Impact vs. Non-Impact Windows in Tampa Bay? Share Your Replacement Experience!

Hi @robertblogger, welcome to the forum! I'm also in Tampa Bay (Hillsborough County) and went through a similar project last year. My home is from 2005 and I replaced all the windows in 2024. We had 12 windows (mix of sizes) and opted for impact-resistant double-pane windows.
Our total was about $18,500 for those 12 windows, which averages around $1,540 per window. They’re mid-range vinyl impact windows. It was definitely more expensive than non-impact, but we wanted the hurricane protection and peace of mind. Non-impact would have been maybe 20-30% cheaper.

Your quote of $24k for 15 impact windows doesn’t sound far off, actually. Could be on the higher side depending on window sizes, but not crazy high for impact glass. For non-impact, $18k for 15 windows is roughly $1,200 per window, which also seems a bit high unless some are large or there were extras included.

Which companies have you gotten quotes from so far? I’d suggest getting at least 3 quotes. We got ours from a couple local companies and one from a national brand. Happy to share details if needed.

I’m over in St. Petersburg (Pinellas County) and just finished a full window replacement on my 2004-built house. I’ll break down the quotes I got, since it might help for comparison:
Small independent contractor: Around $15,000 for all 15 windows. This was the cheapest quote. However, it was basically a one-man operation (a handyman with a helper). The price was tempting, but I was a bit worried about warranty and quality with such a small outfit.

Mid-sized local company: About $22,000 for 15 impact windows. This included everything (permits, installation, removing old windows, etc.). This company has a good reputation locally.

Renewal by Andersen: 😱 $45,000 (yes, seriously) for a full install with their Fibrex windows (non-impact). They spent 3 hours on a sales presentation and the initial quote was outrageous. They did offer to drop it to like $38k then $32k if I signed immediately, but still... way out of budget.

In the end, we chose the mid-range local company, which for us was Karoly Windows & Doors based here in Clearwater. They weren’t the cheapest, but they had great reviews and a solid history in the area. The final price with Karoly ended up around $21k (we had 14 windows + a small bathroom window we added last minute). All are impact glass, vinyl frames. The install went smoothly and their crew was very professional. No regrets – we feel much safer this hurricane season and the house looks fantastic with the new windows.

So, to answer your question: your quotes seem within the typical range. I’d say for 15 windows in Tampa Bay:

Non-impact: maybe
12k–
12k–
18k total range (depending on size/quality).

Impact: maybe
18k–
18k–
25k total range. High-end brands like Andersen will be way more.

Keep gathering quotes and checking references. And consider those local companies with good reputations (like you’ll hear Karoly mentioned, as well as others). They often give the best balance of quality and price.

I’m following this thread closely. 👀 I’m in Clearwater with a 2008-built home. We still have original windows too, and I’ve been on the fence about replacing them. Only 15 years old, but a couple have that foggy look inside the glass (seal failure). Plus, our house came with hurricane shutters for each window, but putting those up is such a pain every time a storm threatens.
So, I’m debating: do I spend the money on impact windows so I don’t need shutters, or keep the shutters and maybe just get non-impact replacements or even leave the windows as is until they really fail? Hearing real numbers from you all is super helpful. Thanks for sharing your experiences!

Hi everyone, chiming in with my experience. I'm in Tampa (Westchase area), house built in 2007. We replaced all 16 windows in our home last year, so this is fresh in my mind. We got multiple quotes in the process. Here’s a summary of what we received:
Local independent guy: ~$16,000 for non-impact windows (he said he could also do impact for around $20k). This guy had almost no overhead (small company) and the price was low. But we were concerned about things like warranty and whether he'd be around in 5-10 years if issues arose. He also required a big deposit which made us nervous.

“Window World” quote: Came in about $18,000 for their basic double-pane, non-impact vinyl windows. Window World is a national chain known for lower prices. This was for non-impact glass (we would have continued using our shutters for hurricanes). We considered this, but reviews were mixed—some people okay with them, others had issues with quality/installation.

ProTech Windoors: Quote was $26,500 for all 18 openings (we actually have 16 windows + 2 sliding glass doors). All of these would be custom-made, impact-rated windows (and sliding doors) with vinyl frames. This included everything: permit, installation, materials, even disposing of the old windows. ProTech wasn’t the cheapest, but they specialize in windows and doors in our area and seemed very knowledgeable.

We ultimately went with ProTech Windoors for the project. Final cost was about what they quoted (just under $27k) for the 16 windows and 2 sliders. It wasn’t the lowest price, but their professionalism and quality of work were top-notch. The install crew did a great job, and we passed inspection with no issues.

So far, we’re extremely happy. The new windows and doors are impact glass, so no more worrying about putting up shutters. The bonus is we immediately noticed the house is quieter and the A/C doesn’t run as much.

For context on pricing: impact sliding glass doors can be
4k−
4k−
5k each, so if you only have windows (no sliders), your cost would be proportionally less. In our case, if it was windows alone, it might have been closer to
20−
20−
22k with ProTech.

@robertblogger, it’s great that you’re doing your homework. My advice: don't automatically go with the cheapest quote; consider the company’s reputation. We felt spending more on a reliable company like ProTech was worth it for the long-term value and peace of mind. Good luck with the decision-making!

