Thanks so much for all the input, everyone! This is super helpful and exactly what I was looking for. 🙏
To answer a few questions and give more info:
Home construction: My house is concrete block with stucco exterior (common Florida style) and drywall interior. No fancy siding or anything. So as some of you guessed, the old window frames are metal (aluminum) set in the block walls.
Current windows: They are double-pane but have no Low-E coating (I can tell because they let in a ton of heat). And definitely not impact rated. We have no existing shutters or protection, so if a hurricane comes I’d have to board up or something.
Quotes I have so far:
Company A: $15,000 for non-impact vinyl windows (their basic line). This quote was from Window World actually. They were indeed the lowest, but it’s for just the windows and install – doesn’t include things like permit fees, and they said any wood rot repair would be extra.
Company B: $19,200 for impact windows, from a smaller local company (let’s call them Sunshine Windows Inc.). These would be PGT brand vinyl impact windows. That price included permit, install, everything. It sounded almost too good to be true for impact, which makes me a bit wary. I need to dig into why they are cheaper.
Awaiting Quote C: I have Karoly Windows & Doors coming next week to do measurements and give me a quote (thanks to the recommendations here!). Also thinking of contacting ProTech Windoors for another quote since a couple of you had good experiences with them.
It seems clear that impact windows are the preferred solution for long-term peace of mind (and insurance). My wife and I discussed it and we’re leaning that way, even though it's more money. We’d rather do this once and not worry every hurricane season.
I do have a question about the install process that a couple of you touched on: How invasive/messy is the installation? For example, do they have to break a lot of the exterior stucco or interior drywall? Do I need to repaint or repair stuff after? I'm a bit nervous about them cutting into my house. 😅 Hearing @politics906 and others describe it helps.
Also, how long did your installations take (for those who did a whole house)? Is this a 1-day thing, 1-week thing...? Just trying to plan ahead for when the time comes.
@robertblogger, great details. Sounds like you’re doing due diligence with multiple quotes.
To answer your install questions based on my experience (block stucco home, similar to yours):
Installation process: The crew worked from the outside for the most part. They used a saw/grinder to cut the old aluminum frames out of the concrete opening. Yes, there was dust and some noise, but it was all outside, and they had masks and goggles on – looked like surgery on my house 😂. Inside, they had drop cloths and were careful. They did need to pry off some interior drywall return around the window in a couple places, but they caulked and patched it. I had to do a bit of touch-up painting around where the new windows sit because the frame dimensions were slightly different. But no huge drywall repairs or anything. On the outside, they did chip some stucco right around the window perimeters when removing the old windows (kind of inevitable). After the new window was secured in place with screws and foam, they filled any gaps with mortar/stucco patch and matched the texture. Once painted, you can’t even tell work was done recently.
Timeline: For 10 windows, my install took 3 days. They did about 4 windows per day, and the last day was a bit shorter with finishing touches and waiting for the county inspector. If you have 15 windows, I’d guess 3-4 days of work. Some companies might bring a bigger crew and try to do it in 2 days. It also depends on weather (rain can slow them down, and you know how Florida summer storms are).
Overall, it wasn’t too invasive. We could stay in the house during the install. It was a little noisy at times and we had to keep the AC off while they had big openings in the house, so it got warm. But we just planned to run errands or hang in rooms away from where they were working. Not too bad!
I’ll add my install experience with ProTech Windoors, since it was a larger project (we had those 2 sliders as well):
They sent a team of 4 installers. It took 4 full days to do 16 windows and 2 sliders. Day 1 they did the downstairs windows, Day 2 did upstairs windows, Day 3 did the sliding doors (that was a big job cutting out the old sliders and fitting new ones), Day 4 was finishing up little details, inspections, and cleanup.
They were really good about minimizing mess. They used plastic sheets and drop cloths all around. Still, like @ejackson55 said, expect some dust. We preemptively took down all our blinds and curtains before they started (saves time and keeps them clean). We also covered our furniture near the windows with plastic tarps. The crew actually commented that it helped them that we did that (less for them to move or worry about).
After everything, they vacuumed and swept. We did have to do some minor paint touch-ups along a few window edges where maybe the caulk or old paint flaked. But nothing major. One tip: have some matching paint on hand (interior wall color and exterior, if you have it) to do quick touch-ups after.
The county inspector came on the last day after installation was done. He checked that the windows were properly installed (looks at the screw spacing, the permit papers, the window stickers that show they’re impact rated, etc.). We passed without any issues.
So, I’d say plan for a few days of workers in the house. But a good company will make it as painless as possible.
Similar story here. Karoly’s crew did our 12 windows in 2 days (they had 3 guys). They might've been able to do 3rd day if needed, but they hustled. They arrived around 8am and worked till 5-6pm each day. We actually got a hotel for the first night just because we have small kids who needed naps and it was too noisy/distracting for them. Not necessary, but it was a personal choice to keep our sanity. 😅
As for mess: I was impressed. They not only put down drop cloths, but also plastic barriers around the work area of each window. Still, fine dust will find its way, so a good vacuum and wipe-down after is wise.
