I’ve been lurking here and wanted to chime in about my recent project in Pinellas. Lots of great advice already given. My two cents: don’t underestimate the impact of Florida’s climate on your choices.
For example, I opted for grey-tinted Low-E glass on all my new windows. It slightly darkens the window, cutting down on glare and heat. Best decision ever! My living room doesn’t turn into an oven in the afternoon like it used to. In Tampa Bay sun, the Low-E coating and tint make a noticeable difference in comfort and presumably my energy bills (haven’t gotten a full summer bill yet, but hoping for improvement).
Also, think about humidity and rain. The installers should properly seal the windows with waterproof caulk and flashing. Make sure whoever you hire does installs that can handle our heavy rains. I asked how they waterproof the windows, and the guy described the whole flashing tape and silicone seal process which gave me peace of mind.
On the topic of contractors, I actually went with ProTech Windows & Doors for my install (shoutout to @ray_gonzalez – I had the opposite choice of you, I picked ProTech over Karoly, lol!). My experience was very positive. Their crew was professional and fast. All 12 windows were done in 3 days. They even assigned a project manager who kept me updated. What I appreciated was that after installation, they did a walkthrough with me to inspect each window, test that they open/lock properly, and they cleaned up nicely. They handled the inspection scheduling; the inspector came the following week and we passed with no issues. So I can personally recommend at least getting a quote from ProTech if you’re in the Tampa area, along with others. It’s good to have options.
Regrets? Minor, but I kind of regret not doing my garage windows at the same time. I focused on the house and skipped the small garage ones to save a little money. Now when a storm comes, those two little windows are the only ones I have to think about boarding up (since they’re not impact). In hindsight, I should have just included them. If your budget allows, do all the openings consistently so you’re fully protected and done with it.
@tea316, about being home: I second what @zshadow38 said. I took off work the first morning to be around, then I left them to it. Just make sure valuables are secured and the home is prepped, then it’s mostly just a lot of banging and drilling you probably don’t want to listen to all day. 😅
@nancyshadow574 That’s awesome to hear about ProTech. I have them coming for a quote next week and your experience makes me feel better about possibly going with them. And good tip on doing the garage windows too... I hadn’t even thought about my garage windows until you mentioned it 😅. I have two little ones that are single-pane; maybe I’ll get those included so everything is impact. Thanks!
This thread is making me feel so much more prepared – thank you all! I have a question for anyone who’s had issues after installation: what happens if something isn’t right or breaks later? For example, if a window seal fails or you get condensation between panes after a year, is that usually covered under warranty, and who do you call – the installer or the manufacturer?
I’m asking because a friend of mine in South Florida had a problem where one of her new windows had foggy glass (moisture inside) after about 2 years. She struggled to get it replaced because the installer blamed the manufacturer and vice versa. I want to avoid that scenario.
So how do warranties typically work for windows in Florida? And any tips on making sure you don’t get the runaround if something goes wrong later?
Also @ray_gonzalez – how did your install with Karoly go? You mentioned you’d update. I'm strongly considering getting a quote from them and ProTech as well based on what everyone here is saying. 😊
@rachelh71 Thanks for asking! Quick update: our installation with Karoly Windows was completed last week and it went great! 🙌 They replaced all 10 of our windows and a set of French doors in 4 days. The crew was really skilled and courteous. They even arrived on time each day (a small miracle in contractor-world). What impressed me was how well they managed the project: one guy was the team lead and he walked me through what they’d do each day, and they cleaned up at the end of each day (even swept my front walkway where they were cutting stuff).
On the final day, the city inspector came while the Karoly team was still there. We passed inspection with flying colors. The inspector actually commented that the installation was very professional (he said he never has issues when inspecting Karoly’s jobs, which was reassuring to hear).
Now about the post-install service and warranties: Karoly provided me with a packet that included the manufacturer’s warranty info for the windows (ours are Simonton brand). Simonton’s warranty is lifetime on vinyl frames and 20 years on the insulated glass seal for the original owner (and transferable to one subsequent owner for 10 years). The installation labor is warranted by Karoly for 2 years (some companies do only 1 year, so I was happy with 2). They told me if I have any issues, to call them and they’ll take care of contacting the manufacturer if it’s a product issue. For example, one of our new windows had a tiny scratch on the glass – I honestly didn’t even notice, the installer pointed it out to me – and they already ordered a replacement sash under warranty. I don’t have to chase the manufacturer; Karoly is handling it.
In general, good companies will advocate for you on warranty claims. @rachelh71, in your friend’s case, it sounds like maybe the installer wasn’t being helpful. Ideally, you want to choose a company that isn’t just going to install and vanish. That’s why checking reviews for post-install support is important. Ask if they have a service department or how they handle issues down the line.
I also recommend, once your project is done, keep a folder with all the documentation: contract, receipts, permit closure paperwork, and the warranty papers. And take pictures of the windows and labels in case you need them. Florida homes often need a wind mitigation inspection report for insurance discounts; our inspector gave us one showing we have all impact windows now (which should get us a nice insurance credit). Make sure you get whatever proof you need (like the permit final approval or product stickers that say the windows are impact rated) to give to your insurance company.
So yes, two thumbs up for Karoly from me 👍👍. And good luck @rachelh71 with your quotes – definitely reach out to both Karoly and ProTech, and maybe one or two others to compare.
@ray_gonzalez Wow, so happy to hear your install went well! It’s great that Karoly handles everything and stands by their work. That inspector’s comment says a lot.
Thanks for explaining the warranty details too. It sounds like a good company will act on your behalf if something goes wrong (which is exactly what I’d want). I will definitely ask about that when I get my quotes.
