One piece of advice: get multiple quotes from different companies, whether you do inserts or full replacements. I'm in Hillsborough too, and I've seen quotes vary wildly for the exact same number of windows. Some big brand name companies will charge a premium. Meanwhile, there are local window specialists who offer solid products for less.
I personally prefer local contractors over the national chains – they know the Tampa Bay building codes well and usually don't oversell you on stuff you don't need. We had 3 quotes: one from a big national company and two from local companies. The local guys were much more reasonable on price and more straight-talk. We haven’t pulled the trigger yet, but we’re leaning toward one of the local outfits for when we do.
I agree with @language381 on going local. We ended up using Karoly Windows & Doors for our window project and they did a great job. They specialize in replacements around here. Our house is in Largo (Pinellas County), and Karoly's team knew all about the permit process and hurricane requirements locally. We chose to do insert replacements (retrofits) with them because our frames were still in good shape.
The install was smooth – 8 windows took about a day and a half. We immediately noticed the house is quieter and the AC doesn’t run as much. Also, the workmanship was good: neat caulking, and they cleaned up everything. No issues a year later. I'd definitely recommend at least giving them a call for a quote if you're in the area. It felt good supporting a local business, and the price was better than the quote we got from a big-name window company.
@cars575 Glad to hear you had a good experience with Karoly. I had ProTech Windoors do my windows last spring in north Tampa, and I was also very satisfied. It's nice that we have a few reputable local options. In my case, I went with full frame replacements because I wanted to enlarge a couple of window openings. ProTech handled the whole thing — they even coordinated the stucco work where we made one window into a sliding glass door.
Energy efficiency-wise, the new windows (I got energy-efficient, impact-rated ones) have definitely improved the comfort of my home. And they look great. ProTech was knowledgeable about what would work best for my block home. Honestly, whether you go with Karoly, ProTech, or another experienced local contractor, you'll likely be in good hands. The key is they have experience in our region and aren't flying in blind.
This is super helpful info. I'm also considering window upgrades. Quick question for the group: did your energy bills actually go down after getting new windows? I hear mixed things – some say they dropped a lot, others say only a little. Here in Florida, the AC runs so much, I'd love to know if new efficient windows made a big dent in your monthly bill or just marginal.
We actually took a different route for now due to budget constraints. Instead of full replacements, we installed storm windows over our existing windows on our Wesley Chapel house. Basically, they're an extra pane of glass (with a frame) that we added on the outside. It’s kind of an old-school approach, but it was much cheaper and has improved efficiency a bit. I won't claim it's as good as having brand new double-pane windows, but we did notice reduced drafts in winter and slightly less heat coming through in summer.
The storm windows also helped with noise reduction. The look of them isn't too bad either – from the curb you can’t really tell, it just looks like we have slightly deeper window frames. This is our temporary solution; eventually we plan to do full replacements when we can afford it, but for anyone on a tight budget, it's something to consider. It's basically a way to "retrofit" without replacing the original window at all.
I have an older home in South Tampa with those classic mid-century jalousie windows (the louvered glass slats) on our porch and some awning style windows elsewhere. Has anyone tried retrofitting those, or is full replacement pretty much the only option? I’m worried a retrofit insert wouldn’t work given how jalousie mechanisms are, but I thought I’d ask if anyone managed to upgrade such windows without completely ripping them out. Also, if we do replace them, should we stick with awning style or go single-hung or slider? (Trying to keep a bit of the vintage look, but also want better efficiency.)
@dennis_rogue I used to have those jalousie windows in a 1960s era house (in Seminole). Unfortunately, there's really no way to "insert" new glass into jalousie frames – you pretty much have to do a full replacement. In our case, we converted the jalousie windows to single-hung windows with colonial grids to somewhat match the mid-century look. If you want to keep an awning style (the ones that crank out as one pane), you can get modern awning windows that are impact-rated and efficient, but they will require new frames too.
So yeah, for jalousies expect full frame replacement. The good news is ANY modern window will be a gigantic upgrade in efficiency and security. Those old jalousies might as well be open from an insulation standpoint, haha. We did full replacements and it was costly, but absolutely worth it (the porch became usable year-round after that). As for style, it's up to you: awning windows can maintain a bit of that retro feel but with modern tech, or you can go with something like a casement or single-hung that fits the home's aesthetic. Many manufacturers offer custom sizing to fit those odd openings as well.
I'll second @ryanwhiskers230. We had a sunroom with floor-to-ceiling jalousie windows. Ended up replacing them all with sliding windows. It changed the look, but in a good way (more modern). Efficiency wise, it was huge. The room could never be cooled before; after new windows, it’s part of the house now and doesn't feel like a sauna. In our main house we had old awning windows too and replaced them with single-hung double-pane windows. Much better ventilation control and they seal tight.
One tip: if you do full replacements on older homes, consider hiring a contractor familiar with historic homes, especially if you care about keeping the look. Some neighborhoods have historic preservation guidelines too. In my case we didn't, but I was concerned about looks. It helped that we had a variety of styles to choose from for the new windows (we got ones that have the grill patterns that matched the era).
@puzzle5701092 Great question about the energy bills. In my experience, the savings are noticeable but not game-changing in terms of dollars. We replaced all windows in our 1988 house in Carrollwood. Before, our summer electric bills were like $250/month; after new windows (and nothing else changed), our bills went down to maybe $220/month. So about a $30 monthly savings in summer, perhaps 10-15% improvement in energy usage. In winter, we save a bit on heating too, but our heating costs were low to begin with.
So pure ROI on energy savings alone might be a very long payback (like decades to recoup the cost of the windows). However, there are other factors that made it worthwhile for us: the house is more comfortable overall (less hot spots near windows, less drafts), and we feel the value of the home improved. Also, like @environment_jon and others mentioned, if you got impact windows, there’s the added storm protection and possibly insurance discounts. Those intangible benefits plus a small energy savings made it a yes for us, even if financially it's not a slam dunk in the short term.
Good point @phill68. In Florida, comfort and protection are as important as the energy bill savings in my opinion. I'm in Odessa (Pasco), and we upgraded to impact windows mainly for security and hurricane peace of mind. The energy efficiency was like a bonus. We did notice the HVAC doesn't struggle as much in the afternoons now, so I'm sure we're saving some money, but I haven't calculated exactly how much.
I will say, getting rid of the aluminum single panes eliminated a lot of the heat that used to radiate from the windows. Before, if you touched the inside of the window glass or frame on a hot day, it was warm. Now with insulated glass and vinyl frames, the inside surfaces stay much closer to room temp. That speaks to less heat coming through, which must help the AC. And when a storm comes, we don't have to mess with putting up plywood or shutters anymore. That convenience and safety is huge for us.