Impact Windows West Palm Beach FL: What Every Homeowner Should Know

West Palm Beach, Florida, isn’t just a place for palm trees and fun in the sun—it’s also a place for preparing for hurricanes.

Why is hurricane preparation a must? First off, West Palm Beach is right smack on the Atlantic Ocean. This makes the city a direct target for tropical cyclones for the majority of the year.

However, there’s an increased need to prepare for hurricane-force winds. Once items like loose porch furniture, pieces of trees, and really anything not weighed down become projectiles, knowing the best hurricane-resistant materials is equally as important for the safety of your home

Impact Windows Installation in West Palm Beach

Impact windows are specialty windows that are reinforced with two additional layers of material compared to standard windows. The design of these windows is just as the name would suggest: they are designed to take an impact.

Most projectiles might put a crater in the outer layer but will almost never penetrate through the second layer.

High Force Winds Preparations

Being that impact windows are designed the way they are, and there is a strong need for homes to be designed to take on higher-force winds, impact windows are a higher-ticketed window compared to standard (or even older) window installations.

The return on the investment, especially compared to the risk taken otherwise, is much greater in comparison and is much greater of a value—similar to solar panel installations (but for very different reasons…)

Understanding Impact Windows

The benefit proposed here is related to how the glass will protect your home from an enthusiastic burglar attempting to enter your home by breaking the glass. With other window types, the burglar will be successful. The burglar may still be successful when you use impact-resistant windows, but at least it will give you enough time to use your cell phone and call the police. I’d say that the above benefit also relates to any type of stray missile (including baseballs) aimed your house. What’s more, if you live in a neighborhood filled with children, the above benefit will be so valuable to you, you may never be able to live without it!

In more serious matters, the above benefit could also save you lots of money in the long run. My logic? What happens if a thief decides to pay your house a visit and finds an unlocked door (or window)? The last time someone broke into my parents’ home, the insurance company paid my parents $10,000.

Here’s the possible logic loop that I am thinking about:

Most homes, nowadays, have more than 2 windows

The chance of leaving (at least) one of those windows unlocked increases significantly

Most thieves (a) target homes randomly, and (b) use the “test the waters” approach before actually robbing your home (i.e., they want to find easy targets)

Can you see where I am going with this? If you can’t, here’s the simple answer: with regular windows, any lucky thief could stumble upon your home and find an unlocked window! Maybe you’re not the type of person who forgets to lock his/her window(s). Ever! Fine! I still say, getting your house insured is way more important than getting car insurance! Why don’t they make this a law?

The Importance of Impact Windows in West Palm Beach

People who live in West Palm Beach, Florida, know all too well about the destructive path a hurricane can leave in its wake. We live in a part of the county where high winds, lots of rain, and storm surge put us at risk of property damage, flooding, and worse, death.

What can we do? After all, we live in the ‘Hurricane Capital of the United States.’ Do we just sit back and wait for the next Category 3, 4, or 5 hurricanes to destroy our homes — or do we become proactive in an attempt to reduce the damage caused by hurricanes?

One of the best upgrades you can make to your Florida home to give it a fighting chance against a hurricane is to replace old leaky windows with hurricane impact windows. Replacing old windows with new hurricane-proof windows can stop high winds and flying debris from entering your home, which is the #1 reason for catastrophic damage to Florida homes.

And unlike old windows, new hurricane windows are made with an outer layer of glass, an inner layer of glass, and a thin sheet of transparent plastic sandwiched between the layers of glass — giving the window extra strength to stand up to whatever mother nature happens to throw at you.

It’s nice to know that by replacing old leaky windows with new impact windows, you can reduce the risk of hurricane wind and water damage in the first place. Impact windows may pay for themselves considering that the average hurricane insurance claim in Florida is over $10,000.

Besides catastrophic damage protection, there are many great benefits to installing hurricane-proof windows in your home. These benefits include:

• Hurricane Protection: Eliminates the need for shutters and meets Miami-Dade protocols for small and large missile impact along with the High-Velocity Hurricane Zones.
• Intrusion Protection: The strong laminated glass prevents would-be burglars from breaking in.
• Safety: The laminated glass also prevents sharp shards of glass from flying during accidental breakage.
• Noise reduction: The dead air space dramatically reduces the noise that enters your home.
• Energy Efficiency: Energy-efficient coating helps to block out 99% of the sun’s damaging UV rays and reflects heat, keeping your home cool.
• Insurance Savings: Most insurance underwriters give a sizeable discount that can offset the cost of the windows over time.
• Increase property value: These windows come in all shapes and forms and can be matched up to any existing home window style production.

