Hi everyone! I wanted to share my experience now that I’ve completed a full home window replacement in my Tampa Bay area home. Our house was built in 2013 (so it’s about 12 years old now) and had the original builder-grade windows (non-impact, double-pane). After years of debating, we finally replaced all 15 windows in the house with new ones.
Costs & Quotes: We gathered multiple quotes from different companies to compare pricing and value. We live in Hillsborough County, so we looked at well-known local installers. We got quotes from Karoly Windows, ProTech Windoors, and a couple of others (including a big-brand company that advertises on TV). The quotes varied quite a bit:
The highest quote we got was about $28,000 (from the heavily-advertised company, for a mix of Pella and their own brand windows – definitely out of our budget).
Karoly Windows quoted us about $21,500 for the full job using CWS (Custom Window Systems) vinyl impact windows.
ProTech Windoors came in around $23,000 using PGT Winguard vinyl impact windows.
Another local contractor offered Simonton StormBreaker (impact) windows for roughly $19,000, but we didn’t have prior experience with them and had some reservations about their reviews.
In the end, we decided to go with Karoly Windows. Their quote wasn’t the absolute lowest, but it was very competitive, and we felt comfortable with their reputation and the quality of CWS windows. They also offered a strong warranty and had plenty of positive feedback from other Tampa Bay homeowners.
Impact vs Non-Impact: One big decision for us was whether to get impact-resistant (hurricane) windows or non-impact windows. Since our existing windows were non-impact and we had hurricane shutters from the builder, we considered sticking with non-impact replacements to save money. Non-impact windows would have been around 20-25% cheaper according to the quotes (one company quoted ~$16k if we went non-impact). However, after weighing pros and cons, we chose impact windows for the whole house. The reasons were peace of mind during storms, potential insurance discounts, and not having to put up shutters every time a hurricane threatens. With impact windows, our home’s openings are always protected. Given we plan to stay in this house long-term, the extra cost seemed worth it for safety and convenience.
Installer Experience: The installation with Karoly Windows went really well. It took about 3 days for their crew to remove our old windows and install the new ones. The installers were professional, arrived on time each day, and they were careful about minimizing dust and debris – they put down drop cloths and even helped move some furniture away from the windows. The quality of work looks excellent: all windows are plumb and square, and the caulking around the frames is neat. After installation, they even cleaned all the new windows and vacuumed. We only had a minor issue with one window (a small scratch on the glass, likely from manufacturing), and Karoly’s team handled it by ordering a replacement sash immediately under warranty.
Brands/Products: As mentioned, we ended up with CWS windows (specifically their WindPact Plus series vinyl impact windows) through Karoly. We liked that they’re a Florida-based manufacturer designed for our climate. We also liked PGT (another top brand here) – in fact, the ProTech Windoors quote with PGT was tempting since PGT has a stellar reputation. Ultimately, the cost difference and our comfort level with the installer swayed us. From what I learned, PGT, Simonton, and CWS are all solid options for replacement windows in Florida. PGT might have a slight edge in brand recognition (and possibly a bit higher price). Simonton is a well-known national brand (their StormBreaker Plus impact line), and CWS is more regional but built tough for hurricanes. We felt any of those would perform well if installed correctly.
Permitting & Inspection: Our installer pulled the necessary permit from the county. After the installation was done, we had to have a county inspector come out. The inspection was scheduled for the next week and it went smoothly – the inspector checked that the windows were the correct impact-rated models (each window has a Florida approval code sticker) and that they were installed properly (he looked at the screw spacing and attachments). We passed on the first try. It was a relief once we got that green tag of approval. Karoly Windows took care of coordinating the inspection, which was great. Also worth noting: don’t remove the window stickers before the inspection; the inspector needs to see them.
