@lunawoodworker Great point. I’m in a neighborhood with an HOA in Wesley Chapel, and while it’s all single-family homes (no condo board), our HOA had guidelines too. They required that any front-facing windows have grids to maintain a uniform look in the community. We personally wanted clear windows (no grids) for better view, but we ended up getting internal grids on the upper sashes of our front windows to comply. Not a big deal, but something I wouldn’t have thought of until I checked. The installer (we used a local company, not one mentioned yet here) was familiar with our subdivision’s rules, which was helpful.
So yes, always check if your HOA has any say in it. Some are particular about window style, tint, etc. The last thing you want is to install and then get a notice that it’s not compliant.
By the way, in terms of aesthetic choices: For the side and back of our house, we went grid-free and love the unobstructed view. For anyone debating grids vs no grids, grids do make the window look more traditional or colonial, while no grids give a more modern, clean look. We found that some companies charge a little extra for grids, so if you don’t need/want them, you might save a bit by skipping them.
I have a quick question for those who have already gotten new windows: have you noticed condensation on the outside of the glass in the mornings? I just got new impact windows installed (I’m in Apollo Beach), and on some humid mornings I see the outside of the glass looking foggy. It goes away once the sun hits it. The inside is perfectly dry, so it’s not a leak or anything. I’m assuming it’s because the new windows insulate so well that the outer glass stays cooler and gets condensation from the warm humid air? Just wanted to check if others see this too.
It’s a bit ironic because we used to have condensation on the inside of our old windows (especially in winter), and that’s gone now. But now I see it on the outside occasionally. I’m not complaining – just making sure this is normal for high-efficiency windows.
@mark_chef Yes! That’s actually normal and a sign your windows are doing their job. It’s called “exterior condensation” and it happens on cool mornings when you have high humidity outside and your efficient windows keep your indoor air (and the inner pane of glass) cool. The outer pane stays cooler than the dew point of the outside air, so moisture condenses on it. As soon as the outside air warms up a bit or sunlight hits the glass, it evaporates.
It freaked me out the first time I saw it too – I thought something was wrong. But it’s actually the opposite: it means very little heat from inside is escaping to warm up that outer pane. With older single-pane or less efficient windows, the heat transfer would usually keep the exterior glass warmer, thus no condensation outside (but you’d lose energy).
So don’t worry, it’s normal. Some manufacturers even mention it in their care guide, saying it’s a natural occurrence with high-performance windows. Just keep the outside glass clean and it’ll be a minor thing. If anything, be happy knowing your new windows are well-insulated 😎.
Something not mentioned yet but definitely a plus: security against break-ins. One of the first things our window salesman demonstrated was how impact glass works – he showed a sample and how it may crack under extreme force but won’t shatter out. This was a selling point for me and my spouse. We don’t live in a high-crime area or anything, but it’s nice knowing these windows are much harder to breach. A burglar trying to smash an impact window will have a tough time; it’s similar to a car windshield that cracks but stays in place.
Interestingly, after we installed our windows, our local police community liaison (who does home security surveys) mentioned that burglars usually avoid houses with impact windows or doors because it’s noisy and time-consuming to break through. They’d rather find a weaker target. So it’s a side benefit: along with storm safety, you get improved home security.
Of course, still have a good alarm system and all that, but we do feel safer in multiple ways now.
I’ll toss in a small observation: the new Low-E impact glass can have a slight reflective or tinted appearance from the outside. Our windows (we got CWS with grey Low-E tint) have a mild mirror-like look when the sun hits them. We actually like it because it gives us privacy in the daytime (can’t easily see in from outside), but some folks might not expect that. At night from inside, looking out is just fine, but looking at the house from the curb, the windows have a subtle reflective sheen compared to the old clear glass we had.
Also, our Low-E tint is just a neutral gray, which slightly softens the bright sunlight. There are different levels of tint or Low-E coatings, so if you have a preference (like very clear vs more tinted), you should discuss that with the installer when picking the glass options. In Florida, many people go with some tint to cut down on glare and heat.
