When you live in an area that experiences hurricanes, you want to be sure to protect your home as much as humanly possible. Two ways to accomplish this are to have hurricane shutters and impact-resistant windows installed. Impact-resistant windows alone have proven to withstand Category 5 conditions for wind and debris.
Impact-Resistant Glass Windows
If you’re not familiar with impact-resistant windows, they first came on the market around 20 years ago. These windows are composed of a layer pf polyvinyl butyral between two pieces of glass. Another benefit of this type of window is that it is able to block 99% of ultra violet light transmissions.
Since you want to be sure that you have the best windows possible, it’s important to only purchase ones that are certified as impact-resistant. In order to receive this rating, they have to stand up to 200 mile per hour winds and remain intact inside the frame. Furthermore, the center and corners of the glass also need to hold up to a 9 pound 2 x 4 stud shot at 35 miles per hour in order to pass safety standards.
Did you recently move to Florida? If so, are you aware that depending on your location, you may be required to have hurricane windows? When you live within 1 mile of the coast, the wind speed can rise to 110 miles per hour, hence the need for hurricane windows and doors.
Home Renovations Due to Property Damage
The National Association of Home Builders’ 2012 Remodeling Market Index indicated that 44% of the home renovations being conducted were to replace windows and doors. The report also indicated that 36% of the remodeling jobs handled that year were for property damage.
In case you weren’t aware, a Category 5 hurricane has winds that are sustained at 157 miles per hour or higher. When these conditions are present, both a house’s roof and walls can collapse.
While you can’t control the weather conditions, you can do your utmost to protect your home during hurricane season. When you have high-impact windows and high-impact doors installed, this can make a significant difference. When you purchase hurricane windows and high-impact doors made out of high-quality materials and keep them well-maintained, they can last 20 years or longer.