Reading these stories has been great. I want to share how different window frame materials and brands can affect quotes, because I went through a bunch of options. For my 10-window project in South Tampa, I got quotes from three different companies that each offered different window types:
Company A quoted around $10,000 for 10 vinyl-frame impact windows (double-pane, Low-E). This was a local window company using a Florida-made vinyl window (CWS was the brand, I think).
Company B quoted about $12,000 for aluminum-frame impact windows. They pitched aluminum as stronger for large spans and said some people prefer it for longevity. The brand was PGT (they offer both vinyl and aluminum lines).
Company C (a big national brand that shall remain nameless, but think along the lines of Renewal by Andersen) quoted an eye-watering $18,000+ for a composite material window (Fibrex/wood composite frames) with impact glass. They had a very slick presentation and initially came in even higher (over
25k),thenoffered“discounts”togettothat
25k),thenoffered“discounts”togettothat
18k if I signed quickly.
It was interesting to see how the material and brand drove cost. The vinyl vs aluminum debate: Vinyl was cheaper and plenty strong for our needs (none of our windows are enormous spans). Aluminum can be great, especially for really big windows or if you just prefer a thinner frame profile, but it was a bit more money and can conduct more heat (unless it has a thermal break). We decided vinyl was sufficient and liked the better energy efficiency numbers on vinyl.
The composite/wood option from Company C was honestly appealing in terms of look and probably quality, but the cost was nearly double the vinyl option. In our case, we didn’t have an HOA or aesthetic requirement pushing us to that, so it was hard to justify. If money were no issue, sure, those windows looked fantastic (and had wood interior finishes, etc.), but we had a budget to think about. We also realized a lot of that cost was wrapped up in their sales overhead and brand name, not just the product.
In the end, we went with vinyl impact windows from Company A for about $11k (we did negotiate a little). We have no regrets – the windows look great, perform well, and the extra bells and whistles of the super premium option weren’t worth an extra $7-8k to us. For anyone in decision mode: definitely compare materials. If you get a quote from a Renewal by Andersen or similar and then one from a local vinyl window installer, know that the huge gap in price is partly brand and material differences. Figure out what matters to you. In Florida, vinyl and aluminum are most common. Fiberglass or composite windows do exist (often marketed by national brands), but you’ll pay a premium for those. We decided our money was better spent elsewhere and the mid-range product was perfectly fine.
I might be one of the outliers here, but I actually did choose a high-end national brand for my windows, mostly for aesthetic reasons. We have a 1940s home in Tarpon Springs that isn’t officially historic, but we love its vintage character. I really wanted to preserve the look of wood windows on the interior. We ended up going with 15 custom wood-clad windows from a well-known company (yes, it’s Renewal by Andersen – their Fibrex composite with wood veneer interior). These were non-impact double-pane windows (our neighborhood is inland enough that we opted to rely on our existing hurricane shutters for storms). The total cost was about $30,000 for those 15 windows.
I won’t lie, that price was tough to swallow. We basically paid a premium mostly for the look and brand. The Renewal windows have a beautiful wood interior that we stained to match our trim, and the exterior is a composite that never needs painting. The install was done by their team and was very professional – no complaints on quality or service at all. And the windows do look fantastic; they retained the cottage-style grille patterns and really suit the house. Performance-wise, they’re good (double-pane low-E, etc.), but no better than a quality vinyl window in terms of energy efficiency. It was really about the material and appearance for us.
Do I regret it? In some ways, no because every time I look at them I appreciate the craftsmanship. But when I see others here getting whole houses of impact windows for half my price, I recognize we chose to overspend in the name of style. If I had been purely practical, I could have gotten vinyl impact windows for probably $15k and had money left to maybe upgrade something else. Instead, I spent $30k and still don’t have impact glass (just couldn’t afford their astronomical price for impact models on top of wood). So we kept our aluminum hurricane shutters and will use them when needed.
I guess my point is: there is a segment of the market that’s ultra high-end (wood, fiberglass, composite frames with luxury branding). They often cater to people with historic homes or specific aesthetic demands. If that’s you, just be aware you’re going to pay top dollar. If that’s not you, honestly, you can skip those quotes and focus on the mainstream options to save time. We knew what we were getting into, so no complaints – but I wouldn’t recommend that route to anyone on a tight budget. We prioritized form over function to an extent. For most folks, a good vinyl impact window will tick all the important boxes at a much lower cost. In our case, we’re fortunate we could afford the splurge, and we do love the result (even if our wallet didn’t).
