Frequently Asked Questions — Windows & Doors
Straight answers to the questions Miami homeowners ask us most about window and door replacement, repair, and installation. If you don't see your question here, call (844) 901-4551 and we'll talk it through.
Pricing & Cost FAQs
Window replacement in Miami typically runs $450 to $1,400 per window installed, with most full-home projects landing between $6,000 and $18,000. The spread comes down to window size, frame material, glass package, and whether the opening needs structural work. Impact-rated windows, which most Miami homeowners choose, sit at the higher end because of the laminated glass and reinforced frames. Older homes in neighborhoods like Shenandoah or the Roads often need extra carpentry once the old window comes out. Every Winslow Windows & Doors quote is a fixed, written line-item price, so you'll see exactly what you're paying before any work begins. Call (844) 901-4551 for a free estimate.
Impact windows in Miami average $55 to $95 per square foot installed, including the window, frame, labor, and permitting. A standard 36-by-60-inch impact window usually lands between $700 and $1,200. Larger openings like sliding glass doors cost more per square foot because the glass is thicker and the frame reinforcement is heavier. Homes east of US-1 in neighborhoods like Brickell and Coconut Grove often require higher design pressures, which can push pricing up. We quote exact numbers after measuring, never a range you have to guess from. Call (844) 901-4551 and we'll come measure at no charge.
Impact windows cost more because they're built differently. The glass is a laminated sandwich with a polymer interlayer that holds the pane together when a 2x4 hits it at 50 miles per hour during a hurricane. The frames are extruded and reinforced to meet Miami-Dade's high-velocity hurricane zone standards. Each window and door must pass testing at an approved laboratory and carry a Notice of Acceptance from the county. That engineering and certification is what you're paying for. It's not a markup, it's a different product category than standard builder-grade glass. A cheaper window that fails during a storm is no savings at all.
Sliding glass door replacement in Miami usually runs $2,000 to $5,500 for a standard 72-by-80 impact-rated unit installed. Multi-slide doors or pocket sliders that disappear into the wall can run $12,000 to $20,000 depending on panel count and track system. Height matters too: high-rise condo installations in places like Edgewater and Brickell involve crane or freight elevator logistics that add to labor. We always provide a written line-item quote before you sign anything, so the number you see is the number you pay. Call (844) 901-4551 to schedule a free measuring appointment.
Impact windows and doors usually return a measurable portion of their cost at resale, and in Miami they also lower windstorm insurance premiums by 15 to 40 percent on many policies. Buyers here expect impact protection, and homes without it sit longer on the market. The insurance savings alone often pay for a meaningful share of the project over several years. That said, the primary value is year-round: better storm protection, lower cooling bills, and much less outside noise. If you're planning to sell within a few years, replacing old single-pane windows is one of the higher-return upgrades you can make.
Service & Process FAQs
Most full-home window replacements in Miami take one to five days of on-site work, with a typical single-story home done in two to three days. Condos and high-rise units usually take longer if the building requires specific hoisting windows or freight elevator scheduling. The timeline from signed contract to installation day depends on manufacturing lead times, which run four to eight weeks for custom impact windows. We give you a written schedule with your quote and keep you updated on production dates. Permitting through Miami-Dade, Hialeah, or Coral Gables adds a week or two depending on the municipality.
Yes. Every Winslow Windows & Doors location pulls the required permits and schedules the inspections for your project. Miami-Dade County, along with cities like Hialeah, Coral Gables, and Miami Shores, each have their own building department with different requirements for impact products. We handle the paperwork, the product approvals, and the inspection coordination from start to finish. When the job is done, you get a closed permit and a passed inspection. Nothing gets left open. If you have an older home where original drawings don't exist, we sort that out too.
First visit, we measure every opening, inspect the existing frames for water damage or rot, and talk through your goals: storm protection, noise reduction, energy savings, or all three. Then we prepare a fixed written quote with line-item pricing and a product spec sheet. Once you approve, we order your windows and coordinate the permit. On install day, the crew protects your floors, removes the old windows one at a time, sets the new ones, seals and trims, and hauls away the debris. Final inspection follows. The entire process is designed so you're never guessing about what happens next. Call (844) 901-4551 to start.
We'll replace a single window, no problem. There's no minimum job size at Winslow Windows & Doors. Homeowners sometimes need one window after an impact crack, a failed seal, or a leak around a specific opening. We match the new unit to the style and glass package of the others as closely as possible. The one practical note: if your existing windows are old and out of production, an exact cosmetic match may not exist. We'll show you the closest available option before ordering. Call (844) 901-4551 and tell us what you're dealing with.
Yes. We replace windows and sliding doors in high-rise buildings throughout Miami, including buildings that require COA approval and freight elevator reservations. High-rise work involves different logistics: the building's engineering review, product approval submittals, and coordinated delivery scheduling. Our team handles the documentation the association requires. If your building has a specific impact product approval list, we'll match your window spec to it. The process takes a bit longer than a single-family home because of the coordination, but it's work we do regularly.
Brands & Parts FAQs
We install premium impact windows and doors from manufacturers including PGT, CGI, and ViewLux. These are the brands we trust for Miami-Dade's high-velocity hurricane zone requirements, and each offers a strong warranty and proven test performance. The right brand depends on your building type, design pressure requirements, and budget. We'll spec the best fit for your home and explain why in plain language. Every product we install carries full manufacturer documentation and Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance where impact rating applies. Call (844) 901-4551 for guidance on which brand fits your project.
