Floridians encounter a variety of weather conditions, from harsh sun rays and humidity to strong winds and hurricanes. Florida homeowners also have their hands full ensuring each part of their home's structure is equipped to function properly and remain standing in the event of flash floods and wind-borne debris.
Those who have homes in a High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) use extra precaution to ensure their home can handle what mother nature has planned for hurricane season as these areas are more prone to severe weather patterns.
However, that does not necessarily mean they have to spend a lot of resources boarding up their windows and doors with plywood. Due to advances in technology, you can choose to install hurricane-impact doors for protection (and energy efficient savings) all year long.
These installations can provide you with additional security and peace of mind whether or not you are in town during hurricane season.
Hurricane-Impact Doors
What is a hurricane-impact door? They are typically a patio glass door that is made of impact-resistant materials and undergo specific missile tests to ensure they are able to meet the stringent requirements of Florida Building Codes.
3 Considerations When Choosing Hurricane-Impact Doors
From the glass panel to the frame and manufacturing process, hurricane-impact doors are designed to withstand tough weather conditions that coastal home’s often face.
The Glass
The glass used to make a hurricane-impact door is the most important element of its design. Typical glass will break or shatter if flying debris hits it strong enough whereas laminated or impact-resistant glass will not. This means that these areas of your home’s envelope will remain standing for continued protection.
The Frame
The glass may be one of the more important elements of a hurricane-impact door, but the framing material is quite important too. Vinyl and aluminum door frame materials are two of the toughest and more customizable options that homeowners can choose for their hurricane-impact door solutions.
The Building Codes
As mentioned earlier, your local building codes are another important factor to consider when choosing the best impact-resistant installations for your home. HVHZ areas (such as Miami-Dade and Broward County) tend to have very stringent requirements that each building component of your home, including windows and doors, must meet.
Find The Best Hurricane-Impact Doors For Your Home
At Eastern Architectural Systems (EAS), we provide a complete line of custom-made windows & doors: aluminum and vinyl, impact and insulated impact. Each of our solutions are tested for strength and integrity, and built with style in mind to exceed the requirements and challenges of today’s discerning buyer.
Our Bertha solutions, such as our Bertha Sliding Glass Door 632 Series, are HVHZ certified for maximum durability against wind-borne debris. If you are looking for the best hurricane-impact doors or windows for your home, you can click here to download our full product brochure or click the button below to download our ratings brochure and learn more about our product’s ratings.
