Frequently Asked Questions

The process starts with a free in-home estimate, where we measure every opening, check for water intrusion or frame damage, and talk through glass package options. From there we provide a written quote, and once you approve it, we order the windows and pull permits with Miami-Dade County or your specific municipality. Manufacturing typically takes 3 to 6 weeks for custom sizes. Installation for most single-family homes takes one to three days depending on how many openings and whether we're doing a full-frame or insert install. After the job, a final inspection closes out the permit. We walk you through each step before it happens.

For a typical single-family home in Miami with 10 to 20 windows, installation takes one to three days on site. That's active work time; the full timeline from signing to final inspection usually runs 4 to 8 weeks because of manufacturing lead times and permit processing. Condo work in Miami Beach or Aventura can take longer because high-rise buildings require additional coordination, sometimes a swing stage or crane schedule, and condo board approvals before work starts. We map out the full schedule at the estimate stage so you know when the crew arrives, how long they'll be there, and when the county inspection is likely to land. Call (863) 862-5435 for a timeline specific to your project.

Yes, we pull all required permits and schedule the inspections. Window and door replacement in Miami-Dade County almost always requires a permit, and the work must pass inspection before the permit is closed. This is non-negotiable for us: unpermitted window work creates problems when you sell the house, and it can void your insurance. In cities like Coral Gables, Homestead, and North Miami, the local building department has its own review process on top of the county requirements, and we handle that paperwork too. You won't need to call a building office or track down an inspector. Everything is included in your written estimate.

We do both, and we'll tell you which one your house actually needs. Full-frame replacement removes the entire window down to the rough opening, which lets us inspect and repair any water damage, update the flashing, and address leaks that have been hiding behind the old frame. That's common in older Miami neighborhoods like Shenandoah or Coral Gate where original windows from the 1950s and 60s are failing at the sill. Insert replacement, where the new window fits inside the existing frame, works when the frame is still square and solid. The estimate includes our recommendation, but we explain the reasoning either way so you can make the call. Call (863) 862-5435 for an assessment.

Often yes, though it depends on the age and manufacturer of what's already in the home. If the existing windows are from one of the majors like PGT or CWS and are still in production, we can order matching units with the same frame profile, color, and glass package. When the original windows are discontinued or the manufacturer has changed their frame dimensions, we'll get as close as possible and show you samples before ordering. Miami sun fades everything, so there's always some variation between new and old even with identical products, and we're upfront about that. We've done spot replacements all over town, from Cutler Bay to Miami Gardens, where most of the windows are fine but one failed. Call (863) 862-5435 to discuss your situation.

We replace doors on their own, windows on their own, or both together. There's no minimum job size and no requirement to bundle. That said, Miami homeowners often save on labor and permitting costs when they do windows and doors in the same project, since the crew is already on site and the permit can cover the whole scope. The decision usually comes down to condition: a patio door in Palmetto Bay that won't lock properly is a safety issue that should be handled now, even if the windows still have years of life. Our estimate will break out the pricing both ways so you can compare. Call (863) 862-5435 to schedule the free estimate.

We carry product lines from PGT, CGI, CWS, and ViewLux, and we match the brand to the job rather than pushing one product on every house. PGT and CGI are the big names in Miami-Dade impact glazing, with thousands of installations across South Florida and a track record through every major storm since Andrew. CWS makes strong aluminum impact products at a more accessible price point. ViewLux offers high-end aluminum frames with clean sightlines that do well in modern Doral and Aventura homes. The right choice depends on your exposure, your design preference, and your budget, and we'll discuss all of it during the estimate.

In most of Miami-Dade County, yes, because the building code requires impact-resistant glazing or approved shutter protection for any new or replacement window in a residential structure. That's not a preference, it's a permit condition. Beyond code, impact windows work year-round: they cut outside noise in busy areas like North Miami and Miami Beach, they block the UV that fades floors and furniture, and they hold the building envelope together during the wind pressure cycles of a hurricane. Insurance carriers in Florida also typically offer premium discounts for documented impact protection. If you're replacing windows anywhere in Miami, plan on impact-rated products and we'll handle the paperwork.

Sometimes. We repair windows when the failure is in a replaceable part: a broken balance, a failed roller assembly, a worn weatherstrip, or a latch that won't catch. Glass replacement is also possible on some units when the frame is in good shape. But when the frame itself has corroded, the seal between panes has failed and fogged the glass, or the window no longer meets current Miami-Dade impact code, replacement is usually the smarter long-term move. Salt air is brutal on aluminum frames near the coast, and we see a lot of doors in Miami Beach and Aventura that have reached the point where repair would cost nearly as much as new. Call (863) 862-5435 and we'll give you an honest recommendation.

Aluminum. The overwhelming majority of windows we install in Miami are aluminum-framed impact units, and for good reason: aluminum handles the heat, humidity, and salt air of South Florida without warping, swelling, or rotting. Vinyl frames, which dominate up north, soften and flex in Miami's summer heat and don't hold up as well to hurricane wind loads in larger openings. Wood windows exist in some historic Coral Gables homes and certain design-driven projects, but they need real maintenance in this climate and cost substantially more. Within aluminum, the finish matters as much as the frame: we use products with marine-grade coatings, especially for homes within a mile of the coast. We'll discuss options specific to your home's exposure during the estimate.

