So what is Turtle Glass, exactly? If you have a home near a beach, odds are that you’ve been told that any windows you install will have to have Turtle Glass rather than an ordinary glass tint in them.
A lot of people, especially homeowners who are new to Florida, don’t know much about the Florida Building Code (FBC) until they try to get some home modification (like a window replacement) approved. That’s when they get hit with a bunch of unfamiliar terms and rules.
Part of the problem is that many homes are built to older standards. Especially in Pinellas County, where, according to data from Best Neighborhoods, has homes with a median age “a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1975 against 1980.”
Many of these older homes are grandfathered in under older versions of the FBC’s standards. They may have been built at a time where Turtle Glass or other enhancements were not mandatory. It wasn’t until 1986 that the state legislature made reforms to the Beaches and Shores Preservation Act… and the Model Sea Turtle Lighting Ordinance from which Turtle Glass gets its name wasn’t adopted until 1993 (Source: Sea Turtle Conservancy).
The issue is that homes built prior to the ordinance may not have been required to immediately make code-compliant upgrades to bring them into line with the newest version of the code. That requirement only applies when the homeowner seeks to make a significant alteration to their home. Current FBC standards are not retroactively applied to existing homes, even when selling them.
But, when you decide to make a major home improvement like replacing your windows with newer impact-rated models that have better energy efficiency, the state will insist that the new windows meet all FBC guidelines, not just the ones for impact protection!
This includes the use of Turtle Glass if your home happens to be in an area where Turtle Glass is a requirement.
What Is Turtle Glass?
Turtle Glass is a specially-treated glass that has a coating designed to limit the amount of visible light that leaves your home. This helps dim brighter lights in the home so that they don’t distract vulnerable wildlife such as sea turtles who follow sunlight to the sea upon hatching.
Visible Light Transmission, or VLT, can be a critical issue for marine life conservation as sea turtle hatchlings get distracted by lights from homes located near the beachfront. This leads to the hatchlings moving deeper inland towards these homes rather than into the sea, which also increases the risk of being caught by predators before reaching the (relative) safety of the ocean for which they are most suited to survive in.
How much visible light does a window have to block to be classified as Turtle Glass? Specific codes vary by municipality. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) website has a list of links to all of the individual counties/municipalities (more than 90 of them!) that have their own ordinance related to Turtle Glass.
A general rule of thumb is that, to be considered Turtle Glass, a window must reduce VLT by 45% or more from the inside to the outside of your home. Each municipality’s ordinances also have further guidelines on the placement of outdoor lights that a home must follow to reduce risk to marine life.
How Does Turtle Glass Work?
The operating method of Turtle Glass is usually simple: applying a dark tint to severely limit the transmission of visible light through the window opening. Generally speaking, the darker the tint, the better the VLT inhibition.
But some companies actually offer Turtle Glass tints that don’t look dark at all. For example, PGT’s SolarCool Bronze Turtle Glass looks like an amber-colored mirror from the outside, blocking the majority of visible light with a reflective metallic coating and a tinted glass substrate (so tinting remains a key part of the process).
The effect is subtle, but it does wonders to reduce visible light coming through the glass:
Should I Use an Aftermarket Tint on My Windows?
Sometimes, to bring a window into line with their local Turtle Glass ordinances quickly for the lowest possible cost, some homeowners opt to apply an aftermarket tint to their existing windows.
At best, this is a stopgap measure, though it can be an effective one.
However, there are several potential issues with applying a dark tint to your existing windows:
- Externally-Mounted Tints Can Peel/Chip/Scratch. One of the most common problems with an externally-applied aftermarket window tint is that the tint may peel or chip away over time from regular use. Every window cleaning session becomes an exercise in the utmost caution as you have to avoid accidentally damaging the tint. Every stormy day wears away at tints on the outdoor side of the glass, while curtains brushing interior-applied tints can cause scrapes over time. If too much of the tint peels away, it loses its effectiveness as a Turtle Glass code compliance solution.
- Aftermarket Tints Can Void Your Window’s Warranty. If you apply an aftermarket tint to your window, most manufacturers will consider that a major modification. One that will void any warranty you may have on your window. However, this is less of an issue when it comes to Turtle Glass tints, as any home with windows that need Turtle Glass and don’t already have it are likely well past their warranty period.
- It Doesn’t Address Any Other Deficiencies with Your Window. Applying a layer of dark tint to a window does nothing to address any other issues they may have. For example, if you had a weak, non-impact window, simply applying a dark tint won’t make it any stronger against high-speed winds or flying debris impacts. It also won’t fix any air leaks. To fix these kinds of issues, you need a whole window replacement.
While an aftermarket tint can be a useful stopgap measure, it’s not as good or long-term a solution as getting a new impact window with a strong Turtle Glass tint applied to the inside of the insulated glass unit itself, where it remains hermetically sealed against scratches and scrapes.
Get Turtle Glass Windows Installed by the Experts!
Need Turtle Glass windows for your home? Reach out to Karoly Windows & Doors today to get expert installation on brand-new Turtle Glass!
Karoly is Tampa Bay’s top-rated impact window installation company because we:
- Never outsource installation work. Every Turtle Glass window is installed by one of our experienced technicians.
- Back installations with a Lifetime Guarantee. On Simonton Window installs, we offer free labor for any warranty repairs or replacements you need for a full 25 years.
- Provide expertise before, during, and after the installation. Our service techs who do the measurements and initial consultation are real experts, not just salespeople. Our goal is to educate and help you find the best window for your needs, not just pummel you with high-pressure sales tactics.
Reach out today to get started with a free, no obligation consultation!
