Hurricanes and severe storms are a significant issue for anyone living in South Florida. Staying proactive by giving your home the best defense against this type of weather is necessary to keep damages to a minimum.
Traditional Miami windows and doors don't offer much protection and are also a significant liability. Investing in impact windows and doors is critical in giving you a much greater level of protection against severe weather. Impact glass also offers many other benefits, such as improving energy efficiency, reducing outside noises, and limiting break-ins. They are a great way to enhance the value of your home.
Are you interested in learning more? Here is an overview of why traditional Miami windows and doors couldn't withstand these previous five storms.
1) Hurricane Irma (2017)
Hurricane Irma remains one of the most deadly and costly hurricanes to impact Florida in the last thirty years. Initially, Hurricane Irma made landfall as a Category 4 in the Florida Keys while causing significant tree damage throughout the different islands.
Over 1,000 homes experienced significant damages in Miami-Dade County as Irma slowly headed north alongside the east coast. The severe weather event also damaged nearly 4,000 structures in Osceola County.
Overall, experts estimate that Hurricane Irma resulted in $50 billion worth of damages.
2. Hurricane Wilma (2005)
Hurricane Wilma hit South Florida in 2005 as a Category 4 hurricane. The massive destruction of this hurricane caused over $21 billion in damages, and it also resulted in the most significant disruption to electrical services in Florida.
According to the NOAA, around 98% of South Florida residents lost electricity due to the hurricane. Counties across the state reported numerous outages, as many places suffered substantial flooding and infrastructure damage.
The hurricane also destroyed a large number of citrus and sugar cane crops.
3) Hurricane Andrew (1992)
Hurricane Andrew remains one of the most infamous storms to impact Florida, as it made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane. A total of 44 people lost their lives due to Hurricane Andrew, and it caused over $25 billion worth of damages in Florida.
The storm's vast scale of destruction is why South Florida began implementing more stringent building codes to give residents better protection. Installing impact glass doors and windows will help you remain in compliance, and they come specifically tested to withstand the impact of flying projectiles.
4) Hurricane Donna (1960)
Hurricane Donna was one of the strongest hurricanes to impact the United States. At least 857 houses in Miami-Dade were destroyed by this hurricane, as it caused widespread destruction with 150 mph winds and a storm surge that was an average of 11 feet once it made landfall.
The lack of protection made it nearly impossible for traditional Miami windows and doors to withstand the impact of such a massive hurricane in 1960. Fortunately, installing impact windows and doors in modern times provides residents with much greater protection against hurricanes and severe storms.
5) Great Miami Hurricane (1926)
The Great Miami Hurricane happened in 1926. It completely destroyed the Greater Miami area while also causing substantial damage in the Bahamas and along the gulf coast of the United States.
The devastation of the Category 4 hurricane was why the area suffered an even earlier beginning to the Great Depression. According to the Red Cross, more than 6,000 people sustained injuries, and 372 people were killed due to this hurricane.
Historians and urban planning experts estimate that a similar hurricane would cause around $235 billion in damages if it hit present-day Miami.
Why Impact Windows and Doors Offer the Best Protection
Severe storms and hurricanes are a fact of life for anyone living in the Miami area. Understanding the history of these powerful storms is vital in learning from the past to help prepare you for future events.
Investing in impact windows and doors offers superior protection compared to traditional glass due to its stringent testing process. Laminated glass also prevents the windows and doors from shattering on impact from a flying projectile.
Impact glass isn't just limited to entry doors, as it's also available for sliding doors to ensure your home or business is always well-protected.
Other Benefits of Impact Glass for Miami Windows and Doors
The state-of-the-art protection from impact glass also makes it next to impossible for criminals to break into your house. Impact sliding doors and entry doors consist of two layers of tempered glass and an interlayer of shatterproof material for the best protection available.
Impact windows and doors are also available in a wide range of styles, as they are an excellent way to boost the curb appeal of your home or business. You can also considerably lower your utility bill due to their energy efficiency properties.
Installing impact windows and doors throughout your entire property can even help you lower your insurance.
Contact Us to Learn More About Impact Doors
Alco is one of the top installers of impact glass for Miami windows and doors. Our experienced installation team will work with you in choosing the best product to meet your needs, whether you need entry doors, sliding doors, windows, or garage doors. Providing the best customer service while offering top-quality products is always the number one priority at Alco Windows and Doors.
Don’t wait! We encourage you to reach out to Alco Windows and Doors to learn more about the many benefits of installing impact windows and doors. Ensure your family and property are adequately protected against future hurricanes and severe storms!
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