Why Every Homeowner Needs Hurricane Windows in Broward County

The natural beauty of Broward County's beaches and sunshine are second to none, making it a wonderful place to call home. But Broward County faces a real threat every year: hurricane season.

Extreme weather, storms, and hurricanes are commonplace in southern Florida, including Broward County. If you call Broward home, it’s best to prepare for them since you can’t escape them.

Staying proactive against hurricanes is crucial since they can devastate any unprotected home. Installing hurricane-grade impact windows can give you extra safety for your home and your family to protect yourself against these natural disasters.

In this article, we’ll break down why you need impact windows in Broward, the different types of hurricane windows, and local regulations to ensure you’re meeting building code requirements.

Why Broward Residents Need Hurricane Windows

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew swept across South Florida, devastating Broward County. It became clear that something needed to change to protect South Florida homeowners to prevent future hurricane damage. So, the state updated building codes as a response to the crisis. 

Soon afterward, demand for impact windows skyrocketed as a protective alternative to traditional glass windows. Newly constructed homes in certain parts of Florida were now to be built with impact windows.

To prevent shattering from high-speed windows, impact windows are designed with a compound coating that’s incredibly resistant to shattering due to extreme winds.

Additionally, impact windows are designed to prevent the impact of high-speed objects, preventing home damage and reducing the risk of injury to families in their homes.

Unlike traditional windows that are designed to shatter when hit with high-speed objects, impact windows fracture in a pattern like a spider web to act as a protective barrier against the elements.

Types of Hurricane Windows Available

Installing the right hurricane windows and doors in your home can give you the much-needed protection and peace of mind to know you’re safe against extreme weather conditions like the familiar hurricanes that regularly sweep through South Florida, including Broward County.

While impact-resistant windows are designed to protect your home from extreme weather and hurricanes, not all hurricane-impact windows are created equally.

Proper impact windows are crafted with two layers of tempered glass including an interlayer of shatterproof material that can withstand the impact of Category-5 hurricanes.

Keep in mind that a window may be labeled “impact-resistant” or “hurricane window” but may not be enough to protect your home depending on various factors. 

Before picking any impact window to secure your home, consider the following variables when it comes to impact windows:

• Impact windows have different ratings for design pressure.
• Impact windows have different ratings for performance.
• Windows certified by independent third parties will provide the best protection.
• Impact window ratings vary from region to region.
• The most protective impact window has a GP rating of 50 (for Category 5 Hurricane protection to withstand winds of up to 157 MPH).
• Heavy-duty extruded aluminum frames are the strongest.
• Electrostatic paint requires minimal maintenance.
• Heat-reducing glass tints and laminated insulated glass provide the best energy efficiency.

Benefits of Using Hurricane Windows

So, what are the advantages to hurricane windows? Here are eight reasons why you should have impact windows installed in Broward.

1. Increased Safety from Hurricanes and Storms

As a resident of South Florida, you know that hurricanes and storms aren’t an “if” but a “when.” We all know storms are commonplace in Broward, so the best thing you can do is prepare to overcome them as best as possible.

With impact windows installed, you can rest assured that your home will be protected from property damage. And, more importantly – your loved ones will be safe from the impact of flying debris or high-speed winds. The shatterproof design of impact windows also prevents water damage and leaks. 

Another often-forgotten benefit is protection from criminals looking to break into susceptible homes. Impact windows give you peace of mind that your home, your family, and your valuables will be kept safe throughout the year.

2. Lower Your Bills With Better Energy Efficiency

Did you know that impact windows also provide additional protection – for your wallet?

While Broward County’s winters are quite mild, the summers are hot and humid. Keeping your home cool all summer long can be costly. However, you can improve your home’s energy efficiency with impact windows.

Impact windows help keep your home cool in the summer, so you don’t need to have the A/C cranked as much, saving you monthly money on your electrical bill.

3. Increase the Value of Your Home

Another way impact windows put money back in your pocket is in your home’s value.

Installing impact windows provides a wide array of long-term benefits, including safety for your family, protection for your home, and improved energy efficiency. These advantages mean installing impact windows in your home is an excellent long-term investment.

Impact windows and doors can be a critical selling point for potential buyers since they offer homes incredible long-term durability against extreme weather.

4. Other Benefits

When working with trusted Broward County impact window installers, there are a few other benefits as well:

• Saving you time and energy to prepare when storms come
• Shielding your home from harmful UV rays
• Limiting outside noise pollution 
• You have a variety of design options to improve the look of your home

Local Regulations Regarding Hurricane Window Installation

Wondering if impact windows are a legal requirement in Florida?

While impact windows are commonplace across South Florida homes, the answer isn’t so black and white.

Impact windows (or hurricane glass windows) are not technically a legal state requirement in Florida. However, certain coastal regions do require impact windows – and some counties are more strict regarding regulating impact windows than others.

While the Sunshine State doesn’t determine the legality of impact windows, local governments do. 

County authorities and municipalities determine the regulations for building and residential codes based on specific zones that are more likely to be impacted by hurricanes and extreme winds due to storms. These areas are called high-velocity hurricane zones, or HVHZ for short.

The Florida Building Commission (FBC) states that if your home receives winds of more than 100 miles per hour and sits within one mile of a coastal area, your home’s windows must be impact-resistant or have other protective additions like hurricane shutters. 

In HVHZ zones, every single opening must have impact-resistant features. This includes any external door and garage doors as well. Wondering if your home is located in an HVHZ? Check out our downloadable hurricane risk map.

The entirety of Broward County is a HVHZ. This means if your home is located in Broward, you must have some level of hurricane protection on your windows and doors, even if you live further inland away from the coast.

Choose Alco Windows and Doors For Your Impact Windows

Are you considering upgrading your Broward home with impact windows? There are dozens of companies you could work with (and plenty of different types of windows to choose from), so it’s important to work with a reputable Broward County contractor to secure your home with protective impact windows.

At Alco Windows and Doors, we’ll help secure your Broward home while making it more efficient and cheaper to maintain. With a 4.9 out of 5-star rating on Google, and over 350 reviews from past customers, our experienced installation team will help you pick the right design to meet your needs.

Reach out to us today for a free consultation!