Frequently Asked Questions

It starts with a phone call to (863) 251-5864, followed by a free on-site estimate where we measure every opening and discuss glass, frame material, and energy options. Once you approve the written quote, we order the windows and schedule installation. Typical lead time in Westchester is 2-4 weeks for standard windows and 4-8 weeks for custom or impact-rated product. Installation usually takes one to two days for a full home, and we handle removal, disposal, and cleanup. Permits are pulled when required, and we don't sign off until the job passes inspection.

Most Westchester homes are done in one or two days for full window replacement, assuming standard openings with no structural surprises. Larger jobs, second-story work, or homes with stucco repair around the openings can push to three days. Door installs typically take half a day per opening. We work in crews sized to the job, and we don't leave a home with open holes overnight. Ed Winslow's team plans the sequence so your home stays secure and weather-tight at the end of every workday. You'll get a schedule up front and updates if anything shifts.

Yes. When a window or door replacement in Westchester triggers a permit requirement, which it usually does when the opening size changes or impact glass is required, we pull the permit ourselves and schedule the inspection. It's included in the quote, not tacked on later. Miami-Dade County product approval rules apply here, and we only install products that meet current Florida Building Code for our wind zone. When the inspector signs off, we close the permit and give you the paperwork. You shouldn't have to chase the county; that's our job.

Often yes, but the honest answer depends on the age and brand of the existing windows. If we're matching a current product line, we can order the same frame profile and glass package. If the original windows are discontinued or the frame has faded, we'll recommend the closest available match and show you samples before ordering. In Westchester's sun and salt air, aluminum finishes fade differently than vinyl, so an exact match on a 15-year-old window may not be possible even from the same brand. We'll tell you what's realistic before you spend a dollar.

Certain windows can be reglazed: if the frame is sound and only the insulated glass unit has failed, we can replace the glass alone. That runs roughly half the cost of a full window replacement and makes sense when the frame is still square, the hardware works, and the window isn't drafty around the edges. But if the frame is rotted, the balance system is shot, or the window no longer seals, you're throwing money at a frame that won't last. Ed Winslow will look at the actual condition and tell you which path makes sense. We don't upsell full replacements when glass-only is the better call.

We install ES Windows, ECO Window Systems, and Mr-Glass product lines, selected because they perform well in South Florida's heat, humidity, and hurricane wind zone. ES Windows is known for slim-profile aluminum frames with impact-rated glass. ECO Window Systems offers strong energy ratings at a friendlier price point. Mr-Glass gives us flexibility on custom sizes and specialty shapes for older Westchester homes with non-standard openings. We'll recommend the brand that fits your home's architecture, your budget, and the specific wind and water exposure of your street.

Yes, and it's the single most common request we get in Westchester. Impact-rated windows and doors from ES Windows and ECO Window Systems meet Miami-Dade County product approval standards, which means they're tested to withstand wind-borne debris at hurricane speeds. The laminated glass holds together even when struck, keeping the building envelope intact and preventing the pressure blowout that tears roofs off. Many Westchester homeowners install impact glass to qualify for windstorm insurance discounts. We'll quote impact and non-impact side by side so you can see the real cost difference. Call (863) 251-5864 to talk options.

Both work here, but they behave differently in South Florida conditions. Aluminum frames hold up better against the heat and UV exposure that makes vinyl brittle over time, and aluminum handles the tight tolerances impact glass requires. Vinyl insulates better thermally and costs less up front, but it expands and contracts more, which can loosen seals over decades of Westchester sun. For modern stucco homes, aluminum is the traditional choice and what we recommend most often. For older wood-frame homes, vinyl can be an affordable replacement that still meets energy code. We'll show you both and let the budget decide.

Yes, and we do it regularly. If the door slab and frame are sound, replacing worn weatherstripping, a failing lockset, or a sagging hinge is a same-day repair that costs a fraction of a full door replacement. Air and water leakage around a Westchester entry door is almost always weatherstripping, not a door that's beyond saving. We'll inspect the threshold, the sweeps, and the frame before recommending replacement. If the door itself is warped or the frame is rotted, we'll tell you that too, and give you a real quote on a new Therma-Tru or impact-rated door rather than patching a lost cause.

Every professional working under the Winslow Windows & Doors name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires for the work they perform. For window and door installation in our Florida service area, that means licensed contractors where the scope requires one, and proper liability coverage on every job. We're happy to provide proof of insurance before we start work. Don't accept less from any contractor, and don't hesitate to ask for documentation. A legitimate Westchester window company won't flinch at the request.