I’m new to Florida, so I want to share the sticker shock I experienced and how I came to terms with it. We moved from the Midwest to Trinity in Pasco County last year. In our old home up north, I had replaced 10 windows for about $6,000 total (that was non-impact, of course – just regular double-pane). So I budgeted something like10k−
10k−
12k for windows here, thinking “Florida might be a bit more.” Ha! The first quote I got here, for 10 windows all impact-rated, came back at
19,500.Igenuinelythoughtthecontractorwastryingtoripmeoff.ThenIgotasecondquote:
19,500.Igenuinelythoughtthecontractorwastryingtoripmeoff.ThenIgotasecondquote:
18k. And a third: ~$16k (for a slightly lower-spec product). It finally clicked that windows just cost more here due to the hurricane requirements and other factors.
A local contractor explained it to me: all the impact windows have to meet stringent code (Miami-Dade or Florida Building Code for high wind zones), which means the glass is laminated (sometimes even thicker if your home is in a particularly high wind area), and the frames are beefed up. Also, our home has a concrete block exterior with stucco – cutting out old metal frames set in block is labor-intensive, and then you often have to patch stucco. Up north, my old house had wood siding and it was a simpler rip-and-replace job. So labor was more here too. And of course, inflation and supply chain issues in recent years haven’t helped either.
Once I understood the why, I accepted the reality that $15-20k for 10 impact windows in Florida is normal, not a rip-off. We ended up going with a mid-range quote – about $15k for 10 windows, all vinyl impact, from a local company. They were neither the cheapest nor the most expensive, and had good references. The project went well, and now our home is much more secure and comfortable. I definitely had to adjust my Midwesterner expectations. If anyone is reading from the perspective of “I got my windows up north for cheap, why is it double or triple here?” – know that Florida window replacements are a different beast. You’re essentially buying windows that can withstand a hurricane impact, which just cost a lot more to build and install. In the end I’m glad we did it – our A/C bills went down and I feel safer in storm season. But yeah, it took a bit of mental recalibration to accept that price range.
On the plus side, not having to mess with plywood or clunky storm shutters is great. And our insurance agent did mention we’ll get a discount for having all impact windows (waiting to see how much). So, while it was roughly 2.5x the cost of my previous window project in another state, I see where the money went. If you’re new to the area like me, hopefully this helps set expectations.
One aspect to consider is the hardware and durability in our salty, humid climate. When I replaced my windows (I’m in a coastal part of Pinellas), I made sure to ask about things like what kind of locks, hinges, and screws the windows use. Salt air can rust out cheap hardware quickly. I ended up choosing a window brand that uses stainless steel components for the moving parts. It might have added a small cost (one company had an “upgrade” for stainless hardware, like $20 extra per window), but I think it’s worth it near the coast.
Our old aluminum windows from the 90s had corroded locks and the tracks were in rough shape from years of salt and sand. The new vinyl windows we got are obviously non-corroding in themselves, and so far after a year, no signs of rust on any metal bits. I also make a point to rinse them with fresh water after any big wind-driven rain (especially if there’s been salt spray). Might be overkill, but I want these to last 20+ years.
Also, pro tip: ask your installer how to properly maintain the windows. Mine gave some good advice – like once a year, put silicone lube on the tracks and moving parts, and how to safely remove the sashes if needed. They even offered a maintenance service (for a fee) but I just do it myself. Florida climate can be harsh, but with a little TLC the windows should last a long time. The upfront cost is significant, so I’m all about protecting that investment. If you live near the gulf or bay, definitely ensure the product you choose is up to the task (and most quality ones designed for Florida will be). The last thing you want is a hinge or lock failing because it rusted out – both for security and hurricane resilience reasons. Spend a little more now to avoid headaches later.
Has anyone else dealt with long lead times? I signed a contract in the spring for 16 impact windows for my house in Pasco, and I was told to expect about a 3-month wait for the windows to be manufactured and delivered. That estimate was pretty on target – it took about 11 weeks for the windows to come in. They told me upfront this was due to high demand and supply chain delays for glass. (Apparently a lot of people have been doing window replacements and the factories are backed up.) The installation itself was then scheduled promptly, but we hit another minor delay there: the county permitting took longer than expected. Pasco County was a bit slow at that time to approve the permit (maybe they were swamped or short-staffed). So my install date slipped by another two weeks waiting on permit approval. In total, it was almost 4 months from contract sign to project completion.
I admit I was getting a little antsy, especially during the wait for the windows to arrive. We were in the height of summer storm season and I was eager to get the impact windows in ASAP. But there wasn’t much to be done except be patient. The contractor kept me updated, which was good. Once everything was ready, the install of all 16 windows took 3 days, and then we had the inspector out the following week who signed off without issue.
