The True Impact Guide to impact windows & doorsIt cracks. It holds.
Impact glass is two layers of glass bonded to a tough interlayer. When debris hits, the glass can break while the interlayer keeps the opening closed.
Illustration, not a test or a product rating.
- How impact windows work. And what the glass can’t do alone.Understand laminated glass, frames, anchors, and why the complete approved assembly matters when choosing impact windows.
- Impact windows or shutters? Start with how you want to live.Compare impact windows and hurricane shutters by everyday convenience, existing window condition, appearance, and project scope.
02 · The glass
The layer you don’t see.
Pull the pane apart: an outer ply, the interlayer, an inner ply. PVB is the common interlayer; SentryGlas (SGP) is stiffer and is specified where sizes or pressures call for it.
Illustration, not a test or a product rating.
- PVB vs. SentryGlas. Which laminated glass is better?How PVB and SentryGlas interlayers differ in stiffness, clarity, edge life and design pressure, and when standard PVB impact glass is all you need.
- Large missile vs. small missile impact (LMI vs SMI). What is the difference?How the large-missile and small-missile impact tests work, the 30 ft rule in the Florida Building Code, and how LMI and SMI ratings appear on approvals.
03 · The pressure
Wind pushes. Wind pulls.
Wind loads a window inward on one side of the house and outward on another. Your building sets the pressure required; the product approval sets the limit for each size.
Illustration, not a test or a product rating.
04 · Frame & anchors
The frame finishes the job.
Glass only holds if the frame and the anchors carry the load into the wall. The cut shows the path: glass, frame, anchor, structure.
AAMA 2605 finishAAMA 2604 finish
Illustration, not a test or a product rating.
- Why impact windows use 6063-T6 aluminum.What 6063-T6 means on an impact window spec sheet: the alloy, the T5 and T6 tempers, strength, finish, and why the approval drawing names the metal.
- Kynar, AAMA 2605, AAMA 2604 and standard powder coat. Is there a difference?What AAMA 2603, 2604 and 2605 mean for impact window frames, how Kynar compares with powder coat, and how the finish affects coastal warranties.
05 · The coating
Keep the light. Turn back heat.
A Low-E coating is a microscopically thin layer on the glass that lets visible light through and reflects much of the infrared heat.
Visible lightInfrared heatUltraviolet
Illustration, not a test or a product rating.
06 · Inside
Your project, from the inside.
Costs, product approvals, permits and installation day: what to know before you sign.
- What actually goes into the cost of impact windows?A practical guide to impact-window pricing factors, written estimates, exclusions, and comparing quotes without misleading per-window prices.
- Product approvals, permits, and the paperwork worth keeping.Understand the different roles of Florida Product Approval, Miami-Dade NOA documents, local permits, and association approvals.
- Installation day should start before installation day.Prepare for window replacement with a clear plan for access, furniture, pets, finish repairs, inspections, and the final walkthrough.
Guides and series comparisons for the 8 manufacturers we install
Brands and series, explained.
A homeowner’s guide to each manufacturer we install, and a side-by-side of every line and model.
Our guides cite the official records. Check any product approval yourself in the Florida Product Approval search or the Miami-Dade product approvals (NOA).
Before you get started
Questions about our guides.
Costs, timing, approvals, and the details worth asking about.
All your questions, answeredWho writes these guides?
The True Impact team, for homeowners in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade. The brand guides and series comparisons use the manufacturers’ published catalogs and their Florida Product Approvals and Miami-Dade NOAs.
Do you publish prices?
No. The cost of impact windows depends on opening sizes, glass, finish, access, installation and permits. The guides explain what drives cost, and the brand pages show where each series sits (budget-friendly, mid-range or premium) within its product type. Your written estimate gives the price for your openings.
Which manufacturers do the brand guides cover?
All 8 brands we install: Mr. Glass, GIG Windows, Eurocraft, ES Windows, EMC Windows, ECO, PGT and CWS. Each has a homeowner’s guide and a series-by-series comparison.
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Impact windows. Impact doors. A plan built around you.
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