If you live in a hurricane-prone area, impact windows can save your home from debris and even reduce homeowners insurance premiums. They are also an investment that adds security, value, and a better indoor environment.
Impact windows are made with thick glass and a strong frame designed to resist the penetration of breaking debris. They also help keep out intruders and limit exposure to harmful UV rays.
Security
The impact window & doors installation can enhance home safety during hurricanes by resisting the force of flying debris. These windows and doors have a laminated interior pane that binds two or more pieces of glass together using a solid plastic layer instead of the standard glass. It helps keep the window intact if it does shatter and reduces the risk of injury due to flying glass shards.
The thicker, layered nature of impact glass makes it less vulnerable to forced entries. Typical break-ins are crimes of opportunity, but the fact that the glass in impact windows and doors won’t shatter deters would-be criminals and keeps them from entering your home quickly. You can search online for videos showcasing how well these windows stand up to being hit with baseball bats, sledgehammers, and even crowbars.
In addition to reducing sound and making your home more secure, impact windows can help improve your home’s energy efficiency. The tight, heavy-duty frames and laminated insulated glass block out the sun’s heat while keeping indoor air excellent. This is important for minimizing utility bills in Florida’s hot summers. Installing impact windows and doors may also lower your insurance premium.
Energy Efficiency
Aside from protecting your home from shattered glass and other debris, impact windows also protect you during a hurricane. Regular windows break into large shards during severe weather events like hurricanes, leaving your home vulnerable to wind, water, and other outdoor elements.
On the other hand, impact windows are made of laminated glass that can withstand strong winds without shattering. This additional layer of protection can save your home from costly damages while also making your house more energy efficient, which could result in savings on your energy bills.
In addition to their dual-layered construction and reinforced window framing, impact windows can help keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Choose a glass option with tints and low-emissivity coating to enhance energy efficiency based on your preference.
The same qualities that make impact windows impenetrable to airborne debris and objects make them an excellent defense against burglars. Many burglars are motivated by the opportunity to steal items. Still, the thick layered glass and tight, heavy-duty frames in impact windows make it difficult for them to see into the home, let alone break into it. Choosing impact windows may also result in a discount on your homeowner’s insurance premiums.
Aesthetics
Whether it’s a tree branch, flying debris, or even a window pane from the house next door that hits your home during a storm, impact windows help prevent such damage to property and human life. That’s why many of these windows are required in homes in hurricane-prone areas of the country, including Florida and along the Eastern Seaboard.
Rather than relying on traditional annealed glass that easily shatters, impact-resistant windows use laminated and tempered glass bonded with an inner layer of PVB or SGP (sentryglas plus) to create a more durable construction that’s able to hold up against such direct “attacks.”
When a large object impacts an impact window, the outer glass layers protect it while the inner layer is pushed into a stronger position in the frame. It makes it virtually impossible for the object to penetrate the window.
Impact-rated windows protect your home from intruders and help you sleep sounder during a storm. Their insulated construction and sturdy laminations make them more resistant to forced entry and can stand up against baseball bats, sledgehammers, and other tools used in break-in attempts.
New impact windows and doors come in various styles and sizes to fit your home’s aesthetics and needs. These windows can be incorporated into virtually any design style, whether your home is modern, contemporary, or traditional in architecture.
Maintenance
The protective glass of impact windows helps prevent windborne debris generated by severe storms from crashing into your house. This is especially important in Florida, where the constant roar of storms and strong winds can cause significant damage to homes.
The glass of impact windows is reinforced with layers of laminated insulating glass in a heavy-duty frame, which makes it far more difficult to break than standard window glass. The result is minimal property damage during a storm, which can save your home in certain situations.
These impact-resistant windows are also effective insulators, which help reduce energy bills and create a comfortable indoor environment. The insulated glass and frames help block out the hot Florida sun during the summer and keep your house warm in winter.
