The aesthetic improvement was huge for us. We have a 1920 Victorian-style house in Plant City. The old windows were peeling and some panes were cracked – it gave the place a bit of a haunted vibe (and not in a charming way). After installing historically appropriate replicas (we found models with similar grids and even slightly wavy glass for the small transom window), the house looks cared-for and vibrant. Several neighbors complimented that it still looks "like it always did, but somehow new." One even said it lifted the whole street's appearance.
I was worried new windows might stick out, but a good match actually enhanced the original architecture. So if curb appeal is a concern, know that you can get the best of both worlds with the right product.
Funny benefit: fewer bugs inside. Our old windows in our 1935 Gulfport home had gaps and torn screens, and we constantly found little lizards or insects sneaking in. Since getting new windows, I’ve hardly seen a gecko in the house, and the ant trails by the sills are gone. Everything is sealed up tight now.
It's one of those things you don't appreciate until after – the old house isn't as "open to nature" anymore. My wife is thrilled because she hated the palmetto bugs (big roaches) that occasionally wandered in through those gaps. Now if we see one, we know it probably came from an open door, not a window crack. Sleep is a bit sounder when you're not worrying about creepy crawlies getting in at night 😅.
I've learned so much from everyone's experiences here. One more thing I'd add: tap into your local community knowledge. I'm in Hyde Park, and before I picked a contractor, I asked around in our neighborhood Facebook group. Turns out a bunch of folks had used the same two companies and highly recommended them (already mentioned in this thread: Karoly and Pro Tech). That gave me confidence to get quotes from those. We ended up going with one of them and had a great result.
Sometimes historic neighborhoods have unofficial "go-to" window experts who know the ropes. I even found out one of the recommended companies had done the windows on a historic house museum nearby, which is pretty cool. So definitely ask your neighbors or local forums – you'll often find consensus on who does quality work on older homes.
A route we considered was buying the windows ourselves and just hiring out the install. I scouted prices at a building supply store for standard sizes. However, for our 1966 ranch in Brandon, almost none of our windows were truly standard-sized, so the cost difference was negligible after needing custom orders. We ended up letting the contractor handle everything, which was easier since they measured and ordered to fit.
I've heard some folks save money by purchasing stock windows from Home Depot or Lowe's and then finding an installer, but in older houses that's hit-or-miss unless your openings happen to be updated to standard dimensions. Also, if you supply your own windows, you might miss out on the installer’s warranty (many only fully guarantee jobs when they provide the materials too). For us, having it bundled was best. The company took full responsibility for any wrong sizes or defects and just made it right. Less stress, even if it might have cost a bit more than DIY sourcing.
What happens to the old windows? In our case, the contractors hauled them away and that was that. I asked, and they said typically the metal gets recycled as scrap and the rest goes to construction debris landfill (old painted wood can't really be recycled easily). If you want to keep any sashes or hardware, let them know ahead of time. We kept two of our old decorative window handles as keepsakes from our 1930 Dunedin cottage.
Also, if you're DIY-inclined or know artists, old window sashes can be repurposed. A friend took a couple to make picture frames and a coffee table. Once they're out, they're basically junk to the installer, so decide if any parts are meaningful to you. Otherwise, enjoy the extra space – our garage suddenly felt bigger after clearing out the stack of old storm windows and screens that had been sitting there for years!
It's tempting to cut corners because window projects aren't cheap, but I'm glad we invested in quality. Our 1954 house in Egypt Lake had 10 windows; one quote was for $8k, another for $12k. The cheaper one was using a lower-grade window (no Low-E coating, thinner glass). We went with the higher quote for mid-range windows, and I'm glad we did – the performance is noticeably better and we have a strong warranty.
A coworker of mine went cheap on his windows in a similar aged house, and a couple of years later he's got foggy glass from failed seals. So, price isn't everything. Make sure you're getting good quality windows that will last. You don't want to replace your replacements in 10 years. This is definitely a "do it once, do it right" kind of job.
For those with very old homes, sometimes full replacement isn't necessary for every window. We have a 1910 farmhouse in Thonotosassa, and we actually restored the windows in our living room (they had gorgeous wavy glass casements) and only replaced the ones in the back of the house that were too far gone. This hybrid approach is also an option. It's more labor on the restoration side (we hired a specialist to rehab the old casements by scraping, repainting, and adding weatherstripping), but it kept some original character in the most visible part of the house.
The rest of the house got new windows that match in style. Honestly, you can't tell from the street which windows are original and which are new. So replacement doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing deal if you're a bit of a preservationist. It depends on the condition of each window and your budget.
People often ask how long new windows should last. Good ones can easily last decades. Our previous home (a late-60s house in Largo) had windows we installed in 2005, and when we sold in 2020 they were still in great shape. The warranty even transferred to the buyer. So you can expect a solid 20-30 years or more from quality windows with proper care.
Compare that to our current 1928 house in Tampa – the original windows made it about 90 years with a lot of upkeep. I figure these new ones will carry us through the rest of our time in this house and likely beyond. Just remember to occasionally check the caulking and repaint any exterior wood trim to keep things sealed up. Do that, and your windows should live a long, trouble-free life.
One optional touch we did after getting new windows: we added a couple of canvas awnings over the big west-facing windows on our 1935 St. Pete home. The new windows alone made a difference, but the awnings further cut down on direct sun hitting the glass and they give the front of the house a nice vintage flair (canvas awnings were actually common back in the day). Some historic districts allow them if they're traditional style.
So that's another way we married efficiency and style. The awnings keep the afternoon sun off the windows, reducing heat gain, and they made our front porch more pleasant too by adding shade. Not directly a window product, but a nice complement. Think about the whole house: windows play a big part, but things like awnings, functional shutters, and good landscaping can also help keep your old home comfy and charming.
Reading through all these, the common theme is to plan well and choose the right people. I agree wholeheartedly. We replaced the windows in our 1922 bungalow in West Tampa and took our time to research, get referrals (we found our contractor through two neighbors who used them), and clarify what we wanted (we made a list of priorities: efficiency, noise reduction, preserving the look, etc.). It was still a bit stressful because it's a major change to an old house, but being informed and having a trusted contractor made it go smoothly.
Seeing everyone's stories here, it's clear that while every old house has its quirks, the end results are worth it. No question is too silly – ask your installers about anything that concerns you, whether it's style, permits, or clean-up. A good pro will have answers. Good luck to anyone starting their window replacement journey. You'll love the difference it makes!