Every home is unique. Even in the same neighborhood, each home is imbued with the personality, style, and goals of the homeowner. This is just one of the many reasons to custom order hurricane impact windows and doors when upgrading your home. We partner with over a dozen manufacturers to make sure everyone gets a product exactly suited for their project. Aside from design and style, there are several more practical advantages to custom products. These options avoid install issues, allow for better function, and ensure all codes can be met with one product.
DESIGN AND STYLE
The most exciting part about custom impact windows and doors is the freedom to make any design or style choice for your products. You can choose frame colors, glass designs, hardware shapes and finishes, and even the shape of the window or door itself.
FUNCTIONALITY
Beyond the looks of windows and doors, it is also important to consider their functionality. Some sliding, some swing, and others are stationary. An existing opening can be entirely changed, like changing a single door with sidelites to a double door for more space, or replacing a single hung window with a casement to improve airflow. Custom sizing allows the new products to fit old openings while still allowing for a different function.
A commonly used customization option for sliding glass doors is to order the door slightly taller than the opening in order to recess the track. This helps to reduce the amount of sill sticking up above your finished floors, helping to lessen the tripping hazard. This makes it easier and safer than simply ordering the standard door size.
INSTALLATION
As part of our process, we include a final measure conducted by our veteran measure technician. These measurements are done to make sure your products are ordered within 1/8” of your opening size. Why? Because doors and windows that fit exactly dramatically improve the installation process and final look of the opening.
If the products fit in the opening perfectly, there are no installation delays from trying to widen openings or fill open spaces. If there are no significant gaps, then it is not necessary to fill them with wood, excess sealants, or break metal which can be unsightly. And finally, where there are no significant gaps, then a normal amount of sealant (aka caulking) is all that is needed to make your openings watertight and air-tight.
CODES
When installing new hurricane impact windows and doors into a home, condo, or business, there are several codes, laws, and regulations that need to be followed. The first one that all projects must meet is the Florida Building Code. This code will dictate exactly how strong these hurricane windows and doors need to be, judged by the design pressure ratings of the product.
Next, you must consider local ordinances. This is usually determined at the municipality or county level, depending on exactly where you live. The most common ordinance that affects windows and doors is Turtle Code glass requirements. This is the general name given to Sea Turtle Light Ordinances, which “…control beachfront lighting to protect hatching sea turtles.” Allowing homeowners to choose whichever glass they prefer that complies with this ordinance is one way that customization works to appease regulations while still meeting design goals.
Another common local ordinance type is historical codes and regulations. These are applicable in designated historical districts, like those in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Island, and they dictate what kinds of designs are allowed on the exterior of the home. These can include frame colors, muntin patterns, and even opening functionality – like single hungs vs casements. This is done to preserve the overall aesthetic of historical areas and structures. One way to use customization here is to choose windows and doors that exactly match the exterior regulations while allowing more options on the interior. For example, wood-clad windows and doors are a great way to match the regulations to the exterior, like white frames and colonial muntins, but use more modern design choices on the interior, like painted wood finishes and matte black hardware.
The final piece to the puzzle is to check the rules of your HOA/POA, if applicable. Some dictate the frame color, glass color, and/or muntin patterns on street-facing windows and doors. Our windows and doors can be customized to fit any existing style that an HOA, POA, or Architectural Board may require.
To learn more about all the customization options for hurricane impact windows and doors, request a free estimate with our Design & Remodel Consultants by filling out our form or calling us at 561.623.8446.
