Impact Windows vs. Hurricane Shutters

Impact windows and hurricane shutters are two of the most sought-after hurricane protection products on the market. While both help to protect your house from hurricane-force winds and flying debris, there are benefits to be reaped from choosing one over the other. So which is the right option for you and your home?

Hurricane Shutters

Hurricane shutters are made of overlapping pieces of metals that cover your current windows and keep them safe from flying debris during a hurricane. They can either be permanent or temporary fixtures to your home.

Impact Windows

Impact windows differ greatly from conventional windows. Rather than simply having multiple panes of glass insulated with argon gas which offers no protection whatsoever from sudden impact, impact windows feature a laminated layer of either polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) between the different layers of glass. When an object hits an impact window, the glass may crack but the PVB/EVA keeps the window intact. In other words, you will not have shards of glass flying everywhere, and your home won’t have a gaping hole from the window. Inside your home, you will notice no significant change. Everything will continue to be protected.

Hurricane Shutters vs. Impact Windows

A large disadvantage to hurricane shutters when it comes to protection against hurricanes is that their effectiveness depends largely on your current windows. If your windows are old and outdated and do not latch or operate properly, your hurricane shutters are not going to be as effective. In fact, you run the risk of having your entire window frame blowing out, turning your hurricane shutters into an additional piece of debris that could potentially damage your house. At the end of the day, you will still have to replace your windows and the two expenses together could end up costing you a lot more than what you would spend from installing new impact windows, to begin with. Especially when you take into consideration that your hurricane shutters are prone to corroding and ultimately failing, so they will need to be replaced in due time, unlike with hurricane impact windows.

Safety reasons aren’t the only negatives regarding hurricane shutters though. When your hurricane shutters are up – and you have to remember to put them up, unlike with impact windows that protect you 24/7 – virtually all natural light will be blocked out. Alternatively, impact windows won’t filter out any natural light. But they will filter out damaging UV rays, which is yet another thing that hurricane shutters will not do.

If you’re looking for a way to ultimately reduce costs in the long run, impact windows are the way to go. For one, new impact windows can help in reducing your energy costs. By replacing your current windows with hurricane impact windows, you can also potentially lower your homeowner’s insurance premium.

Hurricane Season Doesn’t Wait, Neither Should You

We only just scratched the surface of all the benefits you can reap from new impact windows. Schedule an appointment today for a free, no-obligation in-home consultation and estimate, and experience all of the benefits that hurricane impact windows and ARMORVUE Window & Door have to offer.

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