Finding the best window replacement company to upgrade the windows in your home can be an enormous challenge. You need to balance out things like cost, quality, reliability, and service. And there is a literal mountain of bad actors to sift through who are looking for ways to take your money while providing the lowest quality work they can get away with.
But how can you sort out the fly-by-night operations from the genuinely good window replacement companies who do their best to provide you a great value for your money?
We’ve heard our fair share of horror stories about poorly-done window installations in the past. In fact, some of our past clients came to us to fix the bad work done by others. Here’s a short list of some ‘deadly sins of bad window installation companies’ that can help you spot the bad apples before you take a bite… and they take a bite out of your wallet, in turn!
The Seven Deadly Sins of Window Replacement Companies
1) The Window Replacement Company Doesn’t Come Out to Your Home in Person to Provide a Quote
One of the biggest things that separates the best window replacement companies from the rest of the pack is work ethic. Do they work hard, or do they hardly work?
An early warning sign that a window replacement company might not be a good one is that they’re too lazy to perform an inspection of your property before even providing you a quote.
In-person inspections are crucial for verifying the conditions of the work site and the window installation location.
Differences in whether you have wooden or concrete walls, elevation, local weather conditions, and moisture content can all have an impact on the installation job.
If a company only asks for a measurement of the window before quoting you a price without offering to inspect the worksite in person, then they aren’t going to be the best window company to replace your windows.
2) The Window Installers Aren’t In-House Licensed Employees–They’re Subcontractors
This is a really common issue. Some window installation companies opt to subcontract out their work, letting others work under their license to save on labor costs. There’s an enormous problem with this practice: it often means that you aren’t working with licensed contractors… you’re working with contractors working under someone else’s license.
What’s the difference?
A contractor works directly with you to complete the service you requested. Subcontractors are, as explained by Insureon, “companies or people hired by the contractor to do specific tasks or services in their area of expertise.
The subcontractor doesn’t work for you—they work for themselves and report to the contractor. If an issue comes up with the work, the subcontractor isn’t liable to you. They’re liable to the company that contracted them.
This can lead to a ‘blame game’ when the installation goes poorly. You’ll need to get compensation from the window installation company, but they’ll pass the buck off to the subcontractor and stonewall you as much as possible.
Another problem is that, sometimes, subcontractors aren’t even properly licensed to do the window installation work. They’re just working under someone who has a license. This may mean that they aren’t fully aware of the codes and standards that they need to follow for your window installation job.
It’s all part of the worst window replacement companies’ main goal: to cut costs as much as possible so they can pocket more of your money.
3) They Cut Corners on Window Installation as Much as Possible
Far, far too many organizations claim to be the best window replacement company only to cut corners during the installation like it was going out of style.
For example, during a typical window installation project, a window needs the following:
- Shims. These are solid spacers, typically wedge-shaped, that help keep the window stable during installation.
- Fastenings. To secure the window to the frame, nails, screws, and other fastenings are applied to the window. This helps keep the window from simply falling out of the frame.
- Foam Insulation. Insulation is key for maintaining the energy efficiency of your home. A window install without insulation is not going to provide adequate energy efficiency regardless of the window’s U-factor or other key stats.
- Flashing. This refers to the tape placed around the window’s frame to prevent moisture intrusion that can damage the window’s materials. Other coating materials may also be used.
- Interior Trim Replacement. The interior trim on a window is often damaged or removed during the installation process. Replacing this trim is necessary for maintaining the visual appeal of your windows from inside the home.
- Caulking. Caulk is a tool for creating a watertight seal between the window frame and the exterior wall. This helps protect the window from getting damaged by moisture from the outside of the home.
There are a lot of ways that lesser window installers might cut corners.
For example, some installers might use wooden shims instead of composite shims. This can be a problem because wooden shims are more prone to failure than composite shims—especially if they’re exposed to moisture. This can lead to the window not sitting properly in the frame.
Another common cut corner is the insulation in the window. Installers might use low-quality insulation instead of the medium-density expanding foam that creates a tight seal. Some might even skip the insulation entirely, leading to a window that doesn’t insulate nearly as well as it should.
When you’re looking for the best window replacement company in Tampa, be sure to ask what kinds of materials they use and what their installation process is.
4) Surprise Charges and Price Changes
As a corollary to the issue of contractors being too lazy to come out and inspect your home before giving you a quote there’s the problem of surprise surcharges and price changes for the installation work.
Now, some changes might be inevitable. For example, if a manufacturer of a window is unable to provide it and the contractor has to go with a different manufacturer or a different window to meet the installation deadline, that’s not necessarily the contractor’s fault.
However, when the window installer’s sales team quotes you one price over the phone, but the installer says something completely different on actually seeing your windows, that’s a major warning sign of a company that’s going to do everything they can to bait and switch you on your window installation costs.
5) The Warranty Service Runaround
It seems like some folks will write just about anything on their website, promising the moon when it comes to warranty services… then do everything they possibly can to avoid actually fulfilling that warranty.
You shouldn’t have to lawyer up just to get a window company to fulfill the promises they made to you. Be sure to look for trusted window installation experts who have a proven track record of providing high-quality work.
6) Not Filing the Proper Window Installation Permits
Some companies might try to tell you that you don’t need a permit to replace the existing doors and windows in your home. Those companies would be lying.
In Florida, the replacement of an exterior door or window requires that you submit a window/door permit form with your county offices. Here’s a link to the Pinellas County Window/Door Replacement and/or Impact Shutter Permit Form so you can see what the permit would look like.
For Pinellas County, this is a two-page form that asks for information like your address, the owner’s name, the contractor’s name, and specifications for the replacement windows/doors.
Replacing your windows without the proper permits, you could be hit with penalties, such as an immediate “Stop Work” order and additional fees. This can put a huge delay into your window replacement project and result in a lot of unexpected added costs.
The permit application is necessary for ensuring that your new windows meet the current Florida Building Code standards for energy efficiency, hurricane resistance, and other key metrics that every Florida homeowner needs for their windows.
7) Failing to Communicate
Communication is key for a successful window installation project. If there’s going to be a delay in the project because of supply issues or other problems, you need to know right away. You shouldn’t have to wait until the day before your planned installation date before getting a call saying that “We never got the windows, so your project’s been delayed five weeks.”
If there’s a problem with a supplier, you should be told when the problem happens. The best window installation companies will work with you every step of the way to ensure that you’re kept in the loop so there aren’t any surprises.
Looking for the Best Window Replacement Company in Tampa?
Look no further! Karoly Windows & Doors is the #1 most trusted window replacement company in Tampa. We’re dedicated to providing our customers with top-of-the-line workmanship and support at an affordable price.
Every one of our installers are in-house employees—not subcontractors. When we provide a quote, it’s after we’ve inspected the installation site so we can give you the most accurate estimate possible. We don’t cut corners in our installation work. We use top-quality shims, insulation, and sealants to ensure that your new window lasts for as long as possible.
Reach out today to request a quote for window and door replacement services to prepare your home for the next big storm!
