Hurricane impact window replacements can prevent critical damage to your home during a significant storm. Plus, best quality impact windows look incredible all year and don’t require any added steps to install before a storm.
Also, homeowners don’t need to consider the potential safety implications of shudders, for example, scaling a ladder, shutting them in high winds, or doing a last-minute installation or fixes before or during a dangerous storm. To prepare for a nasty climate, you need a solution that won’t make your life more complicated!
Are you prepared to improve the safety and security of your property by installing impact replacement windows near Clearwater, Florida? But, first, you must ask two questions when starting your project:
How would I pick the correct window?
Do you need a correct expert to install and replace my impact windows?
Top features of Hurricane Impact Window Replacements
Besides impact-resistant film, some impact windows likewise rely on an internal membrane technology that fills the space between the window panes. This membrane comprises a PVB layer that holds the glass together, keeping it from blowing outward.
When combined with window film, this makes the windows almost impenetrable to any puncture or shattering even with winds of 200 mph, or a Category 5 hurricane.
The frame construction of impact windows makes them more studier. Manufacturers make hardware for impact windows using aluminum, vinyl, or steel frames. These frames resist warping, wear and tear, and rust. Steel and aluminum frames are robust but more costly than vinyl.
Hurricane Impact Window DP Ratings
Impact windows aren’t just convenient and smartly built; they have the testing to back up their strength. Impact windows use a DP rating — design pressure — rating to identify how much wind speed they can withstand before breaking or bending.
What’s special about DP ratings is they aren’t only assigned based on metrics like glass thickness or window size. Rather, they only give a DP rating to a particular model that has experienced a barrage of laboratory testing.
Impact Window DP Tests
Hurricane impact windows experience a design pressure test that will ensure the windows will hold up during a dangerous storm. The test comprises three parts:
Air Pressure- typically, the test is air filtration. This test simulates the amount of pressure on the windows. Air filtration pressure alone doesn’t affect the pressure of the window.
Water Penetration-the amount of water that windows prevent is tested by pressure and depends on the tested window. They test by the percentage of water pressure that gets kept out.
Structural Testing- They also test the glass and frame of the window. They give a higher rating because of the thickness of the glass and the frame’s hardware. The rating goes up if the window uses a better quality and structurally sound material. The rating of the frame can increase the overall rating of the window.
What’s the DP Rating for my Area?
Since Florida, particularly in Miami, is a source for serious storms and hurricanes, it has different requirements for testing impact windows. The tests cover the usual air, water, and structural testing for rating impact windows. However, an added test includes impact resistance. They do the test by firing a 2×4 pieces of wood twice to check whether the window holds up.
While choosing an impact window, it’s imperative to focus on the DP rating. For those living in Florida and other beach coastal communities like Clearwater, FL, and it’s surrounding areas, it’s recommended to search for impact windows with a minimum DP 50. This rating reflects the capacity to withstand hurricane-level five wind speeds.
Hurricane Impact Window Replacements and Installation
Choosing the right contractor for the installation or replacement of impact windows is easy if you go with Crystal Clear Windows and Doors.
During extreme weather seasons, strong winds, tornadoes, and hurricanes often pick up man-made and natural debris and send it at high speeds towards homes. Even as sturdy and capable as impact windows seem, they can become cracked or broken after a dangerous storm. Also, something unpredictable may occur; for example, a fallen tree or baseball can harm your investment.
Fortunately, you can replace impact windows. However, the replacement needs to be done quickly and by a reliable expert.