Benefits of Installing Impact Windows

Impact windows offer a multitude of benefits that are particularly advantageous for homeowners in West Palm Beach, a region prone to hurricanes and severe weather. One of the most significant advantages is enhanced safety and security. These windows are designed to withstand high winds and flying debris, providing a robust barrier against potential break-ins and natural disasters. This added layer of protection gives homeowners peace of mind, knowing their families and properties are better safeguarded.

In addition to safety, impact windows contribute to energy efficiency and cost savings. They are typically constructed with insulated glass, which helps regulate indoor temperatures by minimizing heat transfer. This can lead to reduced energy consumption and lower utility bills, a crucial factor for homeowners in the warm climate of West Palm Beach. Over time, the investment in impact windows can pay off significantly through these savings, making them a financially sound choice.

Another notable benefit is noise reduction. Impact windows are designed to block out external sounds, creating a quieter and more serene indoor environment. For residents living near busy streets or in bustling neighborhoods, this can greatly enhance the quality of life. The combination of safety, energy efficiency, and noise reduction makes impact windows an ideal choice for West Palm Beach homeowners looking to improve their living conditions while protecting their investments.

Choosing the Right Impact Windows

When selecting the best impact windows for your home, it’s essential to consider several factors, including style, size, and energy ratings. The style of the windows should complement your home’s architecture, whether it’s modern, traditional, or coastal. Choosing the right design not only enhances curb appeal but also ensures that the windows function effectively in your specific environment.

Size is another critical factor. Accurate measurements are necessary to ensure a proper fit, which can affect both aesthetics and performance. Impact windows come in various sizes, so it’s important to select options that align with your existing window openings. Additionally, consider the layout of your home and how the windows will interact with natural light and ventilation.

Energy ratings are vital for long-term savings and comfort. Look for windows with high energy efficiency ratings, as they can significantly reduce heating and cooling costs. Impact windows with low U-factors and high Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) ratings will help maintain a comfortable indoor climate while protecting against external elements.

For businesses in Palm Bay, FL, investing in commercial impact windows is equally important. These windows not only provide safety and security but also enhance the overall aesthetic of commercial properties. Choosing the right commercial impact windows in Palm Bay, FL, could help businesses withstand severe weather while promoting energy efficiency and reducing operational costs

Installation Process and Costs

A home assessment is the standard starting point for knowing how much to budget for impact windows. You’ll need to have a licensed contractor come out to your house who specializes in impact window installation. He will come to your house and measure your window openings and discuss the best materials and styles that will correspond to the look you want for your house, as well as who makes a product that will protect your home. After he has spec’d out the correct windows, he, or a sales rep, will workout the costs and set you up with a date for the installation. Each installation will be different, but you can expect the service to take 1-2 days, depending on how many installations you have.

The costs associated with this product/service widely range. I’ve already said this once, but for the purposes of this guide being thorough, you can expect to pay an average of anywhere from $800 to $1,500 on one window—that includes the product and the service to put it in. The price of these windows will obviously go up when the square footage of the glass goes up. The price will also go up or down depending on the design of the window itself, and (stated on most websites of manufacturers who design these windows) prices will change depending on upgrades like LoE or energy-efficient products that are used to design the windows.

Financing, of course, will be available at most places—especially for a service/product that is this high. Many of these manufacturers will come and knock on your door if they know there’s a hurricane on the radar. Despite how gross that may sound, they are good about offering financing on a product/service of this price; after all, you are considering providing work for their business.

Maintenance and Care for Impact Windows

Looking after your impact windows is crucial if you want them to last a long time. To keep them working for longer:

• Clean them: Like anything else, impact windows will gather dirt and debris if you don’t look after them properly. If you allow bits to gather in the tracks or the seals, you can experience problems. In particular, these can damage the seal and leave you struggling with a persistent draft. Use a mild detergent or washing-up liquid to give the frames—and even the glass—a bit of TLC. Don’t use anything that will scratch the surfaces; a cloth rag will do.
• Check the seals: As shown above, the seals are a possible point for (you guessed it) having a bit of a draft. To keep your room warm in the winter and cool in the summer, make a habit of consistently checking the seals and gaskets. If they age to the point when they are worn, or if they fracture or become sparse or lost in patches, you won’t trap the air inside and manage to heat the room nearly as easily.

One troubleshooting area that you might experience is condensation between the panes of glass. If you do, this suggests that you don’t have a full seal. Elders often overlook this, but you should address it as soon as you can. The dew will gradually turn any malleable seal into the rough consistency of an oven-baked cookie, meaning that the overall moisture will spread out, and you will have to replace everything. Don’t worry too much: some shallow versions aren’t so bad (they could mean nothing more than you have to alter the windows a little), and you can solve the most important cases once they’re identified with heavy planning.

