Quick question about timeline: how long did you all have to wait from the time you signed a contract to when the windows were actually installed? I keep hearing about supply chain delays for windows in the past couple of years. Is that still an issue?
For example, @poet45, you mentioned you got quotes and then went ahead with the project – how many weeks or months did it take for your windows to come in? And @carol_campbell or @elizabethhill590, since you did yours last year, did you face long wait times? I’m trying to plan around hurricane season; wondering if I start now, would it realistically be done before, say, September? Or should I not count on that?
Also, did you all schedule installation immediately when windows arrived, or were there additional scheduling waits due to workload/backlog of the installers?
Appreciate any insights on the timing aspect. I’m eager to get new windows but also trying to set realistic expectations for how long the process might take.
@cocon47 Good question. The timeline can vary but I’ll share how it went for us. We signed the contract and put down our deposit in early January. The windows were all custom ordered right after that. It took about 8 weeks for the windows to be manufactured and delivered to Karoly. They actually offered to install as soon as they had a few of them in hand, but we chose to wait until the entire order was in so it could be done in one shot. By early March, all our windows had arrived, and we scheduled installation for mid-March. So roughly 10 weeks from contract signing to install start.
I think earlier (2021-2022) lead times were worse (some people were waiting 3-4 months or more because of supply chain backlogs). By the time we did it in 2024, it improved to around 6-10 weeks for most manufacturers. PGT and CWS were both estimating 8-12 weeks at that time. I’ve heard that by now (2025) it’s pretty steady, maybe around 6-8 weeks average, but that can depend on the exact product and any ongoing supply issues.
We didn’t have to wait after the windows came in; once they had everything, we booked the install for the following week (our installer had multiple crews so scheduling was easy). We did try to avoid the heart of hurricane season just in case of any delays – plus doing it in cooler months is nice when you have open window holes during install 😅.
So if you start now, you could possibly be done within 2-3 months. Getting it done before September is feasible if you choose a company soon. But always ask the company about current lead times for the product you’re buying; they usually have a good idea of factory turnaround.
Maybe @carol_campbell or @elizabethhill590 can add their timelines too for comparison.
@cocon47 For us (our project was done in late 2023), the timeline was as follows: We signed contract in June, our windows and slider were delivered by late August (so about 10-11 weeks wait), and installation happened the first week of September. It did slip slightly beyond the initial estimate (they initially quoted 8-10 weeks, it took 11). Part of that was the large custom slider taking a bit longer. Luckily, everything was in before the peak of hurricane season got crazy.
I think nowadays some things are faster. A friend of mine ordered windows this year (2025) and got them in about 7 weeks. So it’s improving. But definitely ask each company what their current lead time is. Some manufacturers might have more backlog than others at any given time.
Also consider that if a hurricane is looming and your windows haven’t been installed yet (like if they deliver in, say, August but a storm is coming), some installers might actually delay opening up your house until after the storm passes – just a thought. We didn’t face that, but it crossed my mind as we got into September and luckily it was a calm month that year.
In short: expect maybe around 2 to 3 months total timeline in most cases. It’s not usually a quick process like a week or two, since everything’s made to order.
I’ll add my two cents about doing all windows at once versus a partial replacement. A couple of years ago, I replaced half of the windows in my house (budget constraints at the time). I did 5 windows out of 10, all in the main living areas, and left the other 5 original ones in bedrooms. I used a smaller company for that (they installed PGT). It went fine, but I kind of regret not finding a way to do all 10 at once.
Why? Because now the second phase (the remaining 5 windows) is turning out to be more expensive per window. The original company I used isn’t around anymore, so I had to get new quotes. The new quotes for those 5 windows almost equal what I paid for the first 5, partly because prices have gone up and maybe because smaller jobs sometimes cost a bit more per unit. Also, the hassle of going through permitting and installation twice is something to consider. And living with mixed old/new windows is noticeable – the rooms with old windows are hotter and louder than the ones with new windows.
If you can swing it financially, I’d recommend doing the whole house at once. If not, maybe do it in as few phases as possible. Also, if you do phase it, try to stick with the same brand/model of window so they match. I made sure my second phase windows will be the same PGT series as the first, so at least the look will be consistent.
Just some lessons learned from my experience. Sometimes phasing seems easier on the wallet, but it can cost more long-term.
This might be a slightly different perspective: we actually chose to install non-impact windows on our home, and we kept our existing hurricane shutters for storm protection. Our situation: we have a 2007-built home in Tarpon Springs with accordion-style shutters already on all openings. When we needed to replace the original windows (they were leaking and some had fogged up glass), we got quotes for both impact and non-impact. Impact was definitely about 20-30% more expensive across the quotes.
We decided to go with high-quality non-impact, energy-efficient windows (we chose an Energy Star rated double-pane vinyl window, Simonton Reflections series, not the impact version) to save that cost. It ended up being around $12,000 for 11 windows, whereas impact quotes were coming in around $17k+ for comparable.
So far, the new non-impact windows have given us the same benefits (noise reduction, energy efficiency, looks) as discussed here. The big difference is, if a hurricane comes, we do need to close our accordion shutters for each window. We’re okay with that since it’s fairly quick to do, and we already had them. We did get some insurance credit because we have documented shutters (so our openings are protected, just not with glass alone). The discount is similar to impact-rated openings, as long as you have code-approved shutters.
Would I have preferred impact glass? Yes, it’s definitely less hassle and gives peace of mind 24/7. But the cost savings were significant for us at the time. We might consider upgrading to impact in the far future, but for now this was a budget-friendly compromise. I just wanted to share that route, since not everyone ends up going impact if they already have good shutters in place.