One more thing: if you have any radio antennas or things like that near a window (like a TV antenna or a weather radio), sometimes the metallic coating in Low-E can slightly weaken signals. I haven’t noticed any issue with cell phone or WiFi signals personally, but I’ve heard it mentioned. For most of us, it’s a non-issue, but worth knowing.
This might be a newbie question, but after a heavy rain I noticed a bit of water in the bottom track of my new sliding windows. Is that normal? There are little holes (weep holes) in the frame and the water did drain out eventually, but I got worried when I first saw a small puddle in there. The installers told me something about how the windows are designed to handle some water infiltration and drain it, but it still made me nervous.
Can someone confirm if that’s expected? My windows are PGT horizontal sliders. I never really paid attention with my old windows, so maybe it happened before and I didn’t notice. Just want to be sure I don’t have a sealing issue or something.
@georgewhiskers959 Don’t worry, that’s normal for many window styles, especially sliders. They are designed with weep holes to channel out any rain that gets into the track area. Florida building code actually expects windows to manage water like that – in a driving rain, a bit of water will get past the outer seals, so the frame has a drainage system. The key is that it should drain out fairly quickly through those weep holes.
What you described – a bit of water that then drains – is exactly how it should work. The only time to worry is if the water doesn’t drain (which could mean a clogged weep hole) or if you see an excessive amount of water coming in or actual leaking into your home’s interior beyond the track. It’s good practice to occasionally inspect those small drain holes on the exterior bottom of the window frame to make sure they aren’t blocked by dirt, caulk, paint, or even insects. I periodically use a little piece of wire or a squirt of water to ensure they’re clear.
So yup, no need to panic. It’s the window doing its job. My PGT sliders do the same thing during a rainstorm – afterwards I might see a little moisture in the track, then it goes away. Totally normal.
One tip on pricing: don’t be afraid to negotiate a little or ask about off-season discounts. When I was getting quotes, I noticed that companies were a bit more flexible during the winter months (when demand is a bit lower). I ended up signing in December for a January install and the company gave me about 5% off from the initial quote, basically as a “off-season special.” They didn’t advertise it, but when I hinted that I was collecting quotes and deciding soon, they sweetened the deal slightly to win the business.
Also, some companies offer a discount if you pay in cash or check (to save them credit card fees). I saved a few hundred dollars by writing a check for the final payment instead of using a card. Doesn’t hurt to ask.
Of course, don’t expect huge haggling like buying a car, but a little bit of negotiation can sometimes shave off some cost or get you an upgrade (one company offered free upgrade to laminated glass on non-impact windows for example, to close the sale).
So it’s worth politely asking if the price is flexible or if there are any ongoing promotions. The worst they say is no, but in my case it helped!
Florida folks, don’t forget to look into the My Safe Florida Home program. It’s a state-run program that, as of recently, offers matching grants up to $10,000 for hurricane mitigation projects, including window replacements, for eligible homeowners. There are some hoops to jump (your home must be older, you need to get a wind mitigation inspection through their program first, etc.), but I know a neighbor who got $5k from the state to help pay for their impact windows.
I actually applied for it. In my case, my house is 1980s and I met the criteria. They sent a wind mitigation inspector who came and evaluated my current openings, roof, etc. They then approved me for a grant amount if I do certain improvements (windows being one of them). Essentially, if I spend $10k on impact windows, they’ll reimburse $5k. If I spend $20k, they’ll give the max $10k. It’s literally free money (matching funds) as long as you use an approved contractor and follow the process.
It does take some time (there’s paperwork and you have to wait for approvals), so it’s not instant. But if you qualify, it can make a huge difference in out-of-pocket cost. Not everyone on this forum will qualify (e.g., newer houses or those who already did other mitigations might not), but definitely look it up if you haven’t. It’s called My Safe Florida Home.
For me, this program is the reason I finally decided to do the window project – getting essentially a 50% discount via the grant was too good to pass up.
@breezec63 Thanks for sharing your Simonton experience. I remember reading about that condensation lawsuit and was wary of Simonton at first. Good to know it hasn’t been an issue for you and that their warranty is solid. I’m leaning towards Simonton for my house (because their quote is coming in lower than PGT for me too), and your post reassured me.
Also, cool to hear the inspector himself had Simonton – that’s a confidence booster 😂.