We require that every professional working under our name carries the coverage their state mandates, including workers' compensation where the law requires it. That protects you as a Westchester homeowner from liability if someone is hurt on your property. It also tells you something about how a company treats its people. Before any crew steps on your property, you can ask for the insurance certificate, and we'll provide it. That's a reasonable request, not an inconvenience, and it's one we get from smart homeowners all the time.

In most cases in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, which includes Westchester, yes. Window replacement that changes the opening size, alters the structure, or installs impact-rated product requires a permit and inspection. Like-for-like replacement of a single window may not, but the moment you touch the framing or upgrade to hurricane-rated glass, the county wants to see it. We handle this as standard practice, not an add-on. The permit is pulled under our license, the inspection is scheduled by us, and the job isn't done until the county signs off.

We do, and we prioritize storm damage and break-ins because those are safety issues. When a window is blown out or a door won't close, we'll get you on the schedule as fast as our current workload allows. Our office hours are 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, seven days a week, and you can call (863) 251-5864 during those hours to speak with a live coordinator who will connect you with our local team. We'll board up the opening if needed, then give you a written quote for the permanent fix. In hurricane season, that's a call we take seriously.

First, keep people and pets away from the broken glass. If safe to do so, cover the opening from the inside with plywood or heavy plastic to keep wind and water out. Don't attempt to remove the broken sash yourself if the frame is damaged, and don't tape a window that's under wind load. Call (863) 251-5864 during our hours of 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, seven days a week. We'll assess whether immediate boarding is needed or whether the opening can wait for a scheduled replacement, and we'll quote the permanent repair at the same visit.

It depends on the weather forecast and the condition of the frame. A cracked but intact pane in calm weather is usually fine overnight. A shattered pane with wind or rain in the forecast is a liability: water intrusion damages drywall, floors, and framing within hours, and an open window is an invitation. If you're unsure, call us at (863) 251-5864 during our 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM hours and describe what you're seeing. We'll tell you honestly whether to cover it and wait, or whether it needs immediate attention. You shouldn't guess at that decision.

Your warranty comes in two layers. First, the manufacturer's warranty on the window or door product itself, which varies by brand: ES Windows, ECO Window Systems, and Mr-Glass each have their own terms, typically covering the glass seal, frame finish, and hardware for a defined period. Second, our workmanship on the installation: if the window leaks, binds, or fails because of how it was installed, we come back and make it right. We put both warranties in writing before you sign. If you ever need a claim, call (863) 251-5864 and Ed Winslow's team will walk it through with you.

Manufacturer warranties on the window product often transfer to a new homeowner, though some require notice or a small transfer fee. Workmanship warranties from our installation usually transfer too, but we document the original job so the next owner knows what was installed and when. If you're selling a Westchester home where we did work, call us before listing: we'll provide a summary of what was installed and help you transfer any applicable coverage. That documentation is also useful for the windstorm mitigation inspection, which can lower the buyer's insurance premium.

Call us first, at (863) 251-5864. A leak in a newly installed window is almost always a flashing or seal issue, and it's covered under our workmanship warranty. We'll come out, find the source, and fix it. We don't charge warranty callbacks. What we ask is that you don't let a leak sit: South Florida rainstorms will find a way in, and drywall and flooring damage compounds fast. Report it, and we'll schedule the repair. Ed Winslow's team has been taking care of Westchester homeowners long enough to know that a fast warranty fix saves everyone money.

A quality window installed correctly in Westchester should last 20 to 30 years, with the main variables being sun exposure, salt air, and how well the building envelope was sealed at installation. Impact-rated glass from ES Windows or ECO Window Systems is built for the South Florida environment and should outlast ordinary builder-grade windows. The weak points over time are seals, which can fail and fog, and weatherstripping, which wears. Both are replaceable without replacing the window. The frame itself, if it's aluminum and properly flashed at install, is effectively a lifetime product.

Yes. Every job we do in Westchester comes with a written workmanship warranty, and the product warranties from the manufacturers are documented in your file. Before we start, you'll have the warranty terms in hand. We don't do verbal handshake guarantees that evaporate when something goes wrong. What Ed Winslow has built at this branch is a straightforward standard: we install it right, we stand behind it, and if we make a mistake, we fix it on our dime. If you ever need to use that warranty, you'll reach a real person who knows your job. Call (863) 251-5864 for anything, including scheduling a free estimate.

Written by Ed Winslow, Owner at Winslow Windows & Doors, serving Westchester and the surrounding Miami-Dade communities.