Hurricane resistant impact windows & doors - vinyl vs aluminum

[beach43ofus]

Originally Posted by Elbig

Impact glass lets in light. If you have shutters on, it can be quite dark inside. I much prefer glass all things considered.

I agree with this. I want to take a few of my metal shutters and have clear plastic copies made to let some light in on the sides and front. Are there any State-wide company's that do this? I'm in Venice.

I was also thinking about doing the auto or manual crank down ones all across the rear because the sliders and windows on the rear are much larger than the sides or front.

Who has had cranks up for 5+ years and they still work well? I hear the auto crank mechanisms fail affter a few short years due to climate, and then you have to hand crank them, and even those mechanisms jam up due to sand/rain/humidty. My friend in Boca's lasted 5 years, and now none of his hand cranks work. They are all jammed up.

[Southern Star]

Four years ago we contracted with a box store (NOT the store with a name BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER “L”, replace our windows and a very large slider.
Here we are, FOUR years later, being hassled because they keep delivering the wrong windows, installed the slider in the most shoddy fashion imaginable, had to rip it out and do it over, delivered the wrong inside sliders TWICE, the list goes on and on.
Do NOT USE THIS STORE period, unless you enjoy extreme aggravation.
Hurricane windows are great because they cut down on noise. Buy them from the store whose name begins with the letter “L”.

[FireStation46]

Originally Posted by Southern Star

Four years ago we contracted with a box store (NOT the store with a name BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER “L”, replace our windows and a very large slider.
Here we are, FOUR years later, being hassled because they keep delivering the wrong windows, installed the slider in the most shoddy fashion imaginable, had to rip it out and do it over, delivered the wrong inside sliders TWICE, the list goes on and on.
Do NOT USE THIS STORE period, unless you enjoy extreme aggravation.
Hurricane windows are great because they cut down on noise. Buy them from the store whose name begins with the letter “L”.

Agreed. Big Box stores can disappoint. I bought a Weber Grill from a BBQ speciality store. They came, assembled it and took away my old BBQ, I would not get that from L or H stores IMHO.

I had Plantation Shutters and Solar Roll Down shades installed over my large Lanai also from a locally owned business.

I purchased kitchen appliances from a local store. When the wrap on the microwave door frayed, they came out and replaced it, no charge.

Local firms get it. They cant compete on price but their service is well beyond what big box stores do and they are empowered to get things fixed vs. the bureaucracy of national chains.

Your situation is so crazy you may want to get an attorney involved.

Also make a complaint the the Florida State Attorney General Florida Attorney General - Home Page

Good luck!

[Bette]

Love our windows and doors. One of the best things we ever did.

And - I bought them in 2019.

Today, they would cost twice as much.

Used a local contractor who uses his own people and they were amazing. It took 8 months to get the windows but worth every penny.