PGT and CGI both manufacture excellent impact windows that meet Miami-Dade standards, but they differ in frame construction, glass options, and price positioning. PGT offers a broad product range from value-oriented impact windows to premium lines with heavy frame reinforcement. CGI, part of the PGT Innovations family, focuses on custom and high-end impact products, often specified for larger openings and higher design pressures. Both carry strong warranties. We can walk you through both brands regularly and will recommend the one that matches your specific openings, exposure, and budget rather than pushing one over the other.
In most cases, yes, we can match the look and operation of your existing windows if that manufacturer still produces the line. If the original windows are discontinued, we'll spec a compatible replacement from one of our standard premium brands and match the finish, grid pattern, and glass tint as closely as possible. This comes up often in homes built in the 1980s and 1990s across Westchester, Fountainebleau, and Kendall. The most important thing is that the new window meets current Miami-Dade impact standards, because building code requires it for replacement openings.
We do both. Common repairs include failed seals, fogged glass units, hard-to-operate sashes, broken balances, and worn weather stripping. If a window was installed properly and the frame is sound, a repair can extend its life for years at a fraction of replacement cost. But when the frame is rotted, the glass doesn't meet current impact code, or the repair cost approaches replacement, we'll tell you straight and quote the replacement. We don't sell a replacement when a repair is genuinely the better call. Call (844) 901-4551 and describe what you're seeing.
The best impact window for Miami is one that carries a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance, matches your building's design pressure requirement, and is installed by a crew that handles the flashing and sealing correctly. Among the brands we install, PGT, CGI, and ViewLux all deliver proven hurricane protection when spec'd and installed to code. The window's test rating matters more than the name on the frame. A properly installed mid-grade impact window protects better than a premium window with sloppy flashing. We stand behind both the product and the installation.
Licensing & Insurance FAQs
Every professional working under the Winslow Windows & Doors name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires for window and door installation. We also carry the coverage needed to work in condominium buildings, which often ask for certificates of insurance naming the association before work starts. Permits are pulled for every job that requires one, and inspections are scheduled through the local building department. If your HOA or condo board needs documentation, we provide it before installation day. Call (844) 901-4551 and we'll get whatever your building needs.
Yes, we pull permits on every project that requires one. Window and door replacement in Miami-Dade County and its cities, including Hialeah, Coral Gables, South Miami, and Miami Springs, is regulated work that requires product approvals and inspections. We handle the permit application, the Notice of Acceptance paperwork, and the scheduling with the building department. At the end of the job, your permit is closed and your inspection is passed. We don't do unpermitted work, and we'd advise any homeowner to be wary of a contractor who suggests skipping the permit.
Yes. Replacing windows or doors with impact-rated products in Miami-Dade County requires a building permit, and the products must carry a Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance or Florida Building Code approval. This applies in every city we serve, from Hialeah to Coral Gables to Miami Shores. The permit process ensures the windows are tested and approved for the wind loads your specific building faces. We handle all of it as part of your installation. It's not optional, and any price that seems too low because it skips the permit will cost you far more at inspection time or resale.
Emergency & Response FAQs
Yes, we board up broken windows and doors after storms and before a hurricane makes landfall when openings are compromised. A broken or missing window during hurricane season is a genuine emergency, because wind-driven rain entering the home can cause thousands in interior damage in a matter of hours. Call (844) 901-4551 and a live coordinator will connect you with the local team nearest your address. Our normal operating hours are 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, seven days a week. Once the opening is secured, we'll schedule the permanent replacement and handle the insurance paperwork with you.
First, keep everyone away from the glass and close off the room if you can. If the pane is still in place, tape a heavy plastic sheet over the crack on both sides to keep wind and rain out until a pro arrives. Don't try to remove the broken pane yourself, impact glass is heavy and sharp even when laminated. If the opening is exposed to weather or security risk, call (844) 901-4551 and we'll board it and schedule the replacement. A cracked impact window has done its job by staying in place, but it needs replacement to restore full protection.
We handle emergency board-up and urgent window replacement for storm damage and break-ins across the Miami area. When an opening is compromised, water and security are the immediate concerns, so we secure the opening first, then order and install the permanent replacement. Our phone line is staffed from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily, and you'll speak with a live coordinator who connects you with the location that covers your address. If your home is exposed right now, call (844) 901-4551 and tell us what happened.
Warranty & Guarantees FAQs
Every installation we complete carries a workmanship warranty covering the labor, and the manufacturer's warranty covers the window itself. Manufacturer warranties on premium impact windows from brands we install typically run ten years to lifetime on the frame and glass, including seal failure. The workmanship warranty covers the installation: leaking, improper flashing, failed trim work, or anything related to how we set the window. If an issue comes up after installation, call (844) 901-4551 and we'll arrange service. We stand behind the work.
Manufacturer warranties on premium impact windows from brands like PGT and CGI typically transfer to a new homeowner, which is a strong selling point when you list your Miami home. The transfer usually requires notifying the manufacturer within a set window after closing, and we can help you with that paperwork. Our workmanship warranty also transfers in most cases. We'll provide clear documentation of what's covered when the project finishes, so you have it ready when you sell. Call (844) 901-4551 with any warranty questions before or after your installation.
If a window we installed leaks, call us and we'll inspect it. Water intrusion around a new window is almost always a flashing or sealing issue, and that's exactly what our workmanship warranty covers. We'll assess whether the problem is at the window, the opening, or an adjacent building condition, and we'll fix our scope of work at no charge. The important thing is to report it early before water can damage drywall, flooring, or framing. Call (844) 901-4551 and describe the leak. We'll schedule the inspection and make it right.
Written by Ed Winslow, Owner at Winslow Windows & Doors, serving Miami since 2011.
Still Have Questions?
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(844) 901-4551