@history_gandalf Great question. I grappled with the same decision. In my case, I decided to go with all impact windows throughout the house, even though it did cost more. A big factor was convenience and peace of mind – I really hated the idea of scrambling to put up shutters or panels every time a storm approached (and then sitting in the dark if the power goes out, since shutters block all the light). Also, by doing all impact, I qualified for a wind mitigation credit on my home insurance which helped offset some of the cost over the long run. My insurance agent said as long as all openings are protected (including doors), you can get a pretty decent discount on the hurricane/wind portion of your premium. That, combined with an interest-free financing deal the window company offered, made the all-impact route a bit easier to swallow financially.
That said, I know a lot of people do exactly what you’re describing – impact on the most vulnerable or hard-to-shutter windows, and then regular windows with removable panels on others. In fact, when I was getting quotes, one of the reps (from ProTech) actually suggested I could save money by doing a mix like that. In my case I just went all-in, but he did say many customers choose the mix-and-match approach to balance cost and protection. It sounds like a pretty sensible option if you don’t mind putting up some panels for the big storms. And modern panel systems or accordion shutters aren’t too bad to handle if installed correctly. So there’s no right or wrong – it’s more about your budget and tolerance for dealing with shutters. Contractors like Karoly or ProTech will install whichever route you choose and can help you weigh the pros and cons. They didn’t push me either way; they just gave the info. I ultimately chose impact everywhere for maximum protection and minimal hassle.
@history_gandalf I actually did the mix-and-match approach at my house in Dunedin. We replaced 8 windows last year and ended up doing impact glass on the ones facing the street and regular (non-impact) windows on the side and back. We already had aluminum hurricane panels for the non-impact windows, so it made sense for us. It definitely saved a good chunk of money – our contractor (it was Karoly Windows) had no problem with doing it that way. They just made sure we knew to keep our existing panels and that those windows would rely on them for hurricane protection. The permit/inspection was handled the same; the inspector just verified that we had protection for the non-impacts (we had to show the mounting bolts and the panels we have). So as long as you have shutters or panels for those openings, you can still get the final sign-off and even the insurance credit if everything is protected.
So far I’m really happy with the decision. The front of our house has the nice impact windows so I feel secure about debris in a storm (and it’s also great for security and noise reduction year-round). On the back and sides, we saved some money and I just have to put up panels if a serious hurricane is coming, which honestly hasn’t been too much trouble (I only had to do it once last season, took me about an hour by myself to cover five windows). Our contractor didn’t push us one way or the other; they gave us pricing for both scenarios and we chose the hybrid approach. I think if budget is a concern, it’s a very reasonable compromise. Just make sure you keep whatever shutter system you use in good shape and accessible.
I know this thread is mostly about windows, but has anyone had their doors replaced by these contractors as well? For example, sliding glass doors or front entry doors. I need to replace my old sliding patio door (the thing is original from the 1980s and leaks air). I’m thinking if I’m doing windows, I might do the slider door at the same time. Did any of you bundle a door with your window project? If so, how did that go and were the costs reasonable?
I’m particularly interested because I’ve heard some window companies give a better deal if you do everything together, and others sub-contract the door install separately. I’d rather have one company handle it all if possible. Any experiences with ProTech, Karoly, or others on door replacements?
@mark_chef Yup, we actually did include a door in our project. In our case it was a set of old aluminum French patio doors that we replaced with new impact-rated French doors (instead of a slider) at the same time as the windows. We used ProTech for everything, and they handled the door just like the windows – no subcontractors. The same install crew did the door on day two of our install. It went in fine and passed inspection along with the windows. The fit and finish on the new doors are great; they seal tightly and have multi-point locks, which is a nice security upgrade from our old single deadbolt.
Cost-wise, the doors were a significant part of the budget. I don’t have the exact breakout, but I recall the French door unit was a few thousand dollars by itself (impact glass doors are not cheap 😬). We did get a slight discount by bundling it with the window job, basically the company gave us a better price doing it all at once rather than coming back later just for the door. I agree with you that having one company do everything is preferable. It keeps things simpler with permits and scheduling. From what I’ve seen, both ProTech and Karoly regularly do entry doors and patio doors as part of their services, so they have experience with it. If you’re already getting windows, definitely ask for a quote on the door too – you might get a package deal. In our case, we’re really happy we did the door at the same time. It feels like we weather-proofed the whole house in one go.
Jumping in to say I had a positive experience with Karoly Windows & Doors as well. They replaced all the windows in my condo in South Pasadena (Pinellas) two years ago. Great workmanship and very professional team. It looks like plenty of people here have already said it, but I wanted to add another 👍 for Karoly. I’d hire them again in a heartbeat.
