Brand comparison
ES Windows vs. PGT impact windows
PGT and ES Windows both make impact windows Republic installs in South Florida, and the better one depends on the opening, the frame you want, and the budget. PGT is made in Florida with its WinGuard line in aluminum and vinyl, while ES Windows is made in Colombia and builds slim aluminum systems for large openings.
| Made in | PGT: Florida. ES Windows: Colombia. |
|---|---|
| Lines we install | PGT: WinGuard impact, aluminum and vinyl. ES Windows: Elite, Prestige, and Multimax aluminum systems. |
| Frames | PGT: aluminum or vinyl. ES Windows: aluminum. |
| Best fit | PGT: vinyl frames, a Florida-made product, standard openings. ES Windows: large openings and slim modern frames. |
| Window types | Both cover single-hung, horizontal roller, casement, and fixed windows in the lines we install. |
| Approvals | We install only products approved for your county. In Miami-Dade and Broward that means a Miami-Dade NOA or an HVHZ-rated Florida Product Approval. |
| Price installed | $800–$1,800 per window installed across our brands. Some windows cost $3,000 or more depending on brand and model. |
| Labor warranty | Lifetime, whichever brand we install |
We install both brands, plus ECO Window Systems and Custom Window Systems, so we have no reason to push one. This page compares what we can verify: where each is made, the lines we install, and where each fits.
Is ES Windows better than PGT?
Neither is better for every house. The right window is the one whose approved product fits each opening's size and design pressure, in the frame material and look you want, at your budget. On one house we may quote both, opening by opening.
PGT
PGT is made in Florida. Its WinGuard impact line comes in aluminum and vinyl and covers single-hung, horizontal roller, casement, and fixed windows. Vinyl frames are a common pick for whole-house jobs, and some homeowners simply prefer a Florida-made product.
ES Windows
ES Windows is made in Colombia. It builds slim aluminum systems for large openings and modern homes, including the Elite, Prestige, and Multimax lines. Tall picture windows and wide modern openings are where ES Windows tends to come up.
Approvals: what to check on any quote
Miami-Dade and Broward are in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, so every impact window and door we install there carries a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance or an HVHZ-rated Florida Product Approval.
Every approval lists the sizes and design pressures the window is rated for. Ask for the approval on each line of your quote, whichever brand it is, and check it on the Florida Building Commission or Miami-Dade product control sites.
PGT window reviews and ES Windows reviews
Brand reviews mix the product with the installer. Most problems homeowners describe come down to sizing, approvals, or installation, not the glass itself. That's why we quote the approved line for each opening, pull the permit ourselves, and warrant our labor for life.
Price
Impact windows run $800–$1,800 per window installed, and some windows can cost $3,000 or more depending on brand and model. A whole house typically runs $12,000–$35,000.
For common sizes, a 37 by 63 inch single-hung is about $1,100, a 53 by 50 inch horizontal roller is about $1,250, a 37 by 50 inch fixed (picture) is about $900, and a 37 by 50 inch casement is about $1,300, installed.
Questions
- Is ES Windows better than PGT?
- Not across the board. ES Windows suits large openings and slim aluminum frames; PGT suits vinyl frames and buyers who want a Florida-made window. We match the approved line to each opening.
- Where are PGT and ES Windows made?
- PGT is made in Florida. ES Windows manufactures in Colombia with distribution in Miami-Dade County.
- Do both brands work in Miami-Dade and Broward?
- We install only products approved for the county. In the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone that means a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance or an HVHZ-rated Florida Product Approval for each window.
- Which impact window brands does Republic install?
- PGT, ES Windows, ECO Window Systems, and Custom Window Systems. We pick the line by county, opening size, design pressure, and budget.
- Does the brand change the warranty?
- Our labor warranty is lifetime whichever brand we install. The product warranty comes from the manufacturer and varies by brand and line.
