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Impact windows and hurricane windows both protect your home in high winds, but impact windows also stand up better to flying debris.
Hurricane windows use thinner laminated safety glass, while impact windows use thicker, layered glass designed to resist breaking under impact.
Your best choice depends on your storm risk, the chance of debris hits, and whether your frames can fit thicker glass.
Hiring a local window professional keeps your installation secure and on schedule, handling heavy materials and ensuring proper frame compatibility for your impact or hurricane windows.
You’ve seen it in countless disaster movies: high winds so extreme they shatter windows or send an Adirondack chair hurtling through the air, smashing glass on impact. These situations are dramatized in the theater, but they’re rooted in reality—just ask anyone who lives in hurricane country. If you live in a region with extreme weather, upgrading to impact or hurricane windows can make a significant difference in protecting your home. Rather than fretting about potential damage from the next storm, research the differences between impact and hurricane windows and pick the best one for your home.
High winds are no match for either impact or hurricane windows—but what about flying objects? Learn why—if you’re worried about tree branches, lawn furniture, or other objects crashing into your home—you might choose impact windows over hurricane windows.
| Type of Difference | Hurricane Windows | Impact Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Laminated safety glass | Tempered, impact-resistant glass |
| Intended for | Severe weather | Some severe weather and direct impact |
| Pane size | Thinner panes | Thicker panes |
Both impact and hurricane windows are great choices if you live somewhere with extreme weather, but it’s important to know the nuanced differences between the two so you can determine which is best for you—and which will make you feel more secure, should a natural disaster strike.
The main difference between impact windows and hurricane windows is the material they are made from. Impact windows are manufactured with multiple layers of PET laminated glass and PVB between thick panes. The windows are therefore heavier and thicker than hurricane windows, which are made with laminated PVB. The extra thickness and layering of impact windows prevent them from shattering when something flies into them, while the lightness and flexibility of hurricane windows allows them to bend slightly with high winds with a lower chance of breaking.
Hurricane windows are designed to withstand high winds, such as that from a hurricane, but are not thick enough to remain solid and secure after a heavy impact. Impact windows, as their name suggests, are made from thicker, sturdier panes and materials, able to withstand a blow from something as large as a patio chair.
While both styles of windows will increase your home’s energy efficiency, impact windows insulate better due to their multiple, thick panes and layers.
Both hurricane and impact windows are made from heavy glass and will require professional installation. With impact windows, the installation might create an additional cost: you might find that you need to invest in thicker window frames to accompany the thicker window.
Both hurricane windows and impact windows are more expensive than traditional windows, given the additional materials needed to manufacture them. Impact windows tend to be the costliest of the options, though the final price will depend on your window’s size and shape if you need to replace any frames and the frame material.
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