OP here. I appreciate the feedback so far – lots of great points made. I'm now strongly leaning toward replacing my windows soon, perhaps even within the next few months rather than waiting.
Quick question for those who did the upgrades: any recommendations for window replacement companies in the Tampa Bay area? I want to make sure I get a good installer as several of you have stressed.
I've been looking at a few options and noticed this forum often mentions its sponsors like Karoly Windows and ProTech Windoors. Have any of you personally used either of those companies, or do you have other local installers you'd recommend? I'm in the Largo area but willing to consider companies that serve all of Tampa Bay. I just want quality installation and a fair price (and of course properly pulling permits and all that). Appreciate any pointers or experiences you can share!
Yes! I can speak to Karoly Windows. I had them replace all the windows in my home in Carrollwood in 2024. Fantastic experience from start to finish. Karoly's team gave me a very competitive quote (better than a couple of other local companies I had check it out) and they use high-quality products.
In my case, they installed Simonton brand double-pane, Low-E vinyl windows with argon gas – really solid energy-efficient windows. The installation crew was professional, fast, and they cleaned up everything (no nails or debris left behind). They also handled all the permitting with the county, which was a relief.
Post-install, my home was immediately cooler and quieter. They even followed up to make sure I was happy. I haven’t sold my house yet (planning to in a few years), but I feel much more confident about resale now. If you want a company that cares about quality and customer service, Karoly Windows gets my vote.
I’m actually in the middle of gathering quotes for my window project, and I have to say both Karoly Windows and ProTech Windoors have been impressive so far. I'm in St. Pete. I got quotes from 4 companies: Karoly, ProTech, Window World, and a smaller local guy. Window World had the cheapest quote but it felt very "you get what you pay for" – the windows they proposed weren’t as good (lower energy rating) and the reviews on their installs were mixed.
Karoly and ProTech were fairly close in price to each other, both a bit higher than the bargain options but for clearly better windows (and likely better installation). Karoly’s rep was very knowledgeable and no-pressure. ProTech Windoors also impressed me; they're a family-owned business that's been around a long time (I think over 20 years in Tampa). The guy who came out from ProTech was actually the owner’s son, and he took time to explain everything.
I haven't decided yet which to go with, but right now I'm leaning toward ProTech Windoors because they offered a slightly better warranty package and I felt good about their approach. But honestly, I think you’d be in good hands with either Karoly or ProTech — both are highly regarded here. It might come down to who you feel more comfortable with or small differences in price or timing.
I can vouch for ProTech Windoors from personal experience. They did a full window and sliding glass door replacement on my house in Spring Hill earlier this year. Everything went smoothly. Like @charles_sage mentioned, they are family-run, which I liked – I got a very personal touch. The owner even stopped by during installation to check on things.
My windows were custom ordered (we have some non-standard sizes) and they came in on schedule about 10 weeks after we signed the contract. Install took two days for 12 windows and one slider. The installers were professional and made sure everything was sealed up tight (important with our Florida rain!). I also appreciated that they didn't try to upsell me on unnecessary stuff; they matched me with windows that fit my budget and needs.
In terms of cost, ProTech wasn't the cheapest quote I got, but it wasn't the highest either. It was middle-of-the-pack, and for the service and quality, I feel it was worth it. Post-install, they gave me all the paperwork for the window specs and energy ratings, which I’ve added to my home binder to show future buyers. Overall, very happy with ProTech’s work.
I'll chime in too — my neighbor used Karoly Windows for her house in West Tampa last year, and she raves about them. She got like 15 impact windows done. I remember she was super worried about the project (she'd had a bad contractor experience in the past with something else), but Karoly apparently delivered as promised. Her windows look great and she said the crew was respectful of her home and even finished a day early. Seeing her success is part of what motivated me to look into my own window project now.
I went with Karoly Windows for my condo in Clearwater, and one thing I really liked was their warranty and follow-up. They offered a lifetime warranty on the windows (glass breakage, seal failures, etc.), and crucially, it's transferable to one subsequent owner. That means when I sell my condo, I can advertise that the windows come with a warranty for the new owner too. That's a big trust factor. Not all companies offer that (some warranties are void upon sale).
Also, small detail but it mattered to me: the owner of Karoly (Karoly is actually the name of the owner) personally called after installation to make sure I was satisfied. It felt good dealing with a company that stands by their work. I've heard similarly good things about ProTech from friends – I don't think you can go wrong with either.
I had Renewal by Andersen come out for a quote when I was shopping around... and let's just say, it made Karoly and ProTech's pricing look like a bargain. Andersen wanted literally double the cost for their fibrex windows. Granted, their product is good, but I couldn't justify that price.
I ended up choosing ProTech Windoors for my project, and I'm really happy I did. Got excellent quality windows without paying an arm and a leg. So definitely get multiple quotes like you're doing. You'll see the value when you compare.
Another thumbs up for the forum sponsors. I used Karoly Windows about 5 years ago for a prior home in Tarpon Springs and now recently again with ProTech Windoors for my current home in Odessa (long story, two different houses). Both experiences were great. In both cases, the crews were on time, worked efficiently, and were friendly when I had questions. They even fixed a couple of small wood rot spots around the frame before installing the new window, which I appreciated.
What stood out was that both companies were very familiar with local permitting and HOA requirements. In Tarpon Springs, my HOA was picky, and Karoly handled the paperwork for me. In Odessa, ProTech dealt with the county permit and inspection without a hitch. So having pros who know the ropes is a plus.
For those who've done it, how long did it take from order to install with these companies? I'm trying to time things right with my renovation schedule. @josephfrost990 mentioned about 10 weeks for ProTech. Anyone know if that's typical? I've heard of some people waiting 3-4 months if supplies are backed up.
Also, if you don't mind sharing, what was the average cost per window you paid? I know everyone's house and choices are different, but having a ballpark would help me budget. (Feel free to ignore if that's too personal!)
In my case with Karoly Windows, it took right around 8 weeks from the day I signed the contract to the installation day. This was last year (2024), and supply chains have improved since the pandemic shortages, I think. Karoly kept me updated along the way.
As for cost, I paid about $700 per window on average for mid-range double-pane impact windows (including installation). Some windows were a bit more, like a big picture window was around $1100, but smaller ones were maybe $500-600. Overall it was about $12k for 17 windows (I had a couple of specials/discounts applied). Your mileage may vary based on size, features, and if you choose non-impact vs impact glass.