Free in-home measure and quote - PGT, CGI and CWS impact lines compared on your actual openings, style by style
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AfterCustom Impact Windows in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Custom & Geometric Windows services are hurricane-rated, impact-laminated windows built to non-standard dimensions or shapes – arches, trapezoids, octagons, or any geometry that a standard off-the-shelf unit simply won’t fit. In Fort Lauderdale, where Broward County’s wind-load requirements demand Miami-Dade or Florida Building Code Product Approval on every opening, a window that doesn’t fit the rough opening correctly is a liability on both the code and the storm-protection side. At Winslow Windows & Doors, we’ve been measuring, ordering, and installing custom impact windows across Fort Lauderdale since 2011 – from the Mediterranean-style arched transoms in Victoria Park to the wide-format picture windows in Harbor Beach that frame the Intracoastal and need to hold against 150-mph gusts without a frame gap.
If your home has an opening that no catalog size covers, or you want impact protection that doesn’t compromise the architectural detail that makes your property worth protecting, this is the page that answers your questions. And if you’d rather talk it through right now, call us at (904) 747-8989 – a live person picks up every call, any hour.
This page is part of our broader Custom & Geometric Windows in Fort Lauderdale offering, which covers everything from decorative art-glass shapes to full geometric window suites. Here we focus specifically on custom openings that must also carry impact rating – because in Fort Lauderdale, “decorative” and “storm-proof” are not mutually exclusive goals.
When You Need Custom Impact Windows
- Your opening is a non-standard shape or size. Arched transoms above entryways, angled clerestory windows in vaulted great rooms, and circular porthole windows in bathrooms are common in Fort Lauderdale’s older Mediterranean and Key West-style homes – none of these fit a big-box catalog, and all of them still need to meet Broward County’s impact requirements.
- You’re replacing jalousie or single-pane windows and want one solution. A lot of Fort Lauderdale homes built before 1992 still have jalousie slats or thin single-pane glass in irregular openings. Replacing them with a custom impact unit solves the storm-rating gap, the energy-loss problem, and the insurance surcharge in a single installation.
- Your insurer is flagging non-impact openings on a policy renewal. Citizens and many private carriers in Broward are requiring documented impact protection on every opening – not just the main windows. If you have a decorative arched window over your front door that isn’t rated, that opening can void your wind-mitigation credit on the entire policy.
- You’re adding a room or enclosing a space and the new opening is unique. Lanai enclosures, sunroom additions, and second-story bump-outs in neighborhoods like Coral Ridge and Rio Vista frequently involve non-standard window placements where custom sizing is the only option and impact rating is mandatory under current Fort Lauderdale permitting.
- You want to preserve architectural character while upgrading protection. If your home has an octagonal window or a Palladian arch that defines its streetscape, covering it with plywood every season isn’t a long-term answer. A custom impact replacement holds the look and holds up to the storm.
- You’re failing a wind-mitigation inspection because of one or two non-rated openings. We see this regularly in Tarpon River and Colee Hammock – a homeowner upgrades most of the house but leaves a tricky geometric opening unaddressed. Those openings become the sticking point on the inspection report and the insurance premium.
Our Custom Impact Windows Process
- On-site measurement and opening assessment. We send a uniformed, background-checked technician to your Fort Lauderdale home to take precise field measurements of every opening in question. Custom work lives or dies by the accuracy of the initial measurement – a 1/8-inch error on an arched frame translates to a failed fit at delivery. We document the shape, the rough-opening dimensions, the wall depth, and the existing frame condition before we price anything.
- Product and brand selection. Based on your opening geometry, performance goals, and budget, we identify which manufacturer’s custom program fits best. For Fort Lauderdale projects, we regularly work with CGI and ES Windows for custom impact configurations – both carry the Florida Product Approvals needed for Broward County permitting, and both offer true custom sizing rather than a limited range of “semi-custom” increments. We walk you through glass options (laminate thickness, Low-E coating, tint) and frame finishes at this stage.
- Permit application and HOA coordination. Fort Lauderdale requires a building permit for impact window replacement, and many neighborhoods – particularly those governed by HOAs in Lauderdale Isles or the East Las Olas corridor – have specific approval processes for visible exterior changes. We handle the permit application on your behalf and provide the product approval documentation your HOA reviewer needs. No permit paperwork falls on you.
