Window Replacement Costs & Recommendations for 1980s Tampa Home?

Welcome to the window replacement club, @golfplayer86! I’m also in Pinellas County (Clearwater area) and went through a full-home window replacement last year. We replaced 12 windows in our 1970s ranch home. I can share our experience and costs:
We got three quotes:

A smaller local contractor quoted about $9,000 total for 12 windows (non-impact, basic double-pane vinyl).

A larger well-known company gave us a much higher quote around $15,000 for similar work (probably because of higher overhead and a fancy sales presentation).

Karoly Windows & Doors gave us a quote of $10,500 for 12 double-pane impact-rated vinyl windows (Simonton brand, I believe). This price included everything: installation, permitting, and old window removal.

We ended up going with Karoly Windows & Doors, and we’ve been very happy with the result. 👍 Their price was not the absolute lowest, but it was competitive, especially considering these were impact windows (hurricane-rated). They handled all the permitting with the county, which was a relief because I didn’t want to deal with that paperwork. The install crew was professional and quick – they did all 12 windows in two days.

A few tips from what I learned:

Impact vs Non-Impact: In Florida, if you go with non-impact windows, you’ll need hurricane shutters or panels for storm protection (building code requires you have some form of hurricane protection). We opted for impact windows to avoid putting up shutters for every storm. Impact windows cost more (roughly 30-50% more in our quotes), but they also provide better security and noise reduction. Our home is noticeably quieter now.

Permit: Definitely make sure whoever you hire pulls a permit. Our county inspector came out after installation to check the windows. Everything passed fine. If a company says “we can do it without a permit to save money,” that’s a red flag 🚩. In our area, permits are required for window replacements, and skipping it can cause trouble when you sell or with insurance.

Energy Efficiency: Even if you’re not aiming for top-of-the-line, get windows with Low-E glass and argon fill if possible. Ours have that, and it made a difference in our electric bill last summer (our AC doesn’t run as nonstop as before).

So, for 12 impact windows we paid about $10.5k – that averages ~$875 per window installed. If you go non-impact, it could be a couple thousand less in total. The exact price will depend on your window sizes and any special shapes.

Hope that helps! If you have questions about the process or anything, ask away. This forum was super helpful when I was doing my research, so I’m happy to pay it forward.

Hi @golfplayer86, welcome! I'm in South Tampa (Hillsborough) and I just finished replacing all the windows in my home in March. We have a two-story house with 20 windows plus a sliding glass door. We were aiming for high-end, hurricane-proof windows because we live near the coast and wanted maximum peace of mind.
Our experience and costs:

We got a quote from ProTech Windoors (they’ve been around 20+ years here). They offered us top-of-the-line options like Jeld-Wen impact windows and even an Origin aluminum sliding door for our patio. The quote for 20 impact windows + 1 impact sliding door came out to about $32,000. This included installation, permit, and a good warranty (lifetime on the frames/glass, and I think 2 years on labor).

For comparison, we also had a quote from another local window company (I won’t name since it wasn’t a great experience) that was around $28,000 for a similar configuration, but we didn’t feel as confident in their product or track record. Their sales rep was a bit too pushy and didn't go into much detail on the window brands.

We did speak with a rep from Renewal by Andersen too, out of curiosity. As you suspected, their quote was astronomical: they quoted roughly $45,000 for our project 😱 (they use Fibrex material, which is a composite, not even aluminum or vinyl). The windows seemed excellent quality and very nice looking, but that price was way out of our budget.

We ultimately chose ProTech Windoors, even though they weren’t the cheapest, because we valued their reputation and the quality of the products. They use an in-house installation team (not subcontractors), which gave us confidence the install would be done right. And it was – the crew was fantastic. It took 3 days to swap out all 20 windows and the big slider door. They were very careful about our property (laid down drop cloths, moved furniture, etc.), and everything passed inspection on the first go.

After a month with the new windows, here are a few outcomes:

The hurricane impact glass gives us peace of mind. With hurricane season every year, we feel a lot safer. We actually had a strong storm last week and we barely heard the wind; plus we didn’t have to mess with putting up shutters.

Our house is cooler and quieter. The old single-pane windows would rattle and let heat in. Now even midday, the interior temp is more stable. I think the UV coating is helping with the Florida sun.

