Frequently
Asked
​Questions
What if I ordered the wrong items?
  • We always check with our clients to make sure we have the correct products before placing the order. Once we've placed the order, the sale is final.
Can impact windows help improve energy efficiency in my house?
  • ​Yes! absolutely. All Impact Windows & Doors are ideal for reducing your energy bills by reflecting outside heat and regulating your home's temperature. And for even more savings, Impact windows and doors can be configured with low emissivity glass (commonly known as LowE) to significantly improve energy efficiency.
Will installing hurricane impact-resistant windows and doors in my house, lower my insurance premium?
  • Yes! According to Florida statute 627.0629 regarding residential property insurance, all insurance companies that provide homeowner’s insurance to residents in Florida must offer a discount for dwellings that have effective windstorm protective system installed. In order to obtain the discounts or credits, all of the house openings must be protected. Homeowners with questions about mitigation should contact their insurance agents to make sure they are receiving proper credit for any steps taken to strengthen their home.
What is the main difference between a standard-glass and a hurricane impact-resistant window?
  • Impact windows and doors have shatter-resistant glass securely fastened to a heavy duty aluminum frame. The impact-resistant glazing consists of two layers of annealed or tempered glass bonded to an intermediate layer of a shatter-proof membrane. This membrane is typically made of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB), a plastic film which varies from .015 to .090 inches in thickness, depending on the design pressures needed. If the outer glass breaks, the shattered pieces will adhere to the PVB film. In contrast, standard-glass windows are made of standard float glass that, when broken, will fracture in large sharp shards.
Are high-impact windows (or any other impact protection system) important to maintain the structural integrity of the roof of a property?
  • Windows play a crucial role in maintaining the building envelope of a structure. A broken window can easily be the trigger for a massive destruction of a structure during sustained hurricane forces. When high-speed winds enter a house, they create a significant difference in inside/outside air pressure. When this difference occurs, the structure is most likely to lose its roof in order to provide a way out to the sustained pressure. It is widely known that when a structure loses a window and allows for a point of entry to the wind, massive destruction will follow.
​How can I make sure that the windows or doors that I am purchasing are in fact impact-resistant products?
  • For a window or door system to be considered impact-resistant certified, it must meet testing standards set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). One of the most rigorous requirements comes from the Florida Building Code which, given the increase in frequency and strength of hurricanes in recent years, has incorporated many of the lessons learned from prior hurricane-driven disasters. To learn whether a product is considered impact resistant, ask your window dealer for a copy of the Notice of Acceptance (NOA). The NOA is the document issued by the manufacturer, and approved by County or State, which provides specific information about the particular product in question, including pressure resistance. The NOA certifies whether the product has passed the impact-resistant test. 
How are impact Windows & Doors tested?
  • Impact windows and doors are rigorously tested. In the large missile impact test, 4kg boards are fired at approximately 55kph, the glass breaks but no projectile penetrates, this means that your house will always be protected. After this test, the product is subjected to a cyclic wind pressure loading test simulating hurricane winds. 
Large missile impact test
Cyclic wind pressure loading test