• Oil them: I’ve saved the best until last. From every telescoping inspection pole to the vast majority of bike oil in Leeds, one crucial part in maintaining an object is that it functions from day to day. This means that you should look after the oil on the window. Whether you have a silicone-based PDMS or some sort of mastic that has come out recently, you should make sure that you lubricate the sticky sides. If you don’t, you will experience some kind of rusting that is impossible to remove and (most likely) an object that moves. Think about it this way: you wouldn’t want to scrape the window along the surface, would you? If you don’t prepare the glass, you’ll rub against the surface and intrinsically be left unable to look out as you might an oven after you’ve covered away the top for a day. You will have to use something other than Vaseline—like WD40, or even white lithium—to prevent the glass from becoming an object of wear.

As well as maintaining the appearance of the windows and giving them a brand new out-of-the-box look-and-feel, you will most likely have to keep all doors and windows clean. In the pursuit of keeping a practical sharpness (one that overlaps with a theoretical measure of ‘k’), you will have a high success rate—when you trade out your doors after you stop building them—for both edges, and all other forms of sharpness. Along these lines, the cutting edge is much higher if you look towards parting the hair or having a faithful ‘smooth’ edge that is generally an attractive feature. Be safe too, ‘If the customer rushes to the Internet, read the right terms and conditions, and take a window.’ It adds ${}. Living in America (where the house isn’t so beautiful) costs $6.6 million dollars now.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the average cost of impact windows in Florida?

In Florida, the typical cost for impact windows ranges from $500 to $1,500 per window. These prices include installation. The main factors that cause variance in cost are window size, type of framing material, glass type, and the complexity of the installation. Custom shapes or larger sizes may cause the window to price up into the next tier.

2. Is it necessary for Palm Beach County to have impact windows?

Indeed, building codes in Palm Beach County order that homes situated in regions that could be hit by debris transported by the wind must install either impact-resistant windows or hurricane shutters. This includes, of course, most of Palm Beach County. So, if you’re building a new home or replacing the windows in your existing one, the chances are very good you’ll need to install the kind of window that can withstand a direct hit by a 9-pound 2×4 traveling at about 50 mph. Or, as we say down here, an impact window. Or, as we say in the business, a hurricane-rated impact window.

3. Am I eligible for a tax credit on impact windows in Florida?

Homeowners in Florida may qualify for federal energy efficiency tax credits for putting in impact windows that meet ENERGY STAR specifications. As of 2023, the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit can give you back up to 30% (up to $600) for window upgrades that qualify. As always, consult a tax pro to be sure you understand the eligibility rules.

4. What is the 25% rule for windows in Florida?

The 25% rule for windows in Florida means that if a window is replaced, only 25% of the original window can be used again. The rest needs to be “upgraded” to be useable again in a structurally sound way. And, of course, upgraded means more $.

The 25% rule in Florida’s building code says that you must update the window system to current code if you replace more than 25% of a home’s windows or doors during a renovation. This includes bringing the windows up to new safety standards for wind-borne debris if the house is in such a region. The rule exists mainly to make sure that big renovation projects don’t leave a house so unsafe in a hurricane that it might as well be a death trap.

5. In Florida, are impact windows worth the expense?

Definitely. Windows that withstand hurricanes provide much better protection than standard windows in high winds and driving rain and, therefore, in hurricanes. They are more energy-efficient, block noise better, and offer better security since they don’t have to be opened and closed during a storm. In addition, they’re not just for Florida anymore: 12 states from Maine to Washington now allow or require their use.

6. Do impact windows lower insurance costs in Florida?

Yes, Countless insurers in the state of Florida give discounts to homeowners who have certain certified impact windows installed in their residences. The amount saved can be significant, particularly when a full wind mitigation system (which might also include impact doors and other fortifications) is in place.

If you own a home in West Palm Beach, Fl, you understand that investing in impact windows isn’t so much of choice as it is a necessity. Every Floridian lives with the constant concern of hurricanes and extreme weather. This is why all Florida homes require the protection of impact windows; they are built sturdy and do not fold so easily under the pressure of heavy wind and rain.

Impact windows protect, but they also enhance. You can lower your monthly house insurance premium by reaching out to your house insurance provider. Find out what kind of deals they are offering for a policy on impact windows. Homes that have been renovated with impact windows are highly desirable on the property listings market. The savings in power, light, and gas will start to add up and cover the cost of these renovations. Please consult with your accountant to find out if you qualify for a residential energy-efficient property tax break. But, perhaps most importantly, you will notice an immediate difference in the quality of your living conditions because your home has upgraded to windows and doors.

Impact Windows to Elevate Your House