Property owners living in Florida know that during hurricane season they should take extra precautions to protect their home. Areas like Southern Florida and the Keys that are more hurricane-prone and even areas with wind speeds under 75 mph are susceptible to damage caused by hurricanes.  That’s why protecting their windows and roofing from a hurricane’s high winds and debris is often the first step homeowners take to safeguard their homes and families.

Protecting Your Home with Hurricane Windows

Hurricane windows and frames are specifically designed and tested to withstand wind speeds upwards of 200 miles per hour. Commonly referred to as high impact windows, impact-resistant windows, high impact storm windows, or hurricane impact windows, these have been required by the State of Florida on all homes built after 2001.

Hurricane windows are composed of 2 layers of tempered glass similar to the windows used in cars.  This impact-resistant glass shatters into a spider web pattern when struck by debris instead of breaking into dangerous shards in your living space. On top of protecting you from shards of glass, high impact windows will also remain in place in the frame continuing to protect your home from the weather outside.

Other benefits to high impact windows:

• More stable indoor temperatures
• Reduction in energy bills
• Increased indoor air quality
• Greater curb appeal to home
• Less window maintenance

An added benefit of high impact windows is that they come with a coating that filters out UV rays.  This reduces the indoor heat gain from the sun’s rays that enter your home.  High impact windows that are vinyl framed also provide a tight seal to keep outside temperatures and contaminants from getting inside your home. The combination of these two features are why you may see a reduction in your energy bills by increasing the overall energy efficiency.

It’s estimated by ENERGY STAR that replacing single-pane windows with high impact double-pane windows can offer an average savings between $126 and $465 a year on your energy bill. Homeowners with existing double-pane windows can still save between $27 and $111 a year.

Hurricane Proofing Your Roof

Florida homeowners often choose to hurricane proof their roofing for protection from water damage and structural compromise. Aside from the added safety benefits, an upgraded roof may also Improve energy efficiency, property value, and curb appeal. Roofing options to choose between to hurricane proof your roof:

Wind-Resistant Shingles

These are made of asphalt and more glue than conventional shingles making them more resistant to hurricane level winds. This is your roof’s initial protection against the stormy weather.

Roof Deck

A thin layer of wood beneath your shingles is also known as “roof sheathing”. Long nails are driven through the roof deck and into the rafters to decrease the likelihood of shingles blowing off during periods of high wind.

Water Barrier

A secondary water barrier, which is most cost-effective to install when replacing your roof, lies beneath the asphalt shingles and is made of a rubber material. Adding this to the top of your roof deck can help prevent water damage if you were to lose your shingles during hurricane season. On top of the thousands in costly damage these improvements could save, it has been reported that they can get an estimated 5-35% discount on your insurance premium.

Finance Your Hurricane Proofing Projects with PACE

For many Florida homeowners safety upgrades such as wind-resistant roofing and high impact windows can be difficult to pay out of pocket. This is especially the case when needed for unplanned repairs due to a storm. PACE, Property Assessed Clean Energy,  financing offers 100% financing up to $250,000, competitive fixed interest rates, and terms of up to 30 years for some projects.

In a state that has high building safety standards for hurricanes, using PACE to finance 100% of your roofing project can offer peace of mind, knowing your home is up to Florida’s strict building code without having to spend thousands of dollars out of pocket upfront. Prevent hurricane season from damaging the investment that is your home! You deserve to rest easy, knowing your high impact windows and roof will help protect you and your family during a high wind storm.

Install high impact windows and wind-resistant roofing with PACE financing – Give our experts a call at 844-736-3934 or apply today!

Important Disclosures
PACE financing is subject to approval. Underwriting requirements and restrictions apply. PACE financing is secured by a lien on the subject property and may be required to be repaid upon refinance or sale. Homeowners should perform due diligence before selecting a home improvement contractor. PACE financing is private financing that must be repaid in full. PACE financing is not a government subsidy. Homeowners are encouraged to use PACE financing responsibly.