Buying Impact-Resistant Windows? Read This First.
I will preface this blog by saying I am not trying to sell you anything… I am writing this to bring awareness as we move towards the upcoming Hurricane Season.
Buying impact-rated windows (more commonly known as ‘hurricane windows’) can be a daunting task. Whether it’s new construction or a renovation, the cost of windows will be a substantial part of your budget - an investment that you want to ensure goes right. With so many windows available on the local market, at extremely varying price points, how do you know you are getting the best mix of value and long-lasting protection?
Here in The Bahamas there is no stipulation as to when a window can be considered ‘Hurricane Proof,’ and because of such, this label is thrown around way more often than it should be - mostly as a sales gimmick with no real or certifiable meaning. Every time you log on to Facebook you are bombarded with ads for supposedly hurricane proof windows at prices that seem ‘too good to be true’ - some sold by established businesses, but most sold as ‘one-offs’ from a recently imported container out of China.
Regardless of where you choose to buy your windows - you must be careful. Doing your research can mean the difference between safety and peril for your family if (and when) a catastrophic storm were to hit.
Over the past year, our team has done extensive research into the local market to try and uncover just what the deal is with these supposedly ‘impact-resistant’ windows. We visited showrooms, called salesman, bought windows, and even mounted & hit them with crowbars and 2x4s. What we found was that a number of well-known businesses attempt to sell windows as being hurricane proof despite having no approvals or certification to support this claim. To take it a step further, the salesmen in these showrooms were quick to throw out assurances like, ‘able to survive a category five storm’ - a bold claim to begin with, but even more so when the window itself is priced so incredibly low. Red flag raised!
The results of our inquiries surprised even us - with most of these windows lacking any sort of actual documentation, sales reps unable to support their wild claims, and many of these windows being penetrated way too easily from our own makeshift impact test (consisting of our warehouse manager and a crowbar).
The blissful unawareness at the potential magnitude of these false and embellished statements is dangerous to say the least - shoddy sales tactics that put you and your family at a serious risk… As a customer, you need to know what to look for and what questions to ask when shopping for the windows that you will be using to protect your home, your possessions, and your loved ones.
Below you will find some tips on how to ensure you are getting windows that can offer you the protection & security needed… But first, it’s important to understand what makes an impact-resistant window different than a standard window - the main difference being the glass.
Standard vs Impact-Resistant
Standard windows are made from a single layer of float glass or plate glass. When an object impacts these windows the glass will likely break into shards. This can be dangerous during a storm - both the glass shards, and the ability for air and water to enter your home. One of the greatest risks during a severe storm is your building envelope being compromised, and your roof lifting away as a result of the wind penetration.
True Impact-Resistant windows are made with laminated glass or laminated insulating glass. Laminated glass uses a special silicone glazing process that prevents the glass from breaking away from the frame. Laminated glass is made up of two panes of glass that are bonded/sandwiched together with a clear membrane in-between. In the case of laminated insulating glass there will be a third pane for added insulation. When these windows are impacted by an object the shattered glass will adhere to the inner membrane and remain intact - thus protecting the interior of your home from wind and water. Hurricane impact-resistant windows will also feature more durable & heavy-duty frames (which will be installed in your opening to specific guidelines) in order to add to the protection offered.
It is important to note that heat-strengthened and tempered glass are not the same as laminated impact-resistant glass, and thus, should not be referred to as being ‘impact-resistant’. While tempered glass may be 4-5x stronger than normal plate glass, it is not technically considered impact-resistant unless it is part of a laminated glass make-up. Many local retailers will try and pass off windows with a single-pane of tempered glass as being impact-resistant - this is false. Tempered glass can still fail during a major storm, and laminated impact-resistant glass is the only recommended option for high velocity hurricane zones.
So now that we know the difference between the two windows, how do you know the window you are buying is a true hurricane-resistant window?
Ask To See The Approvals
Do not buy a window without seeing the certifications - I cannot stress this enough. Remember, a real hurricane proof window would be manufactured by a reputable company and have been tested to ensure its ability to withstand severe wind and rain. While there are a lot of standards for the certification of windows and glass, you want to ensure your windows are approved by a regulatory body and to a standard that is consistent with the conditions to be expected in your area. For us, in The Bahamas, that is the ‘Florida Product Approval for High Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ)’ or the ‘Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA)’.
These certifications ensure that the windows have surpassed some of the most stringent impact code requirements in the world - and have been thoroughly tested for large missile impact, small missile impact, wind pressure, water penetration, and more.
Your dealer or sales rep should be able to quickly locate and display the approvals for any impact-resistant product they are selling. If they cannot present this information, this is a serious problem.
If your dealer is able to locate paperwork for the window, but does not have a specific approval from a recognized regulatory body (and for some reason you are still considering a purchase of the window) you'd want to ensure at the very least the design pressure is listed and known. The design pressure rating represents the maximum positive/negative wind load that your window can withstand before becoming compromised. The higher the rating, the better. Our CGI Sparta Series windows, for example, have design pressure ratings of +55/-65 PSF.
Each individual model of window should have its own approval. This approval will state the name and address of the manufacture, the date it was issues/revised, a certificate of independence, validation reports, a copy of the installation instructions, the rated design pressures, etc. These approvals are incredibly important, and here are some examples for reference:
- WinGuard Horizontal Roller (impact) HR-5510 Miami Dade NOA
- CGI Sparta Series Single Hung (impact) SH4100A Florida Product Approval
Inspect The Glass
So, your prospective window dealer doesn’t know where the approval is… this should be enough to make you walk away. But, there is another way to help with checking the validity of your potential window. Most reputable glass manufactures will include a small etching in one of the corners of the glass. This etching should show the manufacture and approval codes (if any). If the glass were cut, this etching may be missing - but there still may (and should be) a temporary label affixed to the glass to show the same information. This etching, while not a true ‘tell-all’ can perhaps give you some information to at least continue your research into the window you are interested in.
Red Flags When Window Shopping
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Sales Rep / Dealer has no approvals or certifications.
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Windows were not built to Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA standards.
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Glass has no markings or etchings.
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Glass feels 'tin-like', shaky, or loose when you tap it.
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Window sash jiggles in the frame, or does not slide / move uniformly.
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Window sash has movement when in the locked position.
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Dealer does not offer specific installation instructions for how the window should be installed to best maintain it’s impact-resistance.
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Window is not sold with a warranty on the glass or components.
Conclusion
Knowledge is power, and when making a decision as important as which windows you will put in your home next it is essential that you do your research. Do not get swayed by persuasive salesmen or ‘too good to be true’ prices. I can guarantee you that as soon as you begin getting just a bit technical with these salesmen and showing your knowledge as a prospective purchaser, the tone changes and the sales pitch comes to a halt.
No matter where you choose to buy your impact-resistant windows just know that by doing so (with good quality products) you are making an investment in your home. Your resale value will increase, your energy bill will decrease, but most importantly your family and property will be well protected from the threat of storms and burglary.Scroll down to view our short video on buying Hurricane-Proof windows and to view our selection of in-stock windows... and remember, through our special order program we can provide your dream impact-resistant window in virtually any style, finish, type, or color you desire!
Feel free to email, live chat, or call us anytime. Our project managers are always ready to assist... Together, we can #buildbeautiful!
- Brent Burrows II
Senior Manager of eCommerce Operations & Brand Innovation
(242) 677-2139
In-Stock Impact-Resistant Windows:
