Hurricane Resistant Windows: Cost and Benefits
Hurricane
resistant or storm proof windows are made of impact resistant glass, which
contains a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) between two glass slabs. The most
effective type of impact resistant window is the inner membrane window. Impact
resistant glass is likely to break on impact, but will remain attached to the
inner membrane along with the window frame.
There
is always an alternative to using a shatter resistant film that covers the
window glass, which will prevent the glass from breaking.
Hurricane Windows Cost
Hurricane
resistant windows can increase the total cost of construction. However, at the
same time, they will offer great protection during storm season and can be very
helpful in protecting property and may be the reason for how to get a reduced
premium on the cost of your insurance. A good hurricane window cost will be between $ 40 and $ 55 per square
foot, and this will include the frame and the hurricane proof glass. Some
studies have shown that by installing hurricane
windows, the construction cost will increase by a few thousand dollars on a
new home. On average, a 60 "x 80" hurricane impact door size can cost around $ 1,900, while a 72
"X 80" sliding window is around $ 1950.
Hurricane resistant material guide
for windows
The main
options to consider as hurricane resistant windows are aluminum, vinyl, and
wood. Aluminum is probably the strongest of the three, providing excellent
results in hurricane conditions. Their main drawback is that they will have to
be painted over time.
Vinyl
hurricane proof windows are a great cost-effective solution, offering great
insulation benefits, although the industry is still unsure how to recycle them.
Lastly, wood can offer great energy efficiency, but its maintenance cost is the
highest among these three options, not to mention that they will be susceptible
to deformation over time.
Types of hurricane resistant window
glass
The four
main types of impact resistant glass are identified by the laminating procedure
or the window interleaving procedure. PVB, Polyvinyl Butyral, is the most
widely used product on impact glass market as it works well when impacted and
absorbs impact. PVB with a PET coating is a very resistant product, but its
manufacturing process is quite challenging, making it an economically less
viable product. Sentry Glass Plus is more expensive than PVB, typically used in
some federal construction or specialized areas that require bullet and bomb
resistant glass. Finally, the resin laminates where a liquid is poured between
two layers of glass and allowed to cure.
Advantages of Hurricane Resistant
Windows
Hurricane resistant windows are manufactured with a polyvinyl
membrane in the middle layer capable of withstanding storm winds of up to 200
miles per hour.
These
windows could also provide energy efficiency to your structure, including
minimal sound disturbance and UV protection.
Some of the
biggest benefits of impact resistant windows are:
·
Come
in different styles and sizes
·
Provide
permanent protection against tornadoes, storms and hurricanes at any time
·
Its
high resistance prevents the glass from breaking into large sharp pieces
·
When
glass cracks create a 'spider-like' cracking pattern
·
A
much higher sound insulation rating due to its damping effect
·
Blocks
99% of transmitted UV light
·
Some
insurance companies may offer premium discounts of up to 45%
Disadvantages of Hurricane Resistant
Windows
Impact
resistant windows can also be expensive and sometimes too expensive. Adding an
average of $ 55 per square foot, impact resistant windows could add a couple
thousand more to your construction project, but will eventually lower your
insurance costs.
Tear
resistant film could be used as an alternative, but it is less effective and
could fail in extreme wind conditions. Much of the noise-reducing properties of
laminated glass come from the air gap between two panels of the laminate, not
from the vinyl layer itself. If windows are installed without the benefit of
these air gaps, then the noise reduction properties are greatly reduced.
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