With so many hurricane window manufacturers and options available, pricing can be confusing when compared to other hurricane protection products such as hurricane shutters, and pricing can vary as much as 35% depending on options. We believe that transparency is key when it comes to hurricane impact window pricing. We put this guide together to help our Floridian neighbors understand what factors can affect hurricane window pricing.
In this guide, we will address pricing for the most popular window and door sizes, as well as options available from popular manufacturers such as ES Windows, PGT, and CGI. We will talk about options that manufacturers may charge additional fee for, and cover which options should be included in the base price. We will include industry standard pricing for any additional materials or equipment that may be necessary for proper installation on two-story homes, condos, and homes with larger-than average windows.
It’s important to keep in mind that pricing can vary from company to company. Pricing differences can range from as little as 5% to as much as 20%. With 30+ years of experience protecting Florida, we pride ourselves on providing the most competitive pricing with no compromises on quality or customer service.
By the end of this guide, you should have all the information you need to make the right decision for your home or storefront.
Is 2023 a good year to invest in Hurricane Impact Windows?
In 2022, impact window prices soared due to increasing aluminum costs, supply-chain shortages, shipping slowdowns, and economic inflation. Due to many of these issues slowly easing throughout the US economy throughout 2023, prices are becoming more affordable again.
This year has been the best time to invest in hurricane windows in the last four years.
Due to the rising costs of insurance, and the concern that insurance companies would start leaving the Florida, the government of the State of Florida has activated several government programs to assist Floridians in affordably obtaining hurricane protection.
- Up to $10,000 in government grants for qualifying Florida homeowners through the MySafe Florida Home Program.
- Hurricane protection is tax-free until 2024; Saving homeowners an additional 7% on any qualifying wind-mitigation project.
With both of these programs in place, the average Florida homeowner looking to protect their home with hurricane windows can expect to save up to $11,750 when utilizing the My Safe Florida Home grant, and taking advantage of the tax-free wind-mitigation program.
Hurricane Window Pricing is based on options and styles
Pricing for hurricane impact windows can be broken down into two different sections. We will provide a range of pricing for each of the sections.
Options
Refers to optional or included features that can be added to the hurricane impact window; some options may make the impact window stronger, more energy-efficient, or more durable.
Each manufacturer may offer these additions to your hurricane impact windows for different pricing, other manufacturers may offer these options completely free of charge, some manufacturers may not offer that option at all.
Style
Style refers to the design of the hurricane impact window, such as the number of panels and shape of the glass panels.
Each manufacturer charges a different price for different styles and options. This can help you make a more informed decision based on the options that you want. Some hurricane window manufacturers may not even offer the options that you want.
All prices will be shown for the top three hurricane impact window manufacturers:
Note: these manufacturers do not sell products to the general public.
Hurricane Impact Window Pricing based on Styles
Please keep in mind that pricing changes frequently, and these prices may be out-of-date. For an accurate quote please contact us. These prices are provided to give you a rough idea of what you can expect.
Hurricane Impact Window Pricing Based on Options
Entry-Level vs. Premium hurricane window product lines
When looking at hurricane window product lines, it’s essential to read the specifications. Entry-level windows aren’t always inferior to premium lines; generally, there are only minor differences between entry-level windows and the more premium offerings.
All of our windows, whether entry-level or premium, will meet and exceed the strict requirements of the Miami-Dade Building Code. The main difference will come down to which options are included at the base price and which options can be purchased at an additional fee.
More commonly, the main difference between entry-level lines and premium lines comes down to frame size.
When comparing the entry-level line of windows from the five top manufacturers (ES Windows, CGI Sparta, Eco, Lawson, and PGT), the main difference between the entry-level line and the premium line of impact windows is the thickness of the frame.
Generally, all major manufacturers have a thicker frame on their premium options, except for PGT, which only offers a 2 3/8″ frame.
For entry-level options:
- ES and PGT offer a 2 3/8 inch frame
- PGT, CGI Sparta, ECO, and Lawson offer a 2 inch frame.
For premium options:
- ES Elite, CGI Sentinel, and ECO 100-Series offer 3 inch frames.
- Lawson only offers 2 3/4 inch frame.
- PGT does not offer additional frame thicknesses (2 3/8 inch frame.)
What does a thicker impact window frame do?
Generally, a thicker frame with reinforced aluminum will almost always give you a stronger window with a higher-pressure resistance (PSF.) Combine a thicker reinforced aluminum frame with heat-strength glass, and the impact window can be up to 20% stronger.
The questions you have to ask yourself when deciding which hurricane window option to choose is;
- Is your home in a high-risk area for hurricanes?
- Is the window or door in a location that can experience high winds? Many customers chose to mix and match premium windows with entry-level windows in different areas of their homes.
- Do you want no safety compromises and do not mind paying a bit extra (generally, an additional 10%) for peace of mind?
If you answered “yes” to all of these questions, using a premium option may be right. Suppose you answered “no” to any of these questions. In that case, you should consider going with an alternative such as ES Multimax, where you can most times get the best of both worlds in terms of pricing and strength — all options, whether entry-level or premium, will offer excellent protection.
This is not an exhaustive hurricane window pricing guide
The figures we provide are ranges due to slight differences in pricing depending on the size of the hurricane window.
This list is not exhaustive and may not be entirely accurate for our pricing at all times, as hurricane impact window pricing is changing very frequently due to supply chain shortages.
Certain installation types can drastically change the price of hurricane impact windows.
Different types of hurricane impact window installations can influence pricing dramatically
Some examples of particular installation types that could change the price of impact windows dramatically are;
Is your home built with a wood frame?
This may increase the installation price because there isn’t as much clearance for the impact windows. So, the drywall must be cut and finished.
Is your home in a historical zone/community?
Older homes in a historical community are typically built with a wood frame, which incurs extra costs. Also, extra code requirements are enforced by the city for historical societies.
Do you have 2-inch wood bucking?
Hurricane impact windows require 3-inch wood bucking, and the existing 2-inch wood bucking would have to be replaced, which typically costs $50 per hurricane window.
Do you need oversized or second-floor hurricane impact windows?
With oversized hurricane windows or second-floor hurricane windows, scaffolding may be required on the interior and exterior. Scaffolding incurs additional costs for installation.
All prices are subject to change without notice.
This article is not kept up to date with current pricing.
Please contact us for the most up-to-date pricing.