FAQ

Impact Windows FAQ: Straight Answers for Florida Homeowners

This impact windows FAQ from Storm Pro Window and Door answers the questions Florida homeowners ask most. Impact windows and doors use laminated glass and reinforced frames tested to resist wind-borne debris and hurricane pressure, so you do not need shutters. Below: products, ratings and code, cost and savings, installation, and insurance.

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Impact Windows FAQ: Products

An impact window is a window tested and approved to resist wind-borne debris and hurricane wind pressure. It uses laminated glass, two layers bonded to an interlayer, designed to hold together when struck so the opening stays closed. The frame and anchoring are tested as a system. See our impact windows page for styles and options.

We install single hung, horizontal slider, casement, awning, picture and architectural shape impact windows. Each is custom sized with vinyl or aluminum frames, low-E glass, argon fill and grid options including classic applied, between-the-glass and double applied. Compare styles on our impact windows hub.

Both can be impact rated. Vinyl frames are popular for energy efficiency and low maintenance. Aluminum frames are strong and allow slim profiles for large openings. The right choice depends on opening sizes, design pressure requirements, style and budget. We show both at our showrooms. Read more in Are Vinyl Hurricane Impact Windows a Good Choice for Florida Homes?.

We install fiberglass entry doors including double doors, French doors and sliding glass doors. Our fiberglass entry doors have a polyurethane foam core, reinforced hinges and square edges that look like real wood, and can be painted nearly any color or stained. Browse our impact doors and colors and finishes.

For windows and sliding glass doors we work with manufacturers including PGT, CWS (Custom Window Systems) and Simonton (Ply Gem). For entry doors we work with Masonite, Plastpro and Advisar. Availability depends on your openings and code requirements. See Brands We Install for more.

They can. Low-E glass coatings and argon gas fill help reduce heat gain, and laminated glass also cuts outside noise. Replacing old, leaky units with well sealed new ones can help your home stay more comfortable. Results vary by home, so we do not promise specific savings. See energy efficiency and ENERGY STAR guidance.

Impact Windows FAQ: Hurricane Ratings and Code

Our products are rated for design pressures associated with 150 to 175 MPH winds, depending on the product and size. The rating your home needs depends on location, building height, exposure and where each opening sits on the wall. Your permit and product specifications confirm the right rating for every opening.

Design pressure is the positive and negative wind pressure a window or door is certified to withstand. Required DP depends on your home’s location, height, exposure category and where the opening sits on the wall, with corners typically seeing higher loads. We specify products that meet the DP required for each opening. Read Hurricane Wind Ratings for Windows: What Sets Category 3 and Category 5 Apart.

The Florida Building Code requires windows and doors in wind-borne debris regions to be impact resistant or protected by approved shutters. These regions include areas with ultimate design wind speeds of 140 MPH or more, or within 1 mile of the coast where it is 130 MPH or more. Much of coastal Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida qualifies. See permits and building code.

Florida Product Approval, listed at floridabuilding.org, shows a product meets the Florida Building Code. A Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) uses the stricter test protocols required in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone of Miami-Dade and Broward. Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida are not in that zone, but NOA products are accepted. Learn more about product approvals.

The large missile test fires a 9 pound 2×4 at about 50 feet per second at the product to simulate wind-borne debris. It applies to openings within 30 feet of grade, which covers most windows and doors on a typical Florida home. Products must also pass wind pressure cycling after impact to be approved.

Impact Windows FAQ: Cost and Savings

Cost depends on the number and size of openings, window style, frame material, glass options, design pressure requirements and installation conditions, so we do not quote averages. A free, in-home measure gives you an exact price. Our impact window cost guide and How Much Do Hurricane Impact Windows Cost in Tampa Bay? A Homeowner’s Guide explain what drives price.

Many homeowners think so. Impact windows protect the opening at all times, including when you are away, with nothing to install before a storm. They can also improve energy efficiency, noise and security. Shutters still work if used correctly. Read Are Hurricane Impact Windows Worth It When You Already Have Shutters?.

My Safe Florida Home is a Florida Department of Financial Services program offering free wind mitigation inspections and, for eligible homeowners, grants of up to $10,000 for improvements like impact windows and doors. Under the current program rules, grants are income-based and funds are released by priority group. Check status at mysafeflhome.com and read our MSFH guide.

Yes. The Florida Department of Revenue offers a refund of up to $500 in sales tax paid on qualifying impact windows, doors and garage doors purchased July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, for eligible homesteads with a just value of $700,000 or less. Florida’s Department of Revenue says owners of furnish-and-install jobs can claim using the supplier receipt showing Florida sales tax paid, so ask Storm Pro for that documentation. See our sales tax refund guide.

Yes. Storm Pro offers 0% financing with approved credit. Some homeowners also look at Florida PACE financing, which is repaid through the property tax bill where a local program exists, but it places a lien on the property. Compare options on our financing and PACE pages.

Yes. Storm Pro offers 5% off for first responders, military members and teachers. Mention it when you schedule your free quote, and ask us about eligibility details. See our financing page for more ways to save.

Impact Windows FAQ: Process

Timing depends on the number of openings and your permit office, since products are custom made after measuring. Most door installs are done in one day. We will give you a schedule with your quote. See our window installation and door installation pages.

Yes. Replacing windows and doors requires a building permit in Florida jurisdictions. Storm Pro secures the permit for you, orders products with the approvals your jurisdiction requires, and the job closes out with a final inspection. Keep the permit for insurance and resale. Read about permits and building code.

Our crew lays drop cloths to protect your floors, removes the old units and recycles them when possible, installs and seals the new windows or doors, and cleans up thoroughly. We will never install into a rotted or structurally unsound frame. If we find damage, we explain it and your options before moving forward.

No. Storm Pro uses in-house installers only, with more than 50 years of combined window and door installation experience across the team. That keeps quality and communication consistent and supports our lifetime workmanship warranty. Learn more about Storm Pro and our warranty.

Yes, as long as the openings are structurally sound. Older homes are often good candidates, and a home whose original building permit was applied for before January 1, 2008 may qualify for a My Safe Florida Home grant if it meets the program’s other rules. Read Impact Windows for Older Florida Homes: What You Need to Know Before You Upgrade.

Impact Windows FAQ: Insurance and Programs

They can. Florida law requires insurers to offer discounts for documented wind-loss-reducing features. Opening protection is recorded on the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form OIR-B1-1802, published by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Savings vary by carrier and home, so we do not promise a percentage. See wind mitigation insurance discounts.

Generally, yes. The opening protection credit usually requires all glazed openings, including windows, doors, skylights and garage doors, to be protected with approved impact products or shutters. One unprotected opening can lower the credit. Window film and decorative shutters do not count. Plan your project with the whole home in mind.

Inspectors look for product approval numbers (Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA), permits and install dates for your windows and doors. The inspection must be done by a qualified licensed professional, and the report is valid for 5 years. Keep your Storm Pro paperwork together so the inspection goes smoothly.

Often, but condos follow association rules as well as code, and condos are not eligible for the standard My Safe Florida Home program (a separate Condo Pilot program exists for qualifying associations). Check with your association before ordering. Read our condo and HOA guide.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Call (813) 749-6051, email [email protected] or submit the form on our quote page. We will schedule a free consultation and measure, answer your questions and give you a written quote. You can also visit our Tarpon Springs showroom or book a Fort Myers showroom appointment.

We serve Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough and Hernando counties from Tarpon Springs, and Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota and Manatee counties from Fort Myers. See our service area page for individual cities, and our Florida Homeowner Resources hub for program guides.