Frequently Asked Questions

National cost guides put installed hurricane windows at roughly $400 to $1,200 per window, with large sliding or architectural units well above that. A 2026 Florida guide lists whole-home impact window projects at about $15,000 to $50,000 or more. Size, frame material, glass options and the number of openings drive the total, and your written estimate is the price.

Yes. The City requires a permit for window and door replacement, with a layout plan and the Florida Product Approval for each product. Replacing just the glass in an existing frame does not need a permit. We pull the permit as part of the job.

No. The High Velocity Hurricane Zone covers Miami-Dade and Broward counties. In St. Lucie County, products need Florida Product Approval and must meet the design pressure for the opening. Many products also carry a Miami-Dade approval, but it is not required here.

They can. Insurers apply wind mitigation credits based on a signed OIR-B1-1802 inspection form, and opening protection credit follows the weakest opening in the house. To get the top credit every opening, including entry and garage doors, needs to be protected. Ask your agent what your policy gives before you buy.

Yes, people use the names for the same thing: laminated glass in a reinforced frame, tested against flying debris and wind pressure. Storm windows that mount over existing glass are a different and lighter product.

Most houses take one to a few days on site, with each opening removed and closed up the same day. Ordering custom impact units and permit review take longer than the install itself, so it pays to start well before hurricane season.

Possibly. The program has offered up to $10,000 for eligible owners after a free wind inspection, with matching rules based on income. It pays by reimbursement after the work passes the building inspection. Funding windows open and close, so check mysafeflhome.com for the current status.

Not for the windows. Impact glass is the protection. Any opening that is not impact rated, such as an older slider or front door, still needs a shutter or replacement to keep the house fully protected.

Impact units are made to order, so lead time runs from a few weeks to a couple of months depending on the manufacturer and season. Lead times usually stretch before and during hurricane season.

The outer layer can crack when hit hard. The laminated interlayer holds the pieces in place and keeps the opening closed. A cracked unit should be replaced afterward, but it has done its job.

They cost more per opening, but they need no setup, protect you when you are away, and also cut noise and heat. Shutters are the lower-cost route. Many owners choose impact glass for windows and shutters for one or two large openings.

Yes. Laminated glass dampens outside noise well, and an insulated Low-E package cuts solar heat through the glass. Neither replaces good attic insulation, but rooms on sunny sides feel the difference.

Motorized roll-down shutters close with a switch. Manual roll-downs and accordions close in a minute or two per opening. Storm panels are the slowest because each one has to be carried and fastened.

Yes. The City has a dedicated hurricane shutter permit that requires a layout plan and Florida Product Approval, and motorized units also need an electrical permit.

On the wind mitigation form, wood panels are the lowest category and many insurers give no opening protection discount for them. Plywood also takes a long time to fit and fasten before a storm.

Yes. Upper-floor openings are the strongest case for roll-down or Bahama shutters, because they can be closed without a ladder.

Not if a rated shutter covers it. But many front doors are never shuttered, and solid doors also need to be wind rated to get the top insurance credit.

Yes. Many impact doors come with decorative or obscure laminated glass. The glass is tested as part of the door.

Both can be impact rated. Fiberglass resists dents and salt air and can mimic wood grain. Steel is often less expensive. Paint and finish choices are wide for both.

Most single entry doors are done in one day. Doors with sidelites, French pairs or resized openings can take longer, especially if stucco work is needed.

A well-built unit with good rollers slides easily despite the weight. Very large panels are heavier, and some owners choose a smaller operating panel for daily use.

You can, but new tempered glass in an old frame is not impact protection. For storm protection the whole door needs to be rated, or covered by a rated shutter.

Multi-panel systems can cover openings well over twelve feet. Larger units carry higher design pressure demands, so the exact size depends on the product approval.

Accordions cost less and work well across a slider. The trade-off is that someone has to close them before every storm. Many owners pick impact glass for the main living-room slider and shutters elsewhere.

Usually a minute or two per opening for one person. A full house of accordions can be closed in well under an hour.

Some can. On doors, a key lock on the outside and a thumb latch inside are common. We set up the locks so at least one exit stays usable.

The blades and tracks are aluminum, which does not rust, but steel fasteners and rollers can corrode near salt air. Rinsing and lubricating once or twice a year helps.

Only where the stack sits beside the opening. On wide sliders the stack is a small part of the width; on narrow windows it can take up more, so we plan which side it goes on.

Look for a label on the inside of the door or on the track listing the design pressure or product approval. If there is no label, or the door predates current codes, assume it is not rated until checked.

Yes. Glass in a garage door is an opening that needs protection, and the City asks for opening protection documents when a garage door has glass.

Only with a bracing kit approved for that door, installed before each storm. It can be a stopgap, but replacement gives full-time protection and clear paperwork for your insurer.

Most single and double doors are installed in one day once the door arrives. Custom colors or windows can add to the ordering time.