Hi everyone! I just finished replacing all the old single-pane windows in my Tampa Bay home, and wow, what a learning experience 😅. I wanted to start this thread to share things I wish I knew before I started my window replacement project. Hopefully, this helps others. Here are a few big lessons I learned:
Get multiple detailed quotes (and compare apples to apples): My first quote almost gave me a heart attack, but then I got 4 more from different companies and realized how much prices and approaches vary. Make sure each quote is for the same number of windows, sizes, glass type (impact vs non-impact), etc. Some quotes didn’t include things like permit fees or finishing trim, so ask for itemized breakdowns and clarify what’s included.
Impact windows vs. non-impact windows: I learned that in Florida you pretty much need to either get impact-rated windows or have hurricane shutters for code. Impact windows cost more (one supplier told me around 70% more per window on average) but they can protect your home during hurricanes without needing shutters. They also can lower your insurance premium and provide better security and noise reduction. I ended up going with impact windows for peace of mind, but I wish I had known about the cost trade-off earlier. If you go non-impact, remember you’ll need shutters or panels for storm season.
Permitting and inspections are a must: Don’t let anyone tell you a permit isn’t needed. In our area, you need a permit for any window replacement, even one window. The permit and inspection process added some time (and about $200 in fees) to my project. I’m glad my contractor handled it, but I’ve heard some shady guys try to skip this—avoid them! Always get that final inspection sign-off for your records.
Prepare your home (and yourself) for installation day: Replacing windows is LOUD and messy. I wish I had known to take down all my curtains and move furniture away from windows beforehand. There was dust everywhere (they did put down drop cloths, but still). Also, each window left a big open hole in the wall for a while 😬, so if it’s summer, be ready for humidity and bugs sneaking in. It took 3 full days to do my 15 windows. If you can, schedule when weather is mild. And maybe plan a mini-vacation or stay with a friend if you work from home, because the noise can be a lot.
Ask about warranties and post-install support: I assumed all windows had lifetime warranties, but turns out you need to read the fine print. Some manufacturers cover frames for life but only 10-20 years for glass seals, etc. And installation warranty was only 1 year from my installer. I had one small issue (a window not closing smoothly) and thankfully my installer came back to fix it promptly. Always ask how service calls work and get all warranty info in writing. You don’t want to be chasing people if a problem pops up later.
Those are my top five, but I’m sure there are more! If anyone has gone through this process in Tampa Bay (or is starting it), I’d love to hear your experiences, tips, or things you wish you knew. 🙂
@tylerclark995 Thank you so much for starting this thread! Perfect timing, because I’m about to kick off a window replacement project in Clearwater. Your points are already super helpful. I’m definitely stressing about the quotes part – I got one quote so far and it was $25k for 10 windows 😨. Like you, I nearly fainted. Now I realize I need to get multiple quotes for sure. Did you negotiate the prices at all, or did you find the quotes were pretty firm?
Also, about the impact vs non-impact: I’m on the fence. My house came with old accordion hurricane shutters. Do you (or anyone) think it’s worth paying extra for impact windows if I have shutters? I know impact glass would be easier (no putting up shutters during a storm), but that cost difference you mentioned (70% more) is huge. Trying to decide if the insurance discount and convenience outweigh the cost. Any thoughts on that?
And ugh, good call on the mess during installation. I have carpet near some windows – sounds like I should cover everything or maybe even schedule a carpet cleaning after, lol. 😅
Jumping in as someone who went through this last year in St. Pete. @tylerclark995’s list is spot on! I’ll add a couple more things I learned:
Don’t rely on just one quote: I ended up getting 5 quotes. They ranged from a low of about $15k (from a small handyman-type operation) to as high as $40k from a high-end window company for the same number of windows. Huge difference! The one for $40k was from a well-known national company that heavily advertises; they had a slick sales pitch but I’m glad I got other estimates to compare. I ultimately went with a mid-range quote around $22k from a local company and have no regrets.
Comparing brands (PGT, Simonton, CWS, etc.): It was overwhelming learning about all the window brands. In our area, PGT and CWS (Custom Window Systems) are popular for impact windows, and Simonton is another brand I considered (they make an impact line too). Honestly, all three have decent reputations. I found out Simonton had a past issue (there was talk of a class-action lawsuit about window seal failures causing condensation), and CWS’s manufacturer had a D- rating with the BBB, which worried me. But plenty of people here have those windows and are happy. I chose PGT for most of my windows because they’re Florida-made and designed for our climate, and their frames felt really sturdy. The cost difference between them wasn’t huge in my case. One forum I read had a user say their quote was $17.8k for PGT vs $16.6k for CWS, so pricing can be close. I think the installer’s quality matters as much as the window brand.
