Replacement Windows & Exterior Doors: What You Need To Know

Replacing your older doors and windows has never been more important. Over the past several years, Central Florida has been devastated by hurricanes and severe storms that caused excessive damage to homes in the region and set insurance rates soaring. Duramade windows and doors are specifically designed to withstand wind, keep your home secure, and help you save money.

Our seasoned, knowledgeable staff can advise you about how to keep your home safe and how to save costs. Read below for answers to some of the most common questions about windows and doors.

If you have further questions or would like a free Information & Pricing Guide, contact us at (888) 372-0488 to speak with a member of our Expert Doors and Windows Services Team.

Click a question below to jump to the answer.

1. What is a breach and how can I protect my home?
2. How can replacing my windows and doors help with the skyrocketing costs of property and casualty insurance in Florida?
3. How can replacing my windows and doors qualify me for a grant from the state of Florida?
4. Besides replacing my doors and windows, what can I do to protect my home from wind damage?
5. Do Duramade windows and doors meet the new building codes?
6. What will the return on investment be when I replace my windows and doors? Will it add value to my home?
7. Can Duramade windows and doors help me save money on my energy bills?
8. How can Duramade windows and doors help me qualify for a tax credit?
9. How will Duramade windows and doors help make my home more secure and prevent against break-ins?
10. What can I do after replacing my windows and doors to prevent a criminal from entering my home?
11. Replacing all of my windows and doors seems a little overwhelming. How can Duramade help me choose the right products and control the costs of the renovation?

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(1) What is a breach and how can I protect my home?

A breach occurs when flying debris and high-impact winds destroy windows and doors, causing a break in the seal between the “building envelope.” This breach allows wind and rain to enter the building, combining direct internal pressures with suction pressures on the exterior faces of the building, to cause partial or complete blowouts of the roof, walls and remaining doors and windows.

You can help protect your home from a devastating breach by replacing your older windows with new Duramade vinyl replacement windows. They have passed rigorous testing, including standing up to 140 MPH, “D” level winds, and are specially designed with the strongest joints and air-tight seals. In the event of severe weather, you will no longer need to board up your windows to stay protected from flying debris.

Contact us to learn more about the benefits of Duramade Windows and Doors or to receive a free Information & Pricing Guide.

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(2) How can replacing my windows and doors help with the skyrocketing costs of property and casualty insurance in Florida?

Because of the rash of hurricanes and the amount of damage to homes in Florida over the past few years, insurance companies have drained their surplus cash in paying out claims. They now need to charge a higher premium to ensure that they have the cash to pay future claims. And because many homes in Florida do not meet new building codes, and are therefore more prone to damages from hurricane winds, insurance companies are assuming a higher risk and many have been reducing the number of policies they’ll cover in especially vulnerable areas.

By protecting your home against damage, you can lower your premiums and keep your private insurance because your home will pose less risk to the insurance carrier. Florida requires insurance companies to give as much as a 44% discount on your hurricane policy for home improvements that guard against wind damage, such as replacing your old windows with the Armor Max Plus™ high-impact hurricane glass system provided by Duramade.

For more information on these cost savings, go to:

• Florida homeowners insurance—www.myfloridainsurancereform.com.
• Florida homeowners insurance—www.myfloridainsurancereform.com/faq.htm
• Armor Max Plus™—www.gorell.com/pages/amp_hurricane_windows.htm

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(3) How can replacing my windows and doors qualify me for a grant from the state of Florida?

Through the Florida Comprehensive Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program, the state has established the My Safe Florida Home program to provide grants for up to $5,000 to qualified homeowners who make specific home improvements to reduce the risk of wind damage. Grant funds must be used for windows, skylights, gable vents, exterior doors and garage doors.

When you replace your windows and doors with Duramade products, our knowledgeable staff will advise you about how to work with your insurance company and the State of Florida to realize cost savings.

For more information, go to: www.mysafefloridahome.com.

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(4) Besides replacing my doors and windows, what can I do to protect my home from wind damage?

There are several measures you can take through home remodeling to make your home wind-resistant. Duramade’s home improvement experts can work with you to put together a comprehensive plan to safeguard your entire home against hurricanes. The plan, tailored to your specific needs, may include improving the strength of your roof by adding additional nails and creating a secondary water barrier by using “peel and stick-on” material to cover your roof joints. It also may include upgrading to thicker and stronger hurricane resistant roof shingles, and reinforcing gable-ends and roof/wall connectors inside your home.

