Clearwater High Velocity Hurricane Zone-Rated Windows
Get Hurricane Protection That Goes Above and Beyond
Karoly Windows & Doors works with top-shelf Florida window manufacturers to provide you with the best high-velocity hurricane windows for your Clearwater home!
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Award-Winning High Velocity Hurricane Zone Window Services
Get High Velocity Hurricane Zone-Certified Windows in Clearwater
While Clearwater isn’t in one of Florida’s designated high-velocity hurricane zones, it’s still important to have the best hurricane protection possible. This is especially true for waterfront properties. Using HVHZ-rated windows and doors can help you protect your home and your family from the worst storms hurricane season may bring.
About HVHZ Certification for Windows
Large Missile Impact Testing
Windows need to pass Missile Impact D testing, where a 9-pound 2×4 is fired at the window at 50 feet per second (34 mph). This verifies its durability.
Cyclic Wind Pressure Loading (Inward)
Windows need to stand up to inward-acting wind pressure for thousands of cycles at different intensities.
Cyclic Wind Pressure Loading (Outward)
Windows also need to pass outward-acting wind pressures between 0.5p to 1.0p for thousands of cycles.
Clearwater HVHZ Windows
Impact Windows
Any HVHZ window will, by necessity, be an impact window. Our High Velocity Hurricane Zone certified impact windows are available in a variety of styles to best suit your home’s needs.
Double Hung Windows
With two vertically-movable sashes, these windows are a popular option for many Clearwater homes whether you’re on the beach or in the middle of Clearwater near the airpark!
Sliding Windows
Horizontal sliding windows are a great fit for larger window spaces. HVHZ sliding windows are easy to operate and durable enough to stand up to harsh hurricane conditions.
Picture Windows
Get a great view of the outdoors and protect your home with these durable and gorgeous windows. HVHZ-rated picture windows provide a good view of your surroundings while being super-tough.
Casement Windows
These windows are a great option for homeowners who want a semi-classical hinged opening action that’s easy to use but also incredibly durable against hurricane-force winds.
Awning Windows
Awning windows have a top hinge that lets them swing outward in a way that blocks falling rain in a regular storm. For hurricanes, they seal tight to block out wind and debris to protect your home.
Bay Windows
Bay windows are a great fit for Clearwater homes, but because they project out from your home’s walls, they need to be extra-strong. Get HVHZ-rated windows made to withstand extreme weather.
Custom Windows
We work with best-in-class window manufacturers like Simonton and PGT to provide Clearwater homeowners with custom windows that keep your house safer during major storms.
Get High Velocity Hurricane Doors in Clearwater
Don’t forget about your doors! The entryways into your home are another major weak point that needs to be protected from the worst storm impacts during a hurricane… especially if you’re on the beach. Get HVHZ-rated doors to protect your Clearwater home from the biggest storms of hurricane season.
HVHZ-Rated Hurricane Doors
Sliding Glass Doors
Get a sliding glass door that’s built to take hurricane-force winds to protect your home while still getting a great view of your pool, patio, or backyard with HVHZ doors that are made for extreme weather.
Standard Sliding Patio Doors
Clearwater homes need durable and attractive patio doors for their homes. Our HVHZ-rated doors give you a great view while providing top-class protection against hurricanes.
Pocket Sliding Doors
Pocket sliders are so called because they slide into a recess along your wall rather than stopping at the edge of the door frame. Create a clean look for your backdoor while protecting your home.
Bi-Parting Doors
With the locking point in the center of the doorframe, HVHZ bi-parting doors need to be extra strong. We work with top-class manufacturers to provide durable and reliable bi-parting doors for Clearwater.
Exterior Doors
Protect your home from major hurricanes while building its aesthetic appeal by using HVHZ-rated exterior doors that can stand up to harsh storm conditions well above regular impact window standards.
Entry Doors
Font doors are a crucial part of the first impression your home creates. Make an impression that lasts with extra-durable HVHZ entry doors installed by Clearwater’s best replacement door company.
Double Entry Doors
With a larger surface area than single doors, double entry doors need to be extra strong to stand up to hurricanes. Get HVHZ-rated double doors to safeguard your Clearwater home!
French Doors
These classical, heavy-duty doors bring both extreme durability and curb appeal. Our HVHZ-certified French doors are a great addition for Clearwater homes that face high hurricane risk.
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Clearwater High Velocity Hurricane Zone Window FAQs
What Is the High Velocity Hurricane Zone Rating?