Vinyl vs Aluminum frames: In Florida’s heat, this was a concern of mine. I learned that modern vinyl windows hold up fine in our climate and won’t warp or rot. Aluminum frames are super strong and have a slimmer profile, but they can conduct heat more. Since all the options I looked at were impact-rated, both vinyl and aluminum had to pass the same hurricane tests, so either one will protect your home if properly rated. I ended up with vinyl impact windows and haven’t had any issues with warping or anything, even after last summer.
Plan for delays: One thing I wish I knew was how long windows can take to arrive. My custom windows took 12 weeks from order to delivery 😕. Supply chain issues are still a thing. So don’t assume you can get windows installed next week or anything. If you have a deadline (like hurricane season or a special event), order well in advance.
@sports_mary On your question about impact vs shutters: since you already have shutters, you could save money by using them and getting non-impact windows. Just keep in mind, if you ever get tired of putting up shutters or if a storm catches you off guard, impact windows are a nice peace of mind. Some insurance companies give discounts if you have verified impact protection on all openings (windows & doors) – you’d have that either via shutters or impact glass, so you might already be covered there. If your shutters are in good shape and up to current code, you might be fine sticking with them to save money. Maybe do impact for the most vulnerable large windows and non-impact for others? It really depends on your budget vs convenience. I personally splurged on impact for all windows because I’m not always home to deploy shutters and I just wanted that year-round protection.
Hope that helps! And yes, cover that carpet and anything you don’t want full of dust. They had to chip out some stucco around my old windows to get them out, which created a fine concrete dust. My cleanup afterwards was not fun 🤦♂️. I wish I had covered my furniture with plastic beforehand.
@sky_paws Thanks so much for that detailed insight! That helps a ton. I will definitely get a few more quotes and try to negotiate a bit. And your perspective on impact vs shutters is really useful. I do have decent shutters, but I’m leaning toward impact for the main windows I’d hate to board up. Maybe I’ll do a mix as you suggested.
It’s also good to know about the brands. I was looking at Simonton vs PGT and couldn’t tell much difference from brochures. Sounds like either can work if installed right. I’ll be sure to ask the companies about any warranty issues or reputation things (I wouldn’t have known about that Simonton lawsuit without you mentioning it).
I’ll definitely cover everything before installation day – I have a feeling my wife will kill me if there’s drywall dust all over her piano 😂. Thanks again!
@sports_mary – In my case I didn’t have shutters at all, so going impact was kind of a no-brainer. But if I already had good shutters, I might have done what @sky_paws said: maybe keep them on smaller windows to save cost. That said, now having impact glass, I love not having to worry about shutters at all. It's pricey, but it does add some home value too I think, and it’s one less thing to deploy during storm prep. Good luck with whatever you decide!
I’m so glad I found this discussion. We are in the middle of window shopping (literally and figuratively) for our home in Tampa. @tylerclark995 your original post could have saved me some headaches had I seen it earlier! Let me share what we’ve done so far and maybe it’ll help someone:
We got quotes from four companies: Karoly Windows, ProTech Windows, and two other local installers (one was a smaller family-owned company, another was a big brand dealer). Price-wise, Karoly and ProTech came in pretty close to each other and both were fairly competitive. The other two quotes were actually higher (one was about 15% more, and the other almost 30% more than Karoly’s quote). We were impressed that Karoly and ProTech both gave us very detailed, itemized quotes. They included everything from the cost of each window, to permit fees, to labor, and even cleanup. No surprises. The higher quotes, on the other hand, were oddly vague or tried to upsell fancy features.
In the end, we decided to go with Karoly Windows for our project. A big factor was that a neighbor of ours used Karoly last year and highly recommended them. Also, their timeline for installation was a bit shorter – they said about 8 weeks to get the custom windows in, whereas one of the others was quoting 12+ weeks. So far, the experience with Karoly’s team has been great (they came out and did precise measurements for free after we signed up, and they’re handling the permitting process with the city of Tampa). I’ll update on how the install goes, but I feel confident we made a good choice. ProTech Windows was actually our second choice; their rep was super knowledgeable and low-pressure. I’d say folks in Tampa Bay should definitely consider getting quotes from those two companies among others, because in our case they offered the best value.
To add a lesson: Always ask if the quote includes everything (especially the permit and any required inspections). One company (not Karoly or ProTech, another one) tried to tell me the permit was “the homeowner’s responsibility” – nope, red flag! If they ask you to pull the permit yourself, be cautious. Most legit window companies will handle permits for you, since they know the process and have to be licensed to do the work. As noted, permits are required here, so you don’t want to skip that.
@sports_mary We also considered not doing impact glass on a couple of our smaller windows to save money (since we have hurricane shutters for those). But in the end we just went all impact for consistency. It simplified our order, and we feel good knowing we have that protection 24/7. If you already have code-approved shutters and a tight budget, it’s reasonable to stick with non-impact + shutters. Just make sure your existing shutters are still in good shape and meet current standards.