I’ll second the recommendation for ProTech Windows & Doors. They did my home in Carrollwood about 3 years ago. Process was smooth and the price was fair (not cheap, but fair for the quality). I really appreciated their crew’s attention to detail. It's been a few years and I’ve had no issues at all. So, another happy customer here. 🙂
Reading all these experiences, I just want to add a few general pointers for anyone shopping around for window contractors (speaking as a cautious homeowner who just went through it last year).
First, definitely verify that whichever company you choose is properly licensed and insured in Florida. Most of the ones mentioned here (Karoly, ProTech, etc.) are, but it never hurts to double-check on the state license lookup. Also check if they pull permits (as many have noted – the good ones will handle permits for you). If a contractor says “you can save money by not pulling a permit,” that's a red flag 🚩.
Second, get multiple quotes if you can. It’s not just about price, but you’ll learn a lot by comparing how each company approaches the project. For example, one might include things like repairing any wood rot around the window as part of their service, while another might charge extra for that. Make sure you ask about what is included and what might cost more (e.g., permit fees, interior trim, etc.) so you’re doing an apples-to-apples comparison.
Lastly, communication matters. Pay attention to how responsive and clear they are during the quoting process. If they are hard to reach or confusing before you even sign a contract, that might continue throughout the job. We ended up choosing a company that wasn’t the absolute cheapest but gave us the most confidence. And it paid off because the project went smoothly (shout-out to our installer team for being awesome). At the end of the day, you want quality windows and a hassle-free experience, and the contractors with solid reputations mentioned here seem to consistently provide that. Good luck to everyone getting their new windows!
Late to the party, but I wanted to share my window replacement story too. I live in an older bungalow in Seminole Heights (Tampa), and we had our windows done by Karoly Windows & Doors about two years ago. One thing I was worried about was the condition of the old window frames once the windows were out, because our house is from the 1920s and has had some water intrusion in the past. Sure enough, when Karoly’s crew pulled out the old windows, they found a bit of wood rot in a couple of the sills and the surrounding trim.
I was impressed with how they handled it. They didn't just slap the new window in and call it a day – they showed me the rotted sections, explained what needed to be fixed, and they actually had materials and a carpenter on hand to repair it right then and there. It did add a little to the cost (we agreed on a fair price for the extra work, since extensive wood repair isn’t included in the basic install), but I was glad they addressed it properly. The installer told me some companies might just cover it up or ask you to hire a separate carpenter, but Karoly’s team took care of it as part of the job. The rest of the process was smooth, very similar to what others have described: good communication, on-time work, and everything passed inspection easily.
After two years, the windows are still fantastic. No more drafts, and the areas where the wood was repaired look seamless. For anyone with an older home, my advice is to ask your contractor how they handle unforeseen issues like rotten wood or structural surprises. In our case, going with a company that had the capability to fix those issues on the fly (instead of delaying the project) made a huge difference. Big thumbs up to Karoly’s team for that. 👍
For those of you who actually got quotes from both Karoly and ProTech, how did the prices compare and what made you choose one over the other? I’m basically down to those two for my project in Pinellas, since this thread (and other research) makes them both sound like excellent choices. Did anyone here meet with both companies? If so, what were the differences in their approach or pricing?
I’m interested if one tends to be cheaper or if it really just depends on the specifics of the job. I know @sky_paws mentioned ProTech gave a slightly better price in their case, and @politics575 went with Karoly despite some extra work needed. I’d love to hear any direct comparisons if people have them, as I’ll be making a decision soon. Thanks!
@nmiller16 I was in that exact situation. We had both Karoly and ProTech come out to give quotes (plus one other company), and honestly Karoly and ProTech were really close on price for the same specs. In our case, ProTech’s quote came out a tad lower – I’d say maybe 5% less than Karoly’s for the whole project. It wasn’t a huge difference, but ProTech also had an earlier installation slot available, whereas Karoly was booking further out by a few weeks. That combination of a slightly better price and sooner install tipped us toward ProTech.
That said, our experience with both sales reps was positive. The Karoly rep was very knowledgeable and not pushy at all, and the ProTech rep (who was actually the owner, I think) was equally professional. Both spent over an hour assessing our home and answering questions. The product lines they offered were similar (both gave us options for PGT WinGuard and Simonton StormBreaker, etc.). Really, it felt like choosing between two good options. We ultimately chose ProTech for the minor reasons above, but I have no doubt Karoly would have done an excellent job too. If price and timing are about equal for you, you might even consider who you felt more comfortable with personally. Sometimes it just comes down to trust and gut feeling, since both are highly regarded.