FAQs

Most homeowners replace their windows and doors primarily to improve energy efficiency, but the benefits go well beyond that. Modern replacements offer reduced maintenance, increased security, improved noise insulation, and a boost in home aesthetics and functionality. High-quality windows typically feature double or triple-pane insulated glass units (IGUs) filled with argon gas for superior insulation, along with advanced Low-E coatings that reflect infrared heat and harmful UV rays. Combined with thick, insulated vinyl frames, these upgrades significantly reduce heat gain and outdoor noise while enhancing comfort and energy savings.

New windows and doors also improve safety and storm protection. Florida building codes require products to meet hurricane wind resistance standards, and many homeowners choose impact-resistant or laminated glass for added security. These materials protect against flying debris during storms and make it more difficult for intruders to break in. Additionally, replacing old units allows for layout or functionality changes—like swapping sliding doors for French doors or combining windows for a more open view. Aside from daily comfort, these improvements can increase your home’s resale value, with a return on investment comparable to that of a bathroom or kitchen remodel.

There are several signs it may be time to replace your windows or doors. These include drafts, difficulty opening or closing, condensation between glass panes, noticeable damage, or rising energy bills. Older windows often lack proper insulation, and over time, frames can warp or seals can fail. In Florida, it’s especially important to make sure your windows and doors meet current hurricane impact codes to protect against severe storms.

Replacing your windows and doors can significantly enhance energy efficiency, reduce outside noise, improve curb appeal, and boost security. You may also experience smoother operation and easier cleaning. In Florida, upgraded windows can protect your home during hurricane season and bring it up to code, potentially reducing your insurance premiums. New installations can also raise your home’s resale value.

Yes — especially if you live in a coastal or high-wind area. Florida’s Building Code often requires hurricane-rated impact windows in these zones. These windows use laminated glass with a durable interlayer that holds the glass together even if it shatters. Impact windows not only protect your home from storms and debris, but also serve as a security measure against break-ins.

Vinyl is ideal for Florida because it’s moisture-resistant, won’t corrode, and require little maintenance. Aluminum is also used for its strength, though it may not insulate as well as vinyl. Wood frames are less common in Florida due to humidity and termite exposure unless they are clad or treated. Vinyl remains the most popular due to its combination of durability, affordability, and insulation value.

Building permits are usually $300 on top of the overall job cost. Pricing depends on the size and installation circumstance of the product involved. All of our windows are custom made and price ranges from $600 to $1,800 per window depending on the size and type of window involved. Most PGT, Simonton, and Alside vinyl Replacement Windows range in price between $600 and $900 installed. The most common size is a 3 foot wide by 5 foot tall single hung window which goes for $700-800 installed with tax, that applies to either PGT, Alside, or Simonton. Hurricane Impact windows usually range from $1000 to $1800, with a 3x5 costing around $1600. A six panel fiberglass entry door, without any glass, starts at $1500. The most common sliding glass door is 6 foot wide by 6 foot 8 inches tall, and it is sold for $2000-2600 from Novatech. 

The wholesale price of a window from most of our manufacturers are within about $50 of each other, and the quality of each product is usually pretty comparable. Most replacement window manufacturers warranty their product for at least 25 years and they all typically purchase glass from the same three manufacturers. The aspects that set some manufacturers apart from others are longer warranties, small details and features like color options, stronger parts, and superior energy efficiency. Simonton, PGT, and Alside all have very good products and industry-leading warranties. This is why we prefer to use them over many of the other manufacturers we can provide.

Yes, they can significantly lower energy costs. Energy-efficient windows reduce heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. In Florida, windows with Low-E glass and argon gas help reflect solar heat while insulating your home, reducing your AC’s workload. Many homeowners report savings of 25% to 35% on their utility bills after a full window and door replacement.

Low-E (low-emissivity) glass has a microscopic coating that reflects heat and harmful UV rays while allowing visible light to pass through. In warm climates like Florida’s, this helps keep your home cooler without blocking natural light. Low-E glass also protects furniture and flooring from fading by filtering out ultraviolet rays. It's an essential component of modern, energy-efficient windows.

Most standard window and door installations are completed within one to two days, depending on the number of units and the complexity of the job. For larger projects or custom openings, it could take longer. Installers typically remove and replace one unit at a time, minimizing exposure and disruption. Your home remains secure during the process, and reputable installers will clean thoroughly after completion.

Yes. Florida law requires building permits for window and door replacements to ensure proper installation and code compliance. This includes verification of energy efficiency and hurricane protection standards. The good news is, professional installers like Artisan Windows & Doors handle all the paperwork, permitting, and inspections as part of the project.