However, one thing I’ll note: not all areas or homes can do this. Some new builds now require impact glass or at least require you to have shutters. We already had the shutters, so it was fine. If you don’t have any hurricane protection currently, I’d definitely recommend going impact rather than installing shutters separately.
I can speak to real storm performance a bit. I had my windows done in early 2023 (all PGT impact windows, done by a local company here in St. Pete). Later that year, we went through Hurricane Idalia’s outer bands (it mostly missed Tampa Bay but we still got strong tropical storm-force gusts and tons of rain). I have to say, the new windows made a huge difference in how secure we felt. No more worrying about a tree branch or debris breaking the glass. We did not hear the wind howling nearly as much as we did in past storms with the old windows. And importantly, we had no water intrusion. Several neighbors with older windows had some rain water seeping in or even a cracked pane, whereas our home stayed tight.
After that experience, my wife turned to me and said, “Worth every penny.” 😅 So for anyone on the fence, when that big storm comes (and it will, eventually, in our area), you’ll be very glad to have impact windows. It’s one less thing to scramble to prepare for, and one less thing to worry about as the storm rages outside.
Of course, hopefully we don’t see a major hurricane anytime soon, but it’s Florida – better to be prepared.
On the topic of warranties and such: I actually had to use my window warranty already (thankfully just a minor issue). I had all my windows (CWS impact) replaced in late 2021. About a year later, one of the windows developed condensation between the panes (a seal failure on the double-pane glass). I was a bit bummed to see that fogginess, but I contacted my installer, and they handled it without any hassle. They ordered a replacement insulated glass unit from the manufacturer under warranty and swapped it out for me. It took a few weeks for the new glass to arrive, but the actual replacement took the tech only about 30 minutes and it was free of charge.
This reinforced two things for me:
Even good windows can have an issue, so it’s important to have that warranty and a responsive installer.
I was really glad I chose a company with good customer service. They didn’t give me the runaround at all when I called about the problem.
So my tip: keep all your documentation and warranty info, just in case. And when choosing an installer, consider how they handle post-install service. You don’t want someone who disappears after getting paid.
Aside from that, maintaining the windows has been easy – I just clean the glass and tracks occasionally. The impact glass is heavier, but the window components are built for it, so you shouldn’t have to do anything special. Maybe once a year I put a little silicone spray in the tracks to keep them sliding nicely. But that’s about it.
I’m still in the quote-gathering phase myself, but I wanted to share some initial numbers I’ve gotten for my project (it’s helpful to see what others are getting, so here’s mine for comparison):
Renewal by Andersen (RBA): This was more out of curiosity, since I know they’re typically pricey. They quoted me a jaw-dropping $45,000 for 15 windows (fibrex composite frames, non-impact). That includes their whole service and warranty, etc., but still – that’s about double or more what others are coming in at. I politely showed the rep the door after hearing that number.
Karoly Windows: They came in around $24,000 for 15 impact windows (mix of sizes, mostly PGT WinGuard in my case). Much more reasonable than RBA, obviously, and those are impact.
ProTech Windoors: Very close to Karoly’s price, about $25,500 for a similar setup (also PGT). The slight difference was because I have two specialty shape windows and their price on those was a bit higher.
Window World (non-impact): Just for a non-impact baseline, I had Window World give me a quote. It was around $16,000 for their basic double-pane vinyl windows (non-impact) including install. Cheap, yes, but I wasn’t too confident in the product or the long-term support. They also said they could do impact windows, but I didn’t get that quote after I saw others I liked.
Given all that, I’m definitely leaning towards the local companies like Karoly or ProTech (this thread’s recommendations pretty much reinforce that choice). The big national brands like RBA are way out of my budget, and the bargain options seem risky. It’s crazy how wide the range can be – from $16k to $45k for the same house!
Once I decide and get the project done, I’ll report back on how it goes. But huge thanks to everyone here; seeing these experiences has basically helped me avoid a costly mistake and go with a solid, reputable installer.
I’ve been following this discussion and just want to say how awesome it is to see so many Tampa Bay homeowners sharing real experiences. This thread is incredibly informative – definitely worthy of being a sticky for others to learn from.
As someone who’s been on the fence about window replacements, this gives me a lot more confidence and knowledge going into it. Big thanks to @poet45 for starting it off with such a detailed post, and to everyone else ( @charles_sage, @carol_campbell, @breezec63, @elizabethhill590, etc.) for contributing. I feel like I have a much clearer picture of what to expect in terms of cost, process, and which companies are reliable (I’ve noted Karoly Windows and ProTech Windoors from multiple recommendations here).
Looking forward to more updates and eventually sharing my own success story once I get my project done!
One aspect not heavily covered yet: dealing with HOAs or condo boards. I live in a condo building in Tampa (four-story building, I’m on the third floor). I replaced my windows last year and had to go through the condo association for approvals. It added an extra layer of paperwork: I had to ensure the new windows conformed to the building’s required exterior look (frame color, grid pattern, etc.). In my case, the association had pre-approved certain products – luckily PGT was one of them, and that’s what my installer was using. So just a heads up: if you’re in a condo or a community with a strict HOA, check if they have rules about window replacements before you sign a contract. You might need to submit the product specs to an architectural review committee or something.
Also, for us upstairs folks: the installer had to use scaffolding for the third-floor windows. That added a bit to my cost because of the extra labor/equipment. It was about $500 extra for the whole job to cover the lift. So if anyone replacing windows on a second story or higher, ask if there’s an additional charge for access. Some companies include it, others itemize it.
In the end, everything went fine. The condo board was happy since the windows matched and are better quality. And my unit is so much quieter now (street noise used to echo in). It’s absolutely worth it, just don’t forget the HOA/condo permission step if it applies to you.