We decided to finance a portion of our project as well. One thing to consider in Florida is the PACE program (Property Assessed Clean Energy). It lets you finance things like impact windows and pay through your property tax bill over 5-20 years. The nice part is it doesn’t rely on credit score and can be transferred to a new owner if you sell (in theory, though in practice buyers often want it paid off).
However, I’ve heard mixed reviews of PACE. The interest rates can be higher and there are hefty fees. And as @tim_joker mentioned earlier, it places a lien on the home and can complicate selling or refinancing. So it’s a last resort, IMO.
We went with a more traditional route: a personal loan from our credit union for $15k of the project, and we paid cash for the rest. The loan was 5-year at 5% interest. Not too bad.
It’s worth noting some contractors actually push programs like PACE or their in-house financing because they get a kickback or it’s easy for them. Just be sure to evaluate if it’s right for you. Sometimes a home equity loan or personal loan can be cheaper.
Yeah, PACE has its pros and cons. It was popular here for a while for impact windows and solar, because you could get approved quickly and not pay anything upfront. But a friend of mine did it for his windows, and when he went to sell the house, the buyer’s lender made him pay off the PACE lien as a condition of the sale. He was not happy because he had to use some of his sale proceeds to clear it.
So I’d generally suggest exploring other financing first, unless PACE is your only option and you plan to stay in the house long enough that it doesn’t matter.
Anyway, sounds like @robertblogger is leaning toward just going for it, which is exciting!
Indeed @tim_joker and @politics575, I’m feeling more confident now. We’ll likely use savings for a chunk and maybe a small loan for the rest, depending on where the final price lands. But probably not PACE.
I will definitely share the Karoly and ProTech quotes once I get them. This thread has been amazing for me, and I’m sure it’ll help others in the future too.
By the way, @data750, @sports_mary, or anyone who used Karoly/ProTech: do you know what window brands they installed? I’m curious if there’s a big difference. Like, I hear names like PGT, Simonton, CWS (Custom Window Systems), etc. Did you all pay much attention to the manufacturer of the window, or mostly the installer reputation?
For instance, ProTech - do they use one brand or several? And Karoly - I think I saw someone mention Simonton for them?
Good question. In my case, ProTech Windoors offered a few options. They primarily sell PGT windows (which are made in Florida and very popular for impact). We went with the PGT Winguard vinyl windows and also PGT impact sliding doors. We liked that brand’s track record and features. ProTech also had an option for Custom Window Systems (CWS) brand, which was a bit cheaper, but we stuck with PGT.
Karoly Windows (from what I recall when I was researching) often uses Simonton or PGT as well. I think they might have their own branded line which is actually manufactured by Simonton (Simonton StormBreaker Plus perhaps).
User3 can confirm, but they mentioned Simonton in their post I believe.
Honestly, PGT vs Simonton vs CWS – all are well-regarded for Florida impact windows. I was fine with any of those as long as the installer was good. Some people have preferences (one might have a slightly prettier profile or better hardware), but performance-wise they all meet Florida codes.
So I’d say, pay attention to the brand in quotes and maybe do a quick Google on them, but focus more on getting a good installer. A great window can be ruined by bad installation, and conversely, a good installer can make even a mid-range window perform well.
When Karoly quoted us, they specified Simonton Madeira series (which is a vinyl impact window line by Simonton). We have been very happy with them. Simonton’s a pretty big national brand (actually owned by Pella, I think, but made to different specs). They are known for good quality at a reasonable price. Our windows are indeed Simonton StormBreaker Plus (impact rated version of that series).
Karoly did mention if we wanted, they also could get PGT or other brands, but the cost might differ. We just went with their primary offering (Simonton) because the reviews were good and it met the specs we wanted.
So yeah, what @data750 said: the major brands you’ll encounter in this area are all fairly reputable. If you had a strong preference (say you want PGT specifically), you could request that when getting a quote. Some companies might focus on one brand because they get better pricing from them.
Jumping in since I was one who used Karoly. Yes, it was Simonton StormBreaker impact windows that they installed for us. So far so good – no issues at all.
We did compare Simonton vs PGT when researching. One thing I found was Simonton had a slightly better warranty (double lifetime on some parts, transferable). But PGT has a big presence in Florida and many swear by them too. Honestly, both are fine.
We’ve got a neighbor down the street who did theirs around the same time with PGT through a different installer, and we both rode out a nasty wind storm last year with no problems. So I think as long as they’re rated for our area (make sure they meet Florida Building Code and HVHZ standard if you’re in that region – Tampa Bay is not in the Miami-Dade HVHZ, but many products are tested to those standards anyway), you’re good.
I used a smaller company for my non-impact windows, and those were custom made by a local manufacturer (non-impact so brand isn't widely known). But I did a lot of research at the time thinking maybe I'd do impact, and I agree with everyone here.
One thing: sometimes the hardware (locks, rollers, etc.) and small details differ between brands. If you care about things like how easy it is to remove the screens, or if the windows tilt in for cleaning, ask about those features. My friend went with CWS and he didn’t realize one model didn’t have tilt-in sashes, so cleaning the outside glass upstairs is harder for him (he has to do it from outside or hire someone). Simonton and PGT most of their single-hung or double-hung tilt in for easy cleaning, but always good to verify.
Excellent info. I’ll pay attention to those details when reviewing the quotes. I do like the tilt-in feature for cleaning (my current ones don’t have that, and cleaning the second-floor windows is a pain).
Also, good to know about warranties and stuff. I’ll make sure to get any warranty info in writing for whichever I choose (both from the manufacturer and the installer’s workmanship warranty).
This thread has turned into an amazing guide for window replacement in Tampa Bay. I can’t thank you all enough.
Quick update: The Karoly quote appointment is tomorrow, and I reached out to ProTech Windoors and have an appointment with them for later this week. So in a few days I should have those numbers to compare. I’ll share when I do!
Fantastic, @robertblogger. Can’t wait to hear the results. It’s always interesting to see how quotes compare, especially between two highly-regarded companies like those.
On another note, one aspect not heavily covered yet: post-install service. After your windows are in, if you ever have an issue (like a leak, or a mechanism not working), how responsive are they?
Maybe some folks here can share if they had any service calls after installation?
For me, with my installer (a local company in Tampa), I had a minor issue: one window wouldn’t lock smoothly. They came out within a week and adjusted it. Also, a year later, I had condensation on the outside of the glass (which is actually normal with high-efficiency windows under certain humidity conditions, but I didn’t know) – I called and they explained it over the phone very thoroughly and even offered to send someone to double-check the seal. I was impressed.
Point being, when choosing the company, consider their after-sales support. Reading reviews can help with that. Companies like Karoly and ProTech, from what I’ve heard (and from @sports_mary and @data750’s experiences), stand behind their work. Smaller fly-by-night ones might not.
After our install by Karoly, we didn’t need any service calls for a long time. Just recently (4 years later) one of our windows developed a tiny condensation issue inside the double pane (a seal failure). It was under the manufacturer’s warranty. I called Karoly, they contacted Simonton, and within a month they had the replacement sash manufactured and swapped it out for us. No charge, of course.
So yeah, they honored the warranty without any runaround. It did take a few weeks to get the new sash made, but that’s normal. I was just happy it was hassle-free.
That kind of thing really validates paying a bit more for a reputable company. If I had gone with some random handyman, I’m not sure who I’d even call for a warranty claim – probably no one, I’d be out of luck.