Having hurricane rated impact windows installed can actually save you money over time, which can significantly defray the upfront costs. Because your home will be better protected against severe weather, you may enjoy significant discounts on your homeowners' insurance premiums.
Impact Windows Are Just for Looks
Knowing that your home has permanent protection against hurricanes, tornadoes, and other storms at any given time also provides peace of mind. Ultimately, hurricane-resistant windows are capable of withstanding winds of up to 200 miles per hour.
Impact windows are oftentimes worth the money. Though they're typically more costly than standard windows, the impact options can reduce the price of your home insurance and help prevent costly home damages caused by storms.
The biggest drawback of impact windows is their cost, which is why they are typically only used in high-risk areas. However, it is beneficial in the long run because they last much longer than other types of glass.
Hurricane Window Life Span
Wooden impact windows will last 30 to 50 years but only with regular maintenance and care. Aluminum is the most popular material for impact windows. However, their lifespan ranges between 15 and 20 years.
Impact windows are multi-layered meaning that even when the outside glass is damaged, the window may crack but it does not shatter. This makes breaking into a home through an impact window far more time-consuming and far more difficult.
As already mentioned, the longest-lasting window frame material is fiberglass. This is because wood can deteriorate and warp over time and vinyl will eventually corrode, crack, and warp. Fiberglass is as durable as they come, resisting warping, cracking, and rusting.
Most older homes have windows that do not latch, close, or operate properly which can be a nuisance and could also be dangerous in hurricanes; even with hurricane shutters on. With impact hurricane windows and doors you do not need hurricane shutters.
Hurricane Windows & Impact Windows Are Not the Same
To be considered a hurricane window, a product simply needs to provide a certain level of wind resistance. An impact window, on the other hand, will offer wind resistance as well as protection from impacts.
While impact windows aren't indestructible, they are very hard to break. To get through, a burglar would create a ruckus and likely be caught. Breaking through impact windows typically proves to be considerable work and energy, forcing burglars to move on.
Because impact windows can help protect your home from high winds and flying debris, your insurance company may give you a discount on your premium. In some cases, the discount can be as much as 20 to 30 percent. That can add up to significant savings over the life of your policy.
While replacing your home's windows is a costly project, it can pay off by adding value to your home. According to the Remodeling's 2023 Cost vs. Value report, replacing vinyl windows adds an average of $13,766 in value to a home — about 69% of the cost of the project.
Installing these windows significantly lowers your chances of major damage to your home. Hurricane impact windows have advanced to the point where they can withstand Category 5 wind conditions, and the debris that goes with it. So next time a hurricane hits your neighborhood, don't be caught unprotected.
Impact windows are able to withstand all wind-blown debris, forced entry attempts, and wind speeds of up to 175 mph. This is the equivalent wind speed of a Category 5 hurricane.
Impact windows are made from laminated glass or laminated insulating glass, which helps provide insulation and protection from unwanted heat loss and heat gain.
Vinyl excels at withstanding strong winds and other extreme weather conditions. Aluminum frames are incredibly durable. Whether it's severe weather or intruders, it's far more difficult to break through aluminum impact windows.
Category 1: 74-95 mph. Category 2: 96-110 mph. Category 3: 111-129 mph. Category 4: 130-156 mph.
Glass tends to keep the lowest temperature in your household, and, as your windows keep in warm, condensation layers the glass. Impact glass products in particular get a lot of condensation as they are airtight.
If more than 25% of the windows and/or doors in a pre-Florida Building Code home are being replaced and the windows/doors are NOT impact glass, the windows/doors are required to have opening protection (such as shutters).
Category 4 Hurricane
These winds can destroy a home's roof structure and exterior walls, topple most trees and power lines, and cause damage that will last for months. Category 4 hurricanes cause extreme harm to glass windows and doors for homes and businesses.
Windows 10 version 22H2 is the current and final version of the operating system, though Microsoft said it will continue to release monthly security updates for all Windows 10 editions until it reaches end of support on Oct. 14, 2025.
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Aluminium windows are considered one of the most secure options available on the market. It is one of the most burglar resistant materials available because of its inherently strong properties despite its featherweight appearance. When discussing aluminium's durability, it's much stronger than most people realise.