I’ll keep following this thread and let you all know how our install goes when the time comes!
@ray_gonzalez Great info! It’s crazy how quotes can vary so much, right? Glad to hear Karoly and ProTech treated you well during the quoting process. That matches what I’ve heard – the detail in the quote is a good sign. Keep us posted on the install; I’m curious to hear if it goes smoothly. Sounds like you made a solid choice.
As a newbie who’s just gathering info, this thread is gold. 🙌 I haven’t gotten to the quotes stage yet, but I have a question: How do you guys verify if a contractor is properly licensed/insured and if the windows they’re selling are certified for Florida? I’m always paranoid about scams. I heard stories of some fly-by-night companies that take deposit money and disappear (yikes). What steps did you take to vet the companies? Did you all just trust references, or did you look them up somehow?
Also, about staying home during installation: Is it recommended to be there the whole time? I work from home, but I’m wondering if I should plan to be out of the house because of the noise and chaos.
And one more random thing: Did anyone replace sliding glass doors at the same time as windows? I have an old aluminum slider to my patio that probably should be replaced too. Not sure if it’s better to do it together with windows or if that complicates things with permits even more. 🤔
Great questions @tea316. I recently completed my window (and door) replacement in Largo. Here’s what I suggest from my experience and research:
Verify licenses and insurance: In Florida, you can use the state’s license lookup (myfloridalicense.com) to check if a contractor’s license is active and in good standing. I made sure each company I got a quote from gave their license number on the estimate or business card, then I looked them up. All good there. Also, don’t be shy about asking for proof of liability insurance and workers comp. A reputable company will have no problem showing you a copy of their insurance certificate if you ask.
Check reviews and references: I looked at Google reviews, BBB profiles, and even searched each company name on Reddit to see if people had experiences. That’s how I discovered some of those tidbits @sky_paws mentioned (like BBB ratings, etc.). I actually chose the company I went with partly because they had tons of positive reviews and an A+ BBB rating (Karoly Windows was on my short list, and they have an A+ rating too). You can also ask the salesperson for local references – one company gave me a list of homes in my area where they’d done installs, and I drove by a couple to see the work from the outside. One homeowner even chatted with me and gave a thumbs up about their experience.
Florida product approval: Make sure the windows being installed are Florida approved (especially for impact). Every impact window should have a Florida Approval Number or an NOA (Notice of Acceptance) if you’re in a High Velocity Hurricane Zone. I asked each company and they provided the info on the window models. For example, PGT WinGuard and Simonton StormBreaker Plus are examples of impact-rated product lines that meet Florida code. If a contractor can’t tell you the approval code or at least the model certification, that’s a bad sign.
Detailed, itemized quote & contract: As others have said, insist on a written quote with all details. When you sign a contract, it should list the number of windows, sizes, type (e.g., “vinyl single-hung impact windows, Low-E glass, argon gas filled”), permit fee, installation, disposal of old windows, any repairs, etc. My contract even spelled out that they would repair any stucco or interior trim disturbed by installation, and that was included in the price.
Payment schedule: Avoid any contractor who wants a huge chunk of money upfront. Florida law caps the deposit for home improvement work in many cases. Common practice is maybe 10-20% deposit to order the windows, then nothing more until delivery or even completion. I paid 50% only when the windows were delivered to my house, and the remaining balance after installation was done and passed inspection. That felt fair. If someone asks for full payment before work is done, run!
On being home during install: I stayed home for the first day then realized I wasn’t really needed. If you trust the crew, it’s fine to leave them to it. But at least try to be there at the start to walk through everything with the lead installer and make sure they know what you want. By the second day, I just worked in a back room with noise-cancelling headphones on 😂. Definitely warn any neighbors about the noise too, as a courtesy.
Regarding sliding glass doors: Yes, I replaced my old sliders with impact sliders at the same time. The company handled it under the same permit (they just listed it as window/door replacements on the application). It can make sense to do together so that everything is up to code and you only pay one permit fee. Just be sure the quote lists the door separately so you see that cost. My slider was pricey (almost as much as 2-3 windows), but it’s awesome now to have an impact-rated patio door that locks securely and slides smoothly.
Hope this helps!
@zshadow38 Thank you so much for the thorough answers! This is extremely helpful. I’ll definitely use the license lookup and check for those approval numbers. You’re right, any reputable company should be fine showing insurance, etc.
Good to know about doing the slider together with the windows, too. I’ll plan to include it in the project to simplify things. And I'll be sure to negotiate a reasonable payment schedule like you described.
Feeling a lot less anxious now thanks to you all! 🙂