Question about using the wrong glass for high wind zones

I keep seeing guys in coastal towns like Gulfport put in standard 1/4 inch annealed glass for big picture windows. In a Category 2 storm zone, that's just asking for it to blow in. You need at least a 3/16 inch laminated or a properly rated insulated unit. How many times do we have to see the same broken glass photos after a storm before this changes?

2 comments

2 Comments

uma_nguyen246h ago

My cousin in Pensacola had his whole living room window blow in during that last tropical storm. It was just regular glass, not even safety rated. Honestly, seeing the same damage year after year is so frustrating. You'd think the building supply places would stop selling the wrong stuff for these zones.

hayden_rivera2h ago

We replaced all our windows in Tampa after a near miss with a patio door. The installer used laminated glass with a thick plastic layer in the middle. It cost more upfront, but that glass just flexes instead of shattering into a million pieces. It's been through three storm seasons now without a single crack.