Protection that is always on
Impact windows and doors have a laminated glass that holds together when it is hit, the same idea as a car windshield, so flying debris cracks it without breaching the house. There is nothing to close, nothing to store, and nothing to forget. When a storm comes you do not do anything, because the protection is already installed as your windows. For someone who travels or simply does not want to think about it, that is the whole appeal.
What you pay for it
It is the most expensive way to protect a home because you are replacing the actual windows and doors, not adding a shutter to what you have. That said, you are also getting new windows: better sealing, lower cooling bills, less outside noise, and UV protection that keeps your floors and furniture from fading. If your windows are old and due anyway, going impact folds the storm protection into a replacement you needed.
Impact or shutters
If your windows are newer and fine, shutters protect them for less. If your windows are old, drafty, and on the list to replace, impact windows do two jobs at once and can be the better value over time. Many coastal homes end up with a mix: impact glass where windows were due, shutters on the rest.
- Nothing to close, the protection is the window itself
- Best option if you might not be home when a storm comes
- Cuts noise and blocks UV every day, not just in storms
