Texