Storm Windows Installation for Older and Historic Homes

Storm Windows That Protect What You Already Have

Added hurricane protection installed over your existing windows, by a crew that shows you the ratings.

Storm windows are protective exterior units fitted over your current windows to reduce damage from wind-driven rain and flying debris, while cutting heat and outside noise. They add a layer of defense without a full replacement, installed by licensed crews and backed by a lifetime guarantee. Every quote includes a free measurement and the product's rating documentation.

Straight Talk

The Honest Truth About “Hurricane-Proof” Glass

No window is truly hurricane-proof, and any company that promises otherwise is overselling. Storm windows add a protective outer layer over your existing glass that helps shield it from wind-driven rain and airborne debris during a storm. The accurate term the industry uses is impact-rated, and that distinction changes what a product can and cannot do in a storm.

When maximum, code-level protection is the goal, impact-rated windows are the standard. Those products are tested to ASTM E1996 and TAS 201 large-missile requirements, carry a design-pressure rating, and hold a Florida Product Approval. We hand over that paperwork with every quote. If an installer cannot show you the rating documents, the product is not verified storm protection.

Protection Without Replacement

Who Storm Windows Suit Best

Storm windows work for homeowners who want stronger protection and lower energy bills without tearing out the windows they already have. They fit older and historic homes where the original windows are worth preserving, budget-minded owners who want a meaningful upgrade at a lower cost than full replacement, and anyone who prefers to harden the house one phase at a time rather than all at once.

Most companies push full replacement and treat the layered, keep-your-existing-windows option as an afterthought. It is a genuine, well-supported choice, and for many homes it is the practical first step. If your current windows are single-pane or aging, a storm window turns them into a two-layer system that resists wind and debris better and holds cool air in through the summer.

The Look of the House Stays Intact

Styles Made to Match Your Home

Storm windows come in the same shapes as the windows you already live with, so the look of the house stays intact while the protection improves. The right style depends on how the opening is used and how much ventilation you want.

Single-Hung

A clean fit for bedrooms, bathrooms, and standard rectangular openings.

Horizontal Sliding

Built for wide openings and Florida rooms where a sash glides rather than lifts.

Casement

Crank-operated for full ventilation, common in older homes designed around cross-breezes.

Picture and Fixed

For view walls and stairwells that need light rather than airflow.

Architectural Shapes

Arched and custom profiles that keep the look of period and custom homes.

Matched to the Exposure

Frames and Glass Chosen for the Climate

Frame material is matched to where the home sits. Aluminum resists corrosion and stands up to higher wind loads, which makes it the better choice for waterfront and coastal-facing homes exposed to salt air. Vinyl adds insulation value and works well for inland properties, where salt exposure is lower and energy efficiency is the priority.

Glass is where the everyday comfort comes from. Low-E coatings reflect solar heat and ease the load on the air conditioner through the long, hot months. Laminated and insulated packages raise the sound rating for a noticeably quieter interior. Tinted options add privacy and cut glare, and turtle-friendly glass is available for oceanfront homes that fall under coastal lighting rules.

One Crew, Start to Finish

From First Visit to Finished Install

The job runs in four steps, and the same licensed crew handles all of them. There is no handoff to an outside contractor, so one team is responsible from the first measurement to the final walk-through.

  1. Measure

    A technician measures every opening, reviews frame and glass options, and prepares a written, per-opening quote.

  2. Select

    You choose the frame material and glass package matched to your home's exposure and how each room is used.

  3. Fabricate and Install

    Each unit is custom-built to your openings over roughly four to eight weeks, then installed in one to a few days on site.

  4. Close Out

    The crew seals every perimeter against water intrusion, confirms smooth operation, cleans up inside and out, and registers your warranty.

Accountability After the Sale

Standing Behind Every Installation

A window is only as good as the crew that installs it and the warranty that backs it. Because the same licensed team handles measurement, fabrication oversight, and installation, there is no finger-pointing between a salesperson and a subcontractor if something needs attention later. One team is responsible for the result.

Every installation carries a lifetime guarantee alongside the manufacturer's product warranty, and both are registered on your behalf at closeout, so the coverage is documented from the start rather than something you track down years later.