While it’s possible, DIY replacements are not recommended in Florida due to strict codes and the complexity of ensuring a proper seal, especially for hurricane-rated products. Improper installation can void warranties, lead to water intrusion, and fail inspections. A licensed contractor ensures that your windows and doors are installed correctly, safely, and to code.

We offer a wide variety of window styles including single-hung, double-hung, casement, sliding, picture, awning, and specialty shapes. Each style offers different advantages in ventilation, aesthetics, and ease of use. For example, casement windows swing out for full ventilation, while sliders are great for wide openings. The best choice depends on your budget, space, goals, and style preferences.

Choosing a new door involves considering material (fiberglass, steel, wood), insulation, impact resistance, glass design, and finish. Entry doors should be both secure and welcoming. Fiberglass is a popular option in Florida because it’s resistant to warping and rot. For patios, options include sliding glass, French, or pocket doors, depending on the look and functionality you prefer.

High-quality windows and doors last 20–30 years or more with proper installation and minimal maintenance. Vinyl and fiberglass frames resist rot and corrosion, especially in Florida’s humid climate. Glass components are designed to maintain their seal for at least 20 years, and most manufacturers offer warranties that reflect these lifespans.

Not yet but stay tuned!

Absolutely. Insulated glass, especially with laminated or thicker panes, significantly reduces outside noise from traffic, neighbors, or construction. This is especially noticeable when replacing old single-pane or aluminum windows. It’s a great solution if you're looking to improve interior comfort and tranquility.

At Artisan Windows and Doors, we guarantee our installation for as long as you own the home. Our installation includes the sealing, set and anchoring of the windows or doors as well as the quality of work. Window and door manufacturers have their own specific warranties depending on the product used. We only use products with warranties that cover the glass seal, window frame, operating balance system and the hardware. In the event of a warranty claim, the manufacturer will provide free replacement of almost any defective parts for at least 20 years.

Yes. Modern windows and doors offer a wide range of customizable features including color, grille style, hardware finish, decorative glass, and frame materials. Whether you prefer classic white or woodgrain textures, there are options to match your home’s style and your personal taste.

Most modern windows and doors are low-maintenance. Vinyl and fiberglass frames don’t require painting, and hardware is built for long-term use. Occasional cleaning of the frames and glass, along with periodic inspection of seals and caulking, is typically all that’s needed to keep them in great condition.

Yes. Look for windows that are ENERGY STAR® certified, and check the U-factor (measures heat transfer) and SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient). In Florida, a lower SHGC is ideal to block heat from the sun. A U-factor around 0.30 and SHGC below 0.27 are good targets for high efficiency.

Before installation, clear furniture and decor from around the windows and doors. Remove blinds, curtains, or security sensors. Turn off alarm systems, if connected to doors or windows. Your installer will cover work areas to protect flooring and clean up after completion.

Artisan Windows and Doors is a family owned and operated business. The owners David (father) and Jeremiah (son) started as window and door installers themselves. They pride themselves in using high quality products and paying very good attention to detail during installation. David has been installing windows and doors for over 30 years and has trained every installer personally. David is the license holder and has a statewide Glass and Glazing License (#SCC13115674). Jeremiah's primary roles are sales, ordering, and measuring, but he helps with installation when he can. We also have $2,000,000 of general liability insurance coverage for your protection.

We have five installers, all of whom are family or very nearly family. Our installers are:

Dan - Brother/Uncle 

Mike - Brother/Uncle

Maggie - Niece/Cousin

Travis - Nephew/Cousin

Justin - Family Friend

When installing, our crews usually install one window or door at a time. We place a drop cloth on the inside and a tarp on the outside of each opening in order to minimize clean up and protect your property. When we remove the existing window or door, we sacrifice it in order to preserve the condition of the surrounding sheetrock and stucco. This means we avoid damage to any sheetrock or stucco so that there will be no need for touch up paint or repair work on any of those openings after we have the new window or door installed. If we need to do any repair or painting to an opening from damage that we caused we are solely responsible to repair it at no extra charge. Our goal is to make it look like the products that we installed were always there. Next, we set our new window in the opening from the exterior. The new window requires shims and screws to get them plumb, level and square. We use large ¼ thick concrete fasteners that go through our windows jamb all the way into the concrete block. The screw type, strength, quantity and placement have to be installed according to engineering on file with the building department for the specific product. After all of our screws have been installed we then caulk the inside of the window with high grade siliconized painters caulk. After the caulking dries we then spray in expandable foam insulation from the outside into any space that may be between the window frame and the concrete block, this expandable foam not only insulates but adds considerable hurricane wind resistance to the window by gluing the entire window frame into the opening. The foam also creates a secondary waterproof seal should the exterior silicon that we apply ever be compromised. After insulating the window we then add our additional exterior window trim and apply our final bead of high grade exterior silicon. The exterior silicon is guaranteed for 50 years by the manufacturer and is formulated to stick effectively to the stucco and vinyl window. 

