Many homeowners in hurricane-prone areas are familiar with the need to install home protection systems such as shutters or hammer plywood over their windows. However, impact windows are an excellent choice if you want to go one step further in fortifying your property against severe weather.
These windows protect your house from storm debris and reduce outside noise from traffic, barking dogs and more.
Cost-Effectiveness
In a hurricane-prone location, protecting your property should be your primary concern. However, fortifying your home with hurricane-rated products can be expensive. Fortunately, you can cut the cost by choosing impact-resistant windows and doors.
Unlike traditional single-pane windows, which can shatter into dangerous shards, impact glass comprises two layers of tempered glass held together by a polymer resin. When this glass is hit by debris, it breaks in a spiderweb pattern rather than splintering.
Not only do these windows offer storm protection, but they can also reduce outside noise. The PVB layer acts as a sound barrier, eliminating the noise from busy highways and city life while letting natural light into your living space. This creates a more peaceful environment for you and your family. As a bonus, you can enjoy lower energy costs throughout the year. In addition, if you select this kind of window, you can be qualified for tax breaks and insurance reductions.
Energy Efficiency
One of the most well-known benefits of hurricane windows is their ability to protect homes from the high winds, rains and debris accompanying many storms and hurricanes. These windows can help shield a home and its occupants from expensive property damage, injury and even loss of life.
However, hurricane windows do so much more than that. Because they are double-paned and have fillers like argon between the glass layers, they offer excellent insulating qualities and have U-factors and R-values that rival those of other energy-efficient windows.
This means that you may benefit from the security of hurricane resistant windows while reducing the energy your home uses and minimizing your power costs. Over time, this money could be redirected into savings or spent on other home improvement projects. It only takes about three years to recoup the costs of a hurricane-resistant window installation. That’s a pretty impressive return on investment. In addition, you can expect lower insurance premiums, break-in protection and a quieter home environment.
Insurance Discounts
Investing in home protection systems like impact windows is often cost-effective for homeowners in hurricane and storm-prone areas. As a result, several insurance providers provide savings to homeowners who install these windows.
This is because these windows are efficient at preventing serious wind damage to your home during a storm and lowering energy costs. They achieve this by limiting the quantity of solar radiation that enters your home, which reduces your electricity costs monthly or annually.
Additionally, these windows provide burglary protection. This is so robbers find it challenging to break them and access your home since they feature a PVB interlayer sandwiched between two panes of glass. This is another factor that makes these windows a wise purchase for Florida homes.
Noise Reduction
If you live in an area prone to hurricanes, chances are you’re used to putting up plywood panels or buying window shutters during hurricane season. But installing impact windows can give you peace of mind that lasts all year round.
Impact windows protect your home from the storms, high winds and flying debris that typically accompany a hurricane and offer security measures against burglary attempts. The PVB interlayer of these windows can withstand burglars trying to break the glass to get inside your house.
Impact windows help you save money by lowering your utility costs and reducing noise. You may save two to three times as much throughout your lifetime by installing hurricane-resistant windows with tax incentives and insurance reductions. Your family will gain much over the long run from this wise investment. Additionally, it might raise the market value of your house and enhance your quality of life.
