replacement windows and doors

What is Impact Resistant Replacement Windows and Doors?

If you’re replacing your windows and doors, whether old, ugly, or drafty models, with rotted, rusted, or warped frames, it may be a good idea to invest in impact-resistant models. Impact-resistant replacement windows and doors for your Huntington Beach, CA home are an excellent investment. They can save you a lot of money over time by lowering your energy bills and protecting your home from severe weather.

These tough doors and windows are an excellent option for homes with a lot of storms or tough weather and homeowners hoping for added protection and security. If that sounds like you, read more about impact-resistant replacement windows and doors.

Impact-resistant windows and doors are standard models with added features like impact-resistant glass, thick and durable frames and secure fastenings to elevate their protective efficacy. These doors and windows are made to act as a home’s main source of protection against many dangers, including severe weather, ill-intending humans, and unnecessary energy use. Impact-resistant windows are much more effective and more aesthetically appealing than the commonly installed storm shutters.

Impact-resistant windows and doors are generally made with shatter-resistant glass and durable frame materials like vinyl or coated wood. Like car windshield glass, impact-resistant glass is made from multiple layers of normal glass with shatter-resistant films installed between each layer to boost strength and resist cracking or breaking. Impact-resistant doors and windows also have extra-sturdy frames to stay in place even in tough weather or attempted break-ins. As a bonus, impact-resistant doors and windows’ strength also makes them highly energy efficient, so you use less energy and save money.

Impact Resistant Window Testing and Regulations 

Windows and doors must pass tests and gain specific certifications to be deemed “impact resistant.” These tests and guidelines are designed, regulated, and administered by The American Society for Testing And Materials and are reliable for trusted for accurate information and consumer guidance. Impact-resistant doors and windows must pass two tests to ensure their effectiveness and safety: the launch missile impact test and a pressure test.

A common launch missile test consists of a nine-pound, 2×4 piece of wood launched at the center of the window or door at 35 miles per hour. If the glass doesn’t shatter under the impact, another piece of wood is launched at the corners of the piece to test full structural soundness. The pressure test generally simulates 200-mile-per-hour winds around the window to test airtight seals and resistance.

Should you go with impact-resistant models when you replace your windows and doors? If safety and energy efficiency is important to you, then yes. To learn more about Huntington Beach, CA replacement windows and doors, visit Cunningham Doors & Windows at 1940 E Edinger Ave Santa Ana, CA 92705 or call (714) 258-2500.

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Cunningham Doors & Windows