After the exterior trim and caulking is done, we clean up our tarps and drop cloths and vacuum any other related debris. Our goal is to leave the premises cleaner than it was when we arrived. We will need to leave the installation screws exposed for the county inspector to see. After the inspector comes out and the inspection has passed we will be out a final time to triple check over the whole job and cover over any exposed screws. Screws in hinged entry doors will be covered over with lightweight spackle or putty. Screws in sliding doors and windows will be covered over with vinyl covers that come with the product.  

We have many different manufacturers but we use primarily CWS/Pella, Novatech, Simonton, PGT, EAS and MSI. Most of our price quotes apply to either of those five manufactures and we have full confidence in all of them. All of the manufactures we carry have lifetime warranties. If a part or system fails during this 20 period the manufacturer will send a free replacement part.

Our pre-hung fiberglass doors are made by Millwork Sales (MSI) using Plastpro components. Our doors are hung on stainless steel hinges and composite jambs. This means that they are both rot and termite proof, and should be the last door you will ever need to install. Most of our doors come with RSL door glass which includes many different decorative options and a 20 year warranty. ODL door glass is also available. All doors come standard with lifetime vinyl brick mold trim on the exterior and new casing on the interior, as well as a new handle and deadbolt.

Our sliding patio doors come usually come from Novatech or CWS/Pella, but we can also get Simonton, PGT, EAS and others. 

Yes, half screens with fiberglass mesh are included on all single hung windows and we don’t save any money by leaving them off. Full screens are also included on all double hung windows. The screen frames are aluminum with 1814 fiberglass mesh. PGT windows use standard screen frames that have a fixed location on the window, where Simonton and Alside use extruded screens that can slide up and down in their track.

Our hung windows use a coiled stainless steel lifting system. These coil balances work like a tape measure and requires no adjustments or maintenance. They are much stronger and more durable than block and tackle or spiral balances found on most other windows, especially new construction metal windows. Simonton and Alside windows use brass tandem wheels, each window section has 4 of these brass wheels. PGT uses 4 larger stainless steel wheels with nylon tires, these wheels will handle the weight of large hurricane impact windows. If these coil balances or wheels ever wear out or fail, the manufacturer will replace them free of charge.

It’s not very likely. Insulated glass units will fail eventually no matter how they are built but our windows use premium sealants and glass spacers that are designed to last a lifetime of at least 20 years. If you do get moisture between the panes the glass unit is covered by the manufacturer's lifetime warranty. Seal failure is considered a manufacturing defect and would warrant a free replacement unit from the manufacturer.

Yes, all windows come with secure steel locks attached to metal reinforced window sash frames, making them difficult to pry open. Additionally, CWS/Pella windows feature automatic spring-loaded locks that engage when the sash is closed, providing an extra layer of security.

Argon is a non-toxic gas that is much more dense than air, which in turn provides higher insulation value. It is often used to fill the gas space in between the panes of glass to enhance energy efficiency and reduce sound transmission. Argon in the gas space does not increase the chance of fogging inside the airspace or failure of the insulated glass seal. If your windows were not argon filled they would be filled with some other gas that could leak out and be replaced by moist air in the case of a seal failure. Since the argon does not move inside the airspace as much as everyday air like you and I breathe (which is what most metal windows and new construction windows have inside the gas space) there is not as much heat and cold transfer taking place through convection. The U-value of the window is improved approximately 10% when argon is added.

Absolutely, UV(ultraviolet) rays cause fading of furniture, carpet, wood floors and even break down low quality plastics like blinds. Second generation Low E glass reduces the UV by ~84%. The newest third generation Low E (PPG solarban 70, Cardinal 366, Guardian ClimaGuard 55/27) reduce UV rays by ~95%.

Yes, Pattern 62 standard obscure glass is available at an add-on cost of approximately $30 on a typical size bathroom window. A prettier, but somewhat less obscured “Rain” glass is available in some of our windows at an additional cost as well.

