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BobVila.com > Channels > Doors & Windows > All Articles > Storm-Ready Home: Benefits and Installation of Impact-Resistant Windows Storm-Ready Home: Benefits and Installation of Impact-Resistant Windows In a hurricane, a house becomes a pressure cooker if its outer envelope is pierced by high winds and wind-driven debris. When windows fail, high winds enter the house and can blow out an opposing wall or tear the roof off completely, leaving the home exposed to wind and water. Related Showrooms• Sears - Custom-Fit Replacement Windows and Entry Doors• ETO Doors - Shop for Interior & Exterior Doors - Lowest Price Guaranteed
Hurricane winds deliver force to building exteriors and elements. It is by far the debris these winds carry that most threaten a home during a wind event. In high winds, roof sheathing, branches, roof tiles, or garbage cans become projectiles or missiles that are hurled at neighboring homes. The key to keeping your property intact is to keep the envelope tight so that wind and water cannot enter. Windows are a key point of entry, so it is essential that they resist the damaging force of wind-borne debris. There are only two secure ways to protect the openings of your home when hurricanes begin to blow – shutters and impact-resistant windows. Protecting your home and your family from flying debris requires that windows, doors, skylights, and patio doors all meet the tougher building standards as mandated by agencies like the South Florida Building Code, which has become a leader in materials and fastening upgrades in hurricane zones. Window Design and Installation When they first entered the market about 20 years ago, impact-resistant window styles were somewhat limited. Since then research and development have caught up to the demands of stricter building codes, and now nearly any type or style of window is readily available. Windows with impact-resistant designs now include fixed-pane, awning, casement, horizontal roller, single-hung, and double-hung models. Skylights, door glass, and patio doors are also available in impact -resistant formats. Today, virtually all of the major window manufacturers make high-grade, impact-resistant windows that have been certified to meet all protective standards. A window is part of a total house envelope so it must be installed correctly in order to maintain its integrity. According to Brian Hedlund, product marketing manager at Jeld-Wen Windows & Doors, each manufacturer specifies how its impact-resistant windows must be installed in order for them to offer the maximum amount of protection when confronted by storm-driven debris. “The installation methods are typically set forth by each manufacturer and a lot of times test reports (on how a window responds to debris and wind in a laboratory setting) will dictate what the installation method should be,” Hedlund says.
Keep Windows Tight A key factor when installing impact-resistant windows is a watertight caulk seal. “Caulking of the window is also critical to prevent water intrusion,” Olmstead says. “Both the window bucks (square box or frame within a concrete foundation for future window installation) and the window itself must be thoroughly sealed to the building.” Oftentimes, the closer the home is to the coastline, the more stringent the requirement for fasteners. Homes on the beach typically require stainless steel screws to stand up to the salt spray. Those further inland may require galvanized screws. Screws rather than nails are specified because nails are less resistant to pull-out when lateral force is applied to the window and surrounding wall. Screws pull material together and won’t pull out.
Impact-resistant windows are available nationwide by special order, but are most readily available in coastal states mandating their installation through tougher building codes. They can be ordered and shipped anywhere, however. According to an independent study recently completed by the North American Laminated Glass Information Center, adding impact-resistant windows will only increase construction costs by a few thousand dollars on an average new home. As with all building enhancements, the familiarity of the crew with the product will directly impact how long the windows take to install and how much labor will cost. Compare the cost of the product, cost of the product installed, and any insurance benefits before making your decision. Insurance Benefits Benefits from impact-resistant windows extend beyond the storm belt to broader security concerns. Impact-resistant windows are considered to be security features because they are so difficult to penetrate or separate from their frames that they reduce break-ins, theft, and property damage. There are insurance breaks for new homes built with impact resistant windows, and for existing homes remodeled to include the tougher windows and frames. Check with your homeowners insurance carrier to see what kind of a discount is available. Text by Jim Flasch Copyright BobVila.com © 2005 | |
