Living on the Gulf Coast of Florida in areas like Clearwater, Sarasota, Bradenton, and Venice means that hurricanes are an expectation. Even in Tampa, replacing current windows with hurricane windows is often the first move toward protection. A more budget-friendly move might be installing accordion shutters for the windows. But what about the front door of your home? Impact front doors, rated for hurricane protection, are also worth looking into.

The Present Front Door

When thinking about the front door of our home, we may consider painting or decorate with a seasonal wreath. One may even give thought to changing the door out for a more decorative entryway. Sometimes, however, the front door is taken for granted and forgotten when planning home hurricane protection solutions.

Most front doors have two wood or aluminum sides with an insulating fill between. They are not constructed to resist high-velocity winds nor the objects that throw about in those winds.  Neither are the decorative glass panels of standard front doors shatter-resistant, which then adds the danger of glass blowing into your Venice home.

The Potential Risks

If the front door of your Bradenton -Sarasota home is not impact resistant, there is a risk of cracking and shattering of both door and glass by high-velocity winds and flying debris. During a tropical storm, this is a real threat in the Clearwater-Tampa area as well. If the seal of your front door were breached, water damage could occur. Additionally, the door, pieces of wood, broken glass, and debris from the outside could not only damage interior property and possessions but, more importantly, injure loved ones taking shelter within the home. Moreover, another real danger is that the resulting pressure from a broken front door or broken window glass could cause walls to collapse or the roof to blow off.

Impact Front Doors

So, what makes a front door impact resistant during a hurricane?

  • Glass
  • Core materials
  • Frame
  • Hinges

If you have any glass in your front door, making sure that it is impact resistant is critical when living in areas from Venice to Tampa to Clearwater. With properties like auto glass, they remain intact, even if hit by wind-hurled objects.

The materials of the impact front door will be a steel core with an outer covering of fiberglass. This will not rot, rust, or dent. Likewise, the frame and hardware, reinforced for extra strength, anchor the door to your home. Hinges resist rusting and corrosion. The frame is water, mold, and mildew resistant. If your front door is glass, it will be hurricane glass. When high-velocity winds impact your front door and projectiles strike at 140+ miles per hour, you want assurance that your door is secure.

Who to Call for Impact Front Doors

West Shore Construction provides hurricane protection for the Gulf Coast of Florida. Our customers have homes from Clearwater to Venice, and across to Tampa. Our seasoned experts can help you stormproof your home in Bradenton and Sarasota as well. We help you determine your risk areas and provide solutions that include the following,

Our hurricane protection products are highest rated for impact resistance. Our products meet or exceed the strict requirements of the Florida Building Code. Additionally, many are High-Velocity Hurricane Zone tested and rated.

Connect with us online or by calling (727) 488-8182. We will respond promptly. Our reputation stands on quality materials and workmanship, as well as above and beyond customer service. Whether you live in Tampa, Clearwater, Bradenton, Sarasota, or Venice, we will work with your needs and budget to safeguard your possessions and your loved ones.