A nice surprise: our home insurance gave us a discount for having all openings hurricane-protected (impact windows and door). We sent them the certification documents and wind mitigation report, and it knocked a good chunk off our premium. That will add up to big savings over time.

In terms of budgeting, your mileage may vary, but expect maybe ~$1,000 to $1,500 per window for good impact windows installed. Non-impact might be more like $600-$800 each around here. Since you have 15 windows, I’d guess impact quotes could land in the $15k-$20k range total, and non-impact maybe $10k-$12k, based on my research. Of course, each house is different.

One more tip: start the process early. Our project from signing the contract to installation took about 3 months because the windows had to be manufactured to size and there were some supply chain delays. So don’t wait until the last minute, especially if you want this done before hurricane season peaks.

Good luck and let us know if you have other questions!

This thread is super helpful. I'm actually in the middle of getting quotes myself for my home in Largo (Pinellas). We have 10 windows and one patio slider to replace. Let me share the quotes we’ve gathered so far for a mix of impact vs non-impact, and maybe you all can weigh in on them:
Window World (non-impact vinyl windows): about $7,500 for 10 windows + slider. This was the cheapest by far. However, these would be basic double-pane windows and we'd have to rely on our existing hurricane shutters for storm protection. The rep was low-key, not pushy, which was nice. But I have heard mixed reviews about Window World quality (some say their windows are fine for the price, others had issues down the line).

NewSouth Windows (impact): initial quote was a whopping $20,000, but during the visit they quickly dropped it to $16,000 if we signed on the spot (which we did NOT do because I don't like high-pressure sales). Their pitch was that they manufacture their own windows here in Florida and they are top quality. The windows did look solid and have good ratings, but the pricing game felt off-putting. I also saw some reviews mentioning service issues after installation, so I'm wary.

Karoly Windows & Doors (impact, Simonton windows): came in around $12,800 for the 10 windows and the slider door, all impact glass. This is actually the front-runner for us right now. The owner Karoly himself did the consultation. He was very knowledgeable and not pushy at all. He educated us on different brands (even mentioned why he recommends Simonton for our type of house) and gave us the quote which was significantly lower than NewSouth’s final number. What I liked is that Karoly’s quote was straightforward with no “sign now” gimmicks. Plus, hearing @charlie_woof and others speak highly of Karoly makes me feel more comfortable with them.

Weather Tite Windows (impact): their quote was $14,500. They were pretty professional and have been around for a while. The rep brought cookies (if you live here you might have seen their TV commercials about fresh-baked cookies – it’s true, he actually brought some 😂). I liked them, but $14.5k was still higher than Karoly’s quote for what seemed like similar quality windows (I think Weather Tite uses their own branded product or maybe PGT). A neighbor of mine used Weather Tite and had no complaints, so they’re still in the running somewhat.

So that’s a wide range: $7.5k (cheapest, non-impact) up to $16k or more. We’re leaning towards spending a bit more to get the impact windows for the peace of mind and convenience. The Karoly quote at ~$12.8k for everything seems pretty fair. It's not the rock-bottom price, but given the positive feedback and the fact it includes a good brand window and full installation service, it feels like the best value.

I haven’t gotten a quote from ProTech Windoors yet – do you guys think it’s worth contacting them too? I saw @food_diesel had a good experience with ProTech but their project was bigger/high-end. Not sure if they’d be competitive on a smaller job like mine or if they focus on premium projects.

Anyway, that’s where I’m at. If anyone has input on these companies or if my quotes sound reasonable/unreasonable, I’m all ears!

Thanks to everyone who has shared their numbers – this is pure gold for someone like me who’s still in the decision phase. I’m in Pasco County, a bit inland (Land O’ Lakes area), and I have a dilemma I’d love input on: impact windows vs. non-impact + shutters.
My situation: my house currently has aluminum hurricane shutters for all windows (the previous owner left them). They’re the kind you bolt on, not super convenient, but they work. My windows themselves are old single-pane and due for replacement. I got one quote so far for non-impact double-pane windows (vinyl) at about $600 per window installed. If I instead opt for impact-rated glass, the same company said it would be around $1,000+ per window. I have 10 windows, so we’re talking maybe $6k total vs $10-12k total. That's a big difference.

