Hurricane-Rated & Impact-Resistant Central Florida

No. First Choice Windows installs both hurricane-rated non-impact windows and impact-resistant windows and doors. Impact-resistant glass is not required for most homes in inland Central Florida, and a non-impact, hurricane-rated window is often an appropriate and code-compliant choice. We will explain what your address requires and what each option costs, so you can choose based on your location, your priorities and your budget.

Hurricane-rated describes a window that has been tested and approved to withstand specific wind pressures, measured as a design-pressure or DP rating. Impact-resistant describes glass that has also been tested against windborne debris and uses a laminated interlayer, so it remains in place after it is struck. A window can be hurricane-rated without being impact-resistant. When you compare quotes, ask which one you are being given.

Not for most homes. Much of inland Central Florida sits outside the designated wind-borne debris regions where impact-rated glazing or approved shutters are required. Requirements may be different for coastal properties and for homes in and around Crystal River and Citrus County. Every replacement window still has to meet the design-pressure requirements for its wind zone and still needs a permit. We confirm the requirements for your specific address during the estimate.

They can, but it is not automatic. Florida carriers offer wind mitigation credits based on a wind mitigation inspection report. How much you save depends on your carrier, your policy, and what else on the home has been hardened, including the roof and the garage door. Windows alone do not always change the premium. We provide the product approval documentation your inspector needs, and your agent can tell you what it is worth on your policy.

Generally no. When impact-resistant windows are properly approved for the property and installed according to applicable requirements, they serve as the required opening protection and eliminate the need for separate storm panels or shutters over those protected openings. Openings that are not covered by impact-resistant products may still need protection.

It depends on the number of openings, the sizes, the shapes, and whether you choose non-impact hurricane-rated windows or impact-resistant units. Non-impact hurricane-rated windows are generally the more affordable option. Arched and custom-shaped units cost more than rectangles. The only honest number is the one that comes after somebody measures your house, which is why the in-home estimate is free.

Most whole-home projects run one to three days on site. The longer part is manufacturing lead time after you order, which varies by season and by product line. Hurricane season is the busy stretch, so ordering in the winter or spring usually means a shorter wait.

Yes. We pull the permits and schedule the county inspections as part of the job. You should be skeptical of any window quote in Florida that does not include permitting, because unpermitted window work can create problems at resale and with insurance claims.