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AfterFull Frame Replacement in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Full frame replacement means removing a window down to the rough opening – frame, sill, and all – and setting a completely new unit from the studs out. In Fort Lauderdale, where salt air, humidity, and decades of Florida sun work on wood and aluminum alike, our Window Replacement services are often the only repair that actually solves the problem. If you are seeing rot at the sill, daylight at the corners, or a window that has lost its plumb after years of seasonal movement, a pocket insert will not fix any of that. A new frame will.
TruePane Windows & Doors has been doing this work in South Florida for over 42 years, and Dale Kessler built the company around a single rule: if the pane is not true, the job is not done. That means the frame goes in square, the flashing goes in right, and both warranty layers get registered in writing before our truck leaves your driveway. If you want to talk through what you are seeing before we schedule anything, a live person answers our phone around the clock at (754) 310-3589.
Full frame replacement is the most thorough option under our Window Replacement in Fort Lauderdale services, and for many homes in this market – particularly houses built before 1995 – it is the right choice rather than the expensive one.
When You Need Full Frame Replacement
Not every aging window needs a full frame pull. But in Fort Lauderdale’s climate, certain conditions make it the only honest answer. Here is what we regularly find when homeowners call us:
- Rotted or soft wood framing around the rough opening. Wood sills and jambs in neighborhoods like Tarpon River or Riverside Park absorb decades of driven rain and humidity. Once the wood is soft to a screwdriver, no insert will hold a true seal against it.
- Visible daylight or air infiltration at the corners. If you can see light or feel conditioned air escaping where the frame meets the wall, the original frame has moved or failed. Caulk is a temporary fix; a new frame is the right one.
- Out-of-square openings or binding sashes. Fort Lauderdale homes built on slab foundations can shift subtly over time. When a frame is no longer square, sashes bind, locks stop latching, and water infiltration is a matter of when, not if.
- Storm damage that compromised the structural surround. A direct impact – or sustained pressure from a near-miss hurricane – can crack the masonry buck or bend an aluminum frame beyond what any patch addresses. Full replacement re-establishes the structural anchor point for the new unit.
- Original single-pane aluminum frames from pre-impact-code construction. Many homes in areas like Edgewood and Dorsey-Riverbend still carry their original mid-century aluminum windows. Bringing these openings up to current Florida Building Code for wind-borne debris resistance requires a full frame pull and a properly anchored impact unit.
- Persistent water intrusion at the sill or head despite previous repairs. If two contractors have caulked the same window and you still get water in a hard rain, the failure is structural, not cosmetic. We find this regularly in older Coral Ridge and Lauderdale Isles homes where original flashing was never properly integrated with the stucco system.
Our Full Frame Replacement Process
We do not have a single script for every job, but the sequence below describes how a typical full frame replacement goes on a Fort Lauderdale house. Our technicians measure every opening twice, and we do not order product until the numbers are confirmed.
- Pre-job assessment and measure. We look at the rough opening, the surrounding wall assembly, and the existing frame condition before we quote anything. In Fort Lauderdale’s mixed housing stock – CBS block, frame-on-slab, older wood-frame construction – the wall type determines how the new frame gets anchored and flashed. We note all of it in writing.
- Product selection and side-by-side quote. We are an authorized installer for CGI, ES Windows, and more than a dozen other lines. We put the options on paper next to each other – frame material, glass package, impact rating, warranty duration – so you can see exactly what you are buying before anything is ordered. No bait-and-switch after the deposit clears.
- Permit coordination where required. Fort Lauderdale and Broward County require a building permit for full frame replacements in most cases, particularly when impact windows are involved. We handle the permit application, coordinate inspections, and do not start demolition until approvals are in hand. This protects your homeowner’s insurance coverage and your resale disclosure.