For those who went with impact windows, do you feel it’s worth the extra cost even if you have shutters? I don’t mind putting up shutters if a hurricane is coming (I work from home, so I have time to do it), and saving ~$5k is appealing. But I also wonder about other benefits of impact glass (security, noise, daily convenience of not dealing with shutters).

Has anyone here chosen to stick with non-impact windows and rely on shutters? Or vice versa, decided to pay more for impact windows even though you had shutters? I’d love to hear how you decided and if you’re happy with the choice.

Appreciate the help!

@singer12 I was in the exact same boat and ended up choosing non-impact windows + keeping my shutters. I'm in St. Pete (Pinellas County) and replaced 8 windows in my house last year. We already had accordion-style hurricane shutters installed from before, and they are easy enough to close when needed.
Cost-wise, it was a no-brainer for us: the quotes for impact windows were almost double. For example, we had an estimate of $12,000 for 8 impact windows versus $6,500 for non-impact windows of the same size/brand. We went with the non-impact option (vinyl double-pane, Energy Star rated windows) and spent that ~$6.5k. Saved a lot of money up front.

Here’s how it played out:

We got our windows from Window World, actually. They had the best price for the non-impact and a decent product (nothing fancy, but Energy Star rated and good warranty). Installation was fine – took one day. We kept all our existing hurricane shutters. During a storm warning, we just close the accordions and we’re protected.

Security: One of my concerns was burglars (impact glass is harder to break). To address that, I added some aftermarket security film to the new windows. It’s not as good as true impact glass, but it does make the glass harder to shatter. And of course, when shutters are closed, that’s not an issue. So far, no break-in attempts here (knock on wood).

Noise: Impact windows do reduce noise more, but even our new non-impacts are double-pane and do a way better job than our old single-pane ones. We noticed a significant drop in outside noise. Maybe not as silent as my friend’s house with impact glass, but still pretty good for us.

Insurance & code: We had to show that we have code-approved shutters for the permit and for insurance purposes. As long as you have proper shutters or storm panels, building code is satisfied with non-impact windows. We actually got a wind mitigation inspection done after, and because we have shutters on all openings, our home still qualifies as hurricane-protected for insurance discounts. And here’s a bonus – there was a state program called My Safe Florida Home that offered grants for storm protection upgrades. By having new windows (even non-impact) plus shutters, we met the criteria, and we got approved for a grant. It reimbursed us up to $10k for the project (we didn’t spend that much, but we got a chunk of it covered). That program’s funding can be hit or miss, but it’s worth looking into if you’re upgrading for storm safety.

To sum up: I’m happy with non-impact windows + shutters given our budget constraints. Yes, it's a bit of work to deploy shutters, but I’m okay with that to save several thousand dollars. If money were no object, sure, impact windows would be ideal. But in practice, our solution works fine and is code-compliant.

Hopefully that gives you some perspective, @singer12. It really comes down to budget and how much the hassle of shutters bothers you. In my case, I don’t mind it for the trade-off in savings.

I’m glad someone brought up doing things in stages. In our case, we couldn’t afford to do all windows at once, so we split the project into two phases. I’m in Seminole (Pinellas) in a 1965 block home. We had 16 windows total, but we replaced 8 windows in 2023 and will do the other 8 probably later this year.
Phase 1 (8 windows):

We prioritized the worst windows first (the ones that were leaking or painted shut, and those in the bedrooms for safety egress concerns).

We went with a small local family-run window installer (a father-son business). They gave us a good deal: $5,200 for 8 non-impact vinyl windows installed. That’s about $650 per window. These were custom-sized to fit our openings, but we opted for non-impact glass to stay within budget. The brand was CWS (Custom Window Systems, made in Florida).

Installation was smooth, but since it was a small crew it took them 3 days to do 8 windows. Everything passed inspection. They pulled the permit with the city of Seminole without issue. The only minor inconvenience was we had to remove some interior shutters and trim ourselves before they came, but that was easy enough.

Now, living with half old/half new windows for a while:

The difference was immediately noticeable in the rooms with new windows – cooler and no drafts. We actually regretted not doing all at once, but our finances just didn’t allow it at the time.

We kept shutters for the old windows and got temporary plywood cut for the new ones (since those 8 new non-impact windows would need covering if a hurricane came). So hurricane prep was a little more complicated, but manageable.