- Factory order and lead-time communication. Custom impact windows are not stock items. Depending on shape complexity and manufacturer backlog, lead times in the current Fort Lauderdale market run roughly 4 to 10 weeks. We give you a realistic timeline at the point of order – not an optimistic one – and we contact you proactively if anything changes. You won’t be chasing us for a status update.
- Installation and weatherproofing. Our installation crew follows Florida Building Code Chapter 17 requirements for impact-rated window installation – correct fastener patterns, approved sealant systems, and proper flashing at the rough-opening perimeter. For custom or geometric shapes, the buck framing sometimes needs to be modified to match the new unit. We handle that in-scope. The installation is inspected by the city before we close the permit.
- Final inspection and the 36500-Day Done Right Promise. After the municipal inspector signs off, we do our own walk-through with you. Every seal, every operating mechanism, every frame corner gets checked. If anything isn’t right – now or years from now – Ed Winslow’s name is on the job and we come back. That’s what the 36500-Day Done Right Promise means: not a warranty card you mail in, but a direct commitment from the owner of this company that the work is right or we fix it.
Custom Impact Windows Pricing in Fort Lauderdale
Custom impact windows in Fort Lauderdale typically cost more per unit than standard-size impact windows, for a straightforward reason: they’re manufactured specifically for your opening, which means higher fabrication costs and longer lead times. The range below reflects real installed pricing in the Broward County market as of 2025-2026. Every project is different, and these numbers are a planning guide – not a quote.
| Window Type / Scenario | Typical Installed Price Range (per unit) |
|---|---|
| Custom-size rectangular impact window (non-standard dimensions) | $650 – $1,400 |
| Arched or radius-top impact window (single unit) | $900 – $2,200 |
| Geometric shape (octagon, trapezoid, triangle) – fixed | $1,100 – $2,800 |
| Large-format custom picture window with impact laminate | $1,400 – $3,500+ |
| Multi-unit custom combination (e.g., arch over double casement) | $2,200 – $5,500+ |
| Permit fee (Broward County, varies by project valuation) | $150 – $600 (typical range) |
What moves the price up or down
- Shape complexity: A simple arch costs less to fabricate than a true geometric polygon. The more cuts and angles involved in the frame, the higher the manufacturing cost.
- Glass specification: Standard clear impact laminate is the entry price. Low-E coatings, higher-SHGC ratings (which matter a lot in Fort Lauderdale’s intense sun), and decorative tints all add cost – and most of them pay back in lower FPL bills within a few years.
- Frame material: Aluminum frames are common and cost-effective in the Fort Lauderdale coastal environment. Vinyl frames carry a modest premium but offer additional thermal performance. We don’t push one over the other – we tell you the honest trade-offs for your specific situation.
- Buck framing condition: If the existing rough opening needs structural modification to accept the new unit – common in homes from the 1960s and 1970s in areas like Middle River Terrace – that adds labor. We identify this at the measurement visit, not after demo.
- Number of units: Multi-window projects lower the per-unit cost for project management and mobilization. If you have several custom openings to address, tackling them together almost always makes financial sense.
Estimates are always free and upfront. You’ll know the full number – materials, labor, permit – before you sign anything. And if you have a written estimate from another contractor, we’ll give you a free second opinion on it, no strings attached. Seniors and veterans receive a permanent 10% discount on every project.
Call (904) 747-8989 to schedule your free on-site measurement and estimate.
FAQs – Custom Impact Windows
Do custom impact windows qualify for Florida wind-mitigation credits and insurance discounts?
Yes – custom impact windows that carry Miami-Dade or Florida Building Code Product Approval qualify for wind-mitigation credits the same way standard impact windows do, as long as every opening in the home is covered. The key is documentation: your insurer will want the product approval numbers and a signed wind-mitigation inspection report. We provide the product approval paperwork at installation, and because the permit is pulled and inspected by the city, there’s a clear record for your insurance company to verify. In Fort Lauderdale, homeowners with all-impact openings typically see meaningful reductions in their windstorm premium – the exact amount depends on your carrier and current coverage structure, so check with your agent for specifics. Call (904) 747-8989 and we can walk you through the documentation you’ll need.
How long does it take to get custom impact windows installed in Fort Lauderdale?
