Impact Windows & Doors in Miami & South Florida

01 / 06

1. 01

   Remove and prepare

   The old window comes out, and we check the opening and the wood buck around it, if there is one. Rotted or wrong-size bucks are replaced, not built up with extra wood. The new window will be anchored into this opening, so it has to be solid and square.

2. 02

   Set the frame

   The new impact frame is set in the opening on shims, then checked for plumb, level and square so the sashes open and lock properly. The product approval limits what the shims are made of and how thick they can be.

3. 03

   Anchor it

   Anchor screws go through the frame into the buck, block or concrete, at the type, spacing and depth the product approval lists. With a thin buck, they pass through it into the masonry. These anchors are what carry storm pressure from the window into the wall.

   In Florida Impact windows need a current Florida Product Approval or an accepted local approval, such as a Miami-Dade NOA (Notice of Acceptance). The anchor details are part of that approval.

4. 04

   Laminated impact glass

   Impact glass is two or more layers of glass bonded to a tough plastic interlayer. If debris cracks the glass, the interlayer holds the pieces in place and is designed to keep the opening closed.

   In Florida Impact windows for South Florida homes typically pass a large missile test, a 9 lb two-by-four fired at the window, followed by thousands of pressure cycles.

5. 05

   Seal the perimeter

   Outside, sealant is run where the frame meets the wall, to keep wind-driven rain from getting behind the window. Inside, the sealant, trim and any finish work often wait until the inspector has checked the shims and anchors.

6. 06

   Inspect and document

   Many South Florida building departments check the anchors and shims before the inside is sealed and trimmed, then do a final inspection, sometimes in the same visit. Once it passes, we close out the permit. You keep the product approvals and permit records for your wind-mitigation report and insurance.

   In Florida Leave the product labels on until the final inspection passes. Inspectors use them to confirm the installed window matches its approval.

General sequence only. Anchor type, spacing and depth come from the product approval for each window, and required inspections vary by city. Your proposal and permit list the exact products.

01 / 07

1. 01

   Remove and prepare

   The old door comes out, and we check the opening, the buck and the floor where the sill will sit, repairing or replacing anything damaged. A flat, level and solid sill line is what keeps the panels rolling and sealing.

2. 02

   Set the sill in sealant

   A continuous bed of sealant goes down where the sill will sit, and the sill is pressed into it, either on its own or already joined to the frame. Screw holes through the sill get sealant too. This joint sits where water collects, so it gets extra care.

3. 03

   Frame and anchors

   The frame is shimmed plumb, level and square, then anchored into the buck, block or concrete. The anchor type, spacing and depth come from the product approval, and the inspector checks them against it.

   In Florida Impact doors need a current Florida Product Approval or an accepted local approval, such as a Miami-Dade NOA (Notice of Acceptance). The anchor details are part of that approval.

4. 04

   Panels with impact glass

   The panels go in after the frame is anchored, and the sliding panels are set on their rollers. Each holds laminated impact glass: two or more layers of glass bonded to a tough interlayer that holds together if it cracks.

5. 05

   Locks and hardware

   Impact doors use the locking hardware they were tested with, often multi-point locks that latch at several points along the panel. That keeps the panel tight to the frame under storm pressure.

6. 06

   Seal and weatherstrip

   Sealant goes around the outside of the frame where it meets the wall, and the weatherstripping is checked so the panels close tightly against wind-driven rain. Inside sealant, trim and screw covers often wait until the inspector has seen the anchors.

7. 07

   Inspect and document

   We adjust the panels so they roll and lock smoothly. The building department checks the anchors and shims before trim covers them, sometimes at the final inspection. Once it passes, we close out the permit, and you keep the approvals for your wind-mitigation report.

General sequence only. Anchors, sill details and hardware come from the product approval for each door, and required inspections vary by city. Your proposal and permit list the exact products.