Florida Windows Installation Best Practices

In Florida, it isn’t enough to just get the best windows on the market. To stand up to the brutal weather conditions our state likes to throw at your home, those windows need to be installed the right way. So, you need a window installer who follows some basic Florida windows installation best practices on every job.

What are these best practices? How can you tell if a company is following the best practice or is looking to cut corners?

Let’s start by covering some best practices for installing windows in Florida:

Florida Windows Installation Best Practice #1: Using Trained and Experienced Installers

One of the first things a lot of so-called window installation companies do to cut costs is hiring third-party subcontractors rather than dedicated internal professionals to handle the actual window installation. 

The problem with this is that it means you never know if the installer actually knows what they’re doing. Amateur installers working as subcontractors bid low to do the work, often underestimating how much time and effort it takes to properly install a new window. This leads to them cutting corners on the installation to save time and labor so they can still walk away with a profit at the end of the job.

So, the first best practice for installing windows in Florida is to use a trained and experienced installer who specializes in window installation. These installers know how to put in windows the right way to ensure the longest useful life and prevent critical flaws that lead to seal failures and other issues.

Karoly Windows, for example, never outsources installation work to a third party subcontractor. We only ever use our own internal team of installers. That way, we can be sure of their skills and expertise. It also allows Karoly to hold them to a high standard of quality and performance so that you can rest easy knowing your installation is in good hands.

Florida Windows Installation Best Practice #2: Reviewing Manufacturer Installation Guidelines

Manufacturers like Simonton and PGT have specific installation instructions for their products that cover how to properly install them to achieve the best results. These instructions typically include things like diagrams for optimal screw placement, recommended tooling to use, where mounting flanges should be placed, sealant placement, and processes for using exterior accessories like sill extenders and snap-in flanges.

While an experienced installer will know them by heart, it’s still important to periodically review manufacturer-issued installation guidelines, especially if the manufacturer makes a significant change or update to their product line.

Florida Windows Installation Best Practice #3: Preparing the Window Opening

Before installing a new window, the old window needs to be removed and the opening prepared to receive the new one. If the window opening is left too rough and uneven, the new window might not sit properly. If the insulation around the window opening is bad or full of gaps, it could negatively impact your home’s energy efficiency and water resistance.

So, it’s important to thoroughly prepare the window opening before putting the new window frame in and securing it in place.

For example, if only minor realignment is necessary, an installer might put in shims to keep the frame perfectly level in the opening. If the opening is too rough, then the installer might create and add a window buck to create a secure anchor point for the whole window.

Florida Windows Installation Best Practice #4: Using High-Quality Shims, Bucks, Caulk, and Insulation

A common area where many window installers might try to cut costs (especially subcontractors who are trying to get the job done at a minimal cost) is in the secondary components used to install a window. This includes things like: screws, shims, bucks, caulk, insulation, flashing tape, and more.

It’s often the case that subpar installers will pair some of the most expensive windows with sterling brand reputations with the cheapest possible tooling and slipshod installation. The problem is that it doesn’t matter how good the window is if the cheap wooden shims or bucking surrounding it are rotted because of moisture damage.

Wood rot can ruin even the best windows when installers use cheap materials and then don’t seal them properly.

That’s why it’s important to choose a window installation company that uses top-quality tools and materials to complement their high-quality window installations. 

For example, rather than using cheap wooden shims that are prone to moisture intrusion and wood rot, it’s better to use composite shims that repel moisture and aren’t susceptible to rotting. This helps ensure that the windows won’t suffer a structural failure because the shims helping hold them level have failed.

Likewise, it’s important to use top-grade caulk that not only provides a barrier against moisture, but won’t dry up and crackle in the hot Florida sun within mere months of installation. Dry, cracked caulking does not provide an effective barrier against water intrusion. While even the best caulk, expertly applied, will eventually need replacing, it’s not something that you should have to worry about replacing within months. 

Good silicone-based caulk should last at least a decade and up to 20 years. Yet, some installers use cheap acrylic caulk not even meant for exterior use that can last 5-10 years… if used indoors. Used outdoors, acrylic caulk can break down in under two years just from sun exposure.

Why does acrylic break down so fast? Because it’s too rigid. As the Florida sun hits it, the caulk heats up, causing it to expand. When it rains or the sun sets, the caulk cools, shrinking. Because acrylic caulk is so rigid, continuous cycles of expansion and contraction cause the acrylic to split and crack. 

This creates a gap that allows moisture to get behind the seal the caulk was supposed to create.Which, in turn, can lead to moisture intrusion and all the problems that come with it (wood rot, pest infestations, mold, etc.).

Florida Windows Installation Best Practice #5: One Window at a Time

In any window replacement job, it’s important to impose as little disruption to the home as possible so that the homeowner (you) aren’t inconvenienced at all. That’s one reason why a window replacement project should always be done one window per team of installers at a time. Additionally, no window replacement should be started unless the work crew is prepared to finish it that day.

No window installation crew worth their salt would tear out every window in your home at once and leave you with only tarps covering your window openings for a multi-day replacement project.

By doing things one window at a time, installers can ensure that you always have a closed home at the end of each day of the install. It also helps ensure that your home’s risk of moisture and pest intrusions is minimized. With only one window opening being worked on at a time, there aren’t as many gaps for water, bugs, and other irritants to get inside. It’s safer, it’s less intrusive, and it’s better for handling sudden bouts of bad weather without compromising your home, as fewer openings will be left exposed if there’s a sudden shower.

Get Florida Windows Installation By the Experts!

Want your windows put in by a team of professionals who always follow best practices? Don’t trust your Florida window installation to companies that outsource to third-party subcontractors who may not even know the best practices! Instead, choose an installer who does things the right way, every time!

Karoly Windows & Doors is trusted by homeowners throughout the greater Tampa Bay area because we consistently apply best practices to our installations: 

1. We only use our own, highly-trained installers.
2. We proactively work with impact window manufacturers to stay up to date with installation best practices for their impact-rated product lines.
3. We precisely measure and assess each window opening prior to ordering the windows so we can account for things like an opening needing bucking or shims.
4. We use top-quality caulking, composite shims, and other materials designed to maximize useful life for your new windows with as little maintenance required as possible.
5. Working one window per installer or team at a time so you don’t have to worry about half your home’s window openings being left open all at once.

Need new windows installed the right way right now? Reach out to Karoly Windows & Doors to get started!