Funny enough, when the inspector came for our windows, he was in and out in like 5 minutes. Checked a couple windows stickers, opened and closed one, and that was it. Easiest inspection ever. I guess these guys see thousands of window installs.
I'm so glad I read this thread before signing anything. It saved me from almost going with the first quote I got, which in hindsight was not great. Now I'm getting a few more quotes and asking the right questions. Thanks to all who contributed!
Minor thing: the caulk/sealant smell was a bit strong for a day or two after install, but it went away. We just kept the house ventilated. Small price to pay for new windows 😊.
I've got nothing to add except to echo the love for impact windows. Totally worth it.
Following all this, I'm actually excited to tackle my window project now. Knowledge is power!
Props to everyone who contributed. This thread just saved me from making a few newbie mistakes.
Can’t believe how much I learned about windows... Never thought I'd be this interested in them until I became a homeowner in hurricane alley.
To anyone reading this in the future: don't be shy to ask a ton of questions when you get quotes. An informed homeowner gets a better result. I annoyed my window guy with so many questions (thanks to what I learned here), but in the end he said he appreciated that I knew what I wanted. 😉
Haha, @spirituality_rain same here! I probably overwhelmed my contractors with detailed questions and comparisons. Better that than going in blind.
I second the note on tax credits mentioned by @hollysnowboarder. I claimed mine on my taxes this year and it was a nice little bonus.