Glad someone brought up doors earlier (I think @psage55 and @tim_joker did). We did windows and also replaced our old sliding glass door with a new impact-rated slider at the same time. We used Pro Tech Windows & Doors for everything, and it was convenient to have one company handle both.
The sliding door was a big deal for us because it's a large opening (~8 feet wide) to our patio. The old one was aluminum frame from the 90s and was getting hard to slide and definitely not hurricane-proof. Pro Tech installed a new heavy-duty vinyl sliding door with impact glass. That thing is solid! It glides easily but you can tell it's much sturdier (and heavier) than the old one.
They had to do a bit of extra work to frame it correctly because the old opening wasn't perfectly square (our house has settled a bit over decades). I was impressed they took the time to adjust and shim until it was just right. They also added a special water barrier pan underneath which I didn't even know was a thing, but apparently it's to prevent water intrusion under the door during wind-driven rain.
After seeing that level of detail, I'm really happy I went with a pro. So yes, if you have any sliding doors or even entry doors to replace, these companies can handle those too. It made a noticeable difference in insulation and security for us.
Thanks everyone for all the info. How are most of you paying for these projects, if you don't mind sharing? Did you pay cash, finance through the window company, or use something like a home equity loan? I know impact windows aren't cheap (the quotes I'm getting are like $15k-$30k depending on house size).
I'm trying to figure out the best way to afford this. I definitely want to do it, especially for the hurricane protection, but it's a big chunk of change. If some of these companies offer financing deals (like 0% for a year or low interest), that would be helpful to know. Appreciate any tips on the payment/finance side.
@maxpoet, we financed a portion of our window project. We went with Karoly Windows & Doors and at the time (2021) they had a financing option through a partner lender that offered 12 months same-as-cash (0% interest for a year). We took advantage of that for about half the cost, and paid the rest out of pocket. That promo might change over time, but definitely ask them or Pro Tech what they currently offer in terms of financing.
Another route: a friend of mine did a home equity line of credit (HELOC) to pay for his windows. The interest rate was decent and he liked that it was tax-deductible interest. It took a little longer to set up though.
In our case, the 0% for 12 months was great because we just made sure to pay it off in that period. Some companies also offer something like low interest for a few years or a no-interest promo for 6 months, etc. It really depends on what promotions they have.
Bottom line: yes, many window companies here know it's pricey and often have financing partners. Just read the fine print (if it's deferred interest, make sure you pay it before the term ends or you'll get back-charged). Both Karoly and Pro Tech were straightforward about costs and payment schedules during the quote. No surprise fees or anything either.
I opted to pay cash (well, by check) for my windows because I didn't want another payment to manage. But I recognize that's not feasible for everyone, especially if it's a big project. In my research I did see that both Karoly and Pro Tech advertise financing options on their websites. I recall Pro Tech mentioning "financing available" on an ad I saw.
One thing to consider: some companies give a slight discount if you pay in full because they don't have to pay fees to financing companies. In my case, Karoly gave us a 2% discount for paying the full amount upon installation (rather than financing). It wasn't huge, but hey, it covered the cost of upgrading one of our window options.
If you do finance, just factor the payments into your budget and maybe try to align it with insurance or energy savings you'll get. For example, our insurance went down a bit and our electric bill went down, so that helped offset a little of the monthly cost in our minds.
One more note: be wary of any contractor who demands a huge chunk of money upfront. Standard practice with reputable companies here was like 10% down to order, then the rest on completion or split into a couple payments. If someone asks for 50% or more upfront, that's a red flag.
Reading through these, I'm glad to see others had good installation experiences too. I want to stress how important the measurement and prep is for window jobs. The team from Karoly that did my windows took meticulous measurements (like down to the 1/8 inch) and even noted that one of my window openings was slightly out of square due to settling. They ordered one window slightly smaller with a custom filler to ensure a perfect fit.
Sure enough, during install, that particular opening needed some extra work. They installed the new window with the custom-sized filler piece and shimmed it so that it was plumb and square. Then they foamed and caulked around it. You can't even tell anything was different with that window, but if they had forced a standard size, it might have leaked or not operated smoothly.
