What kind of costs are people seeing per window? I know it can vary, but I’m trying to ballpark. I got one quote so far and it averaged out to about $950 per window for double-pane, impact-rated vinyl windows (installed). Non-impact was quoted around $750 each. Does that line up with what others paid in the Tampa Bay area?
@charles_sage, our cost came out to about $900 per window for impact double-pane windows with Karoly, installation included. We had 10 windows of various sizes. The smaller ones were less, the big ones (like a large picture window in our living room) were more, but roughly $900 each on average. Non-impact glass would have been a bit cheaper, maybe $700-ish each, but we figured in Florida the impact upgrade was worth the peace of mind. The quotes we got from others were in a similar range. Just be cautious if you get a quote that is significantly lower – make sure they’re using quality materials and are licensed/insured, etc.
@charles_sage, in my case it was about $1000 per opening for impact windows through ProTech Windoors. Some windows were a little less, but I had a couple of big sliders that were a few thousand each, so when averaged out it was around that $1k mark. Your quotes sound about right for our area. Prices have maybe gone up a bit recently too. I agree with @culture426 – be wary of any quote that is dramatically lower. And also compare the warranties. Sometimes the cheaper options come with shorter or sketchier warranties.
For those who went with vinyl frames (seems most of us did), how are they holding up in the Florida heat? Any warping or discoloration over time? I’ve heard stories about vinyl warping in hot climates. Our old windows are aluminum frame which are awful for insulation, but at least they’re sturdy. Just want to make sure vinyl is durable here.
@snorkeler41, great question. My new windows have vinyl frames (installed two years ago) and so far they're holding up perfectly. No warping, no discoloration – they still look brand new. Good quality vinyl windows are made to handle the heat. I was a bit worried too, but the installer (Karoly) assured me the products they use are tested for Florida weather. Also, vinyl doesn't conduct heat the way aluminum does, so we don't get that heat transfer. My old aluminum frames used to be hot to the touch in the summer sun and even had some corrosion from moisture over the years. The vinyl has solved those issues. Just keep them clean and they'll last a long time.
Does the low-E coating or tint on these energy-efficient windows make your house noticeably darker? I love having a lot of light in my home and I'm a bit concerned that the windows with low-E will have a mirror effect or a tint that reduces the light.
@dennis_rogue, from my experience, the low-E coating is pretty subtle. You might notice a slight tint if you look for it, but it's not like having dark sunglasses on your house or anything. We have plenty of natural light coming in, it just isn't as harsh or glaring as before. One thing I did notice is that the low-E coating cuts a lot of the UV rays, so colors of furniture and flooring won't fade as quickly. But in terms of brightness, I still get a bright, sunlit home – it's just a more comfortable light. If you have a specific preference, some window manufacturers offer different levels of tint, but the standard one used for ENERGY STAR windows in Florida is usually a happy medium that balances efficiency and clarity.
I'll throw in a perspective from an older house. I have a 1950s block home in Tampa that had those old jalousie windows (the crank-out glass slats). Talk about inefficient! We finally replaced them with modern windows. The difference was night and day. Before, it was impossible to keep the house cool – the cold air would go right out those leaky jalousies. After the upgrade, the house holds temperature so much better. Our HVAC run time dropped dramatically. If anyone here has really old style windows like I did, the ROI might actually be quicker because you're fixing a major leak in your home's envelope. Plus, no more rain blowing in through the gaps during storms! So in cases like mine, it was 100% worth it.
I'll echo what others have said about getting quotes. I got three quotes for my window project in Pinellas. Two local companies (one of them was Karoly Windows, which a neighbor recommended, and they gave me a very fair quote) and one quote from a larger statewide company. The pricing varied quite a bit for similar specs. I ended up choosing a local company that wasn't the cheapest or the most expensive, but had the best reputation. So definitely shop around. Also, ask about any promotions or rebates. One of my quotes mentioned a seasonal discount, and as others have pointed out, utilities have rebates and there's also a federal tax credit for energy-efficient windows (I got to claim a tax credit for ours since they were ENERGY STAR rated).
Good point on the tax credit @vr_jeff. I believe currently you can get up to $600 federal tax credit for new energy-efficient windows (at least as of 2023 when I did mine). Also, something to keep in mind is timing: a lot of window companies are super busy these days and windows have to be custom made. I signed my contract in April and the windows weren't installed until late July because of manufacturing lead times. So if you decide to do this, plan ahead. It’s not usually a quick one-week turnaround; in my case it was about a 3-month wait from order to install.