Mr Glass vs PGT vs ES Windows from an installer's seat: lineups, certifications, design pressures, prices, warranties, and the project profiles where each of the three Florida impact brands wins.
An installer's review of Eastern Architectural Systems: the 176 Bertha and 143 vinyl lines, aluminum windows and sliding doors, the 20-year insulated glass warranty, approvals, prices, and how EAS stacks up against PGT.
ES Windows vs PGT from an installer who puts in both: product lines, design pressures, glass, lead times, installed prices, warranty terms from the actual documents, and which brand fits which Florida project.
What the Florida garage door wind code actually requires: design pressure ratings by region, DASMA 108 and 115 testing, HVHZ impact rules, label reading, permits, and how the door affects your insurance credit.
An installer's review of PGT WinGuard impact windows: the aluminum and vinyl lines model by model, installed price ranges, glass and finish options, and how to pick the right frame for your Florida home.
A door's DP rating is a structural wind number, tested at 1.5x the label, cycled 9,000 times after a missile strike. Here is what the numbers mean on doors specifically, the recommended minimums by Florida zone, and the real size limits by door type.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Impact doors in Florida cost $2,000-$12,000+ per door installed, depending on type. Sliding glass doors start at $3,500, entry doors at $2,000, French doors at $4,000 per pair. Here's the complete pricing breakdown.
Miami-Dade County has the strictest impact window requirements in the United States. Every replacement must carry a Miami-Dade NOA. Here's what that means for your project, your products, your permits, and your insurance.
The best hurricane impact front doors combine Category 5 protection with curb appeal. Fiberglass, aluminum, and steel options range from $2,000 to $6,000 installed. Here's how to choose.
Your garage door is the largest and most vulnerable opening in your home. During Hurricane Milton, garage door failures caused roof damage in otherwise code-compliant homes. Here's what you need to know about hurricane-rated garage doors, bracing, costs, and Florida code requirements.
Whether impact windows are required in your Florida home depends on your county, your proximity to the coast, and whether you're replacing more than 25% of your windows. Here's exactly what the code says, county by county.
Impact windows use laminated glass bonded to a polymer interlayer inside reinforced frames. When debris strikes, the glass may crack but the interlayer holds, keeping your home sealed. Here's how they work, what they cost, and whether you need them.
Impact windows are a smart upgrade in Palm Beach, but the install isn’t plug-and-play. Avoid the five mistakes that waste money and weaken protection: wrong ratings, the wrong installer, skipped permits, poor energy choices, and rushed timelines that collide with hurricane season.
Florida’s High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) designation enforces stringent building requirements—175+ mph wind ratings, impact‐resistant windows and doors, reinforced roofs and framing—in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Compliance lowers insurance costs and boosts home value.
Impact windows and hurricane shutters both protect Florida homes from wind-borne debris, but they differ sharply in protection level, convenience, long-term cost, and daily livability. Here's the data-driven breakdown.
