Impact entry and French doors

Doing several openings? Count them with the free window inventory planner and send the list with one request.

What people call about

• A front door with sidelights or a glass panel that is not impact-rated.
• French doors to a patio or balcony to replace with an impact pair.
• An old wood or hollow steel door that has swollen, rusted or no longer seals.
• A door and frame that moved in a past storm, or that lets daylight in around the edges.
• A garage side door or utility door that needs to match the rest of the house's protection.

What happens on the visit

• The opening measured and the swing, handing and threshold worked out with you; the wall and header checked for anchoring.
• A quote for the door unit: fibreglass, steel or glass, sidelights and transom if wanted, hardware, and the approval for your county.
• The permit filed by the installer; the old door and frame removed, the new pre-hung unit set plumb, anchored to the approved schedule and sealed.
• Threshold, weatherstripping, sweep and hardware fitted and adjusted so the door closes and locks properly.
• The inspection scheduled by the installer and the approval paperwork left with you.

In Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach

Entry doors in South Florida take wind, driving rain and salt air, and an outswing door with an impact-rated unit is common because it resists wind pressure well. In Miami-Dade and Broward the unit needs a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance; in Palm Beach County a Florida Product Approval. The building department permits and inspects the installation.

Questions people ask

Does an impact entry door need glass to be impact-rated?

The whole unit is rated, with or without glass. Any glass in the door or sidelights is laminated; the slab, frame, hinges and lock are part of the same tested assembly.

Fibreglass or steel?

Both are made in impact-rated versions. Fibreglass resists dents and salt corrosion well; steel is strong and usually plainer. The installer quotes both if you want to compare.

Can French doors be impact-rated?

Yes. Impact French doors come as a tested pair with an astragal between the leaves and multi-point locks, and are approved for the opening like any other unit.

Will my existing lock fit?

Usually not. Impact doors come with hardware prepared for the unit, and the lock is part of the tested assembly. Choose the style at the quote.

Is a permit needed for a front door?

Yes, for an exterior door in the three-county area. The installer files it and the building department inspects.

Can the door be outswing?

Yes, and it is common here. The installer will say which swing suits your entry and the weather exposure.

Other window and door jobs

• Impact windows for the whole house
• Replace old windows before storm season
• Impact sliding glass doors
• Cracked or shattered glass
• Fog between the panes
• Window leaks when it rains
• Window won't lock, latch or stay open
• Condo impact windows
• Storefront impact glass

One Call Impact Windows arranges the visit; the installer does the work, pulls the permit and gives you the price.