Do I Need an Impact Door?
Impact doors are specially designed to provide additional protection against inclement weather. They’re ideal for homeowners who live in Florida, where the constant threat of hurricanes and tropical storms each year poses significant risks to houses. If a tree branch, brick, or any other debris gets swept up during one of these storms, it can end up striking a home with extreme force. Impact doors feature various reinforcements that can help prevent them from caving if met with sudden impact, which in turn helps keep the rest of the home protected from the storm.
While impact doors are a smart investment for anyone living in Florida, many homeowners throughout Florida wonder if impact doors are required for their home. In this article, we’ll review where impact doors are required and whether they might be the right option for your home regardless of building requirements.
Where Impact Doors Are Required
In Florida, we have both wind-borne debris (WBD) regions and high-velocity hurricane zones (HVHZ). The HVHZ includes Miami-Dade and Broward counties, while the WBD region includes much of southern Florida and the coastline. Building codes for these designated areas require impact-resistant doors that can stand up to high winds and sudden impact. The standards for HVHZ impact doors are more stringent than those for WBD impact doors. Regardless of what type of door rating is needed for your region, impact doors can be a smart investment to protect and enhance your home because they offer year-round protection.
Benefits of Impact-Resistant Doors
The primary reason homeowners opt for hurricane impact doors is the protection they can provide in inclement weather. While you may be required to purchase an impact door based on the building codes for your region, there are plenty of additional benefits to choosing an impact door. These include:
- Enhanced energy efficiency – Because hurricane impact doors feature a more durable and “beefier” construction than a typical door, they’re far more energy efficient than standard doors as well. Your impact door will help prevent heat transfer, contributing to a more energy-efficient home.
- Better home security – The hardier design of impact-resistant doors means they offer enhanced protection against break-ins. Your home will be safer and more secure with an impact-rated door installed.
- Potential insurance discounts – Investing in impact doors and other products that can help “harden” your home against storm damage may come with some financial benefits as well. After you have an impact door installed, you can contact your homeowners insurance provider to see if it offers a discount on your premium.
Explore Your Options for New Impact Doors Today
Whether you’re looking at new front doors, patio doors, or French doors for your home in Florida, impact-rated options are the best choice. To learn more about the benefits of choosing impact doors to protect and enhance your home, contact Max Guard Hurricane Windows today. We proudly offer and install hurricane-resistant impact windows and doors that can help safeguard your home from storm damage all year long.
