieces, etc.
In Phase 1, our installer used a specific color silicone caulk to seal the windows outside that perfectly matched our house paint. Come Phase 2, a different crew came, and they initially started using a slightly off-white caulk (not realizing our paint was more beige). I noticed after they did one window and pointed it out. They immediately switched to the correct color (luckily I had a tube from the previous batch stored, and they also had some in the truck once I showed them). They had no issue fixing it, but imagine if I hadn’t caught it – I’d have half the windows with one color caulk line and half with another!
Another example: interior trim. If your windows require interior wood trim or capping, make sure the second phase crew knows what was used in the first phase. In our case, phase 1 windows were finished with a nice vinyl wrap on the interior returns. When phase 2 happened, the crew knew to do the same because it was in the notes, but it’s something to double-check.
Keeping a small log or even pictures from phase 1 can be handy to show phase 2 installers, especially if it ends up being a year or more later and possibly a different team. Consistency in these finishing touches will make the whole project look seamless in the end.
I just want to say, this thread has been such a great read. It really shows how a community of homeowners can pool knowledge to save each other from headaches. Kudos to everyone contributing.
When we did our windows (all at once, before I read this), I wish I had known some of these things – like the tax credit, or the importance of locking in matching styles. We lucked out, but planning is everything.
For those going the phased route, it seems the consensus is: plan, plan, plan (and communicate with your installer). If you do that, you’ll be fine.
And to anyone debating windows at all: once they’re in, you’ll love it. We joked that we should have thrown a “new windows party” because it felt like such an upgrade to the home’s comfort and look.
Alright, that’s all from me. Good luck to everyone, and thanks again for making this a super informative (and Tampa-specific!) discussion.
I know this thread is mostly about windows, but since doors were briefly mentioned: has anyone replaced their exterior doors during their window projects? I need a new front door (and maybe a new garage entry door) soon for hurricane safety reasons. I’m wondering if I should include the front door in one of my window phases or treat it as a totally separate project.
Do the window companies like Karoly or ProTech also do doors? If I do the door later, will it look weird if I have new windows but an old door in the meantime? Just curious if anyone has bundled doors with their window install phases or if that complicates things.
I can answer that. Many window companies in our area do offer exterior doors as well (front doors, patio sliders, French doors, etc.). In our case, we replaced an old sliding glass door during Phase 2 of our window project. We figured since the crew was coming out again, might as well handle the slider then.
For a front door, you could absolutely include it in one of your phases if your budget allows. The installers might even prefer to do it together to save a separate trip. It will typically be under the same permit if done at the same time (since it's all exterior openings). When we pulled permits, our permit covered “X windows and 1 door” in Phase 2.
We didn’t do our front door with the windows simply because of cost – we had a fancy design in mind and that thing was expensive! We waited another year for the front door. There was no major issue doing it later. The only minor thing was the new door had a slightly different shade of white compared to the window frames (different materials/brands), but you can’t tell unless you stare.
If your current front door is really in bad shape or not hurricane-rated and you have the funds, doing it with the windows might be smart, especially for insurance or peace of mind in storms. If you wait, just know you might pay a little more in a standalone door project (some companies have a minimum charge or you lose the economy of doing it together).
Both Karoly and ProTech (and others like StormFitters, etc.) do doors as well. When you get quotes, ask them to include the door as an optional line item. That way you can see the cost and decide. You can always choose to do it or hold off.
TL;DR – It’s totally fine to bundle a door with a window phase if you can. If not, replacing it later won’t hurt anything; it’s more about convenience and one less separate install to worry about.
For those who are curious about actual costs, I’ll share mine from a recent project (Tampa area prices):
We had 12 windows and 2 sliding glass doors replaced. All were impact-rated, vinyl frames, mid-range quality (not the absolute top-of-line, but good). The total came to about $22,000. We split it roughly into:
Phase 1: 8 windows = ~$10k
Phase 2: 4 windows + 2 sliders = ~$12k
Sliders are pricey – each of our sliders was about $3,000 of that. The windows averaged around $1,000 each for impact (varied by size; smaller ones were like $700, big ones $1,300, etc.).
We did get multiple quotes. They ranged quite a bit: highest was $30k, lowest was $18k (but that was a lesser-known company we didn’t fully trust). We chose a well-reviewed local company that was in the middle price-wise and, importantly, was very willing to do the phased approach without extra charges.
By phasing, we didn’t really pay more in total; in fact, the company gave us the then-current promotion both times. We probably could have saved maybe $1k if we did all at once (due to one less mobilization and permit), but spreading payments was more important for us.
So yeah, it’s a significant investment, but we feel it was worth it for the safety, comfort, and likely increased home value. Plus the insurance discount we’re now getting with everything impact (about $500/year savings on that).
Keep in mind these numbers can vary by product and season, but hopefully that gives a ballpark for Tampa Bay in case people reading are wondering “what might this cost me?” Just don’t let anyone pressure you into doing all at once if it’s not feasible for you – as this thread shows, doing it in stages can work out just fine.
Side note: if your old windows have aluminum frames (common in Florida homes from decades ago), you can recycle them for a bit of cash. I took my old frames to a metal recycler and got about $50 (not huge, but hey, that’s a nice dinner out!). Some installers will haul away the old windows and might recycle them, but others just trash them. If you’re inclined, let the crew know you’d like to keep the aluminum scraps, and then drop them at a recycling center. It’s good for the environment and you get a little money back. Just watch out for any remaining glass when handling old frames – wear gloves.
I’ll share a perspective from the other side – I phased my window project but kind of regret it. I spread the work out over 5 years (a few windows each year as I could afford them). By the time I finished, the first windows I did were a slightly different style than the last ones because the manufacturer changed their designs. Also, the costs went up each year, so I probably paid more in total than if I had found a way to do more at once.
Additionally, during those years, I had to maintain some pretty bad old windows. One actually started leaking and caused a bit of wall damage before I got to it. Looking back, I wish I had just taken a loan or something to do them all in one go or at most two phases close together. Would have saved some stress and maybe some money.
That said, if you plan carefully (like many here did) and do it in a shorter timeframe, phasing can work. My mistake was dragging it out too long and not locking anything in. So my advice to others: if you have to phase, try to minimize the time span and follow all the great tips in this thread to avoid the pitfalls I fell into.
@climber69 brings up a fair point – phasing isn’t ideal in a perfect world where money isn’t an issue. Doing it all at once often is simpler. But we live in the real world with budgets, so phasing is sometimes necessary (it was for us).
The key as we’ve all discussed is planning and foresight. If you approach a phased project with a clear plan (same materials, reasonable timeline, good contractor, etc.), you can pretty much eliminate the downsides @climber69 experienced. This thread is evidence that many have done it successfully without regrets.
I think it’s great we have both success stories and cautionary tales here – gives a balanced view. In the end, each homeowner has to weigh their circumstances. I personally don’t regret phasing our window project one bit, because it meant the difference between being able to afford quality impact windows versus settling for something less if we tried all at once.
So yep, do what you gotta do, but go in with eyes open. And thanks to threads like this, plenty of eyes-open info to guide the way!
Thank you everyone – truly a treasure trove of information. As someone about to start this journey, I feel so much more prepared after reading all your posts. This community rocks!