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Get your free estimateVLX 500 Sliding Window in Tampa, FL | Lightwell Windows Tampa
The VLX 500 Sliding Window is a high-performance aluminum sliding system built around a slim profile, an effortless glide, and the option of two-track or three-track configurations. It’s the window Tampa homeowners choose when they want a wide, uninterrupted view without the bulk of a traditional frame. As an authorized ViewLux installation partner, Lightwell Windows Tampa brings this product to homeowners across Tampa, FL with factory-backed installation and local accountability. We’ve installed this series in neighborhoods from Hyde Park to Westchase, and we measure, order, and install each unit to AAMA standards. Call (850) 360-6785 to schedule a free on-site measurement and quote.
Product Overview – VLX 500 Sliding Window
The VLX 500 Sliding Window is a product that earns its keep in Florida’s climate. Sliding windows get chosen for wide openings, patio-facing walls, kitchens over sinks, and anywhere a casement or double-hung would feel visually heavy. This series responds to that demand with a 1.97-inch profile width and a wall thickness of 0.079 inches, which gives the frame structural stiffness without turning the window into a bulky aluminum band around the glass. The result is a clean, architectural look that reads modern but fits just as naturally in a renovated mid-century home in Seminole Heights as it does in a new build in Water Street Tampa.
What makes the VLX 500 stand out among aluminum sliders is the gliding mechanism. The sashes ride on stainless steel rollers that are engineered to carry heavy insulated glass units without sagging, sticking, or grinding over time. That matters in a city where windows get opened every evening between October and April. Homeowners in Tampa regularly tell us that a slider that binds or takes two hands to move is the first thing they want to replace. This series solves that problem from day one, and it holds up after years of daily use.
The two-track and three-track configurations also give this window real design range. A two-track VLX 500 is a classic two-panel slider with one fixed sash and one moving sash. The three-track version opens up more creative layouts, including a three-panel design that can open two-thirds of the opening or configurations that give you more glass and a wider open pass-through. We walk every Tampa customer through the difference at the estimate, because the right track count changes how the window feels in the room.
Styles & brands we work with
Technical Specifications
- Wall thickness: 0.079 inches, giving the aluminum frame a solid feel and resistance to flexing under wind load.
- Profile width: 1.97 inches, a slim sightline that maximizes glass area and keeps sightlines clean.
- Track configurations: 2-Track and 3-Track, for two-panel or three-panel sliding layouts.
- Glass options: Clear, Frosted, Low-E, Tempered, and Impact-Resistant Laminated.
- Finish options: Premium Black, Pure White, Anodized Silver, Bronze, Champagne, and Teak Wood.
- Screen options: Retractable Screen or Sliding Screen, depending on the opening and how often the window is used for ventilation.
- Performance standards: Thermal break technology with NFRC-rated energy performance; tested for airtightness, waterproofing, mist prevention, sound control, and wind-load resistance for the Tampa, FL climate.
Performance Features
Thermal Efficiency. The VLX 500 uses a thermal break inside the aluminum frame, which interrupts the metal’s natural heat conductivity. In Tampa’s climate, that translates to lower heat gain through the frame on summer afternoons and less condensation on the aluminum during humid winter mornings. The NFRC-rated energy performance gives homeowners real numbers to compare against other window lines.
Acoustic Performance. Aluminum is dense, and when the VLX 500 is paired with laminated glass, the combination reduces outside noise measurably. Homeowners near Bayshore Boulevard, Dale Mabry Highway, or Tampa International Airport’s flight paths notice the difference immediately. The frame tolerances on this series are tight, which reduces the micro-gaps where sound leaks through a sloppier window.
Airtightness & Weather Seal. The VLX 500 is built with compression gaskets and interlocking sashes that close the gap between panels. Airtightness testing on this series shows the window resists the stack effect and air pressure differences that let conditioned air escape and hot, humid Tampa air creep in. That means lower HVAC load and fewer drafts near the frame.
Waterproofing. The sill design on the VLX 500 drains water outward, not inward. During Tampa’s summer downpours, water that hits the glass and frame gets channeled away from the interior. The AAMA 812 low-expansion foam sealant we apply on every perimeter joint during installation reinforces this with a continuous air and moisture barrier around the frame.
Wind Resistance. The VLX 500 is wind-load rated for the coastal and inland wind zones common across the Tampa area. When paired with impact-resistant laminated glass, the window is a serious option for homes that need to meet stricter wind-borne debris requirements without moving to a heavier, expensive impact window line.
Security & Hardware. The sliding sashes lock into place with a positive-locking mechanism rather than a friction catch. Combined with the 0.079-inch wall thickness and tempered or laminated glass options, the VLX 500 gives Tampa homeowners a window that deters forced entry far better than a standard vinyl slider with a wobble latch.
