The Difference Between Non-Impact and Impact Windows in South Florida: What Every Property Owner Should Know
Comparing standard windows to hurricane impact windows is like comparing a horse and buggy to an SUV: both are methods of transportation, but that is all they have in common. Similarly, for windows, standard windows and hurricane impact windows both provide a view to the outside, but after that, they are incomparable.
Whether you are an individual who is building your dream home or are a commercial property owner looking to build a new investment property, hurricane impact windows are a feature you should consider installing in your new South Florida building. Standard windows are typically made from two panes of glass with either air or gas in between the panes. This provides some amount of insulation against energy transfer and noise. It is an improvement over the older, single pane style of window that provided no protection, but they still can allow a significant amount of noise and heat to sneak through.
Standard windows will provide no protection to your building in a hurricane – in fact, they are a liability and the most likely place for water or wind intrusion to occur. For this reason, Miami-Dade building codes require all buildings with these windows to have hurricane shutters. These shutters provide protection during a storm, but they require regular testing and maintenance to ensure they remain in excellent condition. They can also be difficult and time-consuming to put up, depending on the type of shutters that you have.
Hurricane impact windows are made from two panes of laminated glass. This means that the glass is bonded to a polyvinyl interlayer and then bonded to a second sheet of glass. The glass also may be heat-treated or tempered to make it even stronger. If debris hits the hurricane-impact glass, the glass won’t shatter. This prevents water, wind and debris intrusion into your building. It also maintains the air pressure inside your building, making it less likely for the roof to blow off. The frames on hurricane impact windows are also stronger than the frames on a standard window, providing additional strength and support. Hurricane impact windows must be tested in a laboratory to confirm that they meet rigorous standards to receive hurricane impact certification.
Because of their extreme strength, hurricane impact windows are always hurricane-ready and require no shutters, saving you time, effort and stress. They also provide a much higher level of noise protection and lower level of energy transfer than standard windows due to their use of laminated glass. An additional bonus of the laminated glass is that they are nearly impossible for thieves to break, increasing your building’s security.
Choosing standard windows over hurricane impact windows is like choosing a horse and buggy over an SUV. It just doesn’t make sense. To learn more about hurricane impact windows and which ones are right for your building project, contact CitiQuiet Windows and Doors today at 561-241-9463.
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, 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 at citiquiethurricanewindows.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.