Hurricanes are among the fiercest storms to be seen anywhere on the planet; we’ve all seen the devastation that a hurricane can cause and if you live in a region where hurricanes are a regular occurrence, you need to take steps to protect yourself and your property. People who live along the Gulf Coast and the eastern seaboard should invest in hurricane preparedness supplies as well as installing impact windows in their homes and businesses in order to minimize hurricane damage as well as to reduce the danger that these storms can pose to themselves, their families and employees.

Impact windows are specially designed windows with laminated glass and high strength aluminum frames. These windows are available in many different shapes and sizes, ranging from ordinary single hung windows to large picture windows; but regardless of their size or style, these windows help to protect homes and other structures year round by being strong enough to stand up to hurricane force winds.

Hurricane windows, as they are also known, can be customized to fit anywhere that they are needed and they don’t look any different than any other windows, while still providing a significant degree of protection from severe weather. Other than conventional windows, homeowners can also choose impact windows which can be used as the glass panels in sliding doors or French doors; decorative, yet impact resistant glass for front doors can also be custom made to meet virtually any specifications.

Other than the obvious benefits of being resistant to the high winds of a hurricane or tropical storm, impact windows offer other advantages to those who choose to install them. For example, homeowners in areas where hurricanes are a frequent occurrence may receive a discount on their homeowner’s insurance premiums if impact resistant windows and doors are installed.

Due to the way that they are constructed, with layers of laminated glass surrounding impact resistant material, impact windows are better insulators than conventional windows, which means lower energy costs for homeowners who have impact windows in their homes. Like double glazed windows, they also do a better job of soundproofing, so those who live on busy streets may appreciate the peace and quiet that these windows can provide.

Impact windows can even extend the life of your furniture and flooring. Many models of impact resistant windows also block out UV radiation, which can cause your furniture and wood flooring to fade over time; impact resistant windows with UV protection can block out as much as 99% of UV radiation without reducing the amount of light that your windows let in. With energy efficiency, safety during severe weather, soundproofing and UV shielding going for them, impact windows are something that even homeowners who don’t live in hurricane prone areas may want to consider installing in their homes.