- Frame removal and rough opening preparation. The existing frame comes out completely – glass, sash, frame, stop, and all original fasteners. We inspect the rough opening for rot, moisture damage, or fastener corrosion before anything new goes in. If we find damage that was not visible at the assessment, we stop, photograph it, and call you. Nothing gets covered up.
- Installation, anchoring, and flashing. The new frame goes in square – we verify plumb, level, and diagonal measurements before setting fasteners. Flashing is integrated with the existing stucco or siding system according to Florida Building Code and manufacturer requirements. In Fort Lauderdale’s coastal environment, proper flashing integration is the difference between a window that performs for thirty years and one that starts leaking in year four.
- Final inspection, warranty registration, and cleanup. After the inspection passes, both manufacturer warranty layers – product and glass – get registered in writing before we leave. You receive documentation with durations stated. Our 90-Day Done Right Promise covers the workmanship: if anything is not right within 90 days, we make it right without paperwork, without arguing, and without fine print that excludes the actual problem.
Full Frame Replacement Pricing in Fort Lauderdale
Full frame replacement costs more than a pocket insert because the scope is genuinely larger – more labor, more materials, and in most cases a building permit. That said, homeowners in Fort Lauderdale who have priced this work in the last 12 months will find the ranges below consistent with what the local market is running.
| Window Type / Scenario | Typical Range (Installed, Per Opening) |
|---|---|
| Standard single-hung, impact glass, aluminum frame | $650 – $1,100 |
| Double-hung or horizontal slider, impact glass | $800 – $1,400 |
| Picture window or fixed unit, impact glass | $900 – $1,600 |
| Casement or awning, impact glass | $950 – $1,700 |
| Oversized or custom opening (beyond standard rough openings) | $1,400 – $2,800+ |
| Permit fee (Broward County / City of Fort Lauderdale) | $100 – $350 per permit, varies by scope |
Several factors move the final number in either direction:
- Frame material and manufacturer line. CGI and ES Windows both carry strong Florida product approvals; the glass package and frame profile you choose within those lines will affect cost more than the brand name alone.
- Condition of the rough opening. Rot repair, masonry patching, or buck replacement adds labor and material that we cannot price until the old frame is out. We photograph and document everything before proceeding.
- Number of openings. Multi-window projects typically reduce the per-opening cost because mobilization and permit fees are spread across more units.
- Impact rating required. Homes in Fort Lauderdale’s coastal high-velocity hurricane zone require windows that meet Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) standards. Units carrying that certification cost more and are worth every dollar for what they protect against.
- Stucco or siding repair after removal. Full frame pulls typically leave a reveal around the perimeter that needs to be patched before painting. We include that scope in our written quote so there are no surprise line items when the job is done.
Estimates are free, and the quote we give you is the number on the invoice – no adjustments after the fact for items we should have anticipated. Senior homeowners and veterans receive a standing 5% discount, and any repair or replacement over $250 qualifies for $50 off. Call (754) 310-3589 to schedule a measure and quote at no cost to you.
FAQs – Full Frame Replacement
What is the difference between full frame replacement and insert replacement in Fort Lauderdale?
Full frame replacement removes everything back to the rough opening – frame, sill, nailing fin, and all – while Insert Window Replacement fits a new sash unit into the existing frame. Full frame is the right choice when the existing frame is rotted, out of square, not properly anchored for current wind-load requirements, or when the homeowner is upgrading from non-impact to impact windows and needs the frame properly integrated with the wall assembly. In Fort Lauderdale, where Florida Building Code requires impact-rated units in wind-borne debris regions, we see a high percentage of older homes that genuinely need the full pull to get the anchoring right. Call us at (754) 310-3589 and we will tell you honestly which approach your situation calls for.
Does full frame replacement require a building permit in Fort Lauderdale?
In most cases, yes. The City of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County require permits for full frame window replacements, particularly when the work involves impact windows or structural changes to the rough opening. Skipping the permit is not a shortcut we take – an unpermitted impact window installation can void your homeowner’s insurance coverage and create disclosure problems if you sell. TruePane handles the permit application and inspection coordination as part of the job, so you are not managing that paperwork yourself.
