@vr_jeff I thought about the DIY route too, but ultimately decided against it. In Florida, you as a homeowner can pull an owner-builder permit for your own house (if it's your primary residence). So legally you could do it. But you still have to meet Florida Building Code, which means proper impact or shutter, egress rules, and passing inspections for attachment and water proofing.
The tricky parts for DIY are:
Sizing/Measuring: You have to measure each opening accurately and order windows to fit. If you get it wrong, you're stuck (or have to shim a ton or trim oddly).
Installation: Removing the old windows can be easy or hard depending on how they're anchored. Installing the new ones means securely fastening into the structure and sealing all around. For block homes, they usually use concrete screws or anchors into the masonry. For wood, screws into the framing.
Waterproofing: This is critical. It involves caulking, maybe flashing tape, foam, etc. A pro knows how to do this to prevent leaks.
Weight/Handling: Windows are heavy and awkward. Even a medium size one might be 50-100 lbs of glass and frame. Doing that alone or with one helper can be risky.
Warranty: Many manufacturers void or limit warranty if not installed by a certified pro.
I ended up hiring pros after weighing all that. I'm pretty handy too (I've done flooring, cabinets, etc.), but windows felt high-stakes. If they leak, you could get hidden water damage. I figured the potential savings wasn't worth the potential trouble.
If you do try it, maybe start with one window in a less critical area as a test. But my honest recommendation: get a pro, or at least a qualified friend, to help if not do it entirely.
We took a somewhat different strategy: we did our window replacement in stages due to budget. In 2022, we replaced the 5 most crucial windows (the ones facing the street and where we spend the most time). We went with impact windows for those 5. It cost about $5,000 (average $1k each, since smaller job and impact glass). The rest of the windows we left as the original for the time being but we kept our shutters for those.
This year (2025) we're planning to do the remaining 7 windows now that we've saved up more. By doing it in two phases, we managed to spread out the cost. The downside is we paid a bit more per window by not doing all 12 at once – smaller job pricing is higher per unit – and we had to go through permitting twice. Also, the first contractor we used in 2022 is actually no longer around (they went out of business or changed name), so we had to find a new company for phase 2.
Phase 1 was great though: the impact windows we did install made an immediate difference in the rooms we use most. Quieter and no worry during storms for those rooms. We're excited to finish the job and have all windows upgraded. If you can't afford all at once, doing a split like we did is a viable route, just keep in mind the extra overhead (second permit, potentially a mismatch if the same windows aren't available later - we made sure to choose a common style/brand that others can match).
@design_jerry We also did a two-stage replacement. First floor windows in 2019, second floor in 2021. It was mainly a budget thing as well; we couldn't swing the entire cost in one go. A couple of notes from our experience:
We did have to pay permit fees twice (once for each phase) and go through two inspections. Not a huge deal, but paperwork each time.
The company we used for the first floor work did a great job, but by the time we were ready for the second floor, they had a huge backlog and we didn't want to wait 6+ months. So we hired a different installer for phase 2. The second installer used a different window brand (we couldn't get the exact same brand as phase 1 because of availability), but they look very similar. Unless you inspect closely, our windows match.
We ended up slightly over-paying versus if we had done all at once, maybe by 10%. Partly due to price increases over those two years and the lost economies of scale.
In hindsight, if we had the money, doing all at once would have been smoother and possibly cheaper overall. But sometimes staggering it is the only feasible way. Just try to use compatible products if you split (for example, both phases we did white vinyl windows with similar grid patterns, so it wouldn't look mismatched).
When I was getting quotes, I was really curious about how much was materials vs. labor. For instance, one company quoted me $800 per window (for non-impact vinyl). I looked up the cost of similar windows (the actual window units) and it was roughly $300 each retail. So I realized more than half the cost was labor, expertise, and overhead (plus things like permit, disposal, profit margin, etc).
I briefly considered trying to buy windows myself and then hire an installer separately to save money. But coordinating that can be risky – if something doesn't fit or goes wrong, you end up in a finger-pointing situation between the supplier and installer.
In the end, I went with a full-service company for peace of mind. But I did negotiate by showing I knew the ballpark of material costs. They actually knocked a little off the price when they realized I had done homework (not a ton, but some).
So yes, labor and service are a big part of the cost. It feels like a big markup, but you're paying for skilled work and hopefully a warranty that covers future issues. My install (Pasco, 10 windows) was done in 2 days by a crew of 3 guys. At $800 a window, that was $8k, maybe $3k of which was the windows themselves. The rest paid those guys, the permit, the company overhead, etc. Considering the job they did, I'm okay with it – just interesting to break it down.
@robotics445 I actually went the route you considered. I bought the windows myself directly from a supplier and then hired a handyman (who used to work for a window company) to install them. I had 6 windows to replace and got the windows for about $2,000 total (they were non-impact, from Ply Gem). The installer charged me $1,500 for the labor. So $3,500 total, which was indeed lower than the $5,000+ I was quoted by full-service companies.