The reason I bring this up is: if you’re thinking about doing a full window replacement, plan ahead and don’t expect it to be done in a couple weeks. If you order during a busy time (like spring or summer), it could be 2-3 months or more before your windows even get to the installer. If you have a deadline (maybe a hurricane season concern or a renovation timeline), place that order early. Some people try to schedule in the winter or early in the year when demand is a bit lower, possibly to get things faster or even snag off-season discounts. The wait can be frustrating, but it seems to be pretty normal. In the end I was just happy we got ours in by August. I felt much better having them when a tropical storm brushed by in September – even though it wasn’t a big storm, I didn’t have to worry at all. So the wait was worth it, just nerve-wracking while watching the calendar and the weather.
For those still shopping around, a tip on negotiating: it can sometimes save you a chunk of change. I got four quotes and I really wanted to go with this one local company that had a great reputation, but their price was about $1,500 higher than another quote I had for a comparable product. I politely let the sales rep know, “Look, I really like your company and what you’re offering, but I do have another quote that’s a bit more affordable for me.” To my pleasant surprise, they asked to see the competing quote (it was a written estimate). I showed them, and since it was truly similar (same number of windows, all impact, similar specs), they agreed to match the price within a few hundred dollars. They ended up knocking about $1,200 off their original quote to get closer to the competitor’s number.
Not every company will price-match, but many don’t want to lose a job if they can help it, especially if it’s a slower season or a large project. It helped that I got my quotes around late January, which is somewhat off-season – some companies are hungrier for work then compared to, say, the rush before summer. I think that worked in my favor because the company I liked said candidly, “Yeah, we can come down in price a bit to earn your business.” They might not have done that in peak season.
I’ll echo what others have said: make sure you’re comparing apples to apples when you do this. I had one quote for aluminum windows and another for vinyl – those were different enough that I couldn’t really directly pit them against each other. But in the case where I had two quotes for similar vinyl impact windows, I leveraged the lower one. Just be fair and honest – don’t make up fake quotes, but if you have a legit lower bid and you prefer another company, it’s worth asking if they can do any better on price. Worst case, they say no and you decide based on other factors. Best case, you save some money and still get the installer you want. In my case, it worked out great – I got the reputable company to do the job and paid almost the same as the lowest bid. Win-win. 🤝
I want to share my experience with one of the big corporate window companies that advertise everywhere, as a bit of a buyer beware. I won’t name names, but many of you can guess – they run a lot of TV ads in Tampa Bay and have sales booths at home shows and such. I figured I’d let them give me a quote just to see if all that marketing hype was legit. The salesperson came to my home and gave a very long presentation – I’m talking almost 3 hours in my kitchen, demonstrating the product, showing me videos, etc. To their credit, the product looked high quality and the demo of the impact glass strength was impressive (the guy literally banged on a sample piece of glass with a bat to show it wouldn’t break). However, when it came to price, it was astronomical. He quoted me something like $40,000 for 12 windows and a patio door initially. I nearly fell out of my chair. Of course, then came the “today only” discounts and “manager approval” special price: it dropped to about $25,000 if I signed that day. I still wasn’t biting, so he called his manager and, I kid you not, they offered to do it for around $20,000 as a “last chance” deal, implying they were making little to no profit.
By that point I was pretty put off by the whole high-pressure sales tactic. I did not sign anything (I never sign under pressure—I always want to think about it). After he left, I compared that quote to the others I had from local companies. I ended up getting the same number of windows plus a patio sliding door installed by a local contractor for $14,000 total. And those were also high-quality impact windows (brand was PGT). So even the “discounted” $20k offer from the big company was way higher.
I share this to say: be cautious with the heavy marketing companies. They often start with an extremely high price and rely on a sales pitch to justify it, then “slash” the price if you resist, to make you feel like you’re getting a deal. But even their deal price can be more than a competitive fair market price from a local outfit. I’m not saying their product was bad – it was actually very good – but is it that much better to cost double or more? I personally don’t think so, not after seeing the results I got from the local installer.
So, don’t be afraid to get multiple quotes and don’t succumb to on-the-spot pressure. Any reputable company should let you think about a quote for a few days. If a deal is only good for that day, that’s a red flag in my book. Take your time, do your homework (this thread is a great resource for that!), and you’ll likely save a lot of money and still get excellent windows.
