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Impact doors are exterior doors built and tested as one complete unit, with laminated glass, a reinforced frame and approved hardware, so they resist flying debris and hurricane wind pressure. In South Florida they protect a door opening all year, with no shutters to put up before a storm.
This guide explains the main door types, how impact doors are tested and approved in each county, what drives the price, and how installation works from estimate to final inspection. If you already know what you need, browse the impact doors we install across South Florida.
What Impact Doors Are and How They Work
An impact door is a door system designed to stay closed and keep its glass in the frame when it is hit by wind-borne debris and pushed and pulled by hurricane winds. The whole unit works together: glass, frame, hinges or rollers, locks and threshold.
The glass in an impact door is laminated. Two or more layers of glass are bonded to a tough clear interlayer, usually polyvinyl butyral (PVB), under heat and pressure. If debris strikes hard enough to crack the glass, the interlayer is designed to hold the broken pieces together and keep the opening sealed.
The frame and hardware matter as much as the glass. Impact door frames are reinforced, the locks often engage at more than one point, and the door is anchored into the wall following the product’s approval drawings. A strong panel in a weak frame or with the wrong anchors can still fail.
Impact doors are not the same as storm doors. A storm door is an extra outer door, often with a screen, added in front of the main door. An impact door is the main door itself, tested for hurricane impact and pressure.
Do You Need Impact Doors?
Most South Florida homes need some form of protection on every glass door. The Florida Building Code requires opening protection in the wind-borne debris region, which covers much of South Florida, and that protection can be impact-rated glass or approved shutters.
Impact doors are the option that needs no work before a storm. To see what a hurricane does to an unprotected opening, read how impact doors protect South Florida homes.
Impact doors make the most sense for your home if:
- You are away during hurricane season: nobody has to close shutters or put up panels before a storm.
- Your doors are old or damaged: a door you have to replace anyway is the cheapest moment to upgrade to impact.
- Your sliding glass door is unprotected: it is usually the largest glass opening in the house, and once it breaks, wind and rain get inside.
- Your garage door has no rating: a large garage door is a common weak point in a storm, and wind mitigation inspectors check it with every other opening.
- You want lower insurance costs: Artículo 627.0629 de los Estatutos de Florida requires insurers to offer credits for opening protection, based on a wind mitigation inspection.
Impact doors also make forced entry harder and reduce outside noise compared with standard glass doors. For the full list of upgrades that can cut premiums, see these Mejoras en el hogar que pueden reducir las tarifas del seguro..
Types of Impact Doors and Where Each One Fits
The right impact door depends on the opening: how wide it is, how often you use it, and how much glass you want. Here is a quick overview of the main types.
| Tipo de puerta | Best for | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Front entry door | Main entrance, with or without sidelites | Glass inserts and sidelites need an impact rating too |
| French door | Patios and rooms that open to the yard | Approval for a pair, not only a single door |
| Sliding glass door | Amplias aberturas para patios y piscinas | Approval for your panel count and width; water rating |
| Pivot door | Large modern entrances | Approval for the size and pivot hardware |
| Puerta del garaje | Garage openings | Impact rating, not wind pressure only |
If you are torn between two styles, our side-by-side guide helps you compare impact door types for your home.
Front Entry Impact Doors
A front entry impact door replaces your main door and frame with a tested unit. Solid doors are rated for wind pressure, while any glass insert or sidelite counts as a glazed opening and must be impact rated. Fiberglass, steel and aluminum entry doors are all available in impact-rated versions.
Puertas francesas resistentes a impactos
French impact doors are hinged doors with large glass panels, usually in pairs, that open to a patio or garden. They give a classic look and a wide opening while keeping the protection of laminated glass. Browse our impact French doors for patios and entries for styles and configurations.
Sliding Impact Doors
Sliding impact doors are large glass panels that glide on a track, the most common choice for South Florida patios and pool decks. They save floor space and keep the view open. Wider and heavier panels need stronger frames, so check the approval covers your exact panel count and width.
Vea nuestra impact sliding glass doors for patios.
Pivot Impact Doors
Pivot impact doors turn on a pivot point instead of side hinges, which allows a very wide, tall door that makes a strong statement at the entrance. They suit modern homes and custom builds. Explore our impact pivot doors for modern entrances.
