Frequently Asked Questions

A typical whole-home window replacement in Olympia Heights takes 1-3 days for installation, after a 4-6 week lead time for custom-manufactured units. Single openings or small projects often finish in one day. The timeline stretches if we're matching stucco texture, working around Dade County pine or oak protection ordinances, or coordinating with a homeowners association in Coral Gables or Pinecrest. We give you a specific install date when you approve the quote, not a range. Haven Standard Clause 2 - arrive on schedule - means you get a named technician and a text when they're en route.

We measure every opening with a laser and tape, photograph the existing frame condition, check for squareness and level, and note any structural issues. You receive a copy of the measured survey and a written quote with line-item pricing for each window or door, material specifications, and the installation scope. The appointment takes 45-90 minutes depending on home size. We don't hand you a brochure and a ballpark - we leave you with the actual numbers. That's been Sightline's process since 2012. Call (786) 400-2761 to book your survey.

Yes, we pull permits and schedule inspections for all work that requires them. Miami-Dade County and most municipalities in our service area - including Doral, Coral Gables, and Palmetto Bay - require permits for window and door replacement when the opening size changes or when impact-rated products are installed. We handle the application, the inspection scheduling, and the final approval. You get copies of the permit and passed inspection for your records. This is documented in your project file under Haven Standard Clause 4 - evidence on every job.

We can match most stucco textures and trim profiles common in Olympia Heights, Westchester, and University Park. The area has a lot of Mediterranean Revival and Mid-Century Modern homes with specific finishes - lace texture stucco, keystone trim, coral stone surrounds. We photograph your existing conditions and work with local masonry and trim contractors to match materials. If we can't source an exact match, we tell you before you sign, not after we start. The match attempt and any limitations are noted in your written scope.

Clear a 3-foot path around each window and door being replaced, remove fragile items from walls near the work area, and secure pets in a separate room. Our crew brings drop cloths, HEPA vacuums, and protective sheeting. In Olympia Heights and Three Lakes, where afternoon thunderstorms are common March through October, we also bring temporary weather protection in case a passing cell hits while an opening is exposed. We'll text you when the technician is on the way, per Haven Standard Clause 2, so you know exactly when to expect arrival.

We install CGI, CWS, and ES Windows for impact-rated applications, and ECO Window Systems for non-impact vinyl products. These brands maintain active Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance listings, which is required for permit approval in our area. We don't push one brand for every job - the right product depends on your home's exposure, your HOA's design guidelines, and your budget. During your estimate, we show you sample cross-sections of the frames we recommend and explain why one suits your particular opening better than another. You get the brand name, model, and NOA number in writing.

Impact windows use laminated glass - two panes bonded to a shatter-resistant interlayer - and reinforced frames tested to withstand wind-borne debris at 140+ mph. Non-impact windows are standard insulated glass units that require shutters or panels for hurricane protection. In Olympia Heights and Kendall, which are inland but still in Miami-Dade's HVHZ, impact windows are required for new construction and most replacements. Some homeowners in older homes with existing shutters choose non-impact for budget reasons, but insurance companies increasingly require full opening protection. We document what you're buying and whether it meets current code.

We can replace insulated glass units (IGUs) in many existing frames if the frame itself is sound and the hardware still functions. Fogged or cracked glass in a vinyl or aluminum window that's less than 20 years old often qualifies. In Olympia Heights, we see a lot of original 1970s-1980s aluminum windows where the thermal break has failed and the frame is corroded - those need full replacement. We inspect the frame, test the operability, and tell you honestly whether glass-only makes sense or if you're throwing money at a failing frame. The finding is photographed and noted in your written assessment.

We carry common hardware, balances, and weatherstripping for repairs, but most replacement windows and doors are custom-ordered to measured dimensions. Stock sizes rarely fit existing openings in Olympia Heights homes, which were built across six decades with inconsistent framing. For emergency situations - a broken sash lock, a failed balance, a cracked single pane - we often have what we need on the truck. For full unit replacement, lead times are typically 4-6 weeks for standard sizes and 6-10 weeks for custom or specialty finishes. We tell you the realistic timeline when we quote, not an optimistic one to get the signature.

Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires, and we verify it before they arrive at your home. Haven Standard Clause 3 - verified crews - means background checks, license verification, and active general liability and workers compensation coverage. You can request the license number of the technician assigned to your job. In Florida, window and door installation falls under the certified contractor category, and Miami-Dade has additional windstorm requirements. We don't send anyone to your home who hasn't cleared these checks.