See the difference
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AfterColor & Glass Options
The VLX 500 comes in six finishes: Premium Black, Pure White, Anodized Silver, Bronze, Champagne, and Teak Wood. Premium Black and Pure White dominate the contemporary homes going up in Tampa Heights and around Armature Works, where sharp contrast against stucco or brick reads as intentional. Anodized Silver and Champagne have a softer, almost architectural-metal tone that works well on waterfront condos and mid-century homes. Bronze is a practical choice for Tampa homeowners who want a dark frame without the maintenance worry of a black finish in direct sun. Teak Wood delivers a warm, wood-like look for traditional Florida homes and bungalows in Riverside Heights, without the rot, termite, and paint issues that come with real wood windows in this humidity.
On glass, Clear is the budget baseline for interior-facing openings with no direct sun. Frosted suits bathrooms, side yards, and any window where privacy matters more than the view. Low-E is the default recommendation for west-facing walls in Tampa, where afternoon heat through untreated glass is measurable on your cooling bill. Tempered is required by code in certain locations and adds shatter resistance. Laminated impact glass is the strongest option, and for homeowners in evacuation zones or on the water, it is often the difference between passing a wind mitigation inspection and paying higher insurance premiums in Tampa, FL.
Installation by Lightwell Windows Tampa in Tampa
We install every VLX 500 Sliding Window in Tampa the same way we would install it in our own home. Installation starts with a pre-install inspection of the rough opening, the surrounding flashing, and the condition of the wall framing. That step finds problems before the window goes in, not after. Then we set the frame level, plumb, and square, shimming as needed so the sliding sashes travel without binding and the glass seats evenly against the gaskets. An out-of-square opening is the number one reason a slider feels rough on day one, and we do not skip this step.
Every perimeter joint gets AAMA 812 low-expansion foam sealant, which creates a continuous air and moisture seal around the frame without bowing the aluminum. Our installation method follows AAMA 2400/2410 installation standards, the recognized national benchmark for window and door installation. We complete a final water test on the sill and track after the window is secured, then clean up the job site down to the last piece of tape. The reason this matters: ViewLux and every other manufacturer we work with voids the product warranty when the window is installed incorrectly. The best window in the world fails early when the perimeter seal is sloppy or the frame is racked. In Tampa, with our heavy rain, high humidity, and coastal wind, that failure shows up fast. Professional installation is not optional; it is the warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions – VLX 500 Sliding Window
Lead times for the VLX 500 typically run around three to five weeks, depending on the glass and finish combination you choose. Custom sizes and laminated impact glass add time. We confirm the current production window when we quote your project, and we do not start cutting or demoing anything in your Tampa home until the windows have physically arrived in our shop. Call (850) 360-6785 to check the current lead time for your configuration.
It can, depending on the glass package. The VLX 500 with Low-E glass and the thermal break frame carries NFRC-rated performance values that often meet the current federal ENERGY STAR criteria for the South zone, which includes Tampa, FL. Your final eligibility depends on your exact configuration and the tax credit program in effect that year. We can provide the performance documentation you need at the time of your quote.
The VLX 500 carries the manufacturer’s standard warranty through ViewLux, covering the frame, hardware, and glass against manufacturing defects. Your protection depends on correct installation, which is where our Tampa team comes in. We follow AAMA 2400/2410 standards on every job, so the only way that warranty gets voided is if someone else re-installs or modifies the window after we leave. We’ll walk you through the full warranty terms at the estimate. Call (850) 360-6785 to get a copy and a quote in one visit.
Yes. The VLX 500 Sliding Window is ordered to your rough opening dimensions, not from off-the-shelf stock sizes. That means we can fit wide patio openings, narrow galley-kitchen windows, and everything between. The two-track and three-track options let us configure the panel widths to match the opening, so you get balanced sightlines instead of one oversized fixed panel and one tiny moving sash.
Aluminum frames need almost nothing. Clean the track with a dry brush or vacuum every few months, wipe the frame with mild soap and water, and keep the weep holes at the bottom of the sill clear. Do not use abrasive pads on the finish. Tampa’s salt air near the water makes occasional cleaning more important, but the factory finish on the VLX 500 is designed to hold up for years without repainting or resealing.
Get a Quote – VLX 500 Sliding Window in Tampa
If you’re pricing the VLX 500 Sliding Window in Tampa, FL, the next step is a free on-site measurement with Lightwell Windows Tampa. We’ll confirm your openings, walk through glass and finish options, and give you a written line-item quote with no change orders and no surprises. Call (850) 360-6785 to schedule yours.
Written by the team at Lightwell Windows Tampa, serving Tampa, FL as an authorized ViewLux installation partner.
Six Reasons Homeowners Choose Lightwell Windows Tampa
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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