Protect Your Home Before the Next Storm Hits

Impact windows protect your home by keeping their glass intact when wind-borne debris strikes, and by keeping the opening closed through a storm. The same glass also helps with noise, heat, and UV in everyday life. This guide explains what impact windows are, what a package includes, and what to expect before you request a quote from ASP Superhome for a South Florida home.

What Impact Windows Are and Who They Suit

Impact windows are windows with laminated, impact-resistant glass. The glass is designed to stay in one piece when wind-borne debris hits it.

“Hurricane windows” is a common everyday name for similar products. The name alone doesn’t prove protection, though. Florida law says a product may not be marketed as hurricane or impact protection unless it is approved under the state’s product approval rules, as set out in Fla. Stat. § 553.842.

Impact windows suit three kinds of homeowners. Some live in storm-exposed areas and want stronger openings. Others are replacing older windows. Many are planning a wider exterior upgrade that also includes impact doors, roofing, or solar.

What an Impact Window Package Includes

A complete package covers the glass, the frame, the anchoring, the sealing, and the installation. Each part does a specific job.

• Impact-rated glass: laminated glass with an inner layer that holds fragments together when a pane is struck.
• Frame and sash: the frame that carries the glass and fits the wall opening.
• Anchoring and sealing: how the unit is secured to the structure and sealed, which keeps it in place under pressure.
• Low-E coating (optional): a glass coating that helps manage heat and UV.
• Scope of work: removal of old windows, measurement, installation, sealing, and a check that each unit operates.

Ask for a written quote that lists each window and every item. For new installations in Miami-Dade County, the county’s windows and doors guidance covers the product-approval numbers, permit documentation, and wind calculations these projects involve.

Storm Protection: What the Glass Is Built to Withstand

Impact glass is built to resist debris impact, and it should carry proof of testing. A certification mark, label, or listing from an approved agency shows the product complies with the code. Under Fla. Stat. § 553.8425, a product with that mark needs no further documentation to establish code compliance.

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance says windows with AAMA Gold Label certification have undergone independent performance testing and ongoing manufacturing inspections, per its Gold Label certification program.

Impact glass is built for flying debris, not bullets. It should not be described as bulletproof.

An intact window keeps the opening closed. That helps limit wind and water entering the room during a storm.

Florida’s windstorm rules also reach roofs and openings. Under Fla. Stat. § 553.844, a roof replacement on a site-built single-family home must include specified wind-resistance techniques. Certain permitted projects of $50,000 or more on high-value buildings in the wind-borne debris region must also include opening protections.

Everyday Benefits: Noise, UV, and Indoor Temperature

The benefits of impact windows reach past storm season. Impact windows can reduce outside noise, limit heat and UV, and help protect furniture and floors from fading.

Laminated glass and tighter sealing reduce sound from outside. This helps most near busy roads or flight paths. Low-E coatings manage the heat and UV that pass through the glass, which can make rooms more comfortable in hot months. UV-filtering glass can also slow fading of furniture, flooring, and fabrics over time.

ENERGY STAR notes that certified residential windows offer energy-efficiency performance, and that replacement costs vary. Better sealing can reduce air leakage, which helps the cooling system work less hard. No savings figure is guaranteed. Results vary with the way the windows face, the windows you have now, and your local climate.

Impact Windows Compared with Hurricane Shutters and Storm Panels

Impact windows stay in place all year. Shutters and panels must be installed before a storm arrives.

Storm panels need someone present to put them up, enough time to do it, and a safe place to store them. Shutters can block light and views whenever they’re closed. Impact windows keep the glass in place for daily use, so there’s nothing to install before each storm.

Florida insurance rules also matter. Discounts vary by insurer and by the features installed.

Neither option is right for every house. A consultation helps compare them against your home’s openings and your daily routine.

How the Process Works, from Consultation to Installation

The process starts with a conversation and moves through measurement, a written quote, scheduling, and installation.

1. First conversation: ASP Superhome offers a free first consultation that is confidential and carries no obligation to continue.
2. On-site measurement: the team measures each opening, checks the frame and wall condition, and notes exterior exposure.
3. Written quote: the quote lists each window, the glass type, the frame, any coating options, and the removal and installation work.
4. Scheduling and preparation: you confirm the date and clear or protect items near the openings.
5. Installation and cleanup: the crew removes the old units, installs and seals the new ones, and checks that each one operates.

Timing grows with the number of openings and the scope of work. A project with many openings takes longer than a single window swap.

If a sale is a home solicitation sale, Florida law requires a written agreement that states your right to cancel. Under Fla. Stat. § 501.031, the notice must be delivered or postmarked before midnight of the third business day after you sign.

Why ASP Superhome

ASP Superhome is a complete home solutions business. It handles impact windows alongside impact doors, metal and tile roofing, roof replacement and repair, solar panels, solar battery backup, and kitchen remodeling.

• One project lead can coordinate several exterior upgrades, which simplifies scheduling when you plan more than one.
• Our team answers product questions before you commit to anything.
• Service markets include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Kendall, Naples, Fort Myers, and Boca Raton.

Frequently Asked Questions About Impact Windows