Hey everyone, I wanted to kick off this thread because finding the right window contractor can really depend on your type of home.
My house is a 1925 bungalow in Seminole Heights, so you can imagine the historic charm – and the challenges 😅. We needed to replace our old wood sash windows but also had to follow the Seminole Heights historic district guidelines to keep the original look.
After talking to a few companies that didn’t seem to “get” the historic vibe, we ended up hiring Karoly Windows & Doors. They actually had experience with historic homes and even knew the permit process for our district. They helped us choose new windows that matched the style (we kept the six-over-one grid pattern) but are double-paned and hurricane impact-rated for safety.
The install went smooth and even our neighbor complimented how the new windows look original to the house. We’re super happy with the results 😊.
I'm really curious how others here chose contractors especially if you have a different type of home. Historic homes, waterfront houses, high-rise condos, new builds in the burbs – I bet each comes with its own set of challenges. Let’s share our experiences and recommendations!
Great thread idea @dobby_walker! So, I have a waterfront home over in Safety Harbor. Our place is right by the bay, so my biggest concerns were salt air and storm protection (hurricanes are a fact of life here).
When we decided to replace our old aluminum windows, I knew we needed a contractor who really understood coastal conditions. We got a few quotes and ended up going with Pro Tech Windows & Doors. A neighbor on our street used them last year and their recommendation sold us.
Pro Tech’s team talked a lot about using materials that won’t corrode from the salt air. They installed hurricane impact windows with stainless steel hardware and special glass coatings. I was impressed that they even mentioned things like turtle-friendly tinting since we’re on the water – shows they know their stuff.
The install went great. The new windows handled the latest thunderstorm with crazy winds like a champ 💪. And bonus: our home is so much quieter now too. Definitely feeling good about choosing a contractor experienced with waterfront homes!
@dobby_walker I feel you on the historic home challenges! I’m over in Ybor City in a 1908 bungalow, and we had to deal with a bunch of rules to keep the historic aesthetic. In Ybor, there’s a historic committee that had to approve my window choice.
I initially thought about just restoring the original windows instead of replacing them. I even got a quote from a wood restoration specialist. In the end though, the cost was almost double of new windows 😕. We decided to get new custom windows that look old-school instead.
I spoke with a couple of contractors. One was a general window company that didn’t have a clue about our historic guidelines (big nope). Another had done projects in Ybor and even brought pictures of similar homes they worked on. That won us over. They handled the paperwork for the Ybor historic review and we got approved without a hitch.
The new windows mimic the old wavy glass look and the wooden frames, so unless you inspect closely, you’d think they’ve been there since 1908. I appreciate finding a contractor who understood our unique situation. It saved us a lot of headache in the approval process!
@apolloparker907 I’m in a similar boat (pun intended) – but on the Gulf side at Clearwater Beach. Our house faces the water and gets insane wind during storms. We knew from the start we needed top-notch hurricane impact windows.
I shopped around a bit. We had a well-known national company give us an estimate (the price was eye-watering). Then we talked with Karoly Windows & Doors, since I’d heard their ads about impact windows. Karoly came out and measured everything and explained the different window ratings.
They had a lot of experience with beachside homes and even used the phrase “coastal zone 5” or something to confirm the windows could handle our wind exposure category. That gave me confidence. We went with them and the install was super professional.
One thing I appreciated – they gave us all the documentation on the impact rating which we sent to our home insurance. We actually got a small discount on our premium because of those new windows 🎉. And aesthetically, the windows look great. No more ugly storm shutters to put up, and we’re still protected. Big win!
I’m in a high-rise condo (20th floor) in Downtown St. Pete, and getting our windows replaced was a whole different animal. We don’t have the luxury of just having a truck pull into a driveway and start work – everything had to go through the service elevator and be coordinated with the building management.
Our condo association was super strict. They required any contractor to have special insurance and to follow specific rules (like only doing work on weekdays 9-5, using protective materials in common areas, etc.).
I knew I needed a contractor who had done high-rise installs before. We ultimately went with Pro Tech Windows & Doors for the job. They had actually done another unit in our building a year prior, which was a big plus because they already knew the drill.