As someone who works in the construction field (I’m actually in a county building department), I want to underline some contractor red flags and best practices, many of which have been touched on by others. Seeing @tylerclark995’s unfortunate story and some points @christopherc12 made, I have to emphasize: permit your window replacement! In Florida, any significant window replacement (especially a full-home job) absolutely requires a building permit and subsequent inspection. If a contractor suggests not pulling a permit or, as one tried with me, asks you to pull the permit as the homeowner, consider that a big 🚩 red flag. That usually means either they are not properly licensed to do the work (and thus can’t pull a permit), or they’re trying to cut corners. Either scenario is bad news. A permit and inspection protect you – the inspector will ensure the windows are installed correctly (anchored per code, proper shims and fasteners, sealed, etc.). If a hurricane ever does come, you want to know those windows were put in right. Plus, when you go to sell, unpermitted work can cause real problems as @tylerclark995 experienced.
Another thing: payment schedules and deposits. Florida law actually limits how much a contractor can ask for up front in many cases. A common and reasonable payment plan for windows (which is what my contractor did and several here mentioned) is something like: 10% deposit on signing the contract, then maybe 40-50% when the windows are delivered to the installer or to your home, and the remaining 40-50% after installation and after passing inspection. In my case, I paid 10% to get in their schedule, then 50% when the windows arrived at their warehouse a couple months later, then 40% after final inspection. If you have a contractor asking for, say, 50% or more purely as a deposit before any work starts or any product is ordered, that’s risky. You don’t want a fly-by-night taking your big deposit and disappearing. Legit companies don’t need huge up-front money (unless it’s a custom project requiring a lot of special order materials – even then, 50% is usually the max for initial order).
Make sure everything is in writing on your contract: the exact windows you’re getting (manufacturer, model, impact or not, glass type, grids or no grids, etc.), approximate start and finish dates, that they will obtain all necessary permits, and the payment schedule. Also clarify warranty terms – both on the product and on the installation labor. A good company will often have an installation warranty (like 1 year or more for any install issues).
Given my job, I’m maybe extra cautious, but I’ve seen horror stories of people dealing with unlicensed contractors who do shoddy work or take money and run. Protect yourself by choosing a licensed, insured contractor (you can verify licenses on the state website) and making sure permits are pulled. The vast majority of window installers in Tampa Bay are honest and do things right, but the bad apples unfortunately exist, especially after storms when people are desperate. Sounds like most here had good experiences with reputable companies (Karoly, ProTech, etc., are all properly licensed and well-regarded). If you stick with those kind of pros, you should be fine. Happy window upgrading!
Quick note for anyone in an HOA community: don’t forget to check your HOA’s rules or get approval if needed before you pull the trigger on windows. I live in a subdivision in Wesley Chapel (Pasco) with a pretty strict HOA. I had to submit my window replacement plans to the architectural committee. They mostly cared about the exterior appearance – for example, we had to stick with white frame windows (no bronze or black frames allowed, because all homes have a uniform look). They also required that if the original windows had grids/grilles, the replacements needed to have grids that match in style (in my case, we had colonial grids on the top sash of each window, so we ordered the new ones to have the same pattern). It took about three weeks to get the HOA approval.
It wasn’t a big issue, but it’s an extra step that could delay your project if you skip it. I’ve heard of cases where someone put in something not allowed (like a different color or style) and the HOA made them replace it again – yikes, talk about unnecessary cost. So, just make sure to run your plans by the HOA if you have one. Most will be fine as long as it looks in line with the community. Some HOAs even specify things like window tint or reflectivity (mine said no highly reflective tinting).
In summary: check your deed restrictions. In my community, the new windows look virtually identical to the originals from the street (just nicer), so the HOA was fine with it. And yes, the contractor also took care of the permit with the county once HOA gave the nod. Now I’m enjoying my new windows without any nasty letters from the HOA. 😉
For a bit of regional context, my cousin in Miami did a similar project and his costs were even higher than here in Tampa Bay. He had 15 impact windows installed in Fort Lauderdale and paid about 20% more than what I was quoted for 15 windows in Clearwater. He was told it’s partly because down in Miami-Dade/Broward they often use the absolute highest-rated (HVHZ) products by law, and there’s a lot of demand. In Tampa Bay we also use Miami-Dade rated impact windows typically (most good products are rated for the High Velocity Hurricane Zone), but the competition in our market might be a bit better or labor slightly cheaper. So Tampa Bay isn’t the cheapest place in the country for windows (not by a long shot), but it’s also not as expensive as South Florida in some cases. My cousin was actually jealous of the quotes I was getting here. 🤷
Anyway, I know this thread is about Tampa Bay costs, which people have covered brilliantly. I just wanted to say if you have friends or family in other regions, our prices will seem high to them unless they’re in another hurricane-prone coastal area. And even within Florida, there are variations. The Tampa Bay region, being large, has lots of competition which helps keep pricing reasonable (relatively speaking). If you’re in a more rural part of the state or a super high-cost metro like Miami, you might see different numbers.