Hi everyone! I'm in the Tampa Bay area and planning to replace all the old single-pane windows in my 1985 home. I'm new to this and trying to figure out how long the entire process might take. From the time I start getting quotes to the final installation and inspection, what kind of timeline should I expect?
I've heard some neighbors mention delays due to permits or busy seasons. I don't want to be caught off guard, especially with hurricane season in mind. If you've recently done window replacements here, could you share how long it took and any tips on timing (like is it better to start in winter vs summer)? Thanks in advance! 😊
I just went through this last year in Clearwater. It took about 4 months from the day I signed the contract to the day all my new windows were installed. Getting quotes only took a week or two, but the windows themselves were custom-made and that manufacturing time was the big chunk. Installation for 8 windows was done in 2 days.
So, patience is key—4 months felt long, but now it’s done.
Mine was a bit faster. I'm in Tampa (Hillsborough County) and from quote to install was roughly 2.5 months. I think I got lucky with timing—I signed in January and they weren’t super busy. By late March, the windows were in.
Permit approval took ~2 weeks, manufacturing was about 6 weeks. Installation itself was just one day for 5 windows. So it can vary; off-peak season helped for me.
I agree it varies. I replaced 12 windows in St. Petersburg and it took closer to 5 months. Part of the delay was that I did it in late spring (peak season).
Everyone wants new windows before hurricane season, so the window companies were swamped. In hindsight, I might have waited until fall or winter to get it done faster.
I got multiple quotes from 3 companies including Karoly Windows & Doors (karolywindows.com). Their rep was very straightforward about the timeline. He said it would take about 10-12 weeks from permit to install, which was better than some others.
I ended up choosing Karoly and had a smooth experience—permit was quick (about 2 weeks in Pinellas County) and the windows arrived in about 9 weeks. Install crew came the week after delivery and finished in a day and a half. So overall, just under 3 months for me. Pretty happy with that 😀.
Is it true that summer is a bad time to install windows here? I’m thinking of scheduling mine soon but worried that daily rains in summer will mess up the installation.
Replying to @pauls51, summer installs are doable, but you have to expect some flexibility. The crews will pause if there’s a thunderstorm. When I had mine done in July, one afternoon storm rolled in and they had to stop early and come back the next morning.
It wasn't a huge deal—they secured any open window spaces with plywood before leaving. So, rain can cause minor delays, but a good installer will handle it. If you want to avoid even that, aim for winter or spring when it rains less.
I’m over in Largo. I signed my contract in May and didn’t get my windows installed until October 😕. That’s about 5 months. Part of it was permitting and part was the manufacturer being backed up.
My contractor said summertime is their busiest, plus some factory delays. I did get impact-rated windows (hurricane windows), which I think took longer to get made. If you’re going for those (which many of us in Tampa Bay do), expect it to lean towards 4-5 months in peak times.
Quick question: do we always need a permit for window replacement in this area? I'm in Pasco County, outside city limits. I'm not changing the size of the window openings, just swapping old for new.
Replying to @anthonylee505, Yes, typically you need a permit for replacing windows in Florida, even if the size doesn’t change. Especially if they are impact windows or if your area requires meeting certain hurricane codes.
I’m in Tampa city limits and we definitely needed a permit. The window company usually handles it for you. In my case, permit approval took 3 weeks. If you’re in unincorporated Pasco, the process might be a bit different but you’ll likely still have a permit and then a final inspection after installation.