Hurricane Ready Openings Overview for Florida Homes

Hurricane ready openings

Why openings get so much attention

During a strong storm, a home is like a sealed box under pressure. If a window breaks or a door gives way, wind enters the house, and pressure inside can build in ways that stress the roof and walls. Water follows the wind. That is why people in hurricane regions pay so much attention to windows, doors, garage doors and other openings.

Openings are also where a house is most complex. A wall is a simple assembly, but an opening interrupts it with a frame, glass, hardware, a threshold, flashing, sealant and trim. Each of those parts has to work with the others, and each is a possible point of failure if it is poorly chosen or poorly installed.

This page is a general overview for homeowners who are planning a remodel. It is not an engineering document, and it does not say what your home needs. Requirements depend on the city, the building, the community and your insurer. Use it to learn the vocabulary and to prepare good questions for the professionals who will advise you.

If you are already thinking about replacement windows and doors, the impact windows explained guide goes deeper into how those products are built and what to ask about them.

The two broad approaches: protect the glass or strengthen the glass

There are two main ways to defend an opening. The first is to cover it with a separate protective device that goes over the window or door before a storm. The second is to replace the opening with a product designed to resist impact and pressure on its own. Many homes use a mix, depending on the opening and on budget, taste and ease of use.

Covering devices include several types of shutters, panels and screens. Some are fixed to the home and stay in place; others are stored and installed when a storm approaches. They differ in strength, cost, appearance, weight, storage needs and how much effort is required each time a storm threatens.

Impact resistant windows and doors are built with laminated glass and sturdy frames, designed to stay intact even if struck by debris. They protect all the time, not only when a storm is forecast, and they can reduce noise and improve security. They also change the look of the opening, because frames and glass are different from standard products.

The impact windows versus shutters comparison discusses the tradeoffs in more detail. The right answer depends on your house, your community and how you live.

A look at common shutter and panel types

Accordion shutters fold out from a housing on each side of the opening and lock in place. They are permanent and relatively easy to deploy, though they remain visible on the exterior. Roll down shutters sit in a housing above the opening and lower by hand or by motor. They are convenient, and many people like that they can be used for shade and privacy.

Panel shutters are individual sheets, often made of metal or a clear plastic type material, that are fastened over an opening before a storm. They are stored when not in use, so they do not affect the look of the home day to day. They take time and effort to install, and they need a place to be stored. Clear panels let light in; solid ones darken the room.

Bahama and colonial style shutters are decorative as well as protective when designed for that purpose. They hinge or fold to cover the opening, and they can contribute to the style of a home. Not all decorative shutters offer protection, so ask for details.

Whichever type you consider, ask about how it is fastened to the wall, what happens at corners and edges, and who is responsible for installing and removing it. Also ask whether the product is approved for use where you live, since requirements vary by city and community.

• Fixed systems are convenient but remain visible all year.
• Removable panels are hidden most of the year but take effort to install.
• Clear panels keep some light in the room during a storm.
• Decorative shutters may or may not provide protection, so ask directly.
• Ask who installs, stores and removes each type before choosing it.

What impact resistant windows and doors are made of

Impact resistant glass is typically a sandwich of two layers of glass bonded to a tough interlayer. When struck, the glass may crack, but the interlayer holds the pieces in place, keeping the opening sealed. That is quite different from ordinary glass, which can shatter into pieces and leave a hole.

The frame is just as important as the glass. A strong glass in a weak frame is a weak window. The frame, the glazing method and the anchors all have to work as a system. Products are tested as a complete assembly, and the installation must follow the maker's instructions to count for anything.

Doors need the same attention. Entry doors, sliding glass doors and French doors have hinges, locks, thresholds and large glass areas. Large sliding doors are a particular concern because of their size. Ask how the door is built, how it latches and what the threshold does to keep water out.

Garage doors are large openings that need to resist wind pressure. They are often the weakest spot in a house. Ask about options for strengthened doors and how they are anchored. Your city building department and your insurer can explain what documentation or approvals might be needed for each type of opening.

Fastening and installation details

How an opening is attached to the house matters as much as the opening itself. The frame is anchored to the structure with fasteners of a type, spacing and length specified by the maker. If the surrounding wall is weak, damaged or rotted, even a good product will fail. Existing conditions should be inspected before installation.

Flashing and sealant keep water out around the frame. Water tends to sneak in at corners and sills, especially during wind driven rain. A good installation includes proper flashing, backing and sealant, installed in the right order. This is a place where skill and care count for a lot.

Removing an old window can reveal hidden problems such as rot, termite damage, rusted fasteners or poorly built framing. Plan for the possibility of repairs, and ask how such discoveries will be handled. The hidden conditions in older homes page explains why this is common.

Permits and inspections often apply to replacing openings in a hurricane region, but rules vary by city. Ask your city building department what is needed, and ask your contractor to explain which approvals and product documents will be involved. Keep the paperwork, because your insurer may ask for it.