Warranty & Paperwork: We received a copy of the warranty for the CWS windows – it’s a lifetime limited warranty on the frames and glass for as long as we own the home, and it’s transferable one time to a new owner (with some prorating, I think). Karoly also provided a workmanship warranty (2 years on installation labor). They told us to call if we have any issues like leaks or sticking windows, and they’ll come fix it. We feel pretty covered. We also got all the necessary paperwork for insurance – including the signed final inspection and product approvals – so that we can submit for a homeowner’s insurance discount for having all impact windows.
Real-World Performance: Although it’s only been a couple of months since the install, we’ve noticed several immediate improvements:
Noise Reduction: The house is significantly quieter. We live near a busy road, and with the old windows you’d hear a lot of traffic noise. Now, with the impact glass and better seals, the noise from outside is very minimal. It’s almost eerily quiet at times – in a good way!
Energy Efficiency: We also feel a difference in cooling. Our A/C seems to run a bit less and the house holds its temperature better. The new windows have Low-E coatings, which help block heat. We haven’t gone through a full summer yet, but our recent electric bills are slightly lower than last year’s for the same month.
Comfort & UV: No more draftiness around the windows on windy days. Also, we opted for a slight tint (Low-E glass with a gray tint), and you can tell the harsh afternoon sun is not heating up the rooms like before. One unexpected perk: the furniture and floors get less direct UV, so less fading over time.
Storm Confidence: We haven’t faced a major hurricane since installation (thankfully), but we did have a strong thunderstorm with high winds last week. The new windows didn’t budge, and we had no leaks or flexing like we sometimes felt with the old ones. It feels reassuring knowing we have impact glass as we head into the peak of hurricane season.
Insurance Savings: We just had our wind mitigation inspection updated and sent it to our insurance company. We’re expecting a decent discount on the windstorm portion of our home insurance (we were told possibly around 15-20% off that part of the premium since all our openings are now protected). That will help recoup some cost over time.
Final Thoughts: Overall, we’re extremely happy with the outcome. The project was a big investment (just over $21k total), but our home feels safer, quieter, and more comfortable. If you’re in the Tampa Bay area considering window replacement, definitely shop around and get multiple quotes like we did. We learned that prices can vary a lot for the same scope of work. Also, a good installer is key – a quality window won’t perform if it’s poorly installed, especially with our strict Florida codes. We had a great experience with Karoly Windows (no affiliation, just a satisfied customer) and would recommend at least getting a quote from them or similar reputable companies. I’m happy to answer any questions about our project, and I hope this info helps someone else planning to upgrade their windows!
@poet45 Thank you for sharing all these details! This is super helpful. I’m also in the Tampa Bay area (Pinellas County) and looking to replace windows soon, so your post couldn’t have come at a better time. If you don’t mind, I have a couple of questions:
How did the cost break down per window for you? You mentioned 15 windows and total $21k – was that including any doors or just windows? I’m trying to gauge roughly what I might be looking at per window.
You went with all impact windows; did you ever consider mixing impact and non-impact (like impact in certain crucial rooms and non-impact in others to save money)? I’ve heard of some people doing a mix, though I’m not sure if that complicates the insurance discounts.
Now that you have impact windows, are you keeping your old hurricane shutters, or did you remove them entirely?
Thanks again, and congrats on getting it done! Your house is basically hurricane-ready now 😀.
Hi @charles_sage, great questions! Let me break it down:
Cost per window: Our total of ~$21,500 was for 15 windows, which averaged around $1,433 per window. But keep in mind, some of our windows are different sizes, so costs weren't uniform. For example, we have a large 3-panel bow window in the dining area that counted as three windows but was more labor-intensive; and a small bathroom window that likely cost less than the average. We did not include any doors in that project – it was strictly windows only. (Our patio slider is still the original, we might tackle that later.) So if you’re budgeting, I’d say for impact windows in our area, expect roughly $1,000 to $1,500 per window installed, depending on size and features. Non-impact would be a few hundred less per window perhaps.