One thing to note: after the install, check everything before the crew leaves or at least during the final walkthrough. Open and close each window, check locks, look for any scratches or issues. In our case, one window had a scuff on the frame and one of the screens had a small tear. We pointed it out and they noted it. They replaced that screen a week later and touched up the frame scuff. No big deal, but if we hadn’t noticed until after they left, it might have been more of a hassle to get them back.
Sounds like a lot, but really, they do this every day. Good installers have the process down to a science.
I have a wood-frame house (built 1995, so not block). When I replaced windows, it was actually a bit less messy on the outside because they could remove the nailed flange from the wood siding without having to cut through stucco. They did remove some of the exterior trim boards and then put them back. Inside was about the same amount of dust as others described.
For block houses like yours, everything others said is spot on. The only “loud” part is when they cut metal or grind stucco. It can literally sound like a dentist’s drill hitting concrete, haha. But each window’s noisy part was maybe 10-15 minutes.
So yeah, short-term annoyance for long-term gain. 👍
I’ll second what @ejackson55 and others described. My house is also block and the process was identical. I was paranoid about my tile floors, but the crew taped down paper and dropcloths everywhere they walked. No damage there.
One small thing: if you have an alarm system with window sensors, you’ll need to plan for that. I had the old-school stick-on sensors on my windows and obviously those had to be removed. I told my alarm company in advance and they came out the day after install to install new sensors on the new windows. If you have a newer alarm with wireless sensors, maybe you can DIY reattach them. But just something to think about so you’re not left without a security system.
In my case, we actually upgraded to a newer alarm that uses the glass break detectors instead of sensors on every window (since hurricane windows are thicker, even the alarm guy said the old sensors might not fit well).
Anyway, minor detail, but thought I’d mention it since we’re being comprehensive here.
Jumping in here – hi everyone. I'm in Riverview (south of Tampa) with a 2010-built home. I haven't started my project yet, but I'm gathering info (this thread is perfect timing!).
Quick question for those who have done it: have you seen window prices go up recently? It seems like everything in home improvement got more expensive in the last few years. I’m trying to decide if I should accelerate my window replacement or if waiting a year or two might see prices come down (wishful thinking, maybe).
My current windows are okay (double-pane, builder grade). No major issues yet, but I know they're not impact and not the most efficient. If it's only a matter of time and prices are rising, I might do it sooner rather than later.
@politics575, welcome. Great question. From my observations: window prices (and home improvement in general) did jump up in 2021-2022 due to supply chain issues, material costs, and high demand. In 2020 when I signed my contract, I think I got a slightly better price than people who waited a year or two after.
For example, my neighbor down the street did his windows in 2022 (similar house size) and paid maybe 15% more than I did for a comparable scope. Some of that was inflation, some was that he went with a more expensive contractor.
I haven’t seen prices drop exactly – they sort of plateaued at the higher level. Perhaps as supply issues ease, companies might run more promotions, but I wouldn’t bank on prices significantly falling back to pre-2020 levels. Labor costs are high and that’s a big part of it too.
If your current windows are functional and you have shutters or some hurricane protection, you have the luxury of waiting and shopping around. But if you’re going to do it eventually, earlier might be better than later. At least get some quotes now and see where they’re at. Many quotes are valid for a certain time (30 days, 90 days), and some sales reps will tell you if a price increase is coming.
I recall my contractor mentioning that new energy code requirements were coming into effect the next year which would add a bit to window costs (stricter efficiency standards meaning possibly more expensive glass). Not sure if that was sales talk, but turns out the codes did update in Florida in 2023 for efficiency. So that could be another factor: future code changes can make windows pricier or at least require different products.
Just to add an industry perspective (I sell windows up in GA, not Florida, but trends are trends):
2020-2022 saw multiple price increases from manufacturers due to raw materials (glass, vinyl, aluminum) skyrocketing. By late 2023, those leveled off. Now in 2025, I’d say prices are relatively stable but unlikely to drop. The window manufacturers have no incentive to lower prices unless demand completely falls off. At best, you might see more negotiating room or slight discounts as competition for customers increases.
In Florida specifically, there is huge demand for impact windows, and only so many manufacturers making them, so that keeps prices up. If you wait, you might pay more if another hurricane causes a surge in demand or if general inflation continues.
So my advice as a window guy: if you have the budget, do it when you need it. If you wait for prices to drop, you might end up waiting indefinitely. Instead, perhaps try to catch an off-season or a promotion to save a bit. But don't expect the baseline prices to fall dramatically.
@illustrator24 and @donaldevans5 make a great point. My coworker procrastinated on her windows and ended up paying about 20% more by the time she did it. In my case, I actually signed my contract in late 2022 right before a manufacturer price hike of 10% went into effect (the sales rep gave me a heads up). So I dodged that increase by acting when I did.
It’s a bit of a gamble waiting. If your current windows are really failing (fogging, leaking, not locking properly, etc.), I’d do it sooner for sure. If they’re okay and you have shutters for storms, you have some time—just keep an eye on those factors we discussed.