Five ways to tell if your windows are impact-rated: check the glass label, check the frame label, look for the interlayer, do the tap test, or pull your permit records. Here's how to do each one.
Hurricane season 2026 runs June 1 through November 30. Here's a month-by-month preparation timeline, a printable home hardening checklist, and the window and door upgrades that should be complete before the first storm.
Hurricane Milton changed the equation for Sarasota. Design wind speeds of 140-155 mph, direct Gulf exposure, and a post-storm demand surge make impact window selection and timing critical. Here's what Sarasota homeowners need to know.
Hurricane Ian hit Cape Coral as a Category 4 with 150+ mph gusts and 10-15 feet of surge. Lee County issued 61,000 building permits in 8 months. Here's what Cape Coral homeowners need to know about impact windows in the post-Ian landscape.
Palm Beach County is NOT in the HVHZ but sits entirely within the Wind-Borne Debris Region with 160-170 mph design wind speeds. More product options, a luxury market, and strict HOAs make it a unique installation environment.
Broward County is HVHZ with 170 mph design wind speeds. Every window replacement must carry a Miami-Dade NOA or equivalent Broward approval. Here's the complete guide for Broward homeowners.
HVHZ is a geographic zone (Miami-Dade and Broward). Impact rating is a product certification. They're related but not the same thing, and confusing them can cost you money or code compliance.
Replacing windows in a Florida condo involves association approvals, Declaration of Condominium responsibility rules, high-rise engineering, and building-wide coordination. Here is how it works for unit owners and associations.
The Florida Building Commission funded corrosion research in two consecutive cycles because coastal degradation is a real problem. Here's what actually corrodes, what doesn't, and how to choose windows that survive 25+ years in salt air.
Hurricane window film is marketed as affordable storm protection, but it does NOT meet Florida Building Code requirements. It won't stop a 2x4 projectile, won't pass building inspection, and won't qualify for insurance discounts. Here's the honest breakdown.
Aluminum is stronger and has the broadest HVHZ selection. Vinyl costs 15-30% less and insulates better. Here's how to choose the right frame material for your Florida home, with specific product recommendations by region.
Hurricane windows and impact windows are the same product. What actually differs are storm windows, window film, and unrated lookalikes. Here's the full breakdown.