Mixing impact and non-impact: We did consider it briefly, like maybe putting impact glass in the big openings and doing cheaper non-impact in small ones. However, we found out that to get the insurance benefit, all openings need to be protected, which means if any window is non-impact, you’d need a shutter or other protection for it anyway. We figured it was simpler to do all impact and not worry about mixing types. Also, cosmetically the windows all match. If we mixed, they'd look the same until a storm came and we put shutters on some; just seemed better to do everything consistently. Some people do mix to save money, but they might lose out on some insurance credits and convenience. So we bit the bullet and did all impact.
Hurricane shutters: As part of this, we decided to remove our old aluminum panel shutters. They were those bulky ones you have to hang manually for each window. We kept a couple of the panels in the garage just in case (old habits die hard 😅), but realistically we won’t be using them. The window installers removed the mounting tracks and hardware for us, at least on the windows they worked on. It actually makes the house look cleaner without those brackets on the walls. If you have accordion or panel shutters and go full impact, you can remove them if you want, or leave them for double protection. We chose to free up the storage space and ditch the hassle.
Hope that helps! If you need any more info as you plan your project, feel free to ask. Good luck with yours!
Jumping in to share my experience too. I live in Clearwater in a 2008-built home, and I had my whole home windows replaced last year. In my case, I went with ProTech Windoors (I saw you got a quote from them, @poet45) and chose PGT Winguard impact windows for all 10 of my openings. My total came to about $18,500 for 10 windows, which included one large slider-style window (not a door, just a big window) and 9 standard sizes.
I also got multiple quotes beforehand. Interestingly, my quote from Karoly Windows was pretty close in price (they had CWS for about $19k). I ultimately chose ProTech because I really liked the salesperson/owner’s approach – he was low-pressure and very knowledgeable. Plus, they could schedule my install a bit sooner than others (supply chain delays were a thing last year).
The install experience was great with ProTech. Took them about 2 days to do all 10 windows. They handled everything, permit and inspection just like in your case. The inspector actually commented that the installation was very solid. One thing I appreciated was that the crew lead walked me around after finishing and we checked each window operation and locking mechanism together. They even adjusted one window that was a tad stiff to lock at first.
It’s been about a year now and I echo a lot of what you said about performance: my home is quieter and the utility bills went down a bit (probably also because we did attic insulation around the same time, to be fair). This past summer, we went through a tropical storm and some nasty thunderstorm winds – the windows held up perfectly, no leaks, no vibrations. It’s such a difference from the old aluminum windows we had where I could literally feel them rattling in heavy wind.
So, whether someone goes with Karoly, ProTech, or another reputable installer, I think the key is doing the research and getting those quotes. In our area there are a few solid players. I’m happy I ended up with PGT windows; they are top notch. But honestly I think I would have been just as satisfied with CWS or Simonton as long as the install was good.
Bottom line: another success story for impact windows in Tampa Bay. 🙂 If anyone has questions about my project, I’m happy to share too.
Thanks @poet45 and @carol_campbell for sharing your stories. It’s really encouraging to hear these positive outcomes. I’m in St. Petersburg in a 2010 home and in the research phase for window replacements. One thing I’m trying to figure out is the financing/payment part. If you guys don’t mind sharing: did you pay cash for your projects, or did you finance them in some way (like through the installer or a loan)?
I ask because $15k-$25k is a big chunk of money. I’ve seen some window companies advertise financing deals (like 0% for 12 months or low interest plans). Did either of you use financing options from the installer? Or go with a home equity loan, credit union, etc.? Any tips on that front would be great.
Also, now that a few months have passed since installation, @poet45 have you seen the insurance discount kick in yet? I’m curious how much of a difference it actually makes on the premium for having all impact windows.
Lastly, have you noticed any other benefits or even downsides after living with the new windows for a while? Sometimes people mention things like windows being harder to open or close if they’re impact (because the frames can be beefier). Any observations on that?
Appreciate all the insight here. This thread is gold for folks like me planning ahead.