Holy smokes @ejackson55, that $45k quote is insane (though not surprising for Renewal by Andersen, unfortunately). I had a similar experience with them — their quote was literally double what others offered. I guess some people do pay that for the Andersen name or if they just don’t shop around.
Anyway, hi all, I’m in Seminole (Pinellas). I replaced 8 windows in my house (built 2003) two years ago. I actually did not go with impact windows because I already have hurricane shutters. I got high-quality double-pane vinyl windows (non-impact) for about $8,000 total (roughly $1k per window). They’re very energy efficient (Low-E glass, argon filled, etc.), just not impact-rated.

Instead of spending an extra 30-40% for impact glass, I chose to keep using my aluminum hurricane panels that I already had for storms. This route isn’t for everyone, but it saved me money. And since I don’t mind putting up shutters when a hurricane comes, it works for me. If I ever get tired of that or as I get older it’s harder to do, I might upgrade to impact.

I just wanted to share that perspective: impact vs non-impact with shutters is a personal decision. Impact is super convenient (and good for security too, since they’re harder to break), but if budget is tight, using shutters with new non-impact windows is a viable option to save money.

Hi all! I'm in Pasco County, just north of Tampa. We did our windows a few years ago (2020). Our house had a mix of old windows and the original builder sliding doors that were not impact. We opted to replace everything with impact glass because hurricanes do occasionally come our way (Irma gave us a scare, and last year's Idalia too).
Our project: 10 windows + 2 large sliding glass doors. We went with PGT Winguard impact products (PGT is a popular Florida manufacturer for hurricane windows). The total was about
30,000includingthetwosliders.Theslidersthemselveswerepricey( 
30,000includingthetwosliders.Theslidersthemselveswerepricey( 
4-5k each as @data750 mentioned). So if I break it down, roughly $20k was for the 10 windows, and $10k for the 2 doors.

We used a local company (family-owned contractor) for installation. They did a good job overall. One of the reasons we chose them was they had been in business 20+ years and plenty of good references.

Even though it was expensive, I feel it was worth it. The house is definitely quieter and cooler, and we feel a lot safer not having to struggle with accordion shutters (we had those before, which are easier than panels but still needed to be closed and locked for each window).

For anyone in Tampa Bay with a home of similar age, I’d recommend at least getting a quote for impact windows to consider it. The initial cost is higher, but you get some insurance premium discounts (ours isn’t huge, maybe a few hundred per year, but every bit helps). Plus, the convenience during hurricane season is amazing.

We ended up going the impact window route as well, but I was curious if anyone here chose the other route (non-impact windows + shutters) and how that worked out. I debated that because impact glass does add a lot to the cost. Ultimately we bit the bullet and did impact for our house, mainly for convenience. But I’d love to hear if people who went with shutters and regular windows are happy or if they wish they'd just done impact.
Also, speaking of installation experiences: our house is concrete block with stucco (common in Florida), and the installers had to do some grinding/cutting of the old window frames to get them out. It was a bit noisy and messy (dust everywhere outside 😅), but they cleaned up and even patched the stucco around the new windows nicely. Inside, there was minimal mess—just some drywall dust that was easy to vacuum. I was worried about my interior paint and walls, but only a few minor touch-ups were needed afterwards.

So for anyone concerned about the installation process: yes, it can be loud and a little dusty, but a good crew will protect your stuff and clean up. Just maybe take down your curtains and move furniture away from windows beforehand, and cover things if you can. My plants outside got a little dusty from the stucco cutting, but a quick hose off and they were fine. 🙂

@politics906, I’m one of those who went the non-impact windows + shutters route. 🙋‍♂️ My situation: House in Largo, built 2001. Original windows were single-pane and terrible. Two years ago I replaced all the windows with new double-pane non-impact vinyl windows, and I also installed accordion hurricane shutters on every window for storm protection.
Here’s why I did that: Money. 💰 Going impact for all windows would have cost me about $20k (I had quotes in that range). Instead, I paid $10k for the windows and about $5k for the accordion shutters. So roughly $15k total. Saved around $5k compared to the impact glass quotes.

How it worked out:

The new windows (even though non-impact) made a huge difference in energy efficiency and noise reduction. So I got those benefits.

For hurricanes, I keep the shutters open and just close/lock them when a storm is coming. It takes maybe 30 minutes to do the whole house, which I can live with.

Insurance: I still got the wind mitigation credits on my home insurance because all openings are protected by either impact glass or shutters. The inspector who did my wind mitigation report verified that every window had either impact rating or a shutter, so I qualified for the same discount as if I had all impact.

I will say, sometimes I do envy the folks with impact windows because if a sudden storm pops up, they don’t have to do anything. But for me the cost difference was worth it at the time. Maybe down the road I’ll switch to impact glass when these windows age out. The shutters are a bit old-school, but hey, they work.

So to anyone considering that path: it’s a bit more hassle during storms, but it can be a good compromise to save money. Just make sure you actually use the shutters diligently for it to count (no point having them if you don’t close them when needed).

Good to hear a real example, @kperez44. I considered doing the same for my place. Ultimately I chose impact windows, but I was this close to going the shutter route to save money.
I think it comes down to whether you mind the prep before a storm. Impact = no prep (just pray the windows hold 😅), Shutters + non-impact = some prep each time. For younger or physically able homeowners, shutters are fine, but I’ve seen older neighbors struggle with theirs as time goes on.

Anyway, thanks for sharing that. It’s definitely a viable path.

@robertblogger, sounds like you have options either way, just depends on budget and how you weigh convenience vs cost.