You’ve likely heard the idiom, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too!”
Getting the best of both worlds sometimes seems like an unattainable goal, but when it comes to your windows, you CAN have the best of both worlds with tinted AND hurricane, impact resistant windows!
Many homeowners think they have to choose between having tinted windows or impact windows.
However, nearly any window treatment or glass package, such as impact resistant glass, can compliment a tinted window, except for low-e coatings because the combination of the two may alter the color of the glass.
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Understanding Impact Windows
The terms impact resistant windows and hurricane impact windows originated from their ability to withstand the impact of windborne debris which often coincides with hurricanes. They are manufactured with three layers, two glass panes and an SGP/PVB interlayer.
The exterior glass, also known as the sacrificial glass, may crack upon impact, but the interlayer and interior glass pane will keep your window standing.
This is a major pain point for homeowners, because it means no shattered glass inside your home and no major home destruction from heavy wind gusts that could penetrate the barrier of your home and blow off your roof.
Tinting Hurricane Windows?
Many homeowners are unsure if tinting their hurricane windows is safe because of the misconception that the tint will retain heat between the glass layers and cause the window to shatter. So, is it okay to have tinted hurricane windows?
Absolutely! The space between the exterior pane and the interlayer, which can actually be filled with argon gas, is part of the exact reason why the glass won’t break, making it perfectly safe for tinting them in Florida. Tinting your hurricane windows will increase your energy savings and your control over the natural illumination entering your home.
4 Features of Tinted Hurricane Windows
- Enhanced energy efficiency
- Increased privacy
- Controlled natural illumination
- Less interior fading
The Frosting on the Cake: ENERGY STAR
Installing tinted, impact windows in your home is a step in the right direction to more energy savings and better protection. But, what if you could go a step further? ENERGY STAR certified windows are the frosting on the cake to truly having the best of both worlds when it comes to your windows.
The ENERGY STAR program provides you with a variety of resources that educate you on energy efficient products, including a climate zone finder. To qualify as ENERGY STAR certified, each product must satisfy several criteria, which include:
- Being manufactured by an ENERGY STAR partner,
- Being independently tested, certified, and verified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)
- Having NFRC ratings that meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
One more added benefit is that once you have tinted impact windows, you don’t need to have hurricane shutters to keep your windows from shattering during a severe storm. So what are you waiting for? Click the button below to access your copy of our window and door shopping guide!
