Real Homeowner Reviews: Window Contractor Experiences in Tampa Bay

I’m also in Pinellas (Clearwater area) and we had Karoly Windows & Doors replace all the windows in our home last year. Overall it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. The initial consultation was no-pressure and thorough – the rep took measurements and answered all our questions, and the quote we got was detailed and easy to understand. They weren’t the absolute cheapest of the three quotes we obtained, but their pricing was very transparent (everything was itemized) and their reputation made us feel comfortable going with them. No hidden fees popped up later; we paid exactly what was quoted except for an upgrade we decided on later (which they explained and priced out before we agreed).
When it came to installation, the Karoly crew was top-notch. They handled the permit with Pinellas County and even scheduled the inspection, so we didn’t have to worry about the paperwork at all. The crew showed up on time each day (we had a two-day installation for 12 windows) and they were very professional and courteous. They put down drop cloths in all work areas and cleaned up thoroughly at the end of each day – I never even found a stray nail or piece of broken glass afterward. They also took care to protect our furniture and flooring while working, which I really appreciated. After everything was installed, the project manager walked through each room with us to double-check that we were satisfied and to show us how to operate and clean the new windows properly.

It’s been about 6 months since then and we went through a full summer (and some heavy storms) with the new windows. What a difference! Our home is so much quieter now; we barely hear the street noise or the neighbor’s lawn mower anymore. During storms, we felt safe and there were no leaks or issues at all. We even noticed our electricity bill went down a bit because the new windows are more energy-efficient. We did have one window that was a little hard to open at first, but we called Karoly and they sent someone out the next week to adjust it — no charge, no hassle. 😊 Overall, I’d highly recommend Karoly Windows to anyone in Tampa Bay. They might be in high demand (we had to wait about 5 weeks from order to install because of their schedule), but in my opinion, it was 100% worth it for the quality of work and peace of mind.

I’m over in Hillsborough County (north Tampa area) and I recently had all the windows in my house replaced by ProTech Windows & Doors. I can echo a lot of what @sailing891 said about their experience with Karoly, because I had a similarly positive experience with ProTech. We did 15 windows and a set of French doors, and from the initial quote to the final follow-up, everything was handled very professionally.
We actually got quotes from a few places (including Karoly and a big national company) before deciding. ProTech wasn’t the rock-bottom price, but their quote was competitive and what really sold us was their attention to detail and knowledge. The owner (or maybe it was the manager) spent a lot of time answering my questions about hurricane impact glass versus regular, explaining the differences in brands (they offered us PGT and Simonton window choices), and even gave insights on what works best for our Florida climate. I never felt like I was getting a sales pitch – it felt more like consulting with an expert. They also had great communication: we knew exactly when our custom windows had been ordered, when they arrived, and they scheduled installation and the county inspection pretty quickly after the windows came in (it was about a 5-week wait from signing to install, which they had told us to expect since custom windows take time).

On install day, the ProTech crew was prompt and efficient. They laid down protective coverings over our floors and furniture just like @sailing891 described. All 15 windows (and the French doors) were installed in two days, which was faster than I expected. They took care of everything: pulling the permits, arranging the inspections with Hillsborough County, and making sure all the windows passed inspection. The inspector even commented on the quality of the installation (he said something like “these guys do good work,” which was reassuring to hear).

It’s been a few months now and honestly I have zero complaints. No leaks, no drafts, and the windows look great. The noise reduction is noticeably better too; we live near a busy road and now it’s much quieter inside. One thing I really appreciated is that the owner of ProTech called us a week after installation to make sure we were happy and to remind us to send in the warranty registration. It felt nice that they followed up without us having to chase them. So yeah, I’d definitely recommend ProTech Windows & Doors as well. They delivered on what they promised and then some.

I’m in St. Petersburg, and we replaced our windows last year as well. Our experience was okay in the end, but it definitely had some headaches along the way. We ended up using a big national company (I won’t name them, but they advertise constantly on TV and radio here). We chose them because their salesperson gave us what sounded like a huge discount if we signed on the spot – the initial quote was outrageously high, then suddenly it was “50% off if you decide today.” 🙄 It felt a bit high-pressure, but we fell for it because the final price after the supposed discount was slightly less than the other quote we had at the time.
Looking back, I’m not sure we actually got a bargain. The project itself had a few bumps. They originally scheduled our install about 4 weeks out, but then it got pushed to almost 8 weeks because of some excuse (first it was window manufacturing delays, then a staffing issue). We had to call them multiple times to get updates – communication was not great. When the installers finally came, they did get all the windows in and they seem to be good quality products, but the installation felt rushed. They missed some caulking spots and left a bunch of stickers and debris for us to clean up. We also had one window that wouldn’t lock properly, which we had to bug them about for a couple of weeks before they sent a tech to fix it.

In the end, our new windows are in and working fine now, and they did pass inspection, but the process was more stressful than it needed to be. I definitely learned that cheaper isn’t always better. If I could do it over, I might have gone with a local company with a solid reputation (like the ones people are mentioning here). I’ve heard nothing but good things about Karoly and ProTech from neighbors and on forums, so saving a few bucks wasn’t worth the hassle we went through. Just my two cents for anyone shopping around – make sure to look at the whole picture (reputation, service) and not just the initial price.

This thread is gold – thank you all for sharing your experiences. 🙌 I’m planning to do my windows in a few months too and it’s helpful (and eye-opening) to read these stories. I live in Wesley Chapel (Pasco County), and I’m wondering if anyone in Pasco has worked with Karoly or ProTech? Do they service Pasco without extra fees, or do they mainly stick to Pinellas/Hillsborough? I’d love to use a company with a great reputation like those, but I wasn’t sure if being a bit farther out would make a difference in cost or scheduling.
Also, for those who’ve gone through it, how long did you wait between signing a contract and the installation? @sailing891 and @sky_paws mentioned around 5-6 weeks for the windows to be ready. Is that pretty standard? I’ve heard some folks say it can take 2-3 months if permits or materials get delayed. I just want to have realistic expectations.

