Impact Windows in Fort Pierce, FL

Fort Pierce homeowners call us about impact windows and about hurricane shutters in roughly equal numbers, and the choice often comes down to the age of the house. The city was incorporated in 1901 and was the largest city on Florida's Atlantic coast between Daytona Beach and West Palm Beach until 1970. That long history means wood-frame bungalows near downtown, mid-century block homes in the middle of the city and newer houses farther west all need different approaches.

Storm history people here remember

Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004 wrecked the Fort Pierce City Marina, which was later rebuilt behind a ring of 12 man-made barrier islands. Then, on October 9, 2024, an EF3 tornado spun off by Hurricane Milton hit the Fort Pierce area. Tornado debris does not care which side of the house faces the ocean, and that event pushed a lot of owners to think about protecting every opening, not just the ones facing east.

When shutters make more sense

Shutters are a good fit when the windows themselves are in fine shape, when a home has many small openings, or when the owner wants protection on a tighter budget than full window replacement. Options include:

• Storm panels: removable aluminum or steel panels on tracks or studs. Lowest cost, most labor to put up.
• Accordion shutters: stored folded at the sides of the window and pulled closed by hand. Good for wide openings and second-story windows reachable from inside or a balcony.
• Roll-down shutters: stored in a box above the opening, closed by crank or motor. The most convenient option and the most expensive.
• Bahama and colonial shutters: fixed decorative styles that close over the window and suit some older homes.

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When impact windows make more sense

If your windows are original, leaking or hard to operate, putting shutters over them protects glass you would rather replace. Impact windows solve both problems at once and need no setup before a storm. For households that cannot easily put up panels, they are often the better long-term choice.

Older homes take extra care

Homes in the historic parts of the city, such as the Lincoln Park neighborhood north of Moore's Creek, can have wood framing and openings that are out of square after decades of settling. We open up each window carefully, check the framing, and build out the buck where needed so the new unit or shutter can be anchored as its approval requires. If a home is in a designated historic area, check with the city about any design review before choosing a style.

Permits

Fort Pierce issues its own building permits. Window, door and shutter installs generally require one, and the product approval for each item goes in with the application. We handle the paperwork and inspections.