Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The Town of Davie requires a building permit for window and door replacement, with a numbered opening plan, product approvals, an installation form and a wind load chart, plus a notarized addendum signed by the owner and contractor. The plan goes through structural review before work starts. We handle that filing as part of the job.

Both show a product passed testing. A Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance is issued by Miami-Dade County for products tested to High-Velocity Hurricane Zone protocols such as TAS 201, 202 and 203. A Florida Product Approval comes from the state and may or may not cover HVHZ use. In Broward, the approval has to cover HVHZ, so we check that line on every unit we quote.

HomeGuide puts installed impact windows at about $400 to $1,200 each, or roughly $4,000 to $12,000 for 10 windows and $8,000 to $24,000 for 20. Large sliders, custom shapes, second-story work and damaged frames push a job higher. Your written estimate, built from your actual openings, is the price.

Shutters cost less up front and work well when someone is home to close them. Impact glass is always in place, needs no setup before a storm, and also blocks noise and some heat. Many homeowners mix the two: impact glass where shutters are hard to reach and shutters on the rest.

They can. A wind mitigation inspector records opening protection on Florida's OIR-B1-1802 form, and insurers give discounts for verified mitigation features. The discount depends on your insurer and on whether every opening is protected, so ask your agent which category your house would land in before you choose a phased plan.

Impact units are usually built to order after the permit is approved, so most of the wait is manufacturing and paperwork. Installation itself often takes one to a few days for a typical house, depending on how many openings there are and what we find behind the old frames. We give you a written timeline once the order is placed.

Yes, and it usually makes sense. One permit can cover all the openings, the inspector visits once, and a house with every opening protected tends to score better on a wind mitigation report. We quote impact windows and doors on the same estimate so you can compare doing it all now with a phased plan.

No. An approved impact window is itself the opening protection, so it does not need shutters in front of it to meet code or to count on a wind mitigation report.

The outer glass can crack when hit hard, but the laminated layer is designed to keep the pane in the frame and the opening closed. A cracked impact pane should be replaced after the storm, but it has done its job.

Usually yes. Laminated glass dampens sound better than a single pane of ordinary glass, which helps on streets near busy roads or under flight paths.

Laminated glass blocks most UV, and a low-E coating cuts the heat that comes through on sunny walls. The amount varies by product, so we show the ratings for the glass you choose.

In Broward's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone a replacement exterior door must meet the current wind and impact requirements for its location, so in practice a new door needs an approval for HVHZ use. The building department checks this at permit review.

Yes. An approved shutter or panel over the door can serve as the opening protection. Many people still choose an impact door so they do not have to put protection up before every storm.

Only with hardware that is listed for that door. The lock and hinges are part of the tested assembly, so a different lockset can take the door outside its approval.

Many do. Laminated impact glass is available in clear, frosted and decorative styles, as well as solid panels with no glass.

HomeAdvisor lists hurricane impact sliding doors at about $2,000 to $3,000 for the door, and a typical sliding door job of any rating at $1,168 to $4,131 installed. Wide multi-panel and pocket units cost more. We give a written price after measuring your opening.

Yes. An approved panel, accordion or roll-down shutter over the slider can count as opening protection. Impact glass avoids having to close the shutter before each storm.

Sometimes. Impact sliders are built to resist wind-driven water, and that can mean a higher sill. We measure the floor on both sides and discuss recessed track options where they fit.

Often, but widening the opening means cutting block or framing and adding a header, which needs engineering and a permit. We price it separately so you can compare it with a same-size replacement.

Metal storm panels are usually the lowest cost, at about $5 to $15 per square foot installed in HomeGuide's figures. They take the most work to put up and need storage space.

Yes. The Town of Davie has a shutter permit checklist that asks for the opening plan, product approvals, an installation form and a wind load chart, plus a notarized addendum signed by the owner and contractor.

An approved shutter can count as opening protection on a wind mitigation report the same way impact glass does. Discounts depend on your insurer and on every opening being protected.

Yes. Accordion and roll-down shutters are popular on upper floors because you close them from inside or at the window instead of carrying panels up a ladder.

Motors make them easy to close, but they cost much more and need a manual override for power outages. Many homeowners motorize only the widest openings.

A replacement garage door in Broward must meet the current wind code for its size and location, and the building department checks its approval at permit review. Whether you choose a door with impact glass or solid panels, the approval has to cover HVHZ use.

Angi puts installed hurricane garage doors at about $800 to $6,200 for a single door and $2,000 to $10,000 for a double. Glass sections, insulation and opener work add to that. We give you a written price after measuring.

Bracing kits and approved garage door shutters exist and cost less up front, but they must be installed before each storm, and the door behind them has to be sound. Ask how your insurer treats them before you rely on one for a discount.

Not if the springs are sized correctly, since the springs carry most of the weight. An old or weak opener may still need replacing, and we tell you before the install if that is the case.

Yes. A single replacement still needs a permit and an approved unit, but there is no rule that you must replace them all. We show you how the new one will compare in look to the rest.

In Broward, the window has to meet the wind and debris requirements for its opening. An impact window does that on its own; a non-impact window would need approved shutters to protect it. Most homeowners find impact glass simpler.

HomeGuide puts a standard replacement window at about $450 to $1,500 installed, with labor around $100 to $500 per window. Impact units usually cost more. Your price depends on the windows you choose and the condition of the openings.

Removing a window can crack the stucco at the edge of the opening. We plan for that, patch it, and leave it ready for paint.