The Price of Durability in Replacement Windows March 21, 2017 The moment you begin looking into replacement windows for your Toronto area home, you may be thinking about durability. Perhaps in the past you’ve had issues with broken windows due to rocks or baseballs from kids playing in the area, somebody trying to break into your house, or even extreme severe weather that blew around branches and other debris that smashed out the glass. If you’re concerned about the durability of replacement windows, you might be looking into impact resistant windows. Also commonly referred to as hurricane windows, these windows can take a direct impact and won’t shatter. They will crack, meaning the glass will break, but because of the construction and a special type of film that adheres to the glass, it’s not easy to smash out the window itself. If you’re interested in impact resistant windows for security, it’s going to cost you quite a bit more than regular replacement windows. Certain parts of the United States, namely the coastline of Florida and other states in the Southeast require new home construction and anyone replacing windows who lives within a certain distance from the coast to choose hurricane windows, or impact resistant windows. They’re not that common up here in the Toronto area, though. However, it is still possible to get these types of windows, usually by special order. Is it really that important to you? Some people have been the victims of home break-ins and burglaries. Some have grown tired of having the windows shattered by neighborhood kids. Keep in mind that if your primary concern is baseballs or rocks, the window will shatter. It won’t break apart, allowing air, dirt, birds, or other items to flight in through the window, but it will shatter. You will have to replace it again. If you’re concerned about break-ins, yes, impact resistant windows can be a great protection against would be burglars who try to gain easy access into homes by breaking out windows. Only you can determine what’s most important for your home right now.