This might be minor, but one mistake I made was not thinking about window cleaning and maintenance when choosing window styles. I got a lot of single-hung windows (where only the bottom sash moves). They were a bit cheaper than double-hung. It's fine for most of the house, but for the second floor, I now realize double-hung (where both sashes move and tilt in) would have made cleaning the outside of the glass way easier (you can tilt them in and clean from inside). With the single-hung upstairs, I have to get a ladder or pay someone to clean the outside.
Not a huge regret, but if you're a neat freak or don't want to deal with ladders, consider the ease of cleaning as a factor. Sometimes spending a bit more on a feature like tilting sashes is worth it. In my case, I saved a few bucks but now have the ongoing hassle of harder-to-clean windows upstairs.
Hah, reading these last few posts made me think of something: treat your install crew well. Not that I made a mistake here, but it's a fun tip. I gave the 5-man crew that did my windows a cooler full of water and Gatorade, and one morning I ran out and got them donuts. 🥯 You should have seen how happy that made them! They were super nice already, but I swear they paid extra attention to detail when they saw I appreciated their hard work (maybe just my imagination, but still!).
I've heard of some folks ignoring the crew or even being kinda rude/distrustful. I mean, yes, you want to supervise your project, but these are people working hard in Florida heat. A little kindness goes a long way. Even if it doesn't change the outcome, it makes the whole experience more pleasant for everyone.
@phill68 Haha, we did the cooler-of-drinks thing too! My husband set out a big jug of water with cups and a tray of snacks. The crew was very thankful. It just creates good vibes. And I agree, happy workers = a happy job site. At the very least, they won't mind answering all your curious homeowner questions if you keep them hydrated! 😉
I'll mention something about the install method that can be a hidden "mistake" if you don't know to ask. There are different ways to install replacement windows (full frame vs insert windows). I opted for inserts to avoid tearing out interior trim and because it was slightly cheaper. It worked well, but one thing I didn't realize until afterward is that inserts slightly reduce your glass area. Since they fit inside the existing frame, the new frames are a bit thicker, so you get maybe an inch or two less viewable glass on each side. In most cases it's hardly noticeable, but on one smaller bathroom window I did notice I lost some daylight.
Not a huge deal, but if I had a do-over on that bathroom window, I might have done a full frame replacement to keep the maximum glass area. So the tip: ask about how they're installing the windows. If they do inserts, just be aware of the pros/cons. The mistake would be not knowing and being surprised later (like I was with that smaller window).
Hey everyone! I wanted to circle back and let you know how my project went. I ended up getting 4 quotes as planned (yes, I included the two companies mentioned here a lot – Karoly Windows and ProTech Windoors – along with two others). We decided to go with ProTech Windoors for the job. They weren't the cheapest quote, but they weren't the most expensive either, and we just got a really good vibe from them.
I'm happy to report the project is now complete and it went really smoothly! No major issues at all, largely because I followed so much advice from this thread:
We made sure the contract was super clear (and yes, they handled the permit and inspection, no problem).
Scheduled the install for early May, so we avoided the worst of hurricane season craziness.
I cleared the rooms and arranged for my mom to watch our dog during install days (thanks @fashion378 for that pet tip).
I was home during the install and did the final walk-through with the crew to check everything (found only a tiny scratch on a screen, which they replaced the next day).
And yup, I had cold drinks for the workers, which they loved. 😄
Big thanks to everyone here. You all saved me from a ton of potential mistakes. I'm so relieved every time I hear about someone else's window nightmare and realize, "hey, we dodged that." Now I have beautiful new impact windows and peace of mind going into this year's storm season. Couldn't be happier!
@lpaws72 That’s fantastic! So glad to hear a success story. It’s really nice to know this thread actually helped someone have a smoother project. Congrats on the new windows and welcome to the Impact Windows Club 😉.
I wish my initial experience had been as good as yours, but at least my fiasco served as a cautionary tale, haha. Enjoy those new windows!
This has been one of the most informative threads I've ever read on any home improvement topic. I'm about to start planning my own window replacement and I feel way more confident now. You guys basically wrote the manual on how to do it right.
Thank you all for sharing – especially the mistakes and what you'd do differently. It's like learning from a bunch of older siblings who've already been through it. As a newbie homeowner, I really appreciate it! 👍
I want to highlight what @dwhite46 and others said about checking details: I almost made a mistake of not triple-checking my order confirmation from the window company. They accidentally wrote down the wrong grid pattern for one of my windows (they had "no grids" but I ordered grids). I only caught it when the installer was about to put it in and I saw it had no grids! We had to reorder that one. If I had caught it earlier when reviewing the paperwork, it would have saved time.
So definitely review the contract and order sheet carefully, including sizes, styles, grid patterns, glass type – all of it. It's tedious, but catching an error on paper is much easier than once the windows are made.
@environment_jon Oh gosh, that's a good catch. I remember obsessively reading through my order details for that exact reason – I was paranoid something might be off. In our case everything was correct, but you're right, mistakes can happen.
This is a good reminder: the more complex your order (different sizes, different styles in various rooms), the more you should double-check each line of the order. Have the salesperson or project manager go over it with you if possible. The time to sort out mistakes is before manufacturing, not after installation!
I have to say, I was considering trying to DIY one or two windows myself (just to save some money) but after reading @psychology_mario's story and all the reinforcement here to use experienced installers, I'm convinced to leave it to the pros! 😅 I'm pretty handy, but I know my limits. Thanks for potentially saving me from a serious DIY regret, everyone.