Free written scope consultation - allowances, timeline, and change-order rules on paper before a single trade is scheduled
Unilock Windows & Doors: The West Palm Beach Owner’s Guide
We stock and install Unilock-compatible windows and doors across West Palm Beach, with most replacement projects running $4,500-$15,000 for full window replacement and $8,000-$25,000 for impact-rated installations. Most standard-size units are available within 48 hours; custom orders or impact-rated assemblies typically ship in 5-10 business days. West Palm Beach homeowners usually discover a problem when the sash won’t stay open, they feel salt air blowing past a closed frame, or condensation appears between panes that won’t wipe clean.
Which Unilock Models This Applies To
Unilock manufactured windows and doors from the mid-1990s through roughly 2015 under several series names. The most common we encounter in West Palm Beach are the Unilock 5000 Series vinyl double-hungs, the Unilock 7000 Series tilt-wash units, and the Unilock Patio Door 6000 Series sliding assemblies. The 5000 Series used a constant-force balance system with a 5/8-inch-wide balance shoe; the 7000 Series switched to a block-and-tackle balance with a 3/4-inch shoe, and the two are not interchangeable. To identify your unit, open the sash and look for a stamped metal label on the top of the frame or a vinyl rating label in the track jamb. The model prefix, glass thickness, and date code tell us which replacement parts match.
We are an independent service provider with no affiliation to Unilock. For parts, we source OEM-spec components where they still exist and quality aftermarket equivalents where they don’t. The aftermarket balance assemblies we use carry the same 10-year fatigue rating as original equipment and cost 30-40% less. The decision point is usually availability: some Unilock-specific glazing beads and interlocks are no longer manufactured, so we machine-match or source compatible profiles from our supplier network.
Signs Your Unilock Windows & Doors Are Failing

- Sash drops or won’t stay open. The balance system, either a coil spring or block-and-tackle, has lost tension. In West Palm Beach, salt air accelerates corrosion of the balance shoe pivot, so the sash weight overpowers the weakened spring. We replace the full balance cartridge, not just the shoe, because the spring fatigue is systemic.
- Visible moisture between glass panes. The insulating glass unit (IGU) seal has failed, allowing humid Florida air to enter the gap. Once desiccant saturation occurs, the fogging is permanent. The fix is IGU replacement, not a wipedown, and the new unit must be fabricated to the exact daylight opening minus 1/8 inch per side.
- Frame corner gaps or warped sash. Vinyl expands and contracts; after 15-20 years of West Palm Beach heat cycles, corner fusion welds can stress-crack. We check with a framing square: anything over 1/8 inch out of square means the sash won’t seal properly and needs replacement.
- Lock won’t engage or handle spins freely. The multipoint lock mechanism, common in Unilock patio doors, has a central gearbox with extending shootbolts. The gearbox casing cracks from repeated torque, or the shootbolt cams wear down. A spinning handle usually means stripped gears inside the housing.
- Air infiltration at the sill or jamb. The weatherstrip pile or compression seal has flattened or pulled from its kerf slot. We measure pile height in 32nds of an inch; original Unilock spec was 11/32-inch for sashes and 7/32-inch for fixed panels, and anything under 9/32-inch won’t compress enough to seal.
Before
AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
Window replacement in West Palm Beach runs $4,500-$15,000 depending on count, size, and whether you upgrade to impact-rated glass. Impact window installation ranges $8,000-$25,000. For single-unit repairs, balance system replacement is typically $180-$340 per sash, IGU replacement $280-$520 per unit, and multipoint lock repair $220-$450 per door. These are installed prices: parts, labor, disposal of the old component, and a written warranty.
What drives the range: unit size, access difficulty (second-story requires ladder or scaffold work), and whether the existing frame is square enough to accept a new sash or requires full-frame replacement. Under Clause 1 of the Haven Standard, we deliver a written price before any work starts. That price includes a documented photo record of the condition we found and what we did, delivered as standard, not an upgrade. Our 365-Day Done Right Promise covers the installation; the glass itself carries the manufacturer’s warranty, typically 20 years.
DIY or Call Us?

There’s a safe middle ground. A homeowner can check the label location, measure the sash daylight opening (width by height in 1/16-inch increments), and photograph the balance shoe or lock mechanism. That information lets us confirm parts compatibility before we arrive.
Where DIY goes wrong: removing a sash with a failed balance risks dropping 20-40 pounds of glass; replacing an IGU without proper setting blocks and edge clearances causes seal failure within a year; and adjusting a multipoint lock without knowing the engagement sequence can warp the door panel. We don’t recommend homeowner disassembly of any unit over 6 feet wide or on a second story. Call (561) 475-3903 and we’ll schedule a free estimate with a written price before any work starts.
FAQs
Expect 15-25 years for vinyl frames and 10-20 years for IGUs before seal failure, though salt air exposure and direct west-facing sun can shorten that by 20-30%. The balance system typically fails first, around year 12-18. Call (561) 475-3903 for an exact quote on replacement - estimates are free.
Yes, if the frame is square and the vinyl hasn’t degraded. Balance systems, IGUs, locks, and weatherstrip are all individually replaceable. Full-frame replacement is only necessary when the main frame is warped, the nail fin is compromised, or you’re upgrading to impact-rated units. Call (561) 475-3903 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
A single sash or IGU replacement takes 2-3 hours on site. Full-frame replacement of a typical home’s windows runs 2-4 days depending on count and exterior finish work required. We pull permits when needed and schedule inspections so you don’t manage that process. Call (561) 475-3903 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
We carry common balance assemblies, weatherstrip profiles, and multipoint lock gearboxes that fit Unilock specifications. Custom IGUs and full sash assemblies are fabricated to order, usually 5-10 business days for standard sizes, longer for custom shapes or impact-rated glass. Call (561) 475-3903 and we’ll confirm availability for your specific model.
Grant Rowan likes to say, “Measure twice, document everything, then get out of the way and let the work speak.” That’s how we’ve operated since 2007 across more than 4,000 projects. If your Unilock windows or doors are showing any of the symptoms above, call (561) 475-3903 to schedule your free estimate. We’ll deliver a written price before any work starts, and you’ll receive a documented photo record of everything we find and everything we do.
Written by Grant Rowan, Owner, Rowan Construction Group West Palm Beach at Rowan Construction Group West Palm Beach, serving West Palm Beach and nearby areas.







Before
After
Before
After