Frequently asked questions
The questions people actually ask us, answered the way we would answer them at the showroom.
The product
About impact windows and doors
What makes a window an "impact" window?
Two panes of glass bonded to a plastic interlayer. When the glass is struck it can crack, but the interlayer holds the pieces in place so the opening stays sealed. That is the whole idea: keeping the building envelope closed, so the wind cannot get in and pressurise the house.
Is impact glass unbreakable?
No, and be careful with anyone who says it is. The Florida approval test does not require the glass to survive unbroken. It requires that the missile does not go through and that no opening larger than about five inches by a sixteenth of an inch forms. Cracked glass that stayed in its frame is a pass, and it is also exactly what protects your home.
Do I have to replace every window at once?
For safety, no; every protected opening is one less way in. For the insurance credit, effectively yes. Opening protection is all or nothing: a single unprotected opening, including the garage door, can reduce or wipe out the credit for that whole category. We would rather tell you that before you buy half a house.
Aluminium or vinyl frames?
Aluminium dominates South Florida because it carries large spans and high design pressures. Vinyl insulates better but is limited in size. Which one is right depends on your openings, and we will tell you when the cheaper option is the better one.
How much noise will they cut out?
Noticeably, but how much depends on the glass package rather than on the word "impact". Laminated glass helps with traffic and voices; if noise is your main reason for the job, say so at the estimate and we will quote the packages built for it.
Permits and code
Permits, approvals and inspections
Do I need a permit to replace windows in Miami-Dade?
Yes, always. There is no exemption, not even for replacing a single window. Permits are issued in the name of whoever performs the work, which means a licensed contractor or an owner-builder.
Who issues my permit: the city or the county?
Almost certainly the city. Miami-Dade has around 35 incorporated municipalities and each one has its own building official with jurisdiction over permits and inspections. In Doral it is the City of Doral Building Department. Only unincorporated addresses go to the county permitting centre.
What is a NOA?
The Notice of Acceptance, Miami-Dade’s product approval. It is the document that says a specific product, at specific sizes, is accepted here. It also dictates how the unit must be anchored: substrate, spacing and embedment. Installing outside that detail voids the approval, no matter how good the window is. NOAs expire, so the number on your paperwork should be current.
What is the HVHZ?
The High Velocity Hurricane Zone: exactly two counties, Miami-Dade and Broward, both of them entire rather than just the coastal strip. It exists because of what Hurricane Andrew did to the building envelope in 1992. In practice it means your home sits under the strictest residential building code in the continental United States.
What is the "30 foot rule"?
Glazed openings up to 30 feet above grade are tested against the large missile; above that height, the small missile applies. For a single family home in Doral that means everything needs large missile rated products.
Do you handle the paperwork?
Yes. Permit application, the product approvals, notarisation of documents, and scheduling and following the inspections. It is the part of this job most homeowners least want to do, and the part we are best at.
The job
Timing, installation and mess
How long does the whole thing take?
What sets your calendar is the manufacturing lead time and the city review, and we tell you both at the estimate instead of quoting one optimistic number. The work on site itself is usually a matter of days.
How disruptive is the installation?
Honestly: somewhat. Removing an old frame damages the stucco around the opening, there is dust, and rooms are unusable while their openings are open. Making the stucco good afterwards is part of the work on site, so plan for it rather than be surprised by it.
Do you sell outside Miami-Dade?
Yes. We supply nine South Florida counties: Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, Monroe, Collier, Lee, Hendry and Glades. If your home is elsewhere in Florida, ask us anyway and we will tell you straight whether we can deliver there.
Can you match a quote I already have?
Bring it. What we will do is compare it line by line: the product, the glass package, the approval numbers and what is actually included. Two quotes for "impact windows" are often not quotes for the same thing.
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