To throw in a curveball: for those who really can’t afford impact windows and maybe aren’t physically able to deploy heavy shutters, there are newer products like fabric storm panels (also called wind abatement screens). My neighbor got those for his patio opening. They’re like strong mesh screens you can clip on quickly and they absorb impact energy. Not as secure as a rigid shutter but rated for hurricanes.
He had non-impact windows and opted for these fabric panels for each window because they’re lightweight and he can put them up alone even as an older gent. The cost was a fraction of impact windows – I think he paid $3k for all the screens for a medium house.
Of course, day-to-day you still have regular glass windows that could break from a burglar or a storm if you don’t put the screens up. But I found it an interesting solution for someone who couldn’t spring for impact windows.
I myself went the impact route (spent about $14k on 10 windows, ouch) but I looked into all options beforehand. If budget is really tight, doing good non-impact windows (for efficiency and basic upgrade) and then having some kind of protection (shutters, panels, screens) is still a whole lot better than doing nothing and keeping 90s windows.
Anyone have experience with hurricane-rated skylights or is that outside the scope here? My late-90s house also has 2 skylights which I worry about in storms. I know some impact window companies also do impact glass skylights or you can put shutters on them (awkward though).
In my case, when I did my windows, I also got new skylights (impact glass) installed by my roofer. They were about $1200 each including install. They’re basically fixed windows on the roof, so similar concept. Figured I’d mention it since a few of you talked about all openings being protected. Don’t forget skylights if you have them!
For insurance, I had to show they were Miami-Dade rated skylights to get the credit. They also asked about my garage door being hurricane-rated, etc. It’s quite thorough.
So my full mitigation was:
Impact windows ✅
Impact glass front door ✅ (alternatively could have shuttered it)
Impact skylights ✅
Hurricane-rated garage door I already had from before.
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After all that, my wind insurance portion dropped by about 30%. It was expensive to do all those improvements but over time maybe it balances out a little via insurance savings.
Really valuable thread, everyone. I’m learning a ton. I’ll add my scenario which includes sliding glass doors specifically, since they can be a big chunk of cost:
House built in 1996, South Florida. We have two sets of older aluminum sliding glass doors (each 8 feet wide). They were single pane with ugly metal hurricane panels stored in the garage.
Quotes we got for sliders:
Non-impact dual-pane sliders: ~$2,000 each installed.
Impact sliders (heavy duty frames): ~$3,500 each installed.
We also considered French doors as replacement for one slider: quote was $4,000 (impact fiberglass doors with glass inserts).
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We chose impact sliding doors for both openings. Cost ~ $7k for both. We felt the large openings were the most vulnerable part of the house, so we wanted the best there. For the rest of the smaller windows, we actually did non-impact + we kept our metal panels (to save money). Our window replacement budget was stretched thin as it was.
So yes, I sort of did a hybrid: impact on the biggest openings (doors) and non-impact on windows. To satisfy insurance, we just make sure to put the panels up on the windows if a hurricane comes. The sliders obviously are fine as-is.
So far it’s worked out. The house is way more comfortable with the new doors and windows. If I ever have more funds, I might one day swap the non-impact windows to impact glass (the frames are impact-rated already, just the glass would need changing). But that’s an if/when situation.
Main lesson: If you can’t afford to do everything impact, at least consider doing the largest openings (doors, big picture windows) because those are weak points in storms and security. A break there is a big hole.
From my research before I did my windows (house built 1999, Central Florida), one thing I’ll point out: impact windows vs impact film vs storm shutters all have their place.
Some people asked me “why not just put that hurricane film on your existing windows?” There is a product that you can stick on glass to prevent shattering. I looked into it:
Pros: It’s cheap compared to new windows. And it can keep glass from exploding inward.
Cons: It doesn’t strengthen the frame or seal, so even if the glass holds, the whole window could pop out under pressure if not impact-rated unit. Also, it doesn’t insulate or reduce noise like new windows, and my old windows were leaky anyway.
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So I quickly ruled that out for my situation (plus, our old windows were so bad).
Shutters are tried and true, but as many said, can be a pain and not something you want to deal with at 2am if a storm shifts unexpectedly.
Thus, we went with impact windows (spent about $13k on 11 windows). No regrets, and honestly, it modernized the look of our home a lot too. The old ones had foggy glass and rusty frames; new ones look crisp and clean.
Just wanted to mention the film in case someone else is thinking about it. It’s more of a supplementary thing, not a real alternative to true impact-rated windows or shutters for serious storm protection.
Wow this thread really grew! As the OP (@writer78), I just want to say thank you to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences. It’s been incredibly enlightening and has helped me (and I’m sure many others) make a more informed decision.
Update from me: After reading through all these replies, I decided to go with impact windows for the whole house. I negotiated a bit with the company from Quote 2 and got them to come down to $21,000 (from $22k) by mentioning I had other quotes and that I was ready to sign if they could do a bit better. They also threw in laminated glass (impact) for my one glass front door sidelight at no extra charge, so that was a bonus.
I’m scheduled for installation in 8 weeks (the windows are being manufactured to size). I feel confident this is the right choice for our home, especially living in Central FL where hurricanes can still hit and severe thunderstorms are a regular thing.
I’ll definitely use many of the tips shared here to prepare for install day (clearing the area, planning to take my work calls away from the noise, etc.). And I’ll keep an eye on the install quality thanks to the advice given (water testing after, checking caulking, etc.).