How openings affect interior finishes

Openings are not just exterior. The inside of each window and door is trimmed, painted and often tied into flooring and wall finishes. When an opening is replaced, the interior finishes around it usually need attention. Drywall returns, stool and apron trim, casing, paint and sometimes tile or stone sills may be disturbed.

A new window may sit slightly differently in the wall than the old one. The frame may be thicker or thinner, the glass may be positioned differently and the interior profile can change. That can affect the depth of sills, the look of trim and how blinds or curtains fit. Ask to see the interior profile of any product before you commit.

Plan interior work together with the opening work. Installing new windows and then repainting and retrimming later means repeating work. If you plan to refinish walls, replace floors or update trim anyway, coordinate the order of tasks so the finishes are done once. See sequencing trades in a remodel for how the order of work affects the result.

Window treatments also come into play. Deep sills, thick frames and tracks can limit blinds and curtains. Measure after the product is chosen. Interior paint colors can look different around bright new glass, so look at samples near the opening.

Light, glare, heat and sound

New glass changes the room. Impact resistant glass can have a slightly different tint and can reduce noise from outside. Some glass includes coatings that reduce heat and fading from the sun. The color and clarity of the glass change the look from inside and outside, so ask for samples.

Natural light is a significant part of how a room feels. Replacing windows can be an opportunity to add or enlarge an opening, or it can reduce light if frames are bulkier. The planning for natural light page discusses how to think about daylight when you are changing openings.

Glare and heat are practical issues in South Florida. A west facing window can make a room hot in the afternoon, and glare can make screens hard to see. Options include coatings, overhangs, shades and interior treatments. Ask which options fit your products and your home.

Sound is another benefit that people notice. Laminated glass can dampen traffic, aircraft and outdoor noise. If noise is a concern, mention it to your designer, because glass type and frame design both matter.

Planning around hurricane season

If you are replacing openings, think about timing. Storm season is a busy period for installers and suppliers, and demand can affect scheduling and availability. Rather than assume a timeline, ask your contractor and supplier about lead times and scheduling, and plan with some flexibility. See hurricane season construction planning for more on this.

During construction, openings may be temporarily exposed or covered. Ask how the home will be protected if a storm is forecast in the middle of the project. A plan for securing the site and the opening should exist before work begins, and you should know who is responsible for carrying it out.

Think about what you will do at home during a storm. Even if you have protection on every opening, you will want a plan for supplies, power and communications. This is a topic for emergency planning resources rather than a remodeling page, but it is worth remembering that the home is just one part of preparedness.

After a storm, inspect the openings for damage, leaks and loose fasteners. If you see water around a frame, take photographs and consult a qualified professional. Prompt attention can prevent hidden moisture problems inside the wall.

Insurance, associations and documentation

Insurers often ask about openings, because they are a major factor in storm risk. Details such as the type of protection, the date of installation and the supporting documents can matter. Ask your insurer what they need to see and whether certain products or documents are required. Do not assume, and keep your own copy of every record.

In condos and communities with associations, openings may be controlled by rules. The association may require specific colors, styles or approved products, or may handle shutters on a building wide basis. Ask for written guidelines before you order anything. The condo association approvals and HOA approval basics pages explain what to ask.

Cities have their own requirements and processes. Ask your city building department what applies to replacing or adding protection for openings, including permits, product approvals and inspections. Your contractor should be familiar with the local process and able to explain it.

Keep a folder with product information, installation records, inspection results and receipts. When it is time to sell the home, renew insurance or make a claim, this information will be useful. Photograph the work before the interior finishes are completed as well.

Be clear about who is responsible for what. A contractor may install the product, a separate trade may handle trim and paint, and a supplier may stand behind the manufacture. Ask for the scope in writing so that you know which party to call when a seal fails, a latch sticks or a finish is damaged. The reading a remodeling proposal page shows how to check that nothing important is left out of the paperwork, including the interior work around each opening.

Questions to ask before you choose

Start with your priorities. Is the main concern protection during storms, noise, security, appearance or ease of use? Different answers lead to different choices. Share them openly with your designer so they can guide you toward products that match.

Ask about the product: how it is built, how it was tested, what documents are available, how it is maintained and what the interior profile looks like. Ask about the installation: who does it, how the frame is anchored, how water is managed and how existing conditions will be handled. Ask about the process: permits, inspections, schedule, cleanup and interior finish work.

Ask about the long term. Hardware, seals and finishes in a coastal environment need care. Salt air can affect metal parts and moving components, so ask what maintenance is recommended and how often. A product that is easy to maintain is more likely to keep performing.

Finally, bring the openings into your larger remodeling plan. The impact windows and doors page describes how a conversation about your property and priorities can begin, and the energy efficient remodeling basics guide explains how openings relate to comfort and cooling in a warm climate.

Questions and answers