Impact Windows, Planned Right From the Start

Impact Windows in South Florida: Permits, Codes and Quotes

Impact windows are windows with laminated, impact-resistant glass built to resist wind-borne debris in a storm. For South Florida homeowners, they are an upgrade worth planning before storm season. This guide covers what a complete quote includes, how Florida permits work, what drives price, and how the process runs from first conversation to final inspection.

What impact windows are and who they suit in Palm Beach County

Impact windows use laminated glass designed to resist wind-borne debris and help keep the opening closed in a storm. Florida law bars selling a window as hurricane or impact protection unless it is approved under state rules. You can read the Florida product approval law for the full rule.

Three groups tend to weigh this upgrade most:

• Homeowners replacing older single-pane or non-rated windows.
• Owners preparing a home for sale.
• Owners changing or adding openings during a renovation.

Coastal homes often face stricter requirements.

What a quote-ready impact window package covers

A complete package covers the glass, frames, anchoring, sealing, trim, removal and cleanup. Each item should appear on the written quote:

• Impact-rated glass units
• Frames, sills and operating hardware for single-hung, slider or fixed units
• Anchoring to the wall structure and sealing around each opening
• Interior and exterior trim
• Removal and haul-away of old units
• Cleanup and final inspection

Every opening is measured on site and matched to its own wind-load requirement. It is not treated as a generic size.

A unit replacement keeps the existing frame and swaps the window unit. A full opening replacement removes the frame and installs a new one in the opening. The frame’s condition and the wall opening decide which fits. Flashing must also meet code, and the 2026 existing building code changes reference Chapter 14 and Chapter 7 for window and door flashing.

Permits and Florida Building Code requirements in Palm Beach County

Most impact window projects need a permit and an inspection. Installing or replacing exterior impact windows generally requires a permit, subject to the building official’s decision. Permit steps vary by local building department, so the quote should name who pulls the permit.

Some same-size replacements follow a shorter path. The Florida Building Commission’s code supplement sets out the conditions for replacing windows, doors, or garage doors in an existing one-family or two-family dwelling or townhouse without design professional sign-off on drawings, and it lists the requirements that apply:

• The install follows the manufacturer’s instructions for the wind zone.
• The product meets design pressure rules in the Florida Building Code, Residential.
• The manufacturer’s instructions go with the permit application.
• The new unit is the same size and sits in the same opening.

Check the product approval number before ordering. A common mistake is ordering units before the openings are measured.

What drives impact window pricing

Price follows the scope of the work. These factors shape the number:

• Opening count and size. Larger and irregular openings need different glass sizes and reinforcement.
• Glass and frame type. Frame material, finish and operating style all change cost.
• Site conditions. Wall construction, stucco or block openings, access, and framing repair found during measurement all count.
• Permit and inspection scope. Also whether removal and haul-away are included.

The written quote turns these factors into one number after measurement. The windstorm discount notice law requires insurers to notify applicants and policyholders of personal lines residential property insurance policies, when a policy is issued and at each renewal, of the availability and range of premium discounts, credits, other rate differentials, or reductions in deductibles for properties with fixtures or construction techniques shown to reduce windstorm loss. Whether a discount applies depends on your policy and insurer.

How the process works, step by step

A typical project moves from first conversation to close-out in six steps.

1. First consultation. We talk through your home, your openings and your goals.
2. On-site measurement. Every opening is measured, with notes on wall type, access and visible repairs.
3. Written quote. It lists products, included steps, who pulls the permit and the payment schedule.
4. Permit application. Product documentation goes in with the permit application.
5. Installation. Old units come out, new units are anchored and sealed, and the site is cleaned.
6. Inspection and close-out. The final inspection is completed and documents are handed over.

Timing varies with permit processing and product lead times, and the quote states the schedule.

About ASP Superhome

ASP Superhome offers impact windows, impact doors, metal and tile roofing, roof replacement and repair, solar panels, solar battery backup and kitchen remodeling. One provider can coordinate related exterior work in a single plan.

• Our team handles measurement, quoting and scheduling. Support staff manage paperwork and permit documentation.
• Written quotes show what is included and what is not.
• Impact doors can join the same plan. The 2026 building code analysis addresses a change under which doors protected by an overhang would carry a Limited Water rating.
• ASP Superhome lists Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Kendall, Naples, Fort Myers and Boca Raton as target areas.

Impact windows for South Florida homes

Planning ahead gives time to review product requirements and fit before work begins. The IBHS Hurricane Ian review looked at how Florida’s modern building code and its product-approval process performed in Hurricane Ian.

Construction type also changes the work. Wall construction varies between older and newer homes. That changes how each unit is anchored and sealed, and it changes how much time measurement takes. A good quote reflects that difference for your home, not a standard template.

Frequently asked questions