Pro Tech handled the logistics really well – they scheduled deliveries at times approved by our building, and their crew was careful about noise and cleanup (important when you have neighbors above and below!). The new impact glass is amazing; we feel safer this hurricane season. And honestly, I swear the city noise is a bit less noticeable now. All in all, having a contractor experienced with condos made what could’ve been a nightmare into a pretty smooth project. 🙂
@ray_gonzalez Thanks for sharing your condo experience. I’m up in Channelside (Tampa) in a 10th-floor unit, and we went through window replacement last year. Our situation was a bit different because our HOA had a “preferred contractor” we were basically forced to use.
It was a well-known local company, and to be fair, they did a decent job, but the quote was definitely on the high side. I’m guessing part of that is because they have to give a cut or meet some HOA requirements.
Reading about your experience with Pro Tech Windows & Doors, I kind of wish we’d had the freedom to shop around like you did. Maybe we could have saved some money or gotten it done faster.
For anyone else in a condo, check if your HOA or building has rules about contractors before you start getting quotes. It can save you some frustration. I learned that the hard way!
We have a suburban home in Wesley Chapel that we built in 2015. The original windows were just the basic ones the builder put in – not very energy-efficient at all. Last summer’s electric bills were killer, so we decided it was time to upgrade our windows.
One thing we had to consider was our HOA. They have rules about window appearance (they want them to look similar from house to house). We made sure to get any new style approved by the HOA board before ordering.
We got three quotes: one from a big national company, and two from local ones (Karoly Windows & Doors and Pro Tech Windows & Doors – both came highly recommended by neighbors). All three offered energy-efficient double-pane windows with Low-E coatings, which is what we wanted. Karoly and Pro Tech both actually brought up the HOA approval in advance, which I appreciated.
We ended up choosing Pro Tech, mainly because they offered a slightly better price and a longer warranty on the install. They did a great job! They even provided documentation on the window specs that I passed along to the HOA for final approval. Now our house is noticeably cooler in the summer, and the AC doesn’t run as much. Fingers crossed for a lower power bill 📉 this year.
Hey all, checking in from Riverview! Our home isn’t historic or waterfront, just a 2002-built suburban house, but we still had an interesting time picking a window contractor.
We mainly wanted to replace our original windows because a couple of them were fogging up (broken seals) and we figured we might as well upgrade to better ones while we’re at it. Our neighborhood HOA is relatively chill but they do want exterior colors to match the community. We kept the white frames to stay compliant.
A neighbor down the street had recently done their windows and recommended Karoly Windows & Doors to us. We got a quote from them and one other company. Karoly’s price was a bit higher but their reputation and the neighbor’s positive experience convinced us.
We did 10 windows and a new sliding glass door to the patio. The only hiccup was waiting about 8 weeks for the custom windows to arrive, but that seems to be normal these days. Installation went smoothly in just two days. The crew was friendly (they even fixed a little bit of siding that wasn’t sitting right, free of charge). So far, so good – the house feels quieter and no more foggy glass! 👍
I’m a bit late to the game here, but I’m hoping for some advice. We just bought a 1985 ranch-style house in Tampa (not historic, just old 😅) and the single-pane windows are awful. I got a quote from one of those big window companies you see on TV commercials, and it was insanely expensive.
For those who went with local contractors like Karoly or Pro Tech, did you find the costs more reasonable? I’m a little worried that a lower price might mean lower quality, but reading your experiences above gives me hope.
Also, did anyone consider just using a local handyman or smaller window installer instead of a full-service company? We’re trying to balance budget vs. getting the job done right. Any tips would be appreciated!
@jjones18 I was in a very similar situation as you. My house is from the late 90s and those old aluminum single-pane windows had to go. I feel you on the sticker shock from the big name companies – we had one quote that was nearly double what a local contractor quoted. 😮
In our case, we went with Karoly Windows & Doors (their quote came in much more reasonable and they had good references). The cost difference didn’t mean lower quality at all. In fact, the windows we got are top-notch (Energy Star rated, etc.), and the installation was great.
As for using a handyman vs a specialized window company: personally, I’d go with a company that does windows all the time. Our project needed proper permits and inspections here in Hillsborough County. A dedicated window contractor handled all that for us. A handyman might be cheaper up front, but if they don’t pull permits or mess something up, it could cost more later.
My advice: get a couple of quotes from the well-reviewed local companies (definitely talk to Karoly and Pro Tech) and compare. You’ll likely find them more budget-friendly than the big guys, and you’ll have peace of mind the job’s done right. Good luck!