How to Install Impact Resistant Hurricane Windows

There are many steps involved in protecting your home against natural disasters. While it’s impossible to have 100% protection from hurricane damage in your home, there are certain steps you may take to improve the overall level of protection of your home. Installing impact resistant windows is an effective method which can decrease the chances that your home will incur damage from hurricane-force winds. While even impact resistant windows aren’t 100% effective against high winds, they can be important for securing the structural integrity of your home during severe weather conditions. In addition to this, they may also provide a level of protection against burglars, since they are much more difficult to break.  Here are some simple steps that you may take to properly install impact-resistant windows in your home.

Step 1 – Understand how Impact Resistant Windows Work.
The most common method that impact-resistant windows utilize to increase durability is a combination of thick laminate film and tempered glass. The laminate can coat the outside of the glass only, or may be sandwiched between two layers of tempered glass, with two more layers of laminate covering the outside of the glass panel. To be certified as impact resistant, most of these windows undergo testing against certain wind speeds and debris impact. An impact resistant window will still break, though will not shatter like a normal one.

Step 2 – Purchasing Impact Resistant Windows.
Impact resistant windows are commonly sold in home renovation supply stores, though may also be available from retail companies that specialize in windows. When choosing to purchase one, be sure to evaluate the impact rating of it to ensure that it will meet your home protection needs. Be sure to measure your existing windows before you make your purchase, which will help you to be certain that the new ones that you buy will be an exact fit.

Step 3 – Pre-Installation Preparations.
Before installing an impact-resistant window, there are some preparations that you need to make. The first, and most important is the removal of the existing one that you will be replacing. Be sure to preserve the integrity of your home’s structure while removing the window, in order to ensure that the impact-resistant window will be secure. In order to help enhance the protection of your home, you may also choose to reinforce the area which will surround the frame of your impact-resistant window, using sturdy materials.

Step 4 – Installation.
Installing impact-resistant windows is a job which requires at least two people. After the original window is removed, fit the new impact-resistant window in its place. Using thin wedged blocks, also called “shims”, you may hold the window in place while securing it to the frame with nails or screws. Once the window is secure in its frame, you may begin sealing it with silicone caulk. This will prevent air or drafts from entering your home, which is an effective way to reduce your heating bill. Once the caulk is dry, you may also choose to add insulation before covering and painting the area around your new impact-resistant windows.

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