Phase 2 (upcoming):

We plan to do the remaining 8 windows and at that time might upgrade those to impact glass if we can swing it, or at least get the front ones impact for security. It’s an option to mix-and-match impact and non-impact in the house, as long as you have shutters for the non-impact ones. We’d love to eventually have all impact so we can ditch the shutters entirely. The same contractor said they can do the next 8 for roughly the same price per window if non-impact, or about $1,000 each if we choose impact glass for those. We’re still debating that.

One thing to note: If you do split like we did, check if your quotes will hold or if there’s any discount for doing more at once. Doing all 16 at once might have gotten us a slightly better per-window price (bulk deal). Since we broke it up, we might end up paying a few hundred more overall. But it made the project financially feasible, so it was worth it for us.

So yes, you can do a full-home replacement in stages. Just keep track of your permits and paperwork so you have records that all windows eventually got replaced to code. And ideally use the same company so the look and type of windows match across the house.

Hope that insight helps someone considering a phased approach. It’s not as ideal as one-and-done, but sometimes it’s the only way to get it done within budget.

Jumping in to share my recent experience! I'm in Wesley Chapel (Pasco County) and earlier this year I replaced 10 windows in my house. I went through a rollercoaster of quotes and can relate to the shock of some high bids.
Renewal by Andersen: I had them out for a quote just because I was curious (and they were heavily advertising a “Winter Sale”). For 10 windows, they quoted me around $30,000 (after some “discounts” applied). That was about $3k per window! 😲 The product is good (composite frames, etc.), but I just couldn’t justify that price. The sales pitch was also a bit much — lots of talk about how the quote was only good for that day, etc. I politely declined.

ProTech Windoors: Based on recommendations (saw a couple folks mention them here and on Nextdoor), I got a quote from ProTech. Even though my project was moderate in size (not huge), they were happy to quote it. The co-owner actually came out and measured. They offered me two options: a more budget-friendly vinyl impact window (I think it was PGT brand) and a higher-end option (aluminum frame impact by Jeld-Wen). I appreciated the choice. The prices came to $14,000 (for the vinyl PGT option) or $17,500 (for the aluminum Jeld-Wen option) for all 10 windows. Still a lot of money, but way less than the RBA quote. We decided to go with ProTech’s PGT vinyl impact windows option at $14k.

Local Independent (one-man operation): For comparison, I also had a local guy (found him through a friend) give an estimate. He wasn’t a full-service company, more like a handyman who does windows on the side. His estimate was around $9,000 for non-impact windows (and he said if we wanted impact, he’d basically just charge whatever the difference in material cost was). That was tempting from a price perspective, but I was nervous about warranty and him handling the permit/inspection properly since he worked solo. Ultimately, I decided it was safer to go with an established company, even if it cost more.

I ended up signing with ProTech Windoors and I have no regrets. Even at $14k, it was within our budget after financing part of it. The installation was done by their crew in two days. They did an excellent job — one window had a small cosmetic issue and they caught it before I even noticed and ordered a replacement sash immediately. By the way, ProTech is fully licensed/insured (I checked) and they took care of all the county paperwork.

Now I have 10 beautiful PGT Winguard impact windows, and they look great. We already had one strong storm come through and the house felt secure. Plus, we got that sweet insurance discount for having impact protection on all windows (as @food_diesel mentioned). My insurance agent confirmed that whether it’s impact windows or shutters, as long as all openings are protected, you get credits. So either route works for insurance, but I must say it’s nice not having to mess with shutters anymore in our case.

@design_barbara To answer your question: yes, I’d say it’s worth getting a quote from ProTech even for a smaller project. My 10-window job was not huge and they were very attentive. They might not always be the very cheapest, but in terms of quality and service we felt they offered great value.

Hope that helps some folks. And if anyone is considering Renewal by Andersen like I did, just be prepared for the sticker shock. You can get equal or better performance for a lot less money with other companies/brands, especially here in Florida where there are many window options tailored for hurricanes and heat.

