What Are Hurricane Windows?

What Are Hurricane WindowsHurricane windows are a smart choice for anyone in an area that’s prone to tropical storms, such as Florida. During a Category 1 hurricane—the least severe rating—winds range from 74 to 95 miles per hour, and winds in a Category 5 storm can exceed 157 miles per hour. In fact, Hurricane Irma—which hit Florida in 2017—reached a maximum sustained wind speed of 185 miles per hour. Winds that strong can easily catapult branches, patio furniture, outdoor grills, and other debris against your house, and your windows need to be strong enough to avoid shattering.

That’s where hurricane windows come into play. Hurricane windows are specially designed to be more impact-resistant than standard replacement windows, making them less likely to break when something hits them during a storm. Plus, even if a hurricane window does break upon impact, it’s much less likely to shatter. Instead of shattering and coming apart from the window frame, the broken glass will remain intact and attached to the frame.

It’s incredibly important to do everything you can to prevent your windows from shattering during a hurricane. When a window shatters, it allows glass shards, water, and other debris to fly into the house, putting your loved ones in danger. Even worse, due to the shift in barometric pressure that occurs during a storm, allowing outside winds to enter your home could cause catastrophic damage to your house, possibly even blowing the roof off. Some people tape their windows or install plywood to prevent windows from shattering, but neither of these methods offers nearly as much protection as hurricane windows do.

Hurricane Windows for Homeowners in Tampa, Orlando, and Fort Myers

If you own a home in Tampa, Orlando, Fort Myers, or a surrounding area and you’re interested in having hurricane windows installed, you can turn to the exterior remodeling experts at Morgan Exteriors. We proudly install hurricane windows from industry-leading manufacturers Simonton and PGT.

All of the hurricane windows that we carry are impact- and shatter-resistant. Simonton hurricane windows—which are certified by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association—include KeepSafe Maximum® glass, a durable interlayer, and reinforced profiles. And, PGT hurricane windows feature laminated glass that will remain intact even after repeatedly being hit by a nine-pound, 2’x4’ beam traveling at 30 miles per hour.

Because our hurricane windows are so impact-resistant, they’re less vulnerable to break-ins. They’re also remarkably energy efficient. Simonton hurricane windows block up to 99% of UV rays, and PGT hurricane windows are available with optional high-performance Low-E coatings and glass tinting. They’re also great at reducing noise. In fact, when compared to standard replacement windows, Simonton hurricane windows reduce noise infiltration by 50%, making them a smart choice for homes in noisy neighborhoods.

Contact Morgan Exteriors today to learn more about our hurricane window selection and to schedule a complimentary in-home consultation. We’ll be happy to take a look at the windows you currently have installed, walk you through the many options that we have available, and recommend a window that’s ideal for your needs.