@food_diesel Sure, I can share what we did on the payment side and some more observations:
Payment/Financing: In our case, we actually did a combination of savings and a small loan. We paid about 50% of the cost from savings and for the rest we used a low-interest home improvement loan from our credit union. The window company (Karoly) did offer financing options (they had a 12-month same-as-cash deal or a longer-term 5-year financing at some interest rate). We considered the 12-month no interest, but we would have had to pay it off in a year to avoid high interest kicking in. Instead, we opted for the credit union loan at a fixed 5-year term with a decent interest rate, which gave us manageable monthly payments. I’d definitely suggest shopping around for financing if needed – sometimes the installers have promos, and other times your own bank might have a better deal.
Insurance Discount: Yes! We did get our insurance adjusted. Once the project was done and we had the final inspection certificate, we had a wind mitigation inspection done (basically a report that documents the impact-resistant windows). After submitting that, our homeowner’s insurance premium went down by about $600 per year. To be fair, our windstorm portion was quite high (Florida insurance 😫), so we’re happy to get any reduction. The savings will add up over time. I’ve heard it can vary, but definitely check with your insurance what kind of credits you’d get for impact windows.
Everyday use of windows: So far, no downsides really. It’s true that impact windows have beefier frames and are heavier, but the ones we got are still easy to open and close. They have good quality balances/springs in the sashes to help lift the weight. My wife can open them just fine. They actually slide smoother than our old windows (which had gotten sticky). One thing I noticed: the frame profile is a bit thicker, so the glass area is slightly smaller than before. It’s not a huge difference, but if you look closely, the new frames are chunkier (especially since they have to hold heavy impact glass). We don’t mind because we actually feel the thicker frames look sturdier and nicer. But that could be a minor “con” if someone is very sensitive about window frame thickness.
Other observations: We’re still getting used to how quiet it is – sometimes we don’t realize a heavy rain came through until we open the door and notice everything’s wet outside 😅. It’s a nice change. And so far no leaks or any issues. We did have to tweak our blinds a bit (since the new window frames were slightly different dimensions, some of our inside-mount blinds needed adjusting). But beyond that, everything’s been positive.
Hopefully that covers it, @food_diesel. Maybe @carol_campbell can chime in on how they handled financing too, since they did their project a year earlier.
@food_diesel Sure, regarding financing, in my case I was fortunate to have saved up most of the needed funds by the time I pulled the trigger on the project. I paid about 75% cash and the remaining 25% on a credit card (which I paid off quickly to avoid interest). The company (ProTech Windoors) also had a financing partner offering something like 18 months no interest, but I didn’t use it. One of my neighbors did a similar project and they went with a PACE program (Property Assessed Clean Energy) loan through Ygrene – basically it adds the cost of the windows to your property tax bill as a lien. It’s an option in Florida especially for impact windows and other hurricane upgrades, but I personally was a bit wary of that due to interest rates and potential complications when selling the house.
From what I’ve seen, a lot of window companies will have financing if you need it, but like @poet45 said, sometimes a home equity line or personal loan might be cheaper in the long run. It all depends on the deals available.
As for usability, same here – my PGT windows are heavy but they glide nicely. The horizontal sliders I got in the bedrooms move with just a finger push. Modern windows have come a long way.
And definitely check on the insurance part. For me, my insurer knocked about 15% off the windstorm premium after I upgraded windows and doors (I also did an impact-rated front door). It’s not huge, but I’ll take any savings with Florida insurance rates being what they are.
I’m in Pasco County and went through this process 6 months ago as well. Our house is a 1995 build (so much older windows originally) and we replaced all 12 windows. We ended up going with Simonton StormBreaker Plus impact windows through a small local company. They quoted us about $17,000 for 12 windows, which was the best price we got. For comparison, our other quotes for similar were $20k (for PGT from one of the big companies) and $18.5k (for CWS from another local installer).
