Living in Southern Florida can be such a joy: sunshine, warm weather, walks down the beach and more.
However, as we all know, this tropical paradise is not without its challenges.
When hurricane season hits, South Florida can become a frustrating and, at times, devastating area to reside in. We’ve all experienced some level of post-storm damage. But what is the best way to prevent your home from being damaged during a storm?
Since extreme weather poses unique threats to your home, family and safety, it’s important to be prepared for all possible storms. This preparation starts with windows.
Should you find yourself in the eye of the storm, hurricane impact windows can be the difference between preserving family, safety and possessions, and disaster in South Florida.
Preparing For The Storm
Windows are typically one of the weakest elements of any building structure. As a result, they are often the first breach of the building envelope during a heavy wind event. That’s a problem, since once windows fail, overall pressure inside the building increases dramatically, putting your home at much greater risk.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, it is not uncommon for a home to experience “significant damage” as a result of increased internal pressure. This damage may be limited to a small area of the home or, in extreme cases, be severe enough to cause “complete structural failure.”
So, preventing the first breach of your home’s exterior is critical to keeping your roof in place and your home’s structure intact.
The easiest and most effective way to combat that first breach is to equip your home with hurricane impact windows.
Hurricane Impact Windows
Introduced in the early 1990s (in the aftermath of Hurricane David), hurricane impact windows are specifically engineered to combat the threatening weather experienced in Southern Florida. In fact, the best products can withstand winds up to 200 miles per hour without caving.
Most ordinary windows are simply too weak to stand up to stormy winds. However, these specialty products are manufactured with impact-resistant glass and vinyl lamination, enabling them to absorb impact without totally shattering. In the event of windows breaking, glass shards are held in place by the lamination, typically made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA).
This makes them more capable of facing off against heavy winds and flying debris than traditional windows.
Hidden Benefits
Safety is not the only advantage of upgrading to hurricane-resistant windows.
Since hurricane impact windows are specifically designed for warmer climates, they are some of the most energy-efficient products on the market. Their laminated glass naturally protects against ultraviolet rays, and insulated options incubate heat and cool air to further reduce energy costs. So, you can feel safer while also saving money.
Impact windows can also have a positive effect on your home’s curb appeal and resale value. Though they are functional, brands such as Weather Shield make it easy to combine safety with distinguished design. So, your hurricane-resistant windows will boost your home’s overall look, while also adding measurable value.
Weather Shield’s product lines are flexible enough to create more than 6,000 design configurations.