A window and door contractor in Florida should carry general liability insurance, workers compensation, and commercial auto coverage. General liability protects your property if damage occurs during installation; workers compensation covers injuries to crew members on your property. We provide certificates of insurance on request. Haven Standard Clause 3 requires active coverage, and we document the policy effective dates in your project file. If another contractor can't or won't show you current certificates, that's a signal to keep looking. We're happy to email ours before you schedule.

Yes, window and door replacement in Miami-Dade County requires a licensed contractor. The work involves structural openings, weatherproofing, and - for impact-rated products - code-compliant fastening patterns that must be inspected. Unlicensed handyman services can't pull permits, and their work voids manufacturer warranties in most cases. We pull permits for every job that requires them, pass inspection, and leave you with documentation. In fourteen years of operation, we've never advised a homeowner to skip permitting to save money - the resale and insurance consequences aren't worth it.

A true emergency is a security breach or weather exposure that can't wait: a broken sliding door after a break-in attempt, a shattered impact window from debris, a failed locking mechanism on a ground-floor opening. We answer the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A live coordinator takes your call, assesses whether temporary boarding or immediate repair is needed, and connects you with the local team. For after-hours security situations, we can often board the opening same-night and schedule full replacement the next business day. Call (786) 400-2761 - the phone is always answered.

Yes, we provide emergency board-up service for broken windows and doors in Olympia Heights, Westchester, and surrounding areas. We use exterior-grade plywood cut to fit, secured with corrosion-resistant fasteners that won't damage your frame. The board-up is documented with photos for your insurance claim, and we schedule permanent replacement as soon as materials arrive. In hurricane season, from June through November, we keep additional board-up supplies staged for rapid response. Call (786) 400-2761 for emergency service - the phone is answered 24/7.

We answer the phone immediately, 24 hours a day. For emergency board-up, we typically have a technician available within hours, depending on current storm activity and call volume. For full window replacement, we measure the opening, order the custom unit, and install as soon as it arrives - usually 4-6 weeks for standard products, longer for specialty finishes. We don't promise same-day installation of custom windows because no one can manufacture and deliver a made-to-order unit that fast. What we do promise is honest timelines, documented in writing, with no false urgency. Call (786) 400-2761 to report your situation.

Every installation carries a written workmanship warranty, and the products themselves carry manufacturer warranties that vary by brand and component. CGI and ES Windows typically offer 10-year glass breakage and 20-year frame warranties on impact products. ECO Window Systems provides lifetime limited warranties on vinyl frames. Our workmanship warranty covers installation defects - air infiltration from improper sealing, operational failure from incorrect shimming, water intrusion from flashing errors - for a period we specify in writing. Haven Standard Clause 1 requires the warranty terms to be in your quote before you sign. We don't hand you warranty paperwork after the check clears.

The Haven Standard is our documented promise on every job: flat price in writing before work starts, arrival on schedule with a named technician, verified licensed and insured crews, photographic evidence of conditions found and work completed, and no surprise upsells or scope changes. It's not a vague satisfaction promise - it's five specific clauses, each with a deliverable you can verify. Since 2012, we've fitted more than 18,000 windows and doors under this standard. Every project leaves a record: your signed quote, installation photos, permit and inspection documents, and final walkthrough notes. You keep copies; we keep copies. That's the evidence.

You call (786) 400-2761, and we send someone to look at it. For warranty issues, we photograph the problem, diagnose whether it's product defect or installation issue, and handle the claim with the manufacturer if needed. For installation-related problems, we fix it at our cost. In Olympia Heights and Glenvar Heights, where salt air and afternoon sun stress seals and hardware, we've handled post-installation service calls for sticky rollers, seal failures, and screen mesh replacements. We don't disappear after the final payment - our name and number stay on your paperwork, and the same local team answers the phone.

Most manufacturer warranties on windows and doors are transferable to subsequent homeowners, but the process varies by brand. CGI and CWS warranties typically transfer with a simple registration form submitted within 30 days of sale. ES Windows requires the original proof of purchase and installation date. We keep these records in your project file and can provide copies when you sell. For your protection, we recommend registering the warranty in your name at installation, then completing the transfer paperwork when you list the home. We help our past clients with this at no charge - call (786) 400-2761 and we'll pull your file.

Written by Sonia Raman, Owner at Sightline Windows & Doors Olympia Heights, serving Olympia Heights and surrounding communities since our local branch opened.