Renovations - Impact Resistant Windows? (Miami, South Miami: renters, insurance, buying a home)

[MidwestInMiami]

My husband and I have lived in Miami as renters for many years and we are finally biting the bullet and buying a home. The home we are considering purchasing was built in the 1950s and has older windows with no wind protection. We want to replace the current windows (they are hideous) and are considering impact resistant windows. (I have read extensively about the whole shutters vs. impact resistant windows debate.)

Once we decide to move forward with the house (if we do, I should say), we will obviously be getting estimates from various contractors. However, I have been trying to do some research as to what to expect and have found very little as to the actual cost of the windows and installation.

Would anyone mind sharing what they actually paid (or received estimates) for their impact resistant windows?

Thanks!

[tallrick]

If I had a 50's house I would keep the jalousies or casement windows original and install shutters. Those impact resistant windows are ugly, and installers often damage the home stuffing them in.

[doggiebus]

I wouldn't get impact windows, way to expensive and you still will want to use shutters with them. Their great if you spend the summer months away from Miami when its hurricane season. But if you don't spend the summer months away, I would just invest in updated windows and hurricane shutters. To give you an idea of price my in-laws had their 1950s home in South Miami updated with impact windows three or four years ago on their 1500 sq. ft. home and it cost them $20,000

[MidwestInMiami]

We travel often and would feel better with the impact resistant windows. I don't like the idea of having to rely on others to shutter up our house when we are away. Like I said, I've read extensively about the impact resistant windows vs. shutters debate and we have decided to go with the impact resistant windows. I just want to be prepared for the cost. Any input is greatly appreciated! Thanks again!

[nesssag]

We did all of the windows in our house. 6 windows, a bay kitchen pass through, 2 sliders, 2 french doors, replaced side door and front door. Total 17K.

[straight shooter]

The minuses with impact windows are obviously cost and if they get hit with an object during the storm you will need to replace the window or glass. If the same were to happen to a shutter you might not have to replace it.

[nesssag]

Yes, this is a possibility, but not a surety. Also, the impact windows provide an additional level of security.

[tallrick]

The funny thing is that I built my home in 2010 with homemade impact windows and have homemade shutters too. Of course I went overboard, my "shutters" are actually 1/2 inch steel plates that once covered trenches dug across roads. I did damage one window by shooting it with a ..38 rifle (I was actually trying to unjam the magazine) . It was a real pain to replace and can only imagine how hard it is to replace a commercial one.

[Travelassie]

Originally Posted by tallrick

If I had a 50's house I would keep the jalousies or casement windows original and install shutters. Those impact resistant windows are ugly, and installers often damage the home stuffing them in.

That is an option. But we have hurricane impact resistant casement windows, and two sliding glass doors- one in the great room, that's a double at the corner, so we can open the whole area up to the lanai. Those windows are beautiful, IMO, they're airtight, help with soundproofing from outside noises, and definitely help control our electric costs as they're also slightly tinted. We had some jalousie windows and awning windows in the house we had in Miami, and they weren't all that airtight, or watertight in the driving rains of a hurricane or tropical storm- although the shutters over those windows helped with that.

I've also heard about problems with installation of impact windows in an existing house, that sometimes they have to remove part of the CBS around the window opening, to enlarge it(?) or to accomodate the way they're supposed to be installed- not just stuffed into the opening, but actually nailed into the structure on the sides of the window ( not technical here, just describing as I saw it). And installers will mess things up if the windows aren't installed correctly. Not to mention the windows' installation is a part of what makes them windstorm resistant, so they'll be useless in that regard if not installed correctly.

Our windows were put in during construction of the house, so they were installed correctly. They were pricey- especially the sliders, think for the 8 windows ( including a couple double wides) and the sliding glass doors it ran about $17,000. Think the brand is Silverline for the windows, and Windoor for the sliders.

[straight shooter]

Originally Posted by tallrick

The funny thing is that I built my home in 2010 with homemade impact windows and have homemade shutters too. Of course I went overboard, my "shutters" are actually 1/2 inch steel plates that once covered trenches dug across roads. I did damage one window by shooting it with a ..38 rifle (I was actually trying to unjam the magazine) . It was a real pain to replace and can only imagine how hard it is to replace a commercial one.

Not bad but as you know if they are not Dade County approved the insurance company will not accept them.