Impact & Hurricane Windows for the Bay Area

What makes a window “impact”

Impact windows use laminated glass: two layers of glass bonded to a tough inner layer. If debris hits the glass, it may crack, but it is designed to stay in the frame instead of shattering into the house. The frames are reinforced and anchored to handle higher wind pressure. Impact windows are tested to recognized standards for wind-borne debris; we will show you the ratings for any product we quote.

Benefits beyond storms

• No boarding up or storing shutters
• Laminated glass can reduce outside noise
• Laminated glass blocks most UV, which helps protect floors and furniture from fading
• Harder to break than standard glass

Windstorm areas and WPI-8 (general information)

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has a designated catastrophe area along the coast. It includes all of Galveston County, which covers League City and the Galveston County side of Friendswood, and parts of Harris County near the bay. In this area, new windows generally need to meet windstorm building requirements and pass an inspection to receive a WPI-8 certificate of compliance, which is needed for the home to stay eligible for Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) coverage.

Whether your address is in the area and which products qualify depends on the location, so check with TDI before you buy and we will plan the job around it. Most Clear Lake addresses inside the City of Houston are outside the designated area, but impact windows are still an option there for storm protection.

Is it worth it?

Impact windows cost more than standard replacement windows. Whether they make sense depends on how exposed your home is, how much you value not having to board up, and how long you plan to stay. We will price both standard and impact options so you can compare. Financing through Synchrony is available.

See also: window replacement · League City · Friendswood · Clear Lake