How long does a full frame replacement take per window?
For a straightforward opening with no rot or structural damage, plan on roughly two to three hours of installation time per window once the product is on-site. Most single-family homes in Fort Lauderdale with four to eight windows get the installation phase done in one visit. If we find unexpected damage in the rough opening – which we document and photograph before proceeding – that adds time we will communicate to you before we continue. Permit inspections are typically scheduled within a few days of installation and do not require you to be present in most cases.
Will new windows lower my homeowner’s insurance in Fort Lauderdale?
Replacing non-impact windows with impact-rated units that carry a Florida product approval – specifically Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) – can qualify your home for a wind mitigation credit that reduces your homeowner’s insurance premium. The actual savings depend on your insurer, your policy, and a wind mitigation inspection that a licensed inspector performs after the work is done. We provide the documentation you need for that inspection: product approval numbers, installation records, and permit closeout paperwork. Many of our customers in neighborhoods like Coral Ridge and Imperial Point have seen meaningful premium reductions after a full frame replacement with Vinyl Replacement Windows and properly certified impact glass. We do not quote insurance savings ourselves, but we make sure the paperwork is in order so your insurer can.
Why Fort Lauderdale Homeowners Call TruePane First
A lot of contractors in South Florida will pull an old frame and set a new one. Fewer will do it the way it needs to be done in this climate – with proper flashing integration, Window Maintenance & Care planning, documented product approvals, registered warranties, and a workmanship guarantee that does not disappear when the truck pulls away.
TruePane has been doing this work in Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding Broward County communities for over 42 years. Dale Kessler started this company because he kept seeing installs that looked fine on the day they were done and failed three years later – and he knew the failure was avoidable if the frame went in true and the flashing was done right. That standard has not changed.
We are authorized installers for CGI, ES Windows, and more than a dozen other lines, and we carry every job under The Keystone Standard: both warranty layers registered in writing, durations stated, before we leave. Our 90-Day Done Right Promise means if something is not right, we come back and make it right – no arguing, no fine print, no paperwork fight. We have been doing business this way long enough that we sponsor county fairs and church roof funds in the communities we serve, because we plan to be here in thirty years and we act accordingly.
If you are looking at a window in your Fort Lauderdale home that has been patched one too many times, or if you want to get a clear answer on whether your situation calls for a full pull or an insert, call us. A live person will pick up. We will come out, measure the opening, and give you a written quote with no obligation attached to it.
For context on all the window options available to Fort Lauderdale homeowners, the home page covers TruePane’s full range of services.
Key Takeaways
- Full frame replacement removes the entire frame assembly back to the rough opening – the right choice when rot, structural damage, or current building code requirements make an insert inadequate.
- In Fort Lauderdale, most full frame replacements require a Broward County or City of Fort Lauderdale building permit; TruePane handles that coordination as part of the job.
- Installed costs typically run $650 to $1,700 per opening for standard impact windows, depending on frame material, glass package, and rough opening condition.
- Every TruePane installation is covered by The Keystone Standard – both manufacturer warranty layers registered in writing – and the 90-Day Done Right Promise on workmanship.
- Properly installed, impact-rated full frame replacements in Fort Lauderdale’s coastal wind zone can support wind mitigation credits that reduce homeowner’s insurance premiums.
- Estimates are free. Call (754) 310-3589 and a live person will answer.
Ready to schedule a free estimate? Call TruePane Windows & Doors at (754) 310-3589. We serve Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding Broward County area, and a live person answers every call, any hour of the day. We will come out, measure your openings, and give you a written quote with no obligation – upfront pricing, no surprises on the invoice, and workmanship backed in writing.
Written by Dale Kessler, Owner at TruePane Windows & Doors, serving Fort Lauderdale.
Six Reasons Homeowners Choose TruePane 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.