I just want to chime in with another thumbs up for Karoly Windows & Doors because we also used them and our experience was excellent. I'm in Palm Harbor (Pinellas) and had 11 windows and a set of french doors replaced about two years ago (late 2023).
Our project: 11 windows (all impact, mostly single-hungs plus one picture window) and one impact-rated French patio door. We got quotes from 4 companies and Karoly was indeed the best value for what we were getting. The total came to around $15,000 for everything. Other quotes we had ranged from $14k (from a lesser-known contractor for non-impact windows, not a fair comparison) to $18k+ for similar impact products from a larger firm. So Karoly's price for impact windows and doors was great.

Installation & service: The install team finished in about two days. They were extremely neat – put down floor coverings and cleaned up thoroughly. After installation, one of the windows had a minor issue (a strip of weatherstripping was loose and one of the windows was a tad hard to open). We called Karoly’s office, and they were very responsive. They sent the crew back out within a week to adjust that window and replace the weatherstrip. No fuss at all; they made sure we were totally satisfied. That kind of after-install service is so important. I've heard some horror stories of companies disappearing after they get paid, but Karoly provided support even after installation.

It’s now been 2 years and everything still looks and works like new. No leaks, no problems opening/closing. We feel much safer each hurricane season knowing our windows and doors are impact-rated.

One more thing to mention: permits and HOA. In our case, we needed approval from our HOA for the window style (they required grids on the front windows to match the neighborhood look). Karoly’s team actually helped by providing the spec sheets and drawings I needed to submit to the HOA. And with the city permit, as others said, they handled it. We got the permit record and approval stickers on the windows after inspection. So all the paperwork was properly done, which is reassuring for when we eventually sell the house.

So yes, if you’re considering Karoly, our story echoes what @charlie_woof and @design_barbara said – they deliver good quality and stand by their work, without breaking the bank. Definitely give them a serious look.

Reading all these experiences is great. I’ll add ours too, especially for those in older homes. We bought a 1950s block home in Tampa (West Tampa area) that still had the original jalousie windows (those old crank-out louvered glass slats). Talk about inefficiency – they leaked air, and we might as well have had no windows during a rainstorm, water got in. Security was non-existent too (I think a toddler could push them open 😅).
We bit the bullet and did a full replacement of all windows and two exterior doors as soon as we moved in. It was a big job because the window openings had to be reconfigured (jalousies are a different size/shape than standard windows). We hired Clearwater Window & Doors for the project after getting a few quotes. They weren’t the cheapest, but they had experience with mid-century homes and we felt confident in them.

Details:

16 windows replaced (went with impact-rated single-hung windows, vinyl frames, Low-E glass).

2 exterior doors replaced (one front door, one back door with impact glass insert).

The total cost was around $30,000 for everything. This was a mix of small, medium, and a couple of large picture windows, plus the doors. We did go with impact glass and energy-efficient upgrades on all, which raised the price, but we wanted to do it once and do it right.

The contractor had to slightly widen some openings and add new concrete sills where the old jalousie setups were weird. It was more construction work than a typical like-for-like swap, hence part of the expense. They took care of all that and did the masonry and stucco patching nicely.

Results:

The house looks completely transformed. It went from looking like a “time capsule” old Florida home to a modern look instantly. We chose white frames and no grids for a clean look. The curb appeal boost was real – several neighbors commented on how new windows changed the whole vibe of the house.

Functionally, we feel the difference every day. No more drafts, and the AC finally keeps up in summer. The Low-E coating on the glass cuts a lot of the heat and UV; our furniture and curtains aren’t getting sun-bleached anymore.

Noise reduction was big too. We live under a flight path for TPA (airport) and with the old jalousies it sounded like planes were in the living room. With the new impact windows, it’s a dull hum at best. We can sleep through early flights now.

Permitting took some time (the project needed structural changes, so plans had to be submitted). It was all properly done and inspected. The whole project from start to finish took about 6 weeks (two of those weeks were waiting for custom-sized windows to be made and delivered).

For anyone with an older home like ours, be prepared that your costs might be higher, especially if you have to fix or modify openings. But it is 100% worth it in my opinion. Not only for comfort and safety, but also it significantly raised our home’s value. During a refi appraisal, the appraiser specifically noted the new impact windows and doors as a major value add.

In hindsight, no regrets other than wishing we’d done it sooner (we endured one summer with those jalousies and that was enough). If you love your older home, don’t be afraid to invest in good windows – it pays off in quality of life!