Hurricane and impact garage doors
The garage door is the largest opening in most Estero homes and the first one to give in a storm. A rated door keeps the wind out of the house, and the right paperwork keeps your insurance discount.
- On site: 1 day on site, after the permit
- License CGC15***68
Signs this is your problem
- Your door has no Florida Product Approval label.
- Your wind mitigation report marked the garage door as unrated.
- The door flexed or rattled during Ian or Milton.
- You're replacing windows and want the whole house protected.
What the code asks for here
Lee County is not in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, but it is in the wind-borne debris region of the Florida Building Code. A new garage door must carry a Florida Product Approval (or a Miami-Dade NOA), be rated for the design pressure of your house and pass inspection. The approval label goes on the door.
The insurance part nobody explains
On Florida's wind mitigation form, opening protection is all or nothing: one unrated garage door can cost you the credit for every protected window in the house. Your inspector needs the label and the approval number. We leave both on the door and in your paperwork.
Impact or wind-load?
A wind-load door resists pressure. An impact door also resists flying debris. In the wind-borne debris region, glass in the door must be impact-rated. We'll explain which one your house needs, and why.
Bracing isn't a rated door
Bracing kits can help an older door get through a storm, but they don't give it a Florida Product Approval. If you want the insurance credit, you need a rated door.
Questions about hurricane & impact doors
One day on site for a two-car door, after the permit is issued and the door arrives (usually two to four weeks). Then the inspection.
No. The High Velocity Hurricane Zone is Miami-Dade and Broward. Lee County follows the wind-borne debris region rules with Florida Product Approval.
It can. The opening-protection credit depends on every opening being protected, including the garage door. Ask your agent for your numbers.
Door stuck right now?
Call or text and a person in Estero answers. We'll tell you if it's safe to touch, when we can be there and how long the fix usually takes, before anyone drives over.