Impact rated windows are a great choice to provide protection for homes, condos, businesses, and buildings from wind-borne debris and vicious winds that are present during a hurricane.

Florida building codes were dramatically revised after Hurricane Andrew’s destruction of the Miami-Dade area, specifically Homestead, FL, in 1992. The root cause of roof damage during a hurricane is the rapid pressure changes. These pressure changes create powerful “pull-push-pull” cycles to loosen and separate roofs from their mountings.

The high wind velocities generate high and low pressures as these winds whip around buildings, trees, hills, open waters, and everything in their paths. Many Florida roofs have barrel tile, which can be a significant source of destructive flying debris when these tiles are released into hurricane winds.

Almost explosive forces occur when a window or door suddenly opens because the building’s internal pressure increases. The high velocity winds passing over the roof create a vacuum and simply rip the roof off. This roof destruction allows additional wind-borne debris to smash windows and doors, making the home or building uninhabitable.

The understanding of the destructive nature of hurricanes led to the evolution of today’s impact rating and testing systems. The goal is to protect people as much as possible by keeping roofs attached to homes and buildings during hurricanes.

Now for the good news…

Armored Dade has been helping homes and businesses upgrade their windows, entry doors, sliding glass doors, and garage doors since 2005. Collectively, we have decades’ worth of experience in remodeling, window and door replacement, and condominium impact door and window retrofit. Our understanding of construction methods and challenges is key to our success in getting a great-looking and functioning replacement impact windows and doors completed. We use care to match the window and door styles and overall appearance with the aesthetics of the home and property.

Significant progress has been made in the understanding of the mechanics of the destructive forces of hurricane winds. This has been used to update the codes specifying the strength values and qualification tests for buildings and their key structural components: roof attachments, water barriers, shingle/tile fastening, garage door strengths, and impact rated windows and doors.

Our talented and experienced crews go beyond other companies to fix, smooth, transition, caulk, paint, and blend so beautifully, it is virtually impossible to tell which windows and doors have been replaced. Our installers are careful to use tarps, plastic wraps, and other coverings during the window and door replacement process to keep homes as free as possible from debris and dust. It is a commitment that our customers appreciate.

We have an extensive cross section of manufacturers, window and door types, designs, and styles. We chose our products to meet either the Florida Building Code, with Wind-Borne Debris maps listing 130 mph, or the more stringent requirements for Miami-Dade County, with wind-borne debris velocities of 150 mph.