Living in hurricane-prone areas makes impact windows an essential choice for homeowners. These sturdy windows protect homes from storm debris, theft, and other damage 365 days a year.

They can also deter burglars. Breaking through impact-resistant windows is more difficult, making it harder for intruders to gain access. However, not all impact windows are created equal. 

Low-E Glass

Low-E glass is impact resistant windows with an invisible coating that reduces the emissivity of your windows. It can reflect short and long-wave infrared rays while allowing visible light to pass through. As a result, it can dramatically reduce energy loss in your home. This can lead to substantial cost savings and protect your furniture from harmful UV rays that could cause damage over time.

Another benefit of Low-E glass is that it can help keep your house cooler in the summer. This can reduce the air conditioning you need to use, leading to further savings on your energy costs. It can even reduce the wear and tear on your air conditioner and heater, extending their lifespans.

The only downside of low-e glass is that it can give your windows a blue-green tint. This isn’t a major issue, but it can be a consideration for some homeowners.

Laminated Glass

Choosing impact windows for your home is smart, particularly if you live in an area that experiences frequent severe weather. Those windows can prevent the debris generated by severe storms from crashing into your house and potentially damaging it or causing injury to those inside.

These windows blend laminated glass with tempered glass, making it nearly impossible for objects to break through the interior pane of the window. This glass is bonded with a substance like polyvinyl butyral, and a heavy-duty frame supports the entire window.

This type of glass can also reduce noise pollution, as it splinters into small pieces rather than tearing or shattering into sharp shards when broken. It is a popular option for residential and commercial applications. The glass is typically rated with a design pressure (DP) rating that indicates how much force the window can withstand. A higher DP rating means the window has passed structural load testing.

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate (PC) is a virtually unbreakable plastic that can withstand heavy impacts like flying debris during a severe storm. Its durability also prevents window shatters from becoming sharp projectiles that could injure a family member or cause damage to your home’s exterior.

This amorphous polymer is strong but flexible and can bend and shape to fit almost any application. It’s a popular choice for eyeglasses, teller windows, bank barriers, and bullet-proof “glass.”

In impact-resistant windows, the PC is layered between laminated and tempered glass to make the interior pane. It has excellent resistance to flame, stability in heat and good chemical resistance against diluted acids, aliphatic hydrocarbons and alcohols. It’s also remarkably durable, reducing maintenance costs and eliminating the need for structural support compared to glass. A variety of PC blends provide a balance between various properties, performance and productivity. These include rubber-modified grades to improve impact strength and PC/PBT blends that provide better toughness at low temperatures.

Steel Frames

As the name suggests, impact windows are designed to protect against storms, heavy flying debris, and forced entry attempts. They contain multiple PET laminated glass and PVB layers, making them thicker and heavier than regular windows. They have been tested to withstand impacts from baseball bats, sledgehammers, and crowbars.

While impact-resistant glass is impressive, it’s insufficient to withstand high-speed winds and other forces that can damage structures. This is why most impact-resistant windows are built with a heavy-duty frame to offer additional structural support.

While installing extra protection for your home is a pain, it’s a great idea. Window and door frames are often the weakest points of a building, and they can be especially damaging during storms. Many areas prone to hurricanes and severe weather require homes to have impact-resistant windows and doors. This includes Florida, where the state’s building code requires impact-resistant windows in new homes and replacement windows for existing homes.