I had gotten a quote from another contractor who spent maybe 5 minutes measuring (versus Karoly's rep who spent nearly an hour carefully going through everything). At the time I thought, why so detailed? Now I know why. You want it done right.
So kudos to the pros who take the time upfront. It saves a lot of trouble later. If anyone is getting quotes, pay attention to how they measure and assess your windows. It says a lot about how the install will go.
Something that I really appreciated (and I think @psage55 mentioned this) was how the installation crew respected my home. We used Pro Tech Windows & Doors, and their crew was top-notch professional. They not only laid down drop cloths, but they also put up big plastic sheets to seal off each room as they worked, to keep dust from going everywhere. They even had little boot covers for when they walked through the house.
After each day (our job took 2 days), they cleaned up all the debris and even vacuumed. I honestly think my house was cleaner after they left than before 😅. They hauled away all the old windows and trash. I didn't have to lift a finger.
I mention this because not all contractors are that considerate. A neighbor had windows done by some other company and she said she was finding screws and broken glass bits in her yard for weeks after.
So yeah, big thumbs up to Pro Tech's team for the care they took. It might seem like a small thing compared to the quality of the windows, but it really leaves a good impression when a crew treats your home like it’s their own.
For those who've had windows installed, did the contractors take care of all the finishing touches (like interior trim, exterior stucco repair if any, painting) or did you have to do some yourself? I'm asking because my current windows have wooden trim around them inside that's old and might get damaged during removal.
I'm not super handy, so I'd prefer the installer handle as much as possible. Just wondering if Karoly or Pro Tech typically include that or if it's something separate. I don't want to end up with new windows but a bunch of unfinished drywall or stucco edges to fix.
@shadowartist, in my case (Karoly did my windows), they did most of the finishing, but let me break it down:
Exterior: Our house is stucco. When they took out the old windows, a couple of spots of stucco around the opening cracked (to be expected). Their installer patched those spots with stucco mix and later, one of their guys did a quick paint touch-up. They asked if I had touch-up paint for the house, and I did, so it matched perfectly. If I hadn't, I might have had to paint it myself later, but it was very minor.
Interior: We had drywall returns (no fancy wood trim). They caulked neatly around the new windows inside. There was a thin line where the old caulk/paint was, so I did go back and repaint the interior wall edges myself for a really clean look. They would have done it if I really wanted, but I'm a bit particular so I took my time to do it after.
If you have wood trim and it gets damaged, I think they would replace it, but maybe ask upfront. Some companies include basic trim replacement in their quote if needed. Pro Tech should be similar; any good installer won't leave you with gaping unfinished edges.
Short answer: They handle the critical stuff (sealing, patching). You might need to do a little cosmetic painting or touch-up depending on how things go. But in my experience, it was pretty minimal and they guided me on what might need doing.
I had a slightly different situation because my interior had old wooden window sills that we wanted to keep if possible. Pro Tech's team was careful removing the old windows and actually preserved most of the interior woodwork. They did have to add a bit of new trim to cover some gaps because the new windows were a different style (we went from old jalousie windows to single-hung, so the frame shape changed a bit).
They painted the new trim pieces with a primer, and I later painted them to match my interior. No biggie. Outside, we have siding, so they just put on new exterior trim that looks nice and clean and caulked it up.
So yeah, they won't typically paint your whole interior or anything, but they won't leave you with something that looks terrible either. Just maybe keep a little budget for paint touch-ups or have a handyman on call if you really aren't comfortable doing a tiny bit of finish painting. But honestly, it was straightforward enough that even I, not a DIY person, managed it fine.
How are the new windows holding up over time? For those who had them installed 2-3 years ago, any signs of wear or things that came up later (like windows getting harder to open, hardware rusting, seals failing, etc.)?
Florida climate can be harsh with the sun and salt air (for those near the coast). I'm curious if the products these companies install are truly built to last. Of course there's warranty as mentioned, but it's even better if nothing goes wrong in the first place.