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ES Windows Window Replacement: The Fort Lauderdale Owner’s Guide
Replacing an ES Windows unit in Fort Lauderdale typically runs $850 to $2,400 installed, depending on the series, size, and whether the opening needs impact-rated glass. We stock ES Windows-compatible sashes, balances, rollers, and sealed glass packs on our trucks, and most single-unit replacements happen in one visit. The way most homeowners discover they need this work is unglamorous: a window that won’t stay up, a latch that won’t catch, or condensation that won’t quit between the panes. In South Florida’s humidity, a failed seal on an aluminum-frame ES Windows unit stops being cosmetic fast. Once moisture gets inside the glass pack, the window loses its insulating value and you’re looking at a haze that never goes away until the sash or the glass is replaced.
We’re an independent shop, not affiliated with ES Windows. What that means in practice is we don’t have a corporate script to follow. We match the part to your specific unit, quote the price in writing before any work starts, and stand behind the install with our Done Right Promise.
Which ES Windows Models This Applies To
ES Windows builds several aluminum and aluminum-clad lines you’ll see throughout Fort Lauderdale: the ES700 and ES800 series for standard single-hung and horizontal slider applications, plus their impact-rated lines that show up in coastal condos and single-family homes east of Federal Highway. Each series uses its own balance and roller specs, and the rollers on an ES700 slider are not interchangeable with the ES800. That compatibility gotcha is the single most common ordering mistake we see from homeowners who try to buy parts online without confirming the series first.
How to identify what you have: look at the spacer bar between the glass panes for the ES Windows etching, then check the frame corner for a small sticker with the series number. If the sticker’s gone, measure the visible glass width and the frame depth. We can usually identify the series from those two numbers over the phone, or from a photo. For older ES Windows units installed before 2010, OEM parts are sometimes discontinued. When that happens, we’ll quote a quality aftermarket equivalent that matches the original spec, and we’ll tell you the difference in writing before you decide. Our standard practice is to show you the manufacturer line and the equivalent side by side with the price for each, so there’s no guessing on the invoice.
Signs Your ES Windows Window Replacement Is Failing
- The sash drops or won’t stay open. The spiral balances or block-and-tackle balances inside the frame have lost tension. This is not a lubrication problem; it’s a worn component, and replacing the balance set is usually the fix.
- Fog or condensation between the panes. The insulated glass seal has failed. In Fort Lauderdale’s humidity, this shows up as a permanent haze or moisture beads you can’t wipe away, and it only gets worse.
- The window grinds or catches when sliding. Rollers on the bottom track have worn flat or the track itself has collected enough salt-and-sand grit to bind. Coastal air accelerates this on aluminum frames like ES Windows uses.
- The latch or lock no longer seats. The keeper has shifted or the latch mechanism inside the frame has worn. On impact-rated ES Windows units, a non-securing latch also affects the structural integrity of the unit during a storm event.
- Water stains or soft drywall below the window. The weepholes in the frame may be clogged, or the exterior seal has failed where the flange meets the frame. In older Fort Lauderdale homes, this is often mistaken for a leak in the roof when it’s really the window flashing giving out.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
| Replacement Type | Typical Installed Price in Fort Lauderdale |
|---|---|
| Balance set replacement (single sash) | $180 - $340 |
| Roller replacement (sliding window, both panels) | $220 - $410 |
| Latch / lock replacement | $120 - $240 |
| Sealed glass pack replacement (standard low-E) | $450 - $900 per sash |
| Full sash replacement (impact-rated, laminated glass) | $850 - $2,400 per unit |
What drives the range is glass type, series year, and whether the unit sits in a high-rise or a ground-floor opening with easy ladder access. Fort Lauderdale condos above the third floor usually require a work-order approval from the association before we can bring glass up the service elevator, and we handle that paperwork as part of the job. Every replacement includes the part, labor, cleanup, and a written line-item quote before the work begins. We register both warranty layers, the manufacturer’s and ours, in writing before the truck leaves the driveway. No surprise line items, no second appointment left hanging.
DIY or Call Us?
You can safely check the series number, take measurements, and photograph the failed part from the inside. That information helps us quote the job accurately over the phone. What you should not attempt is pulling the sash out of an ES Windows frame yourself. The balances are under tension in the frame channels, and on impact-rated units, the glass packs are heavy enough to injure you if they slip. A window that’s been binding in the frame for months can release suddenly once you free the sash. We’ve seen homeowners in Oakland Park and Victoria Park end up with a cracked glass pack and a bent frame track trying to save the service call. Replacement is straightforward for us because we do it every week; the risk for a first-timer is real. If you’re looking at the window and unsure whether it’s a balance, a roller, or a seal issue, call us at (954) 280-4413 and describe what you’re seeing. We’ll help you figure out what you’re dealing with before anyone gets in a truck.
FAQs
In coastal South Florida, ES Windows balances and rollers typically last 8 to 12 years before showing wear, and sealed glass packs often hold for 15 to 20 years when the frames are kept clean and the weepholes clear. Salt air, direct sun exposure, and how often the window is opened all shorten that span, which is why beachfront and Intracoastal properties tend to need replacements sooner than homes west of I-95. Call (954) 280-4413 for an exact assessment of your unit; the first estimate is free.
Balances and rollers cannot be repaired; they are wear components that get swapped for new ones. Latches can sometimes be adjusted rather than replaced if the keeper has simply shifted, but if the internal mechanism is worn, a new latch is the only fix that will hold. We’ll tell you which situation you’re in before we quote the work.
Most ES Windows balance, roller, and latch replacements take 45 to 90 minutes once we’re on site, and most jobs are completed in a single visit. A sealed glass pack or full sash replacement usually takes two to three hours including cleanup because the old glass has to be removed carefully and the new unit set and sealed properly.
We stock the most common ES Windows balance sets, rollers, and latches on our trucks for the ES700 and ES800 series. Less common sizes and impact-rated glass packs are ordered from our supplier and typically arrive within three to five business days in Fort Lauderdale. If we need to order, we’ll tell you the timeline before we schedule the visit.
If the window’s been fighting you for a while, don’t wait for it to fall closed on a finger or let a fogged pane get worse through another rainy season. Call TruePane Windows & Doors at (954) 280-4413. We’ll quote the replacement honestly, in writing, and stand behind it. That’s how we’ve done it in Fort Lauderdale for more than years, and if the pane is not true, the job is not done.
Written by Dale Kessler, Owner, TruePane Windows & Doors at TruePane Windows & Doors, serving Fort Lauderdale and nearby areas.
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.



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