Rated glass is only
half the job.

Testing and approval of the whole assembly — the frame, the glazing make-up, the hardware, the anchors and the substrate they fix into — at a specified design pressure. The documentation is what establishes it.

A window is not rated because of how it looks or how thick the glass is.

Yes, window and door replacement is permitted work in South Florida, and the product approval documentation forms part of the submission.

We assemble and submit the application, answer plan-review comments, schedule the inspection and close the permit.

Impact units are made to order rather than stocked, so manufacturing lead time is usually the longest part of the programme. It starts when the order is placed against surveyed sizes, not at first enquiry.

Sometimes, depending on the existing installation and the condition of the buck. Frequently some exterior making-good is unavoidable, and a quote that promises none is worth questioning.

They are replaced. Anchoring into a deteriorated buck produces an installation that looks finished but is not fixed into anything sound, and it will not match the approval it was permitted under.

Buck condition is assessed at survey where possible and confirmed at removal.

It depends on what you value. Impact glazing is permanent, needs no deployment, and gives daily noise and UV benefits; shutters cost less upfront but only protect when someone fits them.

Both are legitimate. The comparison table above sets out the real differences.

Laminated glazing typically produces a noticeable reduction, particularly on traffic noise. How much depends on the glass make-up and on how well the perimeter is sealed — an unsealed installation leaks sound as well as water.

Opening protection is among the things wind-mitigation documentation records, which insurers may consider. We hand over the documentation; how any insurer treats it is between you and them.

Yes. Staging by elevation is common — the most exposed openings first — and each stage is permitted and documented in its own right.

Bedroom openings may have to meet size and operation requirements. This is identified at survey, because it can constrain which unit can be used in that opening.

Aluminium gives slimmer sightlines and handles larger openings at higher pressures; vinyl insulates better and generally costs less. Opening size and design pressure often decide it before preference does.

Manufacturer warranties apply to the units and their components, with documentation handed over at closeout. Terms come from the manufacturer. Workmanship coverage is set out in your contract — ask for it in writing before you sign.