Puertas de garaje resistentes a impactos
Impact garage doors are built and tested to resist both debris and wind pressure across a wide opening. A garage door label that shows only a wind pressure rating is not the same as an impact rating. Our impact-rated garage doors for South Florida page shows the options.
Commercial Impact Doors
Storefronts, offices and other commercial buildings need impact doors that handle heavy daily traffic as well as storms. These projects usually involve engineering and more complex permits. See our commercial impact door and window projects.
How Impact Doors Are Tested and Approved
An impact door is approved only after the complete door system passes lab tests for debris impact, wind pressure and water. In South Florida, three test protocols from the Florida Building Code are the ones you will see most:
- TAS 201 (impact): a 9-pound 2×4 is fired at the glass at 50 feet per second, as described in Intertek’s Descripción general del examen TAS 201.
- TAS 202 (static pressure): the door is loaded with steady air pressure to set its design pressure, and checked for air and water leaks.
- TAS 203 (cyclic pressure): after impact, the door is pushed and pulled by thousands of pressure cycles to simulate gusting wind.
The approval covers the door as tested: the frame, panel sizes, glass, hinges, locks, threshold and anchoring shown in the approval drawings. Changing the hardware, the anchors or the size can take the door outside its approval. That is why a slider approved with two panels is not automatically approved with three.
Two numbers on the approval matter for your home. The design pressure (DP), in pounds per square foot, must meet or exceed what your opening requires. The water rating shows how much wind-driven rain the door resists, which matters most for sliders facing open water.
For the full explanation, read how impact doors are tested and rated.
Impact Door Approvals Across South Florida Counties
Every new exterior door in South Florida needs a product approval that is valid where your home is. Miami-Dade and Broward are in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ), the strictest part of the Florida Building Code.
| Area | Zona de viento | Aprobación para buscar |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County | HVHZ | Aprobación de producto de Miami-Dade o Florida válida en la zona de alta humedad (HVHZ). |
| Broward County | HVHZ | Aprobación de producto de Miami-Dade o Florida válida en la zona de alta humedad (HVHZ). |
| Palm Beach County | Outside the HVHZ | Florida Product Approval (FL number) |
| Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral | Outside the HVHZ | Florida Product Approval (FL number) |
A Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) is issued by Control de productos de Miami-Dade after testing, and you can look it up by number. Florida Product Approvals are listed on floridabuilding.org; check that the listing covers your door type, size and the HVHZ if you live in Miami-Dade or Broward.
Miami-Dade adds its own permit and inspection steps, covered in our guide to impact door requirements in Miami-Dade. Not sure what is on your house now? Here is how to check whether your doors are hurricane rated.
Customization and Sizing: Glass, Frames and Hardware
Impact doors are made to measure, so every choice is set before the door is ordered. A technician measures each opening, and the door is built to fit it and to match an approval that covers that size.
- Frame material: aluminum is the most common impact door frame in South Florida. Vinyl and fiberglass options exist for some door types.
- Glass: clear, tinted, gray or Low-E glass. Low-E coatings reduce heat and UV coming through the glass.
- Style: frame colors, grids, decorative glass and panel layouts to match your home.
- Hardware: handles, locks and finishes, chosen from options the approval allows.
- Brand and product line: USA Home Improvement exclusively sells ES Windows, including aluminum and vinyl impact windows and impact doors.
Hardware is the choice to watch. A different lock or handle can look like a small change, but the approval covers the hardware that was tested, so ask before swapping parts.
What Affects the Cost of Impact Doors
Impact door prices depend mainly on the door type, the size of the opening and the product line you choose. A single entry door and a wide multi-panel slider are very different projects, so one price range for “an impact door” is not useful.
The main cost drivers are:
- Door type and the number of panels
- Width and height of the opening, and whether it needs structural work
- Product line, frame material and glass options such as Low-E or tint
- Design pressure your opening requires
- Permits, removal of the old door, and stucco or trim repair after installation
- How many doors and windows you replace at once
For installed price ranges by door type and what a fair quote should include, see our breakdown of ¿Cuánto cuestan las puertas resistentes a impactos en Florida?.
