Impact Rated Windows: Because Your Safety Matters
Coastal homes afford stunning views, but they also require impact rated windows.
As a coastal city, Charleston gets many benefits from the ocean, but there are drawbacks as well.
One of the biggest ones is that residents have to worry about the very real possibility of a hurricane hitting and causing damage to their property. Normal windows will shatter fairly easily if impacted by the flying debris that a strong storm tends to bring with it, but security-conscious homeowners don’t have to be stuck with this option.
If you want to make sure that you family members – and your investment – are protected, it’s worth your time to learn a bit about impact rated windows.
What Exactly Are Impact Rated Windows?
The main thing that you should understand about impact rated windows is that they are specially reinforced to hold up under pressure.
What does that mean? Well, the strongest ones can withstand a “missile” that weighs 9 pounds and travels at 34mph. That makes them an important form of protection for you, your family, and your house not just when storms strike, but also against home invaders.
How do impact rated windows work? Think about the windshield on your car. In the event of a crash, it may break, but it won’t shatter the way regular windows do. Instead, the broken pieces stay together because there’s a clear plastic layer holding them in place.
Impact rated windows for your home use a version of this technology that’s been adapted and strengthened for the kinds of impacts that can be expected near a house, as well as a high-duty frame for extra protection.
Impact rated windows include rating icons that tell you how strong the windows are.
A window with an IZ3 icon (Impact Zone 3) has passed all tests required to be used in Atlantic and Gulf Coast states. This means that these windows will hold up against winds from 120-140mph, can withstand a hit from an 8-foot long 2x4 stud moving 50 feet per second, and have undergone extensive pressure testing.
An IZ4 icon (Impact Zone 4) indicates that the window has been rated for Florida and Miami-Dade County. The only real difference is that these windows have to be able to survive impacts multiple times.
How Much Do Impact Rated Windows Cost?
Impact rated windows may cost more, but they combine style and safety.
Generally speaking, impact rated windows cost double what regular windows cost. While this isn’t insignificant – in a large house, upgrading all of your windows to make them impact resistant is likely to add tens of thousands of dollars to the total – those prices don’t factor in the costs that you’ll end up facing during pre-storm preparation if you decide not to go for impact rated windows. Because you won’t have to deal with any of this extra preparation with your impact rated windows, over time they end up being far more economical.
On top of those savings, people with impact rated windows will get a discount from their insurance provider. How much can you expect to save? DisasterSafety.org says that discounts can fall anywhere between 2 and 25 percent depending on the type and extent of improvements you make, as well as the insurance provider that you choose.
What Are the Benefits of Impact Rated Windows?
Besides the financial benefits mentioned above and the obvious plus of having windows that can withstand strong winds and impacts during big storms, impact rated windows have other, lesser-known positives attached to them.
- The design allows them to reduce noise from outside
- They’re more energy efficient than single-pane windows
- 99 percent of transmitted UV light is blocked
Who Manufactures Impact Rated Windows?
There are a number of big companies who manufacture impact rated windows. Unsurprisingly, many are located in Florida, but there are a few local manufacturers as well.
Kolbe offers a wide range of casements, awnings, transoms, segment heads, double hung windows, half-circle top-window, and glass doors all designed to withstand hurricane force winds in any coastal region.
Marvin. For stylish windows that meet or exceed the building codes of all coastal regions, Marvin’s line of StormPlus Hurricane windows may be your best bet.
PGT. Their WinGuard line of impact rated windows meets all the requirements you would expect and is offered with two different possible casements – vinyl or aluminum.
Jen Weld. The ImpactGard line boasts innovative laminated glass technology that can withstand a nine-pound piece of lumber moving at 34 mph, making these windows well-suited to protect your home from hurricane debris.
Trident Window Systems. If you’re looking to stay close to home, this South Carolina company offers vinyl and aluminum windows and doors tested to the absolute highest standards.
Andersen Windows and Doors. Their Coastal Stormwatch line will keep you protected while providing an aesthetically pleasing look and amazing energy efficiency. In addition, their A-Series windows offer hidden structural reinforcements, strong Fibrex composite material, maintenance-free exteriors, and forced entry resistance.
If you want to learn more about how you can protect your home from hurricanes, call Sea Island Builders, your custom home builders in South Carolina, to speak with an experienced professional.