Service after the sale is where many window projects fall short, and it is where an in-house crew makes the difference. If a sash needs adjustment or a seal needs attention, the people who installed it are the people who return. What matters is how a window performs through every season after installation, and that is what the guarantee covers.

Local Code, Local History

Built to Hold Up in Hurricane Season

Palm Beach County sits inside Florida's Wind-Borne Debris Region, where the building code requires opening protection on most homes and new construction. The county is not part of the stricter High-Velocity Hurricane Zone that governs Miami-Dade and Broward, so products here need a Florida Product Approval rather than a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance. In practice that widens the range of approved options and keeps them more affordable.

The record is recent. In September 2004, Hurricane Frances crossed the county as a Category 2, and Hurricane Jeanne followed on nearly the same path three weeks later, breaking windows across neighborhoods built before the 2002 code updates. Homes still carrying pre-2002 single-pane frames are exactly the ones a storm window is designed to reinforce. Coverage spans West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Jupiter, and the surrounding communities.

Two Products, Two Jobs

Storm Windows Versus Impact Windows

The two are often confused, but they work differently. Storm windows add a layer over what you have; impact windows replace the window entirely with laminated, code-rated glass. Which one fits depends on your home, your timeline, and whether code compliance and insurance credits are the goal.

What MattersStorm WindowsImpact Windows
What they areAn added protective unit over existing windowsFull replacement with laminated impact glass
Protection levelAn extra defensive layer; not code-rated aloneTested to ASTM E1996 / TAS 201 with a DP rating
Best forOlder or historic homes, phased upgradesPermanent, code-compliant opening protection
Insurance creditMay not qualify on its ownQualifies for wind-mitigation credits
TimelineFaster; no impact inspection requiredLonger; includes permitting and inspection

Many homeowners start with storm windows on the most exposed openings and move to impact windows later. When code compliance or an insurance credit is the priority, we will say so directly and point you toward the impact-rated option.

FAQ

Storm Window Questions Homeowners Ask

Are storm windows the same as hurricane-proof windows?
No window is truly hurricane-proof; the honest term is impact-rated. Storm windows add a protective layer over your existing windows, while impact windows are laminated units tested to ASTM E1996. Any product's real protection is shown in its rating paperwork, which should be provided with every quote.
How are storm windows different from impact windows?
Storm windows install over the windows you already have, adding a defensive layer at a lower level of effort. Impact windows replace the window entirely with laminated, code-rated glass. Storm windows preserve your existing windows; impact windows meet the building code on their own and can qualify for insurance credits.
Do storm windows really improve energy efficiency?
Yes. The sealed air gap between the storm window and your existing window acts as insulation, which reduces heat gain in a hot climate and eases the load on your cooling system. Low-E coatings improve that effect further, and laminated glass options also noticeably reduce outside noise.
Will storm windows qualify me for an insurance discount?
Not always on their own. Wind-mitigation credits generally require code-compliant opening protection, which impact-rated products provide. Whether a storm window qualifies depends on its specific rating and your carrier's mitigation inspection, so confirm your goal before choosing a product.
How long does the whole process take?
Because each unit is custom-built to your exact openings, fabrication usually runs about four to eight weeks. The on-site installation itself is typically completed in one to a few days, depending on how many openings are involved.
Do you use your own crews or subcontractors?
Every installation is handled by licensed in-house crews, never subcontractors. That means one accountable team from the first measurement through closeout, and the same people are the ones who return if the windows ever need service or adjustment.
Should I choose aluminum or vinyl frames?
It depends on where the home sits. Aluminum resists corrosion and handles higher wind loads, making it the better fit for coastal and waterfront properties exposed to salt air. Vinyl adds insulation value and suits inland homes where energy efficiency is the main concern.
Can storm windows work on an older or historic home?
Yes. Because they install over the existing windows rather than replacing them, storm windows keep the original look of a period home while improving how it holds up in a storm and how comfortable it stays.

Ready to Add a Layer of Protection?

Call (561) 517-9399 to book your free measurement.

Talk with a crew that shows you the ratings, installs with its own licensed team, and backs the work with a lifetime guarantee. We will tell you whether storm windows or impact windows suit your home.