Protecting Your Home Against Hurricanes With Impact Windows

The threat of hurricanes is a significant concern for millions of homeowners, especially in coastal regions. In fact, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), from 1980 through 2024, tropical cyclones were responsible for over $1.5 trillion in damage in the United States, making them the costliest type of weather disaster. 

A primary reason for this extensive damage is the failure of a home’s weakest points, such as windows, which can lead to catastrophic structural failure once breached. This is why a proactive approach to home protection is not just an option but a necessity. 

Impact windows offer a durable solution, providing a critical layer of defense that can safeguard your home and family against the severe wind, rain, and flying debris associated with these powerful storms.

Read about hurricane preparedness here: https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Hurricane-impact windows are constructed with multiple layers of glass and a strong inner membrane, allowing them to absorb and dissipate impact without shattering.
• By staying intact, impact windows prevent wind and water from entering your home.
• This is crucial because a breach in the home’s envelope can lead to a dangerous buildup of internal pressure, which can cause the roof to be lifted off and lead to major structural damage.
• These windows offer benefits like enhanced home security, noise reduction, improved energy efficiency, and protection against harmful UV rays.
• The frames of impact windows are made from heavy-duty materials like reinforced steel or aluminum, and they are anchored to the home’s structure with specialized fastening systems to withstand high winds and pressure.
• Impact windows must undergo rigorous testing, such as the “Large Missile Impact Test” in Florida, which involves shooting a 9-pound wooden beam at the window to prove their ability to resist flying debris.

Anyway, I assume you already recognized the significance of taking the right steps to protect your home. The truth is, though, that you might not be sure about what particular steps to effectively take to increase your security and feel much safer in the event of a hurricane. Indeed, there are a number of different things you can do to improve your safety and protect your property.

For one thing, you can, and definitely should, scrutinize your roof for damage and then fix it if necessary, as you don’t want it to begin leaking or the shingles to fly away during the heavy storms. 

In order to lessen the possibility of those shingles flying away and causing additional damage, you can also use specific anchoring products to securely fasten the roof to the walls. 

Of course, you will also need to consider insulating your basement and taking all necessary precautions to keep the property safe from flooding. Sandbags and other similar barriers might also be useful in these areas.

As you credibly and already know, the windows are among the main significant entrance points to your home. Meaning what exactly? In other words, if those aren’t of very high quality, there’s a possibility that they will shatter when struck, allowing water and wind to enter and possibly endangering you and your family. 

The good news is that this can be smoothly avoided if you just get the right windows for your property. Additionally, I am, of course, talking about impact windows.

What Are Impact Windows?

Impact windows, which are also commonly known as weather-proof or hurricane windows, are made particularly with the purpose of withstanding high impact without breaking. Their structure enables the windows to absorb and dissipate significant impact without breaking, and they are composed of layers of glass and plastic-like film. 

This is precisely what makes them perfect for properties located in hurricane-prone areas, as they serve as an additional layer of protection, and a rather important one for that matter.

Now, as you could have assumed already, these are designed not to break on impact. However, even if they break at some point, the structural integrity of the window will be preserved, and the glass will not shatter into pieces because the inner membrane will hold those pieces together. 

Furthermore, the frame is made of heavy-duty materials, allowing these products to withstand the pressure of high winds and storms.

How do Those Protect Your Home Against Hurricanes?

The above should have supported you to get a better idea about what it is that impact windows actually are. So, what you are now thinking is how precisely impact windows can help protect your house against hurricanes. 

That is what we will be discussing right now, in order to help you gain a better understanding of the quality and benefits of these products, so that you can make an informed decision about whether to purchase them for your property.

First things first, and as I have highlighted above already, laminated glass is used in the process of building these windows. It consists of two or even multiple layers, which are interconnected with a solid interlayer that acts like a bonding agent. 

This all means that the glass won’t break when struck, which is unquestionably fantastic and a huge advantage to have during hurricane season.

Besides that, the frames of these windows are built of quite durable materials. For instance, they can be made of reinforced steel, vinyl, aluminum, or other materials that are known for being able to adapt to high winds and thus prevent structural failure. 

Since the strong winds won’t break your window, leaving your property open to damage, this is yet another fantastic benefit to be grateful for during hurricane season. Another great thing you should know is that specifically designed fasting systems are used to anchor these to the property’s structure. 

This reinforces your protection and makes it even surer that the structural integrity of your property won’t be seriously compromised during hurricane season, given that the windows will withstand remarkably high winds and heavy storms. 

Of course, there is also the flying debris that might do some harm. Here is what to do after a hurricane, if you’re not sure on the guidelines.

INTERESTING FACT
The “Large Missile” Test involves firing a 9-pound 2×4 wooden beam at the window at a speed of around 34 mph, simulating flying debris during a hurricane.

What Other Benefits to Expect?

You should know that influence windows come with some other advantages as well, unrelated to hurricanes. Those positive effects could definitely help you decide if you want to get them or not. 

So, they increase the overall security of your home, deterring intruders and making it rather hard to break in. In addition, they can improve the comfort of your property’s interior and lessen outside noise.

In terms of comfort, they will undoubtedly contribute to insulation, thereby improving your home’s energy efficiency. This means that you will get to achieve the ideal temperatures in your home, without the HVAC systems having to work around the clock, which will eventually reduce your electricity bills. 

Of course, in the end, impact windows as well as block harmful UV rays, which means that installing them will further safeguard your belongings from the fading and damage that those can cause. 

When all of these benefits are considered, you will undoubtedly decide to purchase these products, thereby improving the security and safety of your home not only during hurricane season, but throughout the year.

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