In today’s climate, high-quality impact-resistant windows and sliding doors are standard equipment for withstanding a range of weather events. In Florida and throughout the country, PGT® Impact Windows are the gold standard when it comes to storm protection.
Here at Medallion Home, we initially offered these premium windows as an upgrade, but they provide so much benefit to the home – and peace of mind to the homeowner – that we've made them standard in every home we build.
Features of Our Windows for New Homes
What are impact windows? Impact windows combine heavy-duty frames with impact-resistant glass and a special glazing process to keep the glass from breaking away from its frame. That means that during storms and hurricanes, if flying debris hits the windows, they will stay intact rather than shatter, protecting your home from the elements and people and pets from shards of glass.
PGT® Impact Windows also provide:
- Noise Reduction. Noise pollution is a very real thing and can disrupt your sleep, focus during work, or even a good movie night. Our impact windows reduce noise from outside by as much as 65%.
- UV Protection . The sun’s powerful UV rays can fade furniture, flooring, and drapes, making these items look old and worn before their time. Impact windows can preserve the beauty of your home and help save money by filtering out 99% of UV rays, while still allowing in natural sunlight.
- Maximum Energy Savings . Heating and cooling your home accounts for nearly half of the average American home's energy costs. Impact-resistant windows and doors offer options – such as high-performance low-E coatings, glass tints, and argon glass – to maximize energy performance.
- Security . About 23% of all home break-ins are accessed through a first-floor window. Impact windows are designed to withstand repeated impact from a 9-lb, 2x4 beam traveling at 34 miles per hour. It's tough to break an impact window; not the kind of challenge most burglars want to face.
For all the reasons above, particularly in Florida where tropical storms and hurricanes are a way of life, impact proof windows are an increasingly appealing feature to have in your home. These specialty windows can yield as much as an 80% return on investment, ensuring you'll get top dollar should you ever need to sell your home.
Are Impact Windows the Same as Storm Windows?
When you live in a hurricane-prone area, keeping your home safe and secure is a top priority. (Especially if you’ve already lost a home to storm damage.) One of the ways homeowners here in Hurricane Alley secure their homes is with sturdier hurricane impact windows. Making this investment, along with taking other precautions and preparedness steps, offers peace of mind and protection.
When it comes to choosing windows, you may be wondering about the differences between our impact windows and traditional storm windows.
PGT® Impact Windows:
- are Florida Product Approved and meet the current Florida Building Code
- are constructed of impact glass (laminated glass), and use heavy-duty, impact-resistant frames, components, and glazings
- can take impacts without breaking. They may fracture, but will not break open and leave a home exposed
- are constructed and tested to withstand the intense winds, extreme pressures, and flying debris that are common during a hurricane
- offer hurricane protection without the need to cover windows with hurricane shutters, storm panels
Storm windows:
- are glass inserts installed over existing glass windows
- are constructed of traditional glass, so they shatter into shards if struck or impacted
- are primarily meant to provide insulation or stop drafts and heat/cold air from transferring through windows
- are limited to keeping out the elements, such as rain or snow during less severe storms
- are not suitable for hurricane protection
Impact windows cost more than storm windows, but provide stronger protection and, in most cases, superior curb appeal.
Contact Medallion Home for More Info on Our New Homes in Florida!
At Medallion Home, we build our homes to a standard of excellence that far exceeds the Florida Building Code and industry standards. We believe that high-quality, impact-resistant windows and doors shouldn't be luxuries — they should be standard features. That's why we include them in every new home we build. We want our homeowners to enjoy the comfort and assurance of increased storm protection, noise reduction, UV protection, savings, and security every day.
A range of Medallion homes with impact-resistant windows, strong foundations, and hurricane-proof designs are available for immediate move-in in Bradenton, Parrish, and Sarasota . For more information about these homes or the benefits of impact windows in Florida, contact us .