Not anymore. The Low E coating used on the glass in today’s is so energy efficient because it reflects the infrared heat. Adding tinted glass to the Low E glass panels can actually work against you, energy-wise, because glass with a tint to it absorbs and re-radiates heat, reducing energy efficiency somewhat. It's similar to wearing a dark shirt on a hot summer day as opposed to a light shirt. Tinted glass may provide a little additional privacy during the daytime while it’s brighter outdoors than it is indoors. Tinted glass may also reduce some of the glare on lakefront homes, but gray tinted glass gives a truer color rendition than bronze tinted glass. Tinted glass will add a cost of about $2.00 per square foot.

All bathroom windows have to be safety tempered but most windows are exempt. If a window is close enough to a door or has glass close enough to the inside floor of the home they also need to be tempered. Tempering adds $8.00 per sqft on rectangular windows and $33.00 per sqft on special shaped windows.

They are available in 2 panel or 3 panel styles and often provide more openable space and better fire escape from bedrooms than vertically operating windows. They also provide much more glass space and light than vertically operating windows. Premium sliding windows are far superior to the old aluminum sliding windows. Advanced roller systems and the vinyl frame itself make for easier and more durable operation. Sliders do not tilt-to-clean like vertical operating windows, but the sashes in some of our sliding windows can be removed from inside the home for ease of cleaning.

The U-value of most vinyl windows is usually about .33 with regular air inside the airspace. Using argon typically improves the U-value by about 10% to around .30. The lower the number, the better, our windows have a U-value of .28. The solar heat gain coefficient or “SHGC”, which measures how many thermal energy units (BTU’s) penetrate the window in direct sunlight, is generally about .27 with a second generation Low E glass like solarban 60 or Cardinal 270. Using the new third generation Solarban 70, Cardinal 366 or Guardian Climaguard 55/27 will lower this number even further. Third generation glass will generally improve that number to .21, an amazingly low number compared to previous standards. Again, the lower the number, the better.

Custom Window Systems (CWS) is our preferred choice for windows and sliding glass doors due to their superior quality and performance. Owned by Pella, CWS products incorporate advanced technology and design, offering outstanding durability and energy efficiency. The CWS Comfort Shield window is equivalent to the Pella 250 series, known for its excellent thermal insulation and sound reduction properties.

CWS windows and doors are engineered to withstand harsh weather conditions, including high winds and impacts, making them ideal for Florida's climate. They offer a range of styles and options, including customizable finishes and hardware, to suit various architectural aesthetics. CWS products are also recognized for their ease of maintenance, featuring robust frames and high-quality components that reduce the need for repairs.

A standout feature of CWS/Pella windows is their automatic spring-loaded locks, which engage automatically when the window sash is closed, providing added security and peace of mind.

Moreover, CWS products are backed by a lifetime warranty, reflecting the company's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. This warranty provides peace of mind, knowing that the investment in your home is protected for the long term.

Novatech products are warrantied for 20 years from the date the product is delivered to our warehouse. The company is known for its high quality products and innovative designs. Their patio doors are designed with minimalist frames and large glass surfaces to provide unobstructed views of the outdoors. The 301 and 650 have a high degree of protection against water infiltration and the PVC construction make them easy to clean and operate. They come in a variety of configurations which means we can fulfill almost any design plan. The company has been around for over 40 years and has excellent customer service.

Simonton products are warranted for 20 years from the date the windows or doors are manufactured and the warranty can be transferred to a second owner. They are another large national manufacturer and uphold an industry leading standard of quality and innovation. They have many different vinyl window lines to choose from and their MaxView patio door is one of the most innovative designs available. We can typically fulfill any window or sliding door need with this manufacturer. They have very good product designs with long production runs. Simonton has been around for over 70 years and has been building vinyl windows since about 1980 many manufacturers model their windows based on their industry leading designs. They are very detail oriented in all aspects of their business and will be around for many years to come. Many professional tradesmen place their trust in Simonton and prefer their products.

PGT products are warranted for 25 years from the date the windows or doors are manufactured. This Florida manufacturer produces one of the most comprehensive and innovative hurricane impact window and door lines available. Hurricane Impact windows have laminated glass that will not break out of the window if the glass is hit by flying debris. Due to excellent engineering and lots of metal reinforcement in the window frame they achieve higher design pressures (strength) at larger sizes than most manufacturers. Design Pressure (DP) is a rating that identifies the load induced by wind that a product is rated to withstand in its end-use application. We often use this manufacturer when we do hurricane impact products. They also make some of the strongest non-impact products available. PGT worked with the state to establish many of the building codes and standards around windows and doors for the state of Florida.