Frequently Asked Questions
Hurricane impact windows and doors from Lemon Bay Glass (Englewood, FL) deliver impact-resistant products that will meet the needs of both residential and commercial customers. As with any product, there are frequently asked questions from our customers. Here are answers to several FAQs.
Impact Resistant Window and Door FAQ
Information to know when making selections:
Whether for home or business, Lemon Bay Glass will take the time to make sure it is the right fit for the property.
1) Ask for product reports on specific window/door selections. Ask to see all the engineering, drawings, test reports, and or approvals for the exact product that you wish to have installed.
Make sure the product in question meets the design pressure and does not exceed the size limitations for the product to be used. The wind-speed resistance is not relative to the code. The design pressure changes according to the location and height of a building. It also depends on the geographic location of the building.
2) Does the product meet the current Florida building codes?
If interested in a PVC product Make sure it is a uPVC (unplasticized PVC).
a) uPVC is resistant to impact, expansion, and contraction and works well in the Florida climate.
b) Ask if the product has been tested to the Dade County protocol for accelerated aging.
3) Is the window/door frame reinforced? How?
Is the product metal reinforced in the frame, meeting rail, and sash? Some products are just reinforced in the meeting rail and not throughout the whole window.
4) Are the corners fusion welded or mechanically fastened?
Fusion-welded corners will not loosen over time.
5) What are the mechanics of the window/door unit?
What type of balances are used in operating windows?
a) There are 3 types of balances 1: Spiral, 2: Constant Force (Coil), and 3: Block and Tackle.
b) With the weight of dual-glazed laminated glass, being 8-10 pounds per square foot, it is necessary to make sure sashes operate efficiently.
Block and tackle balances are the only balances rated both residentially and commercially.
c) Spiral balances, unless commercially rated, cannot handle the weight and will frequently break.
d) Constant force balances must be stacked and on larger windows, you may need as many as 10 balances stacked per sash to operate the window. This limits ventilation or opening of that window and also there is more likelihood of a service issue.
e) Block and Tackle balances use non-corrosive parts with nylon parachute cords and have been tested to last 3-6 times longer than other balances.
6) Is glass energy efficient?
If you are purchasing Low-E Glass Make sure it is a soft coat, not a hard coat, and ask to see the specifications of the glass.
There are many types of Low-E glass. The hard coat is the least expensive and least efficient. In the Florida climate, it does very little in the way of preventing heat gain. One of the most efficient Low-E is Solar Ban 60 by PPG. It is specifically designed to stop heat gain.
Make the right decision on impact-resistant windows and doors for your property.
• A Proven System: Our Impact Resistant windows and doors in Englewood FL have been proven to safeguard buildings from destructive winds, shattering glass, wind-born debris, torrential rain, and most importantly, objects capable of penetrating standard glass that could cause interior damage or loss of life.
• There are No Alternatives: Unlike shutters and plywood, impact doors and windows provide continuous protection. No seasonal installation and removal is needed. The alternatives are flimsy and cumbersome, capable of being easily swept away by the more belligerent wind. Hurricane-impact doors and windows become an immovable part of your building’s structure.
• Security: Laminated glass, used in Hurricane impact doors and windows, is tough, which will discourage thieves from intruding into your home. We have a client with a surveillance video showing two would-be thieves beating on a sliding door with brick pavers for 40 minutes without entry. Making your home safer, as a result, can result in reduced insurance rates, as many firms offer incentives for such measures.
• Installation: No impact door or window is perfect without equally exceptional installation, and our installation team knows that. They have been trained exhaustively to complete each service with a white glove approach: correct the first time, and every time; meeting and exceeding both building code requirements and the satisfaction of our customers.
Link here to read the full document from the glass association.
Lemon Bay Glass is your source for Impact Windows & Doors and more!
Contact Lemon Bay Glass & Mirror today for information about our complete product lineup of impact windows and doors. Don’t forget to inquire about such beneficial attributes as Low-E Glass, Turtle Glass, Reflective Glass, Tinted Glass, Thermal Insulated Glass Glazing, LEED options for energy efficiency.
