Over the past few years, large fixed windows with minimal frames have become one of the most popular options in home building and remodeling. These windows can influence a modern design and architectural style, improve the overall appearance of a room, and the increase in natural sunlight can even have unexpected health benefits. More and more hurricane impact window manufacturers are creating these impressive openings to meet the most stringent requirements so that anyone can enjoy these benefits without sacrificing their safety in a hurricane.
Large fixed windows that maximize the daylight opening, another name for the glass in the window, allows for a lot of natural light to enter a room. This natural light can give the illusion of a more open area, making a room seem larger. This abundance of light also lends to a more modern aesthetic if you are looking to change or emphasize the design style of your home. Pairing large expanses of glass with small, dark-colored frames is the most common way to implement this trend.
Another major advantage of utilizing an abundance of glass in a room is taking advantage of any picturesque views your home and property may have. In South Florida, you may have views of the ocean, the Intracoastal, or a natural area that you want to take advantage of or maintain when upgrading to impact windows.
While many of the impact windows that meet this criteria are called storefront or commercial windows, they can be used in commercial applications, condos, and single-family homes.
Our manufacturing partners have innovated many of their products to maximize glass size while minimizing frame size. CGI Commercial’s SlimFront Window features panels as tall as 15’ with a square footage of 60 sq. ft. The framing has extremely narrow sightlines while maintaining high design pressure ratings. Therefore, this product was a great choice for our project in an oceanfront condo in Juno Beach that needed hurricane protection and has impressive ocean views.
The ESWindows ES-8000T Jumbo Storefront Window has a massive maximum opening size of 15’ tall by 7’ wide for 105 sq. ft. of uninterrupted glass! It is the largest single opening window offered that still passes the testing required for use in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). We recently used these windows in a Tequesta Condo and the difference is remarkable. It instantly improved the riverfront views and brought in plenty of natural light.
While these windows are impressive, imagine the opportunity to have a wall of windows with absolutely no need for vertical framing. As the epitome of maximized glass for maintaining a view, the ESWindows ES-FX3050 Frameless Window offers exactly this in an impact-resistant option. With only a top and bottom rail, this system can have an infinite number of 12’ tall by 5’ wide panels side-by-side, and these panels can even be used in a corner configuration with no vertical mull. Structural silicone is used to bind the individual panels together at the glass’ edge (this style of window is also sometimes referred to as butt glass).
While this trend is more common in large picture windows, it also is making its way to doors. One example is the Euro-Wall Euro Vista Multi-Slide Door that features an interlock that is only 1” wide. This is the thinnest interlock for any impact sliding glass door. With up to 8 panels of 70 sq. ft. of glass, this allows for the same benefits of a large glass window was still being able to open and close for access.
If you are interested in getting an estimate for one of these innovative products for your home or property, request an estimate from one of our design and remodel consultants by calling us at 561-623-8446 or by filling out our form.
