What should an impact-window quote include?

The product, named and rated

A quote should name the window brand and product line, the frame material (aluminum, vinyl, or composite), the glass make-up (laminated impact glass, and any low-E or insulated build), and the exact model or series.

It should state the performance ratings: the design pressure (DP) or performance grade, the impact rating (large missile vs small missile), and — in Florida — the Florida Product Approval (FL#) or Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) number for the specific product in the specific configuration.

That the ratings match your home and zone

Design pressure requirements depend on your wind zone, the building's height and exposure, and the size and location of each opening. A large second-story window facing open water needs a higher DP than a small protected one.

The quote should tie the proposed product's rating to the requirement for each opening, or reference the engineering that does. "Impact rated" alone does not tell you it meets your code.

What the approval number does, and does not, cover

A statewide Florida Product Approval carries real weight: under section 553.842 of the Florida Statutes, statewide approval precludes local jurisdictions from requiring further testing, so long as the product is used in compliance with the conditions of that approval. Your installer should not be telling you the county needs the product re-tested.

The catch is in those conditions. The same section lets a building official deny a local application on written findings that the way the product is being applied is inconsistent with the statewide approval. An approval covers a specific product in a specific configuration, installed a specific way - anchor type, spacing, substrate, buck detail. Deviate from that and the number on the quote stops protecting you, which is why the installation method matters as much as the product.

One thing to confirm locally rather than assume: the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone covering Miami-Dade and Broward has its own approval requirements, and what is accepted there is a question for the building department reviewing your permit. Ask them before you sign, not after the windows arrive.

The installation method

How the window is fastened and sealed is as important as the window itself. The quote should describe the installation type (block frame, flange, or replacement), the fasteners and embedment, the buck or substrate, flashing and waterproofing, and the sealant and backer rod.

It should say whether the exterior finish, stucco, or drywall return is patched and by whom, and whether the old windows are removed and hauled away.

Permits and inspections

Impact-window replacement almost always requires a permit, and the permit package usually needs the product approval documents and sometimes an engineering attachment. The quote should say the contractor pulls the permit, names the fee, and schedules the required inspections.

In Florida, confirm the contractor's license type covers window installation and that the product approval on the quote is current.

Warranties, price, and terms

Two warranties matter: the manufacturer's warranty on the window and glass (length, and whether it is transferable and prorated) and the contractor's workmanship warranty on the installation and water-tightness. Both should be in writing.

Watch the deposit. In Florida, an initial payment over 10% of the contract price triggers permit and start-work timing rules. Payments should follow milestones, and there should be a written change-order process.