I have to echo @sgamer48's gratitude. I lurked on this thread for a while and it heavily influenced my choices. We got our windows done by Pro Tech Windows & Doors just two weeks ago, and I'm relieved and thrilled with the outcome.
Being armed with all the knowledge shared here meant I asked the right questions (the Pro Tech rep even commented that I seemed very well-researched 😄). The install went smoothly, no surprises. I was bracing for possible delays or issues but got none. We even prepped the house just like @food_max suggested, so cleanup was easier.
One minor thing I’d add: if you work from home (like I do), plan accordingly. Installation day is loud and not a day to be on Zoom calls. I took the day off, hung out with the crew a bit, and watched the process. If I had tried to work through that, it would’ve been impossible.
Anyway, huge thanks to everyone in this thread. It made a daunting project much more manageable. Shoutout to Pro Tech for living up to the hype as well.
Anyone with specialty windows (like big half-moon arches or glass block windows) – I wish I had known how those fit into a replacement project. We have a large arched window above our front door (the kind that doesn’t open, just for decoration/light). I was worried we'd have to sacrifice it or that it would be astronomically expensive to replace.
Turns out, many window companies can do custom shapes, but it might come from a different supplier or take longer. In our case, Karoly Windows & Doors handled it by ordering that arch from the same manufacturer as the rest, just custom-sized. It did add a few weeks wait (and a bit of cost) compared to a standard rectangle window. They warned us up front, so we weren't shocked.
The cool thing is the new arched window has impact glass too, which I didn't even realize was possible for odd shapes – it is! So now even that decorative window is hurricane-resistant. If I had known that, I wouldn't have spent so much time contemplating whether to just board it up permanently or something (yes, I considered just closing it off because I thought impact glass might not be an option or super pricey).
So for anyone with unique windows, ask about them early. The pros likely have a solution. Don't assume you can't replace it with something safer/better. I'm glad I asked and didn't settle for leaving that one old window as the weak link.
One more random thing I noticed: after getting windows with Low-E glass, some of my indoor houseplants near the windows started getting less direct sun (the Low-E blocks some UV and infrared). It's actually a good thing for furniture and cooling, but my fiddle-leaf fig was not amused, haha. I moved a couple plants a bit closer to the light or to an area with direct sun through the patio door.
So plant lovers, just be aware you might need to adjust your greenery's placement after new windows if they were used to baking in the sun. Small trade-off for a cooler home, but thought I'd mention it since it's something I encountered unexpectedly.
This is a bit offbeat, but something I observed: the new windows (with their shiny new Low-E coating) are more reflective on the outside, and we had a couple of birds try to fly into them thinking it was open sky. 😕 We never had that issue with the old grimy single-pane windows. After the first thud (poor little guy was okay and flew off), we decided to put a couple of subtle decals on the problem window to break up the reflection.
So if you have a lot of trees and bird activity around your home, keep an eye out for that. It's not a deal-breaker by any means – I absolutely love how the new windows look from outside, kind of like a light mirror tint – but I wasn't expecting to create a funhouse for the birds, lol.
Wish I’d known: a couple of decorative window stickers could save some bird bumps. Easy fix if needed.
@astrology616's story gave me flashbacks. I also nearly went with an outlier low bid and something felt off, so I backed out last minute. Ended up with a reputable company (cost a bit more but no regrets). Sometimes you really do get what you pay for in this industry.
I'm taking notes like crazy from all this. Big thanks to everyone who's shared their experience. As someone about to embark on a window replacement journey in Tampa, this thread is the ultimate prep guide! 🙌
One thing to remember post-install: you might need to do some touch-up painting. Our installers did a great job, but where they trimmed the exterior stucco and interior trim, we had some paint chipping. Once everything cured, I went around with matching paint to touch up those areas. It was minor, but I'm glad I had some of our house paint stored.
If you're not a DIY painter, maybe budget for a painter to do final touch-ups, especially if you have custom colored trim.
For those who do switch from shutters to impact windows, you might wonder what to do with your old hurricane shutters. We had a set of aluminum panels and after our impact windows were in, we obviously didn't need them anymore. We ended up selling them on Craigslist to recoup a little money and clear space in the garage.
It felt a bit strange trusting just the glass after years of putting up shutters, but after going through one storm season, I'm fully sold on the convenience. And someone else got a good deal on used shutters. Win-win!
Minor feature I love: the new screens. Our old windows had flimsy screens that popped out. The new ones (single-hung) have half-screens that can slide up or down as you open the window. It's so much easier to deal with, especially when cleaning. I know screens aren't a big deal in the grand scheme, but it's a nice quality-of-life upgrade I didn't even think about beforehand.
A note on insurance: our home insurance (we're with Citizens, the state insurer of last resort) actually sent out an inspector in 2022 and they recommended we upgrade our old windows or at least install shutters. They didn't cancel us or anything, but they made it clear that houses with better wind protection get preferential treatment and rates. That was a wake-up call for us to get moving on window replacement, since our windows were circa 1980 and not up to current code.
After we got new impact windows, we submitted the paperwork to Citizens and while the premium savings were modest, I'm more confident we won't have coverage issues. Florida insurers have been dropping people with older roofs or inadequate wind protection left and right, so this upgrade felt like a necessary investment to stay insurable.
So, in hindsight, I wish I'd known sooner that insurance companies really do take note of your windows (especially after all the hurricane claims in recent years). If you're on the fence, check with your insurance – you might find it's increasingly expected to have impact protection.