However, it was definitely more stress on me: I had to measure everything, place the order, pick up the windows when they arrived, pull the permit myself from the county, and coordinate the install schedule. One window I measured wrong by half an inch, and as you feared, that became my problem to sort out. I had to reorder that one (thankfully it was a small bathroom window, and the supplier rushed it for me in 3 weeks). Also, I had to handle the county inspector myself. He was actually nice and gave me a minor correction to add a few more screws in one window, which my handyman came back to do before passing.
All said and done, I did save some money (maybe $1,000-$1,500), but if I had to do 15 windows this way I would lose my mind. For a small number it was an interesting experiment. If you're not very detail-oriented and comfortable dealing with permits and potential hiccups, I'd recommend letting a professional company handle everything. I definitely understand now why they charge what they do. In the future, I'll probably just hire pros like Karoly or ProTech to avoid the headaches.
One aspect that I didn't fully anticipate was the dust and minor interior work involved. When they took out my old aluminum windows (I have a concrete block house from 1999 in Riverview), they had to chip away some stucco and plaster. It made quite a mess - fine concrete dust was everywhere. The crew did put down plastic and tarps, and they vacuumed, but still I was finding dust on my furniture and in the next room afterward.
Also, a couple of interior window sills got scuffed up during removal. I had to repaint some areas around the new windows because the frame size or position changed slightly, leaving unpainted lines. It wasn't major, but just something to be ready for: after the window install, you might need to do a little paint touch-up or even hire a handyman to do finishing if it's not included.
In my case, the contract explicitly said they would not paint, and only do "minimal drywall repair." They did fill some gaps with foam and caulk, but I did the final smoothing and painting myself. Not a big deal for me since I do handy work, but if someone isn't into that, consider negotiating or paying extra for a more turnkey service. Some companies will include full finishing (even painting to match) at a higher price.
The end result is totally worth it - just don't wear your nice clothes on install day and be prepared for cleanup. Our 12 new windows look awesome and no more draft, but it came with a day of dusty chaos.
Quick question: did all of you have to pull a permit and get an inspection for window replacement? I know legally it's required in Florida, but I've heard of some folks doing it without a permit to save money or avoid the wait. A couple contractors I talked to kind of implied we could "skip" the permit to save time (which felt like a red flag to me).
I'm in Pasco County and the permit fee is around $200. I'm inclined to do it by the book, but curious if inspectors are strict. Did they actually come out and inspect each window?
@tea316 Yes, definitely get the permit and inspection. Every legit company will handle that for you (often baked into the cost). If a contractor suggests skipping the permit, run the other way! It's not worth it. Aside from being code required, not having a permit could bite you later if you sell the house or if something goes wrong.
In Hillsborough, the inspector came and checked each opening. They looked at the window stickers to ensure they were impact-rated (or that I had shutters for non-impact as required). They also checked that the windows were properly anchored (the installers left a couple screws visible for inspection which they later covered). It was a pretty quick inspection, maybe 15 minutes for the whole house, but important.
If you skip permits and get caught, you could face fines and then have to get retroactive permits anyway. And insurance could deny claims if work wasn't permitted. So it's just not worth the risk. The cost of the permit and a bit of waiting is minor compared to the total project.
As @nlopez32 said, reputable companies like Karoly, ProTech, etc., will include pulling permits and scheduling inspections as part of their service. Mine did in Pinellas and it went smoothly. Inspector came the next day after install, signed off, and we were done.
We have a 2003 home in Odessa (Pasco County). We decided to go with aluminum frame impact windows instead of vinyl, because we have some very large window openings and a huge patio slider. The thought was aluminum might be sturdier for the spans (our slider is 12 feet wide with 3 panels). The brand we used was WinDoor for the slider and PGT for some windows, all aluminum.
The total cost was around $18,000 for 9 windows and 1 big triple-panel slider. The slider itself was about $5k of that (large sliders are pricey). The windows averaged maybe $1,200 each since they are impact and some are big. One thing we noticed: the aluminum frames are slimmer than vinyl, which gave us a bit more glass area. They look sleek and actually match the modern look of our house.
Performance-wise, they're great. Very strong, and the slider is amazingly smooth. We did notice that the frames get a little hotter to the touch in direct sun compared to vinyl (aluminum conducts heat more), but with the Low-E glass, we haven't had any heat issues inside. Condensation hasn't been a problem either – these are thermally broken aluminum frames, so they have a break to reduce heat/cold transfer.
Insurance discount: We got a decent discount because now everything is impact rated. Permitting in Pasco was straightforward; inspector was mostly concerned with the slider installation since it's a big opening. Passed with no issues.
We’re happy with aluminum choice, but most of our neighbors went vinyl and they're happy too. So either can work - just sharing in case someone has a similar scenario with oversized windows or doors.
This thread is amazing. Thank you all for sharing such detailed info! I'm in the early stages of planning for my 2004 home in Largo, and reading these experiences gives me a much clearer picture of what to expect. From costs to permits to little tips like keeping stickers on for inspection – pure gold.
I'm taking notes and will be much better prepared when I start getting my own quotes. Appreciate the community knowledge here.