Doors and Windows

Protecting windows and doors along the Treasure Coast, Port St. Lucie, Palm City, Stuart and Palm Beach areas from windborne debris is an important part of protecting the home and the roof in a hurricane. If wind enters a structure, the likelihood of severe structural damage increases, and the contents of the building will be exposed to outside elements. Wind, wind-driven rain and debris can enter your home causing considerable damage to its interior and your property. When the envelope is breached an even more critical problem develops – high winds are now able to enter the home and exert high internal pressure on the inside of your walls and roof. Catastrophic damage could occur when these internal pressures are combined with external suction caused by the wind blowing over your home.

Windows and doors are vulnerable components of your homes protective shield so it is very important to secure these openings from high winds generated by a hurricane. The most reliable method of protecting windows and doors is to install impact-resistant windows and doors or install impact resistant coverings, such as shutters over windows. Impact resistant glass and shutters are specifically designed to meet a combination of impact and pressure from the wind. The windows consist of two layers of glass, each of which is laminated and separated by an additional plastic film layer. The triple layer construction dampens sound and makes it difficult to break, even if flying debris manages to break the glass, the film will keep the glass in place, keeping your home secure. Equally important as the strength of the glass is the strength of the units frame. An impact resistant unit is tested as a whole unit which includes the glass, the frame, as well as the attachment hardware and the installation method. They should always be installed using the manufacture’s recommendations.

Standards for impact resistant windows

SBCCI SSTD 12

FBC ASTM E 1886 and ASTM E 1996

Miami-Dade Protocols TAS201, TAS202, and TAS203

If you’re in the market for impact resistant glass windows or shutters, you’ll want to make sure that the products have been tested by using one of the above standards and have been approved for use by a recognized product approval system or evaluation report.

Garage Doors

Garage doors play a critical role in protecting your home. If you do not have a tested, wind-rated garage door, high winds can force it out of the opening, causing an uncontrolled buildup of internal pressure. Garage doors are particularly vulnerable to high winds, because of the long span of opening they cover and the lightweight material they are made of. If you would like to strengthen your garage door there are two options.

1)      Replace the door and track with a system that is designed to withstand high winds and windborne      debris

2)      Protect the garage door with a tested and approved impact resistant covering