Largo HVHZ Windows and Doors
Get Extra-Strong Windows and Doors for Your Largo Home!
When storms roll through Largo, do you know if you can trust your windows and doors to hold them back? Enhance your home’s protection with HVHZ windows and doors before it’s too late!
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“Best of the Best” HVHZ Window Installation for Largo
What Does HVHZ Mean?
HVHZ is an acronym for “high-velocity hurricane zone,” which is a designation in the Florida Building Code that covers the Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. An HVHZ window is a window that meets or exceeds the structural integrity requirements for these counties.
This means that HVHZ windows have superior wind pressure and impact resistance compared to non-HVHZ certified windows.
What Largo Homeowners Should Know
The HVHZ Label
A true HVHZ-rated window or door will have a permanent etching on the glass or frame with a special FL number or NOA number on so you can verify it.
How to Verify HVHZ
Once you find the FL number or NOA number, you can go to the Florida DBPR website and use their product application search.
Small Missile Impact Testing
HVHZ windows are tested against repeated impacts from small objects. 30 steel balls weighing 2 grams are fired at 130 feet per second (88 mph).
Largo HVHZ Window Options
Impact Windows
Double Hung Windows
Sliding Windows
Picture Windows
Casement Windows
Awning Windows
Bay Windows
Custom Windows
HVHZ Certified Doors
A lot of Largo homeowners might underestimate how important their doors are when it comes to preventing storm damage. However, having strong, HVHZ-certified doors to complement your windows can be crucial for keeping out hurricane-force winds, rain, and storm debris when severe weather strikes.
Largo HVHZ Doors
Sliding Glass Doors
Standard Sliding Patio Doors
Pocket Sliding Doors
Bi-Parting Doors
Exterior Doors
Entry Doors
Double Entry Doors
French Doors
Our impact-rated French doors feature extremely tough construction and expert installation to stand up to major windstorms and flying debris during hurricanes.
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Largo HVHZ Window FAQs
What Are the Negatives of HVHZ Windows?
The biggest thing that prevents most homeowners from using high velocity hurricane zone impact windows over less durable windows is the cost. The upfront cost of installing HVHZ windows and doors is typically higher than the cost for non-impact windows because they cost more to make and require more careful installation to make the most of their impact resistance.
However, using HVHZ windows and doors can provide a long-term savings that more than makes up for the price difference.
Think of it this way: Which is more expensive?
Installing an HVHZ window once, or doing all of the following:
- Paying for a second window replacement
- Repairing damaged flooring
- Replacing damaged furniture
- Paying for increased homeowner’s insurance premiums
- Having to rent a room while water/storm damage remediation work is being done
- Paying for storage for undamaged furniture and belongings while remediation crews work
- Paying for storm damage remediation work
While the upfront expense is higher, the long-term benefits more than outweigh this ‘negative’ of choosing premium-quality HVHZ windows
Are HVHZ Windows the Same as Impact Windows?
No. Although the two terms are closely related, HVHZ-rated and impact-rated aren’t the same thing.
The difference is that HVHZ windows are specifically designed and certified to withstand category 5 hurricanes per Miami-Dade and Broward County standards. Meanwhile, impact windows are rated to resist impacts, but aren’t guaranteed to meet HVHZ requirements.
All HVHZ windows are impact-rated, but not all impact windows are HVHZ-rated. Sort of like how all semi-trucks are motor vehicles, but not all motor vehicles are semi-trucks.
How Can I Tell if a Window Is HVHZ Certified?
Every HVHZ-certified window should have a small, permanent etching somewhere on the frame or the glass pane that has a Florida Product Approval (abbreviated as FL) number or a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) number.
Once found, you can go to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) Product Approval search page to enter the product’s information and look up if it has a valid HVZH certification.
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 survive sustained 245+ mph winds are currently considered “hurricane-proof.”
What Are the Risk Categories Defined by the FBC?
The FBC divides buildings into different risk categories based on their occupancy and risk of harm coming to people if the building fails. The more likely injury is to occur, the tougher the structure needs to be to meet HVHZ rating requirements.
The four risk categories and their required ‘wind load’ durabilities (i.e., the level of 3-second wind gusts they have to be able to withstand) in Miami-Dade County are:
- Risk Category 1 (Little to no risk to human life, such as a shed or other building not meant to have people inside): 165 mph
- Risk Category II (“Standard” risk to human life, such as a single-family home): 175 mph
- Risk Category III (Substantial hazard to human life, such as schools or assembly buildings): 186 mph
- Risk Category IV (Essential facilities needed for hurricane response like hospitals or fire, rescue, and police stations): 186 mph
To be HVHZ-rated for a single-family home, an HVHZ door or window would need to be able to stand up to 175 mph winds, as those would be “Risk Category II” structures.
Are High Velocity Hurricane Zone Windows Really Hurricane-Proof?
They’re 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, or 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 and other hazards.
That said, HVHZ windows provide a significant improvement over other windows for your home’s hurricane survivability. You’re much less likely to have water or debris intrusion into the home with high velocity hurricane-resistant windows and doors than you are with non-HVHZ windows and doors.
This can mean the difference between only having to replace the window, and having to replace the window, pull out the flooring/carpets, replace your furniture, and get mold and storm damage experts to fix your home’s interior.
Can HVHZ Windows Help Reduce My Insurance Costs?
Yes! Installing HVHZ windows and other weatherproofing features can help you reduce the cost of home insurance in the state of Florida.
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.
Largo’s Best HVHZ Window Installers
Get the best installation service to go with your HVHZ window replacement! High-quality installation work can mean the difference between enjoying your new windows for practically a lifetime and being stuck with a severe case of buyer’s remorse. Here’s why Karoly is the best HVHZ-rated window installation company in town:
We Never Outsource Installation Work. So many ‘installation’ companies outsource their installation work to subcontractors to do the job as cheaply as possible, leading to inconsistent quality. At Karoly, we only ever use in-house crews who we hold to a high standard of quality and service.
We Work With You Every Step of the Way. At Karoly, we do more than just install windows. We work with you every step of the way so you’re always in the loop about your new windows. We’ll proactively reach out and communicate to keep you up to date on your HVHZ windows.
We Do the Work the Right Way, Every Time. When we install HVHZ windows, we don’t cut corners. Ever. Our in-house installation techs are held to a high quality standard and follow a set process so the work is done the right way, every time.
We Will Price Match Realistic Quotes. We’re confident that you won’t find a better deal elsewhere. We’ll price match quotes for comparable HVHZ window installation jobs. If we can’t, we’ll explain why we think the other quote is unrealistic so you can be better informed for future quotes.
We Back Everything WIth a Platinum Standard Lifetime Guarantee. Our work is covered by a 25-year installation warranty and a 50-year material warranty so you can have peace of mind.
We go the extra mile for our customers in Largo so you can rest easy knowing that your home is protected as much as possible with top-quality HVHZ window installation work.
Other Areas We Serve
Are you looking to install a high velocity hurricane zone-rated window for your home, but live outside of Largo? Karoly can help! We provide HVHZ-certified window replacement services in:
Best-in-Class HVHZ Window Installation!
