If you are weighing new windows for your South Florida home, you have probably seen two options: standard (regular) windows and impact windows. They can look almost identical, but they perform very differently when a hurricane hits – and in Florida, that difference matters. Here is an honest comparison from Vieser Construction, a licensed impact window installer serving Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County.
What is the difference?
A regular window uses ordinary annealed or tempered glass in a standard frame. A hurricane impact window uses two panes of glass bonded to a tough interlayer (like a car windshield) inside a heavy-duty reinforced frame. If something hits it, the glass may crack but stays in the frame – it does not shatter into your home.
Impact windows vs regular windows: side by side
- Hurricane protection: Impact windows are rated for 150+ mph winds and flying debris. Regular windows are not – one broken window during a storm can let wind pressure blow off your roof.
- Insurance: Impact windows can lower Florida windstorm premiums 30 to 45 percent. Regular windows earn no discount.
- Security: Impact glass is extremely hard to break, so it also protects against break-ins.
- Noise: Impact windows cut outside noise dramatically.
- Energy: Impact windows with Low-E glass block heat and lower your electric bill.
- Code: In Broward and Miami-Dade High-Velocity Hurricane Zones, new windows must meet impact (HVHZ) standards – regular windows often are not allowed.
Are impact windows worth the extra cost?
Impact windows cost more up front – roughly $400 to $1,100 per window installed – but for most Florida homeowners they pay off because of:
- Insurance savings of $1,500 to $3,500 per year
- No need to buy or put up shutters every hurricane season
- Higher home value and easier resale
- Year-round comfort, lower energy bills, and quiet
Think of it as protection you use every single day, not just during a storm.
When might regular windows make sense?
Rarely – in inland areas outside the HVHZ, or on a very tight budget where shutters are already in place. Even then, most South Florida owners upgrade to impact for the insurance and resale benefits.
Frequently asked questions
Do impact windows really replace shutters? Yes. Impact windows are always-on protection, so you never have to put up shutters again.
Do they look different? No. Modern impact windows look like regular windows and come in white, bronze and black frames.
Are they required in my area? In Broward and Miami-Dade HVHZ, new windows must meet impact standards. We confirm the requirements for your address.
Get expert advice in Fort Lauderdale
Not sure which is right for your home? Vieser Construction is a licensed and insured impact window and door installer serving Fort Lauderdale, Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County. Call or text (754) 707-3281 for a free written quote and honest advice.