If you’re worried that your current door may not be secure or durable enough for you, then you may want to consider installing an impact-rated door or hurricane-proof door. They’re as safe as doors get and provide a wealth of other benefits. But what does it mean for a door to be impact-rated or hurricane-proof? How do you know that’s your best choice for your home? You need to be able to make an informed decision to keep you and your loved ones safe. Read on to learn about impact-rated and hurricane-proof doors, what benefits they provide, and who needs them the most.
What Are Impact-Rated and Hurricane-Proof Doors?
An impact-rated door and a hurricane-proof door are essentially the same things called different names in different contexts. They’re designed and manufactured to be able to withstand the effects of a hurricane. This includes not only the brutal force of the actual winds but also the force and impact of debris that gets thrown around.
Steel and wrought iron doors can withstand the beating of a hurricane on their own as long as the metal is thick enough. However, when those doors have glass in them, which most do, that glass needs to be treated to become impact-resistant. A special impact-resistant glass is generally explicitly manufactured for these doors. This glass can chip and crack when hit with sharp objects and flying debris, but it won’t shatter and send shards of glass flying.
Where Are Impact-Rated or Hurricane-Proof Doors Needed?
Impact-rated and hurricane-proof doors are needed most in locations where hurricanes are a common occurrence. Hurricanes are able to form over warm ocean waters, such as the Gulf of Mexico. This is why Florida is so commonly hit with hurricanes and why the coast of Texas is often hit by them as well. However, strong winds don’t need to reach hurricane level for them to become dangerous. Hurricanes technically only occur when the winds reach 74 mph, but winds slightly slower than that can still damage your home. It’s most important to have an impact-rated or hurricane-proof door when in a hurricane region, but it’s still safer to have one of these doors in areas that don’t get hurricanes and still get strong winds.
The Other Benefits of Impact-Rated and Hurricane-Proof Doors
While the main benefit of impact-rated and hurricane-proof doors is that they keep you and your home safe during extreme weather, they’re also beneficial in other ways.
Improved Safety
Being built to withstand hurricanes makes these doors just generally safer than others, even if you’re not worried about storms. Burglars will often go for the front door to break into a home, so having a solid entryway is essential. If a hurricane can’t take down your door, then someone trying to break into your home won’t be able to either. Having difficulty getting through your front door is likely good enough of a deterrent to make potential intruders stay away.
Superior Insulation
Because of the way they’re designed, impact-rated and hurricane-proof doors are also better insulators than typical doors. With one of these doors, you’ll do better at keeping the heat out in the summer and warmth in during the winter. This helps with your personal comfort and can save you money in the long run. Having your home regulate the temperature inside on its own means you won’t need to rely on your heater or air conditioner as much, so you will be using less energy.
Noise Reduction
An added benefit of the superior insulation is the reduction in noise passing through your door. Having to listen to the traffic on the street or your loud neighbors can make relaxing after a long day difficult. Installing one of these doors means you don’t have to deal with all the noises of the outside world when you’re trying to relax in your own home. Even if you live in a somewhat quiet area, this noise reduction can actually provide you with more privacy. Just like the noise won’t be coming into your home, the noise you make won’t be leaving for people outside to hear.
Protection from Harmful UV Rays
One of the lesser-known benefits of an impact-rated or hurricane-proof door is that it can protect you and your home from harmful UV rays. When UV rays pass through the glass into your home, they can be detrimental to your health and even your belongings. But with one of these doors, you can gladly let the sunshine into your home without worrying about the damage being done.
Save on Insurance
Because of all the damages caused during extreme weather events, some insurance providers are willing to provide discounts for homeowners with impact-rated or hurricane-proof doors. In those cases, the investment you put into a new and more secure door could end up paying for itself over time just through insurance. However, it’s crucial that you speak with your specific insurance provider before making this decision, as this isn’t the case with every company. It’s also possible the door you choose may have to meet specific requirements to get any discount.
Increase Your Home Value
All of these added benefits make an impact-rated or hurricane-proof door a good investment on its own, but what’s even better is that they also increase the value of your home. Having a more secure home that is better insulated and potentially cheaper on insurance will make the home far more appealing in the eyes of potential buyers. Not only that, but safety doesn’t have to come at the price of appearance. These doors, especially when made as wrought iron or steel doors, can come in a wide variety of styles that all look stunning. Having both a gorgeous and practical door for your entryway is a guaranteed way to increase your home’s value and curb appeal.
An Impact-Rated Door or a Hurricane-Proof Door: Who Could Use One?
An impact-rated or hurricane-proof door will be most beneficial to anyone living in hurricane-prone regions, such as along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. One of these doors is far more likely to leave your home intact after a storm than a regular door. However, the added security and other benefits make an impact-rated or hurricane-proof door a good choice for anyone. Everyone should have a secure and durable door to keep them and their loved ones safe.
Get Your Own Impact-Rated or Hurricane-Proof Door from Bighorn Iron Doors
If you could use an impact-rated or hurricane-proof door, Bighorn Iron Doors has you covered! We create the highest-quality wrought iron and steel doors using the thickest type of steel in the industry. With one of our doors, you can rest assured that your home will be safe.
At Bighorn Iron Doors, we have a wide variety of wrought iron and steel doors in all sizes and styles, meant to look great in any home while keeping you secure. We even offer custom-made doors so you can be sure your door will fit your personal preferences. Contact us to learn more about our products and how you can order your very own custom-made door.
It sure was helpful when you said that impact-rated doors offer safety from burglars since they are solid and could be hard to break. This is something that I will consider because we need to replace our damaged entry door for security purposes. Its frames are rotting, and the glass has signs of cracks. We will be sure to start finding a high-impact door supplier for help.
It sure was helpful when you said that impact-rated doors could deter potential intruders as they offer safety. With this in mind, I will be sure to hire a professional that can replace our entry door that has a lot of damages and crack. They might affect the safety of our house and of our belongings, so your tips are helpful.