Free in-home measure and quote - PGT, CGI and CWS impact lines compared on your actual openings, style by style
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Before
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Before
AfterES Windows Window Installation: The Kendall Owner’s Guide
ES Windows window installation in Kendall typically runs $340-$780 per opening for standard vinyl and aluminum replacements, with impact-rated units starting around $890. Most ES Windows series we stock on our trucks, and we can usually measure, quote, and begin work within 48 hours of your call. Homeowners usually discover a problem when the sash won’t stay open, they feel air moving around a closed frame, or they spot water staining the drywall beneath a window that never used to leak.
Which ES Windows Models This Applies To
ES Windows manufactures in three main series you’ll find across Kendall: the ES 100 single-hung vinyl line, the ES 5000 aluminum impact-rated series, and the ES 8000 thermally broken aluminum line for larger openings. The label is usually etched into the glass corner or stamped on the frame edge; if it’s worn off, measure the visible glass width and height, the frame depth, and whether the sash tilts inward for cleaning. These three numbers tell us which extrusion profile and glazing bead size you need.
We carry OEM-grade replacement hardware and seals for all three series, plus compatible aftermarket balances and weatherstripping where the original part is back-ordered. The ES 5000 impact series uses a heavier-duty balance system than the ES 100, and the two are not interchangeable despite looking similar at a glance. We’ve seen Kendall homeowners order the wrong balance online, install it, and wonder why the sash still drifts closed. The ES 8000 uses a proprietary glazing bead that aftermarket suppliers only recently started matching correctly; we stock both because the OEM bead runs $14 per foot and the verified equivalent runs $8, and we specify which we’re using on the written quote.
Signs Your ES Windows Window Installation Is Failing
- Sash drops or won’t stay open. The coil balance or block-and-tackle system has lost tension. In Kendall’s humidity, the metal components corrode faster than the manufacturer rates them for, especially on east-facing windows that catch morning condensation.
- Visible gap between sash and frame when closed. The weatherstripping has compressed or the sash bowed slightly from heat cycling. We check with a feeler gauge; anything over 3/16 inch means air and water are getting past.
- Water stains on interior drywall below the window. The sill pan or end dam failed, or the exterior sealant joint cracked. Kendall’s driving rains from the southeast test every installation; a proper sill pan installation catches what sealant alone cannot.
- Fog between double-pane glass that doesn’t wipe away. The insulating glass unit (IGU) seal failed, allowing moisture inside. This is not repairable; the IGU gets replaced as a sealed assembly.
- Difficulty locking or unlocking. The keep or cam lock is misaligned, often because the frame settled or the hardware screws loosened. We see this on ES 100 series after five to seven years of normal use.
Before
AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
| Service | Price Range in Kendall |
|---|---|
| Standard vinyl/aluminum window replacement (ES 100 series) | $340-$520 |
| Impact-rated window replacement (ES 5000 series) | $890-$1,340 |
| Thermally broken aluminum (ES 8000 series) | $1,120-$1,680 |
| IGU replacement only (glass swap, frame intact) | $280-$440 |
| Balance/hardware replacement (per sash) | $140-$220 |
| Full-frame removal and replacement (stucco return) | Add $180-$340 |
What drives the range: frame condition, stucco or drywall repair scope, and whether the opening needs a new sill pan. Our quote is the measured survey you keep; the final invoice matches it. Haven Clause 1, Have it in writing. Every installation carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise, and you receive a documented photo record of the completed work.
DIY or Call Us?
An owner can safely check: whether the lock engages fully, whether debris blocks the weep holes at the sill, and whether the weatherstripping is visibly torn. These take five minutes and a flashlight.
Where DIY goes wrong: removing a sash without understanding the balance tension, which can release suddenly and damage the frame or your fingers. Impact-rated units weigh significantly more than standard windows; a dropped ES 5000 sash will crack the glass and distort the frame. And if you’re dealing with fogged glass, the IGU is a sealed factory assembly; breaking that seal to “defog” it yourself voids any remaining warranty and guarantees the problem returns.
We don’t recommend homeowners remove their own windows. The measurement, the balance tension, and the sealant application all need to be right the first time. Call (786) 321-3319 and we’ll schedule a measured survey; the written quote is yours to keep either way.
FAQs
Vinyl frames usually hold up 15-20 years; aluminum impact units often reach 25 years if the hardware gets serviced. The salt air and UV exposure in Kendall accelerate weatherstripping failure, which we see at 7-10 years. Call (786) 321-3319 for an exact quote on replacement - estimates are free.
If the frame is sound and only the IGU is fogged, we can replace just the glass unit. This costs roughly half of a full window replacement and preserves your interior trim. Call (786) 321-3319 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
A standard insert replacement takes 2-3 hours per opening; a full-frame removal with stucco repair takes a full day. We arrive with the part, install it, and document the work before leaving. Call (786) 321-3319 to schedule.
We stock balances, locks, weatherstripping, and common IGU sizes for the ES 100, 5000, and 8000 series. Specialty sizes or custom finishes we order with a 5-7 day lead time, measured to your exact opening first. Call (786) 321-3319 to confirm availability for your model.
Sightline Windows & Doors Kendall is independently owned and operated under the Haven Standard. We are not affiliated with ES Windows; we are an authorized installer and independent service provider for their product lines. We also stock parts and install windows from PGT, CGI, and CWS.
Sonia Raman grew up in Miami, trained in building construction technology at Miami Dade College, and has spent the better part of two decades in the field. Her crew recently finished a full impact-window retrofit on a block of townhomes near Dadeland Mall. She’s known for insisting on a dry-fit before any sealant touches glass. Measure once, document it, then cut.
Call (786) 321-3319 to schedule your free estimate. A live person answers, 24/7.
Written by Sonia Raman, Owner, Sightline Windows & Doors Kendall at Sightline Windows & Doors Kendall, serving Kendall and nearby areas.