One last thing: did you guys typically pay a big deposit upfront? I’m okay with a deposit but I get nervous handing over too much money before the work is done. Thanks again!

@samjones592 I’m in Pasco too (Land O’ Lakes area) and I had Karoly Windows & Doors do my window replacements in 2023. They definitely service Pasco County with no extra charge – the sales rep mentioned they do projects all across Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco. In my case they were coming from their Clearwater office to Pasco, but it was no issue at all. They actually grouped my install the same week as another project in New Port Richey, which was fine by me since it meant they were familiar with the Pasco county permitting process and inspection folks.
As for timeline, in my case it took about 7 weeks from the time I signed the contract until installation. Part of that was waiting for the custom impact windows to be manufactured and delivered. They were upfront about the expected lead time (initially estimated 6-8 weeks, and they hit right in that range). They handled all the permits with Pasco County and scheduled the inspections. One tip: if you live in a neighborhood with an HOA (like I do), make sure to get their approval early. I needed to submit the window specs to my HOA for sign-off. Karoly helped by providing all the product information and insurance documentation the HOA wanted, which saved me some hassle.

Regarding payment and deposits: Karoly asked for a 50% deposit when we signed the contract, and the remaining 50% was due after the installation was completed and we were satisfied. I was a bit nervous too about handing over a big deposit, but this seems pretty standard for window projects since the company has to order custom-sized windows specifically for your house. In our case, everything went smoothly – we paid the deposit via credit card for a bit of extra peace of mind, and then paid the balance by check after the job was done. Just make sure you have a detailed contract. A reputable company won’t disappear with your money. Both Karoly and ProTech have been around here for a long time, so they have a track record.

Hope that helps! If you do go with Karoly in Pasco, I think you’ll get the same great service we all did. My new windows are fantastic – and I can’t wait to not put up hurricane shutters this coming storm season because I opted for the impact glass. 😅

@snowboarder85 Thank you so much for the thorough answers! That definitely helps put my mind at ease. I do have an HOA, so I’ll start getting the paperwork ready for approval as you suggested. It’s great to know that both Karoly and ProTech work in Pasco without issue – I was worried I might have fewer options out here, but sounds like that’s not a problem.
I’ll likely reach out to both companies for quotes and see who I click with. Hearing all these positive experiences (and the cautionary tale from @fashion378) has been super helpful for me to figure out how to move forward. I really appreciate this community’s input! 😊

I’ll throw in another perspective: we ended up using a smaller local company called Sunshine Windows (they’re a family-run outfit based in Tampa, I believe). A coworker of mine recommended them. Our experience was pretty decent overall – not as large of an operation as Karoly or ProTech, but they got the job done. The owner himself came out to do the quote and measurements, which I liked. Their pricing was actually the lowest of all the quotes we got, and thankfully there was no high-pressure sales pitch (probably because it’s a small company).
The installation went smoothly enough; it took three days to replace 10 windows in our 1950s South Tampa home. The crew was a small team, but they were polite and skilled. They pulled the permits and everything passed inspection on the first try. One thing I noticed is we had to do a little more cleanup ourselves after they finished (they took away the big stuff but I found some stray caulk drops and wood shavings later). Also, they didn’t call afterward to follow up or anything like that – but whenever I had a question during the process, I’d call the owner directly and he’d respond. So, while it maybe wasn’t as “white glove” service as some bigger companies, we’re happy with the results considering we saved a bit of money. Our new windows are working great and we have no complaints on functionality. Just wanted to share that smaller companies can do a good job too, though you might trade off a bit on the extra touches.

I can chime in with a slightly older experience. I had my windows replaced about 4 years ago at my home in Largo (Pinellas County). We used ProTech Windows & Doors back then, and I’m happy to report that several years later, everything is still holding up great. We did our whole house (11 windows) with vinyl, double-pane impact windows (PGT brand) because we wanted the hurricane protection. At the time, we got a few quotes (I remember we considered Window World and one other local company) and ProTech wasn’t the absolute cheapest, but their reputation and the way they answered our questions sold us on them.
The installation was done in two days and the quality of work was top-notch. We had zero issues during inspections or afterward. After 4 years, the windows still look and operate like new – no leaks, no fogging, and they survived all the storms since without a scratch. The only maintenance I’ve done is just normal cleaning; the vinyl frames and seals are all in excellent shape. We did have one window develop a small cosmetic defect (a strip of trim that warped slightly in the sun) after about 2 years, and ProTech honored the warranty and replaced that piece quickly. So I can vouch that their post-install support is solid even years down the line.

If you’re thinking long term, I’d say both ProTech and Karoly have been around long enough to trust their warranties. My experience with ProTech has been very positive, and I’d use them again if I ever move to another house and need windows. It’s good to see so many others here have had similar experiences with the top local companies. Makes me feel even better about the choice I made back then!

Quick question for everyone: did you go with full impact-rated (hurricane) windows or non-impact windows with panels/shutters? I'm in Tampa Palms and about to start getting quotes. The cost difference is pretty significant for impact glass, so I'm debating doing a mix (like impact windows on the front of the house and standard windows with hurricane shutters on the sides/back). Has anyone here done that or have advice?
I want the storm protection and peace of mind, but outfitting every window with impact glass is pricey. If you went impact, do you feel it was worth the extra cost? And if you went non-impact, are you happy putting up panels for storms? Also, did your contractors have strong opinions or guidance on this? I imagine companies like Karoly or ProTech have installed both kinds, so I'd love to hear what they recommended or what choices people made.