Impact windows are designed to stop wind-borne debris and keep your building envelope intact. They are not designed to be 100% watertight during a 16-hour Category 4 hurricane. Here's what the research says and what you can do about it.
The Florida Keys face the most extreme hurricane conditions in the continental United States. Monroe County design wind speeds of 170-190 mph, Exposure D on every side, and no way out when a storm hits make impact windows a necessity—not an upgrade.
Impact windows are not code-required in most of Orlando, but insurance savings, energy efficiency, hurricane risk, and property value gains make them one of the smartest upgrades a Central Florida homeowner can make.
Florida hurricane insurance is actually three separate products. Most homeowners only learn the difference after a storm. Here is the plain-English breakdown.
A Florida hurricane evacuation decision framework built around six inputs: zone, forecast, home construction, family, post-storm stranding, and route logistics.
Florida hurricane prep, written the way a calm neighbor who has lived through Andrew, Wilma, Irma, and Milton would actually explain it. What to stock, what to skip, when to leave.
Hurricane screens are lighter, cheaper, and easier to deploy than metal shutters. But how do they compare to impact windows on protection, code compliance, and long-term value? Here's the data.
Impact windows require almost no special maintenance, but a few simple habits protect your investment and ensure they perform when the next hurricane hits. Here's the complete care guide.
Impact windows reduce exterior noise by 25-35 dB thanks to laminated glass with a PVB interlayer that absorbs sound vibrations. Learn how STC and OITC ratings work, what configurations block the most noise, and why impact windows outperform standard dual-pane for soundproofing.
Impact windows are engineered to stop hurricane debris, not bullets. We debunk 7 common myths about impact windows with hard data, from ballistic claims to tape myths, so you know exactly what your windows can and cannot do.
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.
