French doors need hurricane protection too, and the double-door configuration creates specific shutter challenges. Here's every option, what each costs, and when to consider impact French doors instead.
There are nine ways to protect your windows during a hurricane, from impact windows (permanent, always-on) to plywood (emergency-only last resort). Here's every option ranked by protection level, cost, and convenience.
If your home already has impact windows, you typically do not need hurricane shutters. Impact windows are standalone opening protection under the Florida Building Code, but there are specific scenarios where adding shutters makes sense.
Roll-down shutters deploy in under 5 minutes with a button press. Accordion shutters cost 40-60% less and close in 15-30 minutes by hand. Both provide code-compliant hurricane protection. Here's how to decide.
Accordion shutters cost $300-$700 per window. Impact windows cost $1,000-$3,000. Both meet code. The difference is what you get the other 360 days of the year.
University of Florida researchers assessed 358 structures after Hurricanes Helene and Milton (2024). Zero post-FBC homes were destroyed. 46% of pre-code coastal homes were. Here's the data and what it means for your home.
CGI Windows & Doors was discontinued on October 31, 2025 when MITER Brands sunset the brand. Here's what CGI homeowners need to know about their existing windows, warranty coverage, and what to buy instead.
ES Windows (Tecnoglass) is the #1 selling impact window manufacturer in Florida by volume. They're approximately 20% less expensive than PGT with Low-E, Kynar coatings, and stainless hardware included standard. Here's our installer's review.
Hurricane impact French doors combine double-door elegance with Category 5 protection. In-swing and out-swing options range from $4,000 to $8,000 per pair installed. Here's what to look for.
PGT is the company that created the impact window category after Hurricane Andrew. Here's an installer's review of their product lines, what we see in the field, and how they compare to ES Windows, ECO, and WinDoor.
Your sliding glass door is the largest and most vulnerable opening in your home. Here's every shutter option that fits, what each costs, and when to consider an impact door replacement instead.
Before Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Florida had 400+ local building codes with no unified wind standards. The destruction created an entirely new product category and the strictest building code in the nation. Here's how each major hurricane shaped the code.