To be honest, I was initially leaning towards PGT because of the name recognition and a lot of people recommend them. But the Simonton option saved us a couple thousand dollars, and the installer assured us that StormBreakers would perform just as well in a storm. So far, I’m happy with them. They look great and feel solid.
I did a ton of research on PGT vs Simonton vs CWS too. What I gathered is exactly what’s been said here: all are good, especially if installed correctly. Some folks mentioned Simonton had a lawsuit years ago about window seal failures in certain climates, but I believe that was an older series and it’s not a widespread issue now. Plus Simonton’s warranty is actually really strong (lifetime and transferable once). That gave us some peace of mind in choosing them.
Our installation was smooth as well, and the county inspector passed everything in one go. The inspector actually told me the Simonton windows we used are the same ones he got on his own house, which made me feel pretty good 😁.
Noise reduction and energy savings – yes, we noticed those too immediately. It’s consistent with what others have said. Our home is quieter and our A/C runs a bit less. We haven’t been through a big storm yet (just typical summer storms), but I’m confident they’ll do their job if a hurricane comes our way.
So for anyone torn on brands, I’d say don’t get too hung up on the brand name. Make sure you’re getting a quality product (all three mentioned here are quality) and a trusted installer. The rest should fall into place.
I want to chime in about installer choice – we also went with Karoly Windows for our project and had an excellent experience, just like @poet45 described. Our home is in Brandon and was built in 2005. We replaced 8 windows and one sliding glass door last year with Karoly’s team. They installed PGT Winguard impact windows for us (so yes, Karoly offers PGT as well, not just CWS). Our total for 8 windows + 1 large 3-panel slider door was about $20k. The slider alone was a big chunk of that (I think around $6k) since it’s essentially like replacing a wall of glass.
We chose Karoly after getting quotes from three companies. Karoly wasn’t the cheapest (a smaller one-man operation quoted less, but we weren’t as confident in them), and one quote was higher (from a company that kept trying to upsell). Karoly’s professionalism won us over. Karoly (the owner) actually came out for the initial consultation and he was very straightforward and honest – no pressure, just information.
The installation crew did a great job with our slider door especially, which I was worried about because it’s a huge opening. They had to remove part of the old frame that was embedded in the floor and they did it cleanly. Everything passed inspection without a hitch. One window had a misaligned latch after install, but they adjusted it on the spot when I pointed it out.
It’s been over a year now and we have zero complaints. The new slider door is a dream – it’s heavy, but it slides effortlessly and has a multi-point lock that makes us feel very secure. The windows, of course, made the house quieter and more efficient as others noted.
So, count me as another very satisfied Karoly Windows customer. I’d recommend them to anyone in Tampa Bay looking to do this. (And no, I’m not affiliated either – just a happy homeowner.)
By the way, @breezec63 I agree about not getting hung up on brand. We went with PGT mainly because we have some very large window openings and PGT’s product line fit those sizes well. But I’d have been fine with CWS or Simonton too if that’s what we ended up with through a good installer.
Reading all this, I just want to add a bit of caution from an experience my neighbor had (as a lesson for others). My neighbor tried to go with a super cheap quote from an unlicensed guy (I think it was like a side-job kind of deal). They replaced 6 windows in his older home in Largo. Well, when the city inspector came to sign off, it turned out the installer put in the wrong type of windows (they used new-construction windows not rated for impact in our wind zone, and apparently without proper permits). The inspector failed the work, and my neighbor had to basically start over, paying fines and then hiring a reputable company to rip those out and do it again properly. It ended up costing him way more in the long run.
So the moral is: definitely use a licensed, reputable installer and make sure permits are pulled. In Tampa Bay, any real company will know the code requirements and won’t cut corners. If someone offers to do it for cash without permits to save money – run the other way!
The stories in this thread show that you might pay a bit more for the legit companies, but you’re also paying for their expertise, quality product, and ensuring everything is up to code. It’s worth it.