Window Contractor Professionalism in Tampa Bay: Homeowner Experiences

We had our windows replaced last year in Westchase, Tampa, and the contractor we used was fantastic. From day one, they had clear communication (every email or call was answered quickly), and they were always on time. If they said they'd arrive at 8 AM, they were knocking on my door at 7:59 👍.

This was during the rainy season, so I appreciated that they also kept an eye on the weather. On one stormy afternoon, they proactively rescheduled work to keep my home dry – super professional move in my book.

All in all, their punctuality and constant updates made the whole process stress-free. It showed they respected my time and property.

I'll chime in with a different experience. I'm over in Clearwater and had a contractor come out for an estimate last summer. To be honest, it was not a great first impression. The guy showed up almost 2 hours late with no heads-up or apology 😠. On top of that, he was in a tank top and flip-flops... I get it's Florida, but it felt really unprofessional to me.

That lack of punctuality and sloppy attire made me worry how the actual work would go. I ended up not hiring that one. It taught me that if a contractor can't show up on time or look somewhat put-together for a quote, they might not be reliable for a big job like windows.

So in my book, being on time and presentable is a big part of professionalism.

@smoon63 Great question! I've replaced windows in two homes (Tampa and Largo) in the last 3 years, so I've dealt with a few contractors. For me, professionalism comes down to a checklist of things I watch for:

Punctuality: Do they show up on time for appointments and work days? If they're consistently late, that's a red flag.

Communication: From the initial quote to final walkthrough, they should communicate clearly. That means explaining the process, answering questions, and letting you know if there are any delays.

Respect for Property: A professional crew will use drop cloths, move furniture carefully, and not trample your flower beds. Basically, they treat your home like it's theirs.

Cleanup: Each day after work, the site should be tidy. No nails, glass shards, or trash left behind. When my contractor even brought a magnetic sweeper to pick up stray nails, I was impressed.

Attention to Detail: Little things matter – like aligning window trims, insulating gaps, and making sure everything opens/closes smoothly. A pro will double-check their work.

Follow-up: Do they check in after installation or offer a warranty? The best ones will call or visit to ensure you're happy and fix any minor issues.

If a contractor hits all these points, you know you're in good hands. Hope this helps as a general guide!

I totally agree with @bscott10, especially on the cleanup aspect. I live in South Tampa and had my windows done in 2022. The crew we hired was great about not leaving a mess. Every day before they left, they'd spend a good 20-30 minutes cleaning. They even brought out a shop vac to suck up sawdust and a magnetic wand to pick up any nails in the driveway. With two kids and a dog running around, that attention to cleanliness gave me huge peace of mind 😊.

Also, they were careful with our stuff. They moved my furniture and put down drop cloths without me even asking. No damage to anything inside or out. In Florida, I've heard of contractors leaving debris that can end up in the pool or yard (which can be dangerous or attract pests). So a contractor who cleans up thoroughly – that’s a sign of real professionalism for sure.

I had a mixed experience. The install itself went fine, but some aspects of the crew's behavior were iffy. This was a local contractor in Clearwater who did my windows last year. On professionalism: they did arrive on time and the windows are good quality, but I had a couple of gripes:

First, a few of the workers were blasting music from a radio while working. I get that music makes the job more fun, but it was loud enough that I had to ask them to turn it down so my baby could nap. They did turn it down when asked, but I feel like I shouldn’t have had to ask in the first place if they were being considerate.

Second, I caught one guy smoking in my backyard and flicking the cigarette butt in my grass 😡. Not cool. I made them pick it up. To their credit, the crew lead apologized when I pointed it out.

So yeah, they did a fine job on the windows, and cleaned up decently each day, but those little things showed a lack of respect for my property. For me, professionalism isn’t just getting the install right, it’s also how the crew conducts themselves on site.

One company that really impressed me was Karoly Windows & Doors. They replaced all the windows in my house in Carrollwood (north Tampa) last fall, and their professionalism was on point. The crew showed up in company shirts, which made it easy to know who was who, and they immediately laid down floor protectors to keep my house clean.

Communication was awesome too – the project manager gave me updates every morning about what they'd finish that day. If they ran into any issues, they let me know right away. They were also punctual (actually arrived early two days to set up) and very organized as a team.

One thing I appreciated was their attention to detail. After installation, the owner (Karoly himself, I believe) walked through with me to inspect each window. He noticed a bit of excess caulk on one frame and had his guys clean it up on the spot.

They even did a follow-up call a week after everything was done, just to check if I had questions or found any issues. I was super happy with them, and it's clear why a lot of folks around here recommend Karoly Windows & Doors.

Thanks for sharing @geocacher77! I’ve been considering Karoly Windows & Doors for my project in Palm Harbor. It’s good to hear they live up to their reputation.

We actually got a couple of quotes recently. Karoly was one, and another was Pro Tech Windows & Doors. Both companies gave off a professional vibe during the estimate – on time, courteous, and not pushy at all. Karoly’s quote was a bit higher, but they could schedule the install sooner, which is a plus since hurricane season is coming. Pro Tech was very friendly and detailed too, just had a longer waitlist.

Haven’t made a final decision yet, but leaning towards going with one of those because of how professional they've been even in just the quoting stage. If anyone has more input on either Karoly or Pro Tech, I’m all ears!

@echov78 I actually used Pro Tech Windows & Doors for my window replacements in 2023 (I'm in Largo). They were excellent, so I can vouch for them. Professionalism-wise, here’s how it went with Pro Tech:

Scheduling: They were upfront about their lead time. I had to wait about 10 weeks for the custom impact windows to arrive (supply chain issues), but they kept me informed with updates, which I appreciated. As soon as the windows came in, they scheduled installation promptly.

Crew & Workmanship: The installation crew was top-notch. They all wore matching company t-shirts and even had badges, which was a nice touch for security. Very polite guys who clearly knew what they were doing. They laid down drop cloths everywhere and wore boot covers inside without being asked.

Attention to Detail: I’m a stickler for details and these guys delivered. They noticed one window had a tiny scratch on the glass (I hadn’t even seen it) and they arranged a replacement pane from the manufacturer right away. They still installed that window so my house wasn’t left open, then came back with the new glass a couple weeks later and swapped it out. No hassle.

Cleanup & Follow-up: After each day, they cleaned the work areas so well you wouldn’t know we had construction going on. They even used a magnet in the yard like @ericrebel396 mentioned. A week after the job, the owner gave me a call to ensure everything was good. One window had a slight alignment issue when locking (it worked, just stiff), and they sent a tech out the next day to adjust it.

Overall, Pro Tech was worth the wait. It’s great to see there are a few solid options like them and Karoly in our area. Good luck with your decision!

One thing I'd add: make sure the contractor handles permitting and inspections professionally, especially here in the Tampa Bay area. In my experience, a truly professional window installer will pull the proper permits and not try to cut corners.

For example, when I replaced windows in my old house in Dunedin, the contractor took care of the Pinellas County permit and scheduled the inspection with the county. He gave me a heads-up on what days the inspector would come and made sure to be there for it. The inspector had a minor issue with one window (wanted a different type of screw anchor due to hurricane code), and my contractor fixed it the very next day and passed re-inspection. I didn’t have to get involved at all.

Contrast that with my neighbor’s experience: their contractor didn’t pull a permit (trying to save time/money), and it became a headache when the city found out. The neighbor had to pause the job and pay a fine, and it was a mess.

So yeah, professionalism also means doing things by the book with permits and not making the homeowner deal with red-tape. Always ask if they will handle permitting and inspections. The good ones, like many mentioned here, will do it without even being asked.