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(5) Do Duramade windows and doors meet the new building codes?

Yes, Duramade windows and doors have passed the strictest tests in the country for windborne debris, pressure and water. They also have earned the Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance and meet the requirements of the Florida Building Commission. For more details on the code requirements, you can visit:

• www.miamidade.gov
• www.dca.state.fl.us/fbc/index.htm

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(6) What will the return on investment be when I replace my windows and doors? Will it add value to my home?

According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2006 Cost vs. Value Report, when a Florida homeowner replaces just 10 existing three by five foot double-hung windows with insulated vinyl replacement windows, the homeowner will gain a 93% return on investment upon the sale of the home. Statistics also show that replacement windows save money on energy bills and can qualify homeowners for tax credits. So, they will not only bring a return on investment while you live in your home, but will also be attractive to potential buyers who are looking for modern, cost-saving features.

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(7) Can Duramade windows and doors help me save money on my energy bills?

Yes. Duramade’s Gorell ENERGY STAR® certified windows received the “Sustained Excellence” award for two consecutive years from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their energy-saving qualities.

ENERGY STAR® qualified windows are required to satisfy the stringent energy efficiency specifications set forth by the U.S. Department of Energy and have been tested and certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). NFRC evaluates the complete window system, not just the glass, to ensure it has two or more panes of glass, warm-edge spacers between the window panes, improved framing materials, and Low-E coating to help keep heat inside during the winter and outside during the summer so your thermostat can stay steady. They are also evaluated for reducing condensation and interior fading, so the interior of your home stays protected from damage.

For more information on Duramade’s Gorell ENERGY STAR® certified windows, go to: www.gorell.com/pages/lower_energy_bills.cfm.

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(8) How can Duramade windows and doors help me qualify for a tax credit?

By installing ENERGY STAR® qualified windows and skylights, you are eligible to receive a tax credit of 30% of the cost up to $1,500 in 2009 and 2010. By installing ENERGY STAR® qualified exterior doors, you are eligible to receive a tax credit of 30% of the cost up to $1,500 in 2009 and 2010. Duramade’s experienced team can provide you with more information on how to reap the tax benefits of replacement doors and windows for your primary residence in Central Florida. You can also visit www.energystar.gov for more information.

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(9) How will Duramade windows and doors help make my home more secure and prevent against break-ins?

Studies show that most burglars will spend no longer than 60 seconds trying to break into a home. Good locks and sturdy doors and windows are the primary defense against home invasion.

Duramade’s Gorell windows and doors were selected by the National Crime Prevention Council (www.ncpc.org) for their intruder-resistant construction, break-in protection guarantee, and special security signs and window labels that let intruders know your home is protected by shatter-resistant Armor Glass®. Duramade’s Gorell windows and doors are the highest of quality, crafted to fit tightly into their frames to prevent tampering. Exterior doors are made of solid wood core or steel, offer peep-hole options, and can be installed with non-removable hinges. The windows are secured with auxiliary locks.

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(10) What can I do after replacing my windows and doors to prevent a criminal from entering my home?

Once you have installed secure windows and doors, make sure that they are locked at all times. Install a deadbolt lock (single or double cylinder) with a minimum of one throw on exterior doors. Secure sliding glass doors with auxiliary locks or pins and screws in the track. Keep shrubs trimmed away from windows and maintain adequate exterior lighting, especially along pathways and in all entryways. Don’t leave valuables such as lawn mowers, bicycles or tools in the yard or in an open or unlocked garage or shed, and don’t leave ladders around the exterior of your house. Keep your garage doors closed and locked, and lock the door leading from the garage into the house.

For more information on safeguarding your home from intruders, you can visit:

• Florida Police Chiefs Association—www.fpca.com
• Orlando Police Department—www.cityoforlando.net/police
• Hillsborough County Sheriff Office—www.hcso.tampa.fl.us

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(11) Replacing all of my windows and doors seems a little overwhelming. How can Duramade help me choose the right products and control the costs of the renovation?

Duramade employs a team of remodeling experts who are committed to meeting your needs. We will work with you to find the highest quality products within your budget. We are a proud member of the National Association of Remodeling Industry (www.nari.org) and offer unbeatable warrantees and service guarantees.