Hurricane season spans from June 1st to November 30th down here in Florida. Being that the next hurricane season is a couple months away, now is the time to prepare your south Florida home for the upcoming season! It is predicted by the GWO that 2016 will have 16 named storms and 9 hurricanes, 5 of them being categories 3 and above. It is being said that 2016-2017 will be the most active hurricane cycles experienced in 60 years! So what can you do to protect your Florida home?
Hurricane Impact Windows
Wind alone can cause extensive amounts of damage to a home during a hurricane. Depending on the category strength of the hurricane, the wind can be strong enough to knock out or bursts windows. Different pressure levels can cause windows to break, as well as projectiles that the hurricane is picking up and carrying with the wind can cause window damage. The consequences of the broken glass are the risk of injury to anyone in the home, in addition to water intrusion and debris damage to the interior of your home. Water damage is a factor not many take into account when calculating the risks of having unprotected windows during a hurricane, but merely an inch of floodwater can cause approximately $7,800 in damage. Also, the longer there are openings for wind to get through during a hurricane, the more wind causes pressure to the inside of the home and the more destabilized the structure of your home becomes.
The first thing you can do to protect your home is to have hurricane impact resistant windows installed in your home. The strength of the glass and the frame provide safety against winds to a certain speed, projectile missiles that hurricane winds might be carrying and also against water intrusion. Hurricane impact resistant windows are specially made and glazed to resist shattering and breaking during pressure and hurricane force winds. In addition to the impact resistant glass itself, the framing that is installed with the window adds strength to the protection. Usually constructed from wood, metal, vinyl or a combination of these materials, hurricane window frames have reinforcement built into their structure to help withstand the pressure and force of hurricane winds.
Hurricane Impact Doors
At the wind speeds of 110 mph a hurricane starts producing damage to doors. Florida homes with older doors that are not up to code could burst open during a hurricane allowing wind and water to enter the home. The winds coming in through such a large entrance, like a front door, could cause the home to become destabilized quickly and cause damage to the structural integrity of the home. Another risk that you run when a door is not strong enough and bursts open is the amount of water that can get into such a large opening. If the door sustained damage and is unable to be resealed during the hurricane, the home is susceptible to a large amount of water damage.
Another step you can take towards preparing your home for Florida tropical weather is installing hurricane impact doors throughout the home. Depending on how many openings you have in your home, you’ll want to secure all of them, be it sliding glass door, French doors or the front door. There are hurricane impact doors designed for every opening you have. Installing these types of doors will protect your home from hurricane force winds and the risks that accompany tropical weather in Florida.
Besides being beneficial during the hurricane season, impact windows and doors have plenty of other positives. They are more energy efficient, so you have the potential to save money on your monthly electrical bills. Insurance companies also view impact windows and doors to be safer during the whole year, so you can qualify for a discount on your homeowner’s insurance. Plus, impact windows and doors protect your home and look good! You are not going to be cooped up in a cave with these types of opening protections. Your home will be safe and still look beautiful year round!
If you want to take steps to make your home hurricane prepared, you can contact us online or call us today at 561-340-4300! Get a free estimate on hurricane impact windows and doors for your home and be safe this hurricane season!