Yes, we install impact-rated entry doors, French doors, and sliding glass doors that meet Miami-Dade and Florida Building Code requirements. A front door is just as much a wind-breach point as a window, and in a hurricane the pressure differential from a failed door can lift a roof. We've replaced dozens of doors in Homestead and Cutler Bay, where older construction often predates the current code and original doors were never rated for the wind loads they actually face. The products we use are tested for High Velocity Hurricane Zone compliance, and the permits and inspections are part of the job. Call (863) 862-5435 to talk through door options.

Every pro working under the Winslow Windows & Doors name is required to hold the license and insurance their state and local jurisdiction requires, and we carry the project through permitted, inspected work. In Miami-Dade County, window and door work falls under specific contractor licensing categories, and the county verifies credentials when the permit is submitted. Ed Winslow leads our Miami team and makes sure every job meets the code requirements before it goes to inspection. If you want to verify anything before signing, we're happy to point you to the right public records. The estimate includes the full scope, including permit fees.

The coverage requirements for any installation team are handled as part of our vendor and pro qualification standards: every pro working under our name must carry the insurance their role requires. For homeowners, the practical question is whether you're protected if something goes wrong, and the answer is that permit-and-inspection work with a documented contractor leaves you far better positioned than unpermitted, uninsured work. We also recommend confirming your own homeowner's policy covers the project, since some carriers want to know when impact windows or doors are being installed, especially in coastal ZIP codes. Your estimate documents everything in writing. Call (863) 862-5435 with any coverage questions.

If a county or city inspector flags something on one of our installations, we correct it and schedule the re-inspection at no extra cost to you. This is rare, but it's part of why the permit process exists, and we don't treat an inspection notice as optional feedback. The fix usually involves something straightforward: a flashing detail, a fastener schedule, or an anchor pattern the inspector wants adjusted. Once the correction is made, the inspector returns, signs off, and the permit closes. We've completed permitted work across Miami, Hialeah, Miami Gardens, and every other city in our service area, and we handle the back-and-forth so you don't have to.

Yes, we board up broken windows and doors across Miami, and we keep material on hand for exactly this. A shattered window after a storm, a break-in, or a stray baseball in Kendall is a security and weather problem, and it needs to be handled the same day if at all possible. Our hours are Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM, and we schedule board-up and emergency glass calls as fast as those hours allow. Once the opening is secured, we'll put together a replacement quote so there's no second visit needed to start the permanent fix. Call (863) 862-5435.

First, get everyone away from the broken glass and, if water is coming in, move anything valuable out of the path. Then call us at (863) 862-5435. We'll board or tarp the opening to make the house secure while you sort out the permanent replacement. Breakage during hurricane season is especially urgent in Miami because a compromised window can let wind pressurize the house, which is how roofs come off. Do not leave a broken window uncovered, even if the storm has passed; Miami afternoon thunderstorms will find the opening. Once the property is secure, we'll write up the replacement quote and pull the permit for the new impact window.

Yes, and honestly, this is one of the most common calls we get from homeowners in older Miami neighborhoods. Water intrusion around windows usually means one of three things: failed sealant at the perimeter, a flashing detail that was never done right in the original build, or a frame that has corroded enough to let water track inside. The fix depends on what we find, and sometimes it's a re-seal and sometimes it's a full-frame replacement. Either way, we'll diagnose it during the estimate visit, show you where the water is actually getting in, and price the repair or replacement in writing. Call (863) 862-5435 to get it looked at.

Every installation carries both the manufacturer's product warranty and our workmanship guarantee, and we make sure you have both in writing before the job starts. Product warranties vary by brand and product line, so we'll walk you through what PGT, CGI, CWS, or ViewLux covers on the specific units you choose, including any limitations on glass breakage, seal failure, and finish. Our workmanship guarantee covers the installation itself: if something we installed fails because of how it was installed, we come back and fix it. You'll get all warranty documentation at project closeout, and we're still here if you have questions later. Call (863) 862-5435 anytime about an existing job.

A well-made impact window in Miami should last 20 to 30 years or more, but climate and location play a big role. Homes right on the water in Miami Beach or Aventura get constant salt spray, which eats at uncoated aluminum and corrodes hardware faster than inland homes in Miami Gardens or Doral. That's why we recommend marine-grade finishes for coastal properties. The laminated glass itself is incredibly durable, it's usually the frame finish, the sealant joints, and the moving hardware that show age first. Regular rinsing of the frames, keeping tracks clean, and re-sealing the perimeter every several years all extend the life. We can assess your existing windows and tell you honestly what's left in them.

A workmanship guarantee is only worth what the company behind it will actually honor, and we stand behind ours. The real-world test in Miami is whether the installer is still around and reachable when something goes wrong two or five years down the road. Ed Winslow and the team here have built this Miami branch on exactly that: answering the phone when a past customer calls, scheduling the fix, and not hiding behind fine print. That's how a local branch of a national brand earns repeat business in a city like this. If you have an issue with an installation, call (863) 862-5435 and we'll get it sorted.

Written by Ed Winslow, Owner at Winslow Windows & Doors, serving Miami since 2011.