This thread has turned into a goldmine of knowledge on cost differences, options, and lived experiences. Exactly what I was hoping for when I posted. I’m sure it’ll help a lot of folks down the line who are in the same boat with aging 90s windows and big decisions to make.
Keep the discussion going if you have more to add – the more perspectives, the better! Thanks again everyone 😊
Congratulations @writer78! Sounds like a solid decision. And kudos on negotiating the price down a bit – it often pays to ask.
For anyone reading later, I want to touch on warranty and insurance docs after install, since that was something I dealt with:
Make sure you get all your warranty papers and proof of impact rating certificates from the installer. In Florida, you get a form (usually the installer provides it) for the wind mitigation inspection or the product approval docs. I had to send those to my insurance to get the discount.
Also, register your windows with the manufacturer if they require it for warranty (some have a postcard or online registration).
Keep a copy of your contract and receipt safe. In case something goes wrong or if you sell the house, it’s good to prove what was installed when.
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I had a friend who had impact windows installed but never actually did the wind mit inspection after. I told him he’s leaving money on the table with insurance, so he finally did it and got the credit.
Anyway, thanks OP (@writer78) for starting this. It’s been a great read and even after having done my project, I learned new things here (like the tax credits and the fabric panels).
One more thought on costs: don’t forget the little extras that can add up in quotes:
Removal and disposal of old windows – some companies charge a fee, some include it.
Stucco or interior trim repair – in some cases, replacing windows can crack some exterior stucco or mess up interior trim/paint. Some quotes include basic patching, others leave it to you.
If you have window treatments (blinds, shades) that need refitting or replacing after new windows (especially if frame sizes differ), budget for that too. I had to buy a couple new blinds because the new windows were slightly smaller and the old blinds didn’t fit well.
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In my case, the quote explicitly said “customer responsible for repainting trim around windows after installation.” They did caulk and make it neat, but I still had to do a little paint touch-up on the interior trim. Not a big deal, just something to be aware of.
I also ended up replacing all my window sills (they were wooden and pretty beat up). I asked the installers and they actually did new PVC sills for an extra $50 each, which I found reasonable and did it. Now I have fresh sills that match the new windows nicely.
So yeah, when budgeting, think about these peripheral costs. The window price is one thing, but you might spend a bit on paint, new curtains, or whatever to finish the project completely.
Thanks @elizabethhill590 for mentioning the finishing touches. I also had to do some painting after. In my case, the new windows were a bit thicker, so my interior trim needed a slight adjustment.
I want to chime in with a post-hurricane report. I had my impact windows installed in 2021. Then in 2022, Hurricane Ian brushed by (we just got tropical storm force winds in my area, nothing major but enough to test things). No issues, of course. But one thing I did was put those cheap stick-on window alarms on a couple of my big windows, the kind that chime if the window opens or if there's strong vibration. They didn’t go off or anything, but I thought it might alert me if something hit a window during the storm (so I’d know to check for cracks). Not necessary, perhaps, but gave a bit of comfort.
After the storm, I inspected each window and all was well. My neighbor who doesn’t have impact windows had a cracked pane (probably from debris) despite having shutters - maybe something bounced in between before he closed them all. So even shutters aren’t foolproof if you don’t prepare in time.
Anyway, the peace of mind factor proved true for me. While we were fine, we decided to host a family from a mandatory evacuation zone. They stayed with us and everyone camped out in our living room behind those impact windows listening to the wind howl. It was a nice feeling to know we’d done what we could to make our home a safe place.
I know we’re almost at the 50-user mark here, but I had to join just to emphasize what many have said: peace of mind vs cost is the trade-off with impact windows.
I’m a numbers guy (engineer), and I tried to do a cost-benefit analysis when deciding. I calculated the probability of a strong hurricane hitting, the potential damage costs of not having impact windows (if a window breaches vs if it holds), insurance differences, etc. It’s complicated and somewhat subjective with probabilities.
In the end I realized, it’s not purely a financial decision. It’s an emotional and peace-of-mind one too. My wife felt strongly about being secure during storms without extra hassle. That in itself was worth the money to me. It’s like paying for an insurance policy that you can see and feel every day, not just paper insurance.
So to anyone reading and agonizing: if the cost is truly too high, don’t go bankrupt for it – do shutters or panels and you’ll be okay. But if you can manage it, even if it’s a stretch, that peace of mind is something you’ll value every storm season, and even on a random Tuesday night when you just feel safer in your home.
Alright, I’ll get off my soapbox. Thanks to everyone for all the knowledge shared. This thread has indeed become a treasure trove for window shoppers (pun intended).
Final thoughts from me (another Floridian, 1994 house): we completed our impact window project last month. Reading through this thread feels like a deja vu of all the thoughts we had and the research we did.
One thing I’ll add is: once those beautiful new windows are in, you might want to show them off! We actually took down some old heavy drapes and went with lighter window treatments since we no longer needed to “insulate” against drafts or hide ugly metal shutters stored on the sides. The house looks more modern now.
Enjoy your new windows @writer78, and to all still in the process, good luck. It’s a big investment but one you’ll likely be happy with for years to come.
To all the contributors above – you pretty much covered everything a homeowner should know when debating impact vs non-impact windows. I vote that this thread should indeed be a sticky! It’ll help many future readers. Cheers all!