How Impact Door Installation Works, From Estimate to Final Inspection
Professional installation is what turns a tested door into a code-approved opening on your home. The door must be set and anchored exactly as its approval drawings show, and the work is permitted and inspected.
- Estimate and measuring: each opening is measured and you choose the door type, glass and finish.
- Product and approval match: the installer selects a door whose approval covers your size and required design pressure.
- Permiso: the contractor applies for the permit with the product approval documents.
- Fabrication: the door is built to your measurements.
- Installation day: the old door is removed, the new frame is set, anchored and sealed, and the panels and hardware are adjusted.
- Inspección final: the building department inspects the work and closes the permit.
The timeline depends on permit review in your city, fabrication time and the number of openings, so plan well before hurricane season. Keep the product approval, the closed permit and your invoice together. A wind mitigation inspector will use them to confirm your doors qualify for opening protection credits.
How to Choose an Impact Door Installer
The best impact door installer is a licensed and insured Florida contractor who quotes a specific approved product for every opening, pulls the permit and stands behind the installation.
Ask each company for the approval number and design pressure of every door it quotes, who will install it, and whether the installers hold certification from the manufacturer.
Compare written quotes line by line, including permit, removal, stucco and trim repair, and both the manufacturer and workmanship warranties. Our checklist explains how to choose an impact door company, including the red flags to avoid. Planning windows at the same time?
Start with our guide to impact windows in South Florida.
Caring for Impact Doors After Installation
Impact doors need little care, but salt air, sand and grit wear on moving parts. A few habits keep them opening smoothly and sealing well:
- Clean the glass and frame with mild soap and water, and rinse off salt if you live near the coast.
- Vacuum and wipe sliding door tracks so rollers do not grind on sand.
- Keep the weep holes at the bottom of the frame clear so water can drain out.
- Lubricate hinges, locks and rollers with a product the manufacturer recommends.
- Check weatherstripping and seals once a year, and replace them if they crack or flatten.
- Have cracked impact glass replaced, even if the interlayer is still holding it in place.
Financing Your Impact Doors
No es necesario pagar las puertas resistentes a impactos de una sola vez. Si hay financiamiento disponible, este se ofrece a través de proveedores independientes que pueden brindar a los propietarios calificados opciones de pago inicial de $0, planes de interés de 0% y préstamos de hasta $100,000, con aprobación rápida y una verificación de crédito sencilla.
PACE financing is also available for eligible projects as long-term, fixed-rate financing secured through a voluntary assessment on the property; rates and terms vary by program and location. See our financing options for impact doors.
El estado Mi hogar seguro en Florida program has also offered free inspections and grants toward opening protection for eligible homeowners; check the program site for its current status.
Impact Door Questions South Florida Homeowners Ask
Do impact doors protect against flooding?
No. Impact doors are tested for debris impact, wind pressure and wind-driven rain, not for flood water or storm surge. If your home is in a flood zone, flood protection is a separate plan, such as flood barriers and flood insurance.
Can I replace just the door panel and keep my old frame?
Usually not. An impact door is approved as a complete system, including the frame, hardware and anchoring. Replacing only the panel in an old frame normally does not meet the approval.
Your installer should replace the full unit and follow the approval drawings.
Do I still need shutters with impact doors?
No, an approved impact door is designed to protect the opening on its own. It counts as opening protection under the Florida Building Code, so you do not need shutters over it. Some homeowners still add shutters as an extra layer, but it is not required.
¿Puedo cambiar una puerta ahora y el resto más adelante?
Yes, many homeowners replace doors in phases, often starting with the largest glass door. Keep in mind that a wind mitigation inspection rates the home by its weakest opening, so the insurance credit may not change until every opening is protected.
For more quick answers, see our answers to common impact door questions.
Start with the door you worry about most before a storm, usually the sliding glass door or the garage, and plan the rest around it. Call USA Home Improvement at (877) 554-6373 or request an estimate, and we will measure your openings and match each one to an approved door.
USA Home Improvement cuenta con licencia (CGC1526707) y seguro, y ha prestado sus servicios a propietarios de viviendas en Florida durante más de 15 años.