The short answer is that it’s a set of building codes for Florida homes that applies to Miami-Dade and Broward County. The Florida Building Code (FBC) applies more stringent structural integrity requirements on buildings in these areas because they have a high risk of encountering category 5 hurricanes.
Are HVHZ Windows the Same as Impact Windows?
No. HVHZ-rated and impact-rated aren’t the same thing. However, the two classifications are closely related.
The difference is that HVHZ windows are specifically designed and certified to withstand category 5 hurricanes. Meanwhile, impact windows are rated to resist impacts, but aren’t guaranteed to meet HVHZ standards.
All HVHZ windows are impact-rated, but not all impact windows are HVHZ-rated. Sort of like how all homes are buildings, but not all buildings are homes.
What’s the Highest Category Rating for a Hurricane?
On the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale, the highest category rating is category 5. This means that the hurricane has 157 mph or higher sustained winds—making them the most destructive hurricanes. Category 5 storms frequently cause catastrophic damage to homes over a large area.
Insufficiently-protected homes will be destroyed if subjected to a category 5 hurricane.
What Is “Category 5 Hurricane Proof?”
A “hurricane-proof” structure is one that is built to withstand winds in excess of the wind speed of the most powerful hurricane ever recorded.
As of the time of this writing, the strongest hurricane on record is, according to The Weather Channel, Hurricane Patricia, which had sustained winds of 215 mph. Buildings that can take that level of wind are considered “hurricane-proof.”
At least, until even stronger hurricanes break the previous record.
Do You Do Non-HVHZ Windows?
If you don’t need HVHZ-rated windows, Karoly does offer a variety of other impact window products that are tough enough to stand up to non-Cat 5 storms.
When you request an in-person assessment, one of our window installation experts can help you determine if you need HVHZ windows or if another type of impact window will suffice.
Are High Velocity Hurricane Zone Windows Really Hurricane-Proof?
High velocity hurricane zone windows incredibly resistant to hurricane-force winds and impacts, but they aren’t absolutely hurricane-proof. A hurricane that’s strong enough can put out winds that will topple almost any building, spawn tornadoes that do massive localized damage, and even pick up and throw cars.
An HVHZ window can take a lot of punishment and will have “fail states” taken into account with multiple panes of glass, flexible laminate layers, and strong frames to keep protecting the home even after the first layer of glass is broken, but no window will be 100% resistant to all potential super-storms.
That said, HVHZ windows provide a significant improvement over other windows for your home’s hurricane survivability.
Can HVHZ Windows Help Reduce My Insurance Costs?
They can! Installing HVHZ windows and other weatherproofing features actually can help you reduce the cost of home insurance for your Florida home.
This is because insurance companies have to consider risk when making insurance quotes. Florida is considered a high risk area for hurricane impacts, which drives up home insurance costs in the state. Taking measures against hurricanes and their effects can reduce your risk profile, leading to potential savings on insurance costs.
As noted by Oyer Insurance, “Installing impact-resistant windows can protect your home from wind damage during hurricanes. This upgrade can make you eligible for discounts from many insurers.” With insurance costs being in the thousands per year for many homes, an HVHZ window upgrade can be a major long-term cost savings that pays for itself in time.
Clearwater’s Best HVHZ Window Company
Karoly Windows & Doors is a Tampa Bay Times Best of the Best Winner (2023, 2024 & 2025) and has earned the National Best of the Best award every year since 2018, thanks to our:
Best-in-Class Service. Where many contractors cut corners to get the job done as cheaply as possible, we’re dedicated to going the extra mile to ensure that every install job is done perfectly.
Proactive Communication. We believe in building trust by being transparent and open to keep you informed from start to finish. Stay in the know so you’re never in the dark.
Consistent Quality. On every project, we tailor each detail until it meets the highest standards and expectations so you’re 100% satisfied. We never cut corners and we use in-house installation technicians to ensure our standards are upheld.
Best Price Guarantee. We’re confident that you won’t find a better deal elsewhere. We provide the best quality and will price match comparable window installation project quotes.
Lifetime Labor & Extensive Warranties. Our work is covered by a 25 year installation warranty and a 50-year material warranty so you can have peace of mind.
Our commitment to being the best replacement window company for Clearwater homeowners is what separates Karoly Windows & Doors from the competition.
Areas We Serve
Want HVHZ windows and doors for a home that isn’t in Clearwater? Don’t worry! We also provide best-in-class window replacement services for:
25+ Years of Proven Excellence in Clearwater