And noted on keeping all the paperwork together – that’s a great suggestion. Also, thanks for the insurance tip! I didn’t know about the wind mitigation form giving credit for impact windows. I’ll make sure to do that as well.
This thread is amazing. ☺️
I want to echo what @ray_gonzalez said about warranties and choosing a company that stands behind their work. I’m in Hillsborough and had my windows done 3 years ago by a different company (one of the big ones that heavily advertises on TV – I won’t name names). The windows are good quality, but I actually had a warranty headache with them. One of my large picture windows developed a stress crack in the glass about a year after install (it happens sometimes due to tension or whatever). The manufacturer had a warranty on glass breakage for 1 year, so we were just on the line. The installer sort of dragged their feet, and I ended up contacting the manufacturer directly. It eventually got resolved and the manufacturer sent a new piece of glass, but the installer wanted to charge a labor fee to swap it in! I argued that it should be free since it was so soon after install. They did relent and fix it without charge, but it took a few calls.
Lesson learned: ask upfront, “If I have an issue a year or two down the road, will you handle it? Is there a service call fee?” Some companies might charge a trip fee for warranty work vs. others that do it free for a certain time.
On another note, I want to mention: don’t forget about window styles and functionality as something to consider. In hindsight, I wish I had put in at least one or two awning or casement-style windows instead of all single-hungs. Single-hung (the kind that slides up) are common and cost-effective, but for certain rooms, a crank-out casement might catch breezes better. My neighbor did some horizontal sliders which are easier for egress in a bedroom. So think about each room and how you use the windows. I kind of just replaced old with the same style without thinking, and now I realize I could have mixed it up.
Finally, for anyone reading and just starting: don’t procrastinate getting this done, especially with hurricane season every year. I know it’s a big investment, but the security and peace of mind I have now with new windows is huge. No more drafts in winter, the house is quieter inside, and I’m not nervously watching the weather every time there’s a tropical storm warning. Totally worth it.
@knitter19 I’m with you on the single-hung vs other styles. I also just replaced old single-hungs with new single-hungs everywhere. They work fine, but a casement in the kitchen would’ve been nice for more airflow, now that I think about it. Ah well 😂. At least anything new is an upgrade over my old leaky windows.
And yes, the peace of mind during storms is priceless. Last week we had a nasty thunderstorm and I wasn’t worried at all about my new windows – whereas before I’d be nervously checking for leaks. Definitely worth it!
Such a great thread! I’ll throw in my story about permits and inspections real quick. I pulled an owner-builder permit for a small project a few years back (not windows but a shed), so I’ve dealt with the county before. For my window project, I decided to let the contractor handle it, but I still made sure to follow along.
In Pinellas County, as others said, window replacements go through an express permit process. Even though it’s “express,” you still have to have all your paperwork right. My contractor (who happened to be ProTech Windows, by the way) submitted the permit application and scheduled the inspections. What I want to highlight is the importance of that final inspection: After the windows were installed, a county inspector came to check. He basically looked at a few windows, checked the labels to confirm they were impact-rated as claimed, and looked at how they were anchored. We actually left one window’s interior trim off so he could see the screws and shims. Once he was satisfied, he signed off. If you don’t pass, they give you a chance to fix things and re-inspect. But if a contractor ever suggests skipping the inspection, that’s a huge no-no. As a homeowner, you want that official approval that the work was done to code. It protects you for insurance and future resale (unpermitted work can be a nightmare when selling a house).
For the record, we passed on the first try 😁. The permit got closed out properly. I later went online and could see the permit status marked as completed. I even printed a copy of the permit record for my files. Highly recommend others do the same – go on your county/city permit portal and print the final status showing it passed. It’s peace of mind.
Oh, and about insurance: after everything, I had a wind mitigation inspection (separate from the county inspection) done by an inspector for my insurance company. With all impact windows now, I qualified for a hefty discount on my homeowner’s insurance (the inspector basically checked a box saying “opening protection: impact glass” on the form). If you invest in impact windows, don’t forget to file for that insurance credit! It can save a few hundred bucks a year depending on your insurer.
Alright, that’s my bit. Thanks for reading!
@dobby_walker Thanks for the detailed walk-through of the inspection process! That’s really good info (like leaving one window’s trim off for the inspector – smart!). I will make sure to ask my installer about how they handle inspections. And thanks for the reminder on the insurance inspection. Didn’t even realize I could save money there.
This thread covers everything indeed. 😃
Reading all this makes me realize how much I lucked out by hiring a solid contractor. I didn’t know half these things going in, but thankfully the company walked me through it. One last “thing I wish I knew” to add: the best deal isn’t always the lowest price; it’s the best value.
What I mean is, we got a cheap quote from a guy who was a one-man operation. Price was super low, but something felt off – he wasn’t very detailed and kind of glossed over permit and warranty. We decided to pay more for a more established company. I’m so glad we did, because our neighbor went with the cheapest bid (might have been the same guy) and they had a ton of issues (permit delays, sloppy workmanship, window leaks). They ended up spending more later to fix things. 😕
So, if a quote is significantly lower than others, question it. It could be they’re using inferior products or cutting corners. Middle-of-the-pack pricing from a well-reviewed company is generally a safer bet in my opinion.
Also, small tip: ask if the installers are employees or subcontractors. There are good subs out there, but I felt more comfortable knowing the crew was in-house and worked for the company full-time (that was the case with the one we chose). Our installers had been with the company for years. They seemed to really take pride in their work.
This thread has covered everything from A to Z. Thank you all – I learned some stuff I didn’t even know (like that insurance discount thing, I need to look into that!). 😃 Stay safe this hurricane season with those new windows, everyone!