As you begin the journey of upgrading your home’s hurricane protection, the first question you may ask yourself is ‘What are the Best Hurricane Impact Windows and Doors?” Some people may say the answer is the most expensive windows, or the ones with the highest design pressures, or even the ones that have the most design options. The only correct answer to that question is that the best impact windows and doors are the ones that meet your project goals, local and state regulations, and are installed properly by a team of experienced technicians.
The best impact windows for a single-family home in Palm Beach Gardens may not be the same as an oceanfront condo in Juno Beach. It is vital that you work with a contractor with extensive knowledge of the products being offered, as well as the requirements of Florida Building Code to help you pick a product that will protect your home and family for many years to come.
At Window & Door Replacement Company, our Design and Remodel Consultants are here to guide you through the wide array of our product selection. The first consideration in choosing the best products for you is to determine what the local and state requirements are for your home/condo building. Florida Building Code dictates that the overall strength of your new hurricane windows and doors will be determined by 3 factors: the proximity of the building to the ocean (or other large body of water or flat land), the height of the building, and how close the opening itself is to the corner of a building. Most single-family homes average between 15-30 ft tall, but as we know condo buildings can reach hundreds of feet tall and will have very different design pressure requirements. This is why the best impact windows and doors will not be the same for each type of project.
Aside from the structural requirements of the Florida Building Code, we may need to consider other regulations from your local municipality. These can include Turtle Code ordinances - which govern the color of glass needed on beach-facing residences, designated historical neighborhoods - like those in West Palm Beach and Lake Worth Beach, and city and HOA architectural committees. These regulations are just as important as those laid out by Florida Building Code, and not meeting all of them will result in rejected permits and project delays.
Once local and state regulations are considered, the next step is to discuss your overall project goals. While hurricane protection is typically the top reason for choosing impact windows and doors over hurricane shutters, it is not the only reason to do so and those secondary goals may help determine the best hurricane windows and doors for you. If your secondary goal is to increase year-round security from intruders and broken glass, then doors with integrated multi-point locks and windows and windows with egress locks may be the best option for you. If you are looking for a style update with your new storm protection, then ultra-modern black aluminum frames may be an excellent choice, or for a more traditional look perhaps wood-clad impact products with a large frame color range could be the best fit.
Sometimes your goal is to simply maximize your return on investment for this upgrade, and there are several ways to do that. You can take advantage of homeowner’s insurance savings for the upgrade (if offered by your carrier), reduce your home’s energy bills by increasing the energy efficiency of your products with optional Low-E glass coatings and insulated frames, or simply select the most budget-friendly products that still offer superior strength and security.
Choosing the best product for your project is only half of the equation. Even the strongest products on the market will fail if they are not installed properly by knowledgeable and experienced installers. Proper installation ensures your windows and doors perform as intended. This means they will remain structurally sound and prevent leaks and air infiltration. Proper installation can also impact other aspects of your products, like security. If a door with multi-point locks is not flush and square, all parts of the lock may not engage properly, lessening the effectiveness of the locks.
A proper installation starts long before a single screw goes through a window frame. It is vital that impact windows and doors are ordered to the correct size from the very beginning. This is why our Final Measure is such an important step in the best hurricane window and door project experience. It prevents installation delays and ensures the best fit. The better fit a window or door has, the less opportunity for improper air and water seals to occur.
When choosing a contractor for installing hurricane impact windows and doors in your home, make sure that they not only have experience with the particular products you have chosen, but also with the type of home you have. There are differences in installing an impact sliding glass door in a single-story home versus on the 20th floor of a high-rise oceanfront condo. Make sure to check reviews and references for specific project types to make sure you get the best performance from your new hurricane protection.
The best way to determine the best hurricane impact windows and doors is to have an expert consultant walk you through the variety of options so they meet requirements and your project goals. Then, have your chosen products installed by licensed and experienced installers. For a free consultation and estimate from our Design & Remodel Consultants, Request an Estimate, visit our Jupiter Design Showroom, or call us at 561-623-8446.