From signed contract to completed installation, most custom impact window projects in Fort Lauderdale take 6 to 12 weeks total. The measurement and permit application happen in the first 1 to 2 weeks. The factory lead time for Geometric & Shaped Windows – true custom sizes and geometric shapes – runs roughly 4 to 10 weeks depending on the manufacturer and current backlog. Installation itself is typically 1 to 3 days depending on the number of units and any buck-framing work needed. We give you a realistic timeline at the start, not a number we walk back later. Call (904) 747-8989 to get a project-specific estimate on timing.
Can impact-rated windows really be made in arch, circular, or other geometric shapes?
Yes. Manufacturers like CGI and ES Windows have custom programs specifically for non-rectangular openings, and they can produce impact-laminated units in Arched & Curved Windows, radius-top, elliptical, trapezoidal, triangular, and octagonal configurations – all with the laminated glass and structural framing required to meet Florida’s wind-load standards. The laminate construction (two panes of glass bonded to an interlayer) is applied to the custom-cut shape, so the storm protection doesn’t depend on the geometry. What matters is that the frame-to-rough-opening fit is precise, which is why the measurement step is the most critical part of the process. Call (904) 747-8989 if you have a specific shape in mind and want to know whether it’s feasible.
Is it worth replacing just one or two non-standard windows, or should I do the whole house at once?
Replacing just the non-rated openings is absolutely worth doing if the rest of your home already has impact windows – because a single non-rated opening can void your wind-mitigation credit for the entire structure. In Fort Lauderdale, we see this situation frequently: a homeowner replaced all the standard windows years ago but left one arched transom or a bathroom porthole unaddressed. Oversized Openings can create the same gap in protection. That one gap shows up on the wind-mitigation inspection and costs them the insurance discount. If your remaining openings are already impact-rated and in good condition, a targeted replacement of the one or two custom shapes is the practical move. If the whole house needs updating, bundling everything into one project saves on mobilization and usually gets you a better per-unit price. We’ll tell you honestly which approach makes sense for your situation when we do the on-site assessment. Call (904) 747-8989 to schedule that visit – there’s no charge for the estimate.
Key Takeaways
- Custom impact windows in Fort Lauderdale are built to fit non-standard openings and carry the Florida Product Approval needed for Broward County permitting and wind-mitigation inspections.
- Installed pricing typically runs $650 to $3,500+ per unit depending on shape, size, and glass specification – geometric shapes and large-format units sit at the higher end of that range.
- Winslow Windows & Doors handles the full process: measurement, product selection, permit application, factory order, installation, and final inspection.
- Ed Winslow’s 36500-Day Done Right Promise means the work is backed by the owner personally – not a call center or a third-party warranty administrator.
- Estimates are free. Seniors and veterans receive 10% off. A live person answers at (904) 747-8989 at any hour.
Get Your Free Custom Impact Window Estimate in Fort Lauderdale
If you have a window opening in Fort Lauderdale that doesn’t fit a standard unit, or an existing geometric window that isn’t impact-rated, call Winslow Windows & Doors at (904) 747-8989. A live person answers every call, around the clock. We’ll schedule an on-site measurement visit, give you an honest upfront price, and handle everything from the permit to the final inspection. Ed’s name is on the door – and on every job we do. That’s not a slogan; it’s how we’ve operated in this market since 2011 and how we plan to keep operating.
We serve homeowners across Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding Broward County communities. To see the full range of non-standard window options we offer, visit our Custom & Geometric Windows in Fort Lauderdale page. And for everything else we do – from impact doors to roofing – you’ll find it at our main site.
Written by Ed Winslow, Owner at Winslow Windows & Doors, serving Fort Lauderdale since 2011.
Six Reasons Homeowners Choose Winslow Windows & Doors
Impact systems engineered to design pressures up to +/-100, matched to your wind zone - your openings hold when the storm arrives.
Low-E insulated impact glass from our manufacturer lines commonly cuts monthly cooling bills 20-30%.
Laminated impact glass shuts out up to 40% of outside noise - traffic, neighbors, weather.
Monitoring services run $30-90 a month. Laminated impact glass resists forced entry around the clock, with no subscription.
Florida homeowners average around 25% savings on the windstorm portion of their policy after protecting every opening - some homes qualify for more.
A full impact package upgrades curb appeal, buyer confidence and appraised value in one project.