Condo Storm Protection: Windows or Shutters?
Since the horrific Surfside tragedy in 2021, waterproofing and the structural elements of condominium buildings have been a major concern for condo boards and their residents. One area of attention in particular has been windows. According to Florida law, all condo boards must have a hurricane shutter policy in place that the common areas and individual units must follow. The policy that the board adopts must meet or exceed all local building codes. A building can install “hurricane shutters, impact glass, code-compliant windows or doors, or other types of code-compliant hurricane protection” provided that both the board and “a majority of voting interests” support the decision.[1]
If your condo association plans to move forward with upgrading its hurricane protection, the next consideration is who will pay for it? It could either be a common expense, which the association would need to cover, or charged to the individual unit owners, depending on the specifics of your condo association’s policy. CitiQuiet Windows and Doors has worked with numerous condo associations throughout South Florida and can work with you to develop an affordable solution to help you minimize the costs either for your association or your residents.
The final question that remains is should you install hurricane glass windows or shutters? Some pros and cons of shutters are:
- Provide excellent storm protection against wind, water, and debris
- Less expensive to purchase and install
- Create a dark, cave-like experience during a hurricane, especially if the power goes out
- Requires preparation before the storm, which can be problematic if a unit owner is out of town
In contrast, the pros and cons of hurricane impact resistant windows are:
- Provides excellent protection against hurricanes and other storms
- Allows residents to look out the window and let in natural light during a storm, providing a more pleasant experience
- Enhances overall building safety since they are almost impossible to break
- Provides soundproofing, enhancing daily quality of life
- Can offer UV protection
- More costly than hurricane shutters
- More work to initially install
The choice to install shutters or hurricane impact windows is an individual one for each condo association. Contact CitiQuiet Windows and Doors, one of South Florida’s premier window retailers, for a consultation and we can help you decide which alternative is right for your association.
Since 2012, CitiQuiet Windows and Doors has been engineering and installing high-quality impact windows, doors, and shutters for residential and commercial buildings throughout Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties.
Based in Boca Raton, CitiQuiet Windows and Doors offers a turnkey service to clients including initial design, engineering, and permitting, installation and finish work. From elegant French doors to hurricane impact-resistant windows and sliding glass doors, CitiQuiet Windows and Doors has your solution.
At CitiQuiet Windows and Doors, we carry only the highest-quality products from the nation’s top manufacturers – and we stand behind everything we sell. For a free estimate, contact CitiQuiet Windows and Doors at 561-241-9463, visit us atcitiquiethurricanewindows.com, or stop by the showroom today at 6530 West Rogers Circle, Suite 29, Boca Raton, FL 33487.
With an A+ rating from Better Business Bureau (BBB), CitiQuiet Windows and Doors consistently strives to exceed customer expectations.
[1] The Florida Senate. Chapter 718 Section 113 – 2021 Florida Statutes – The Florida Senate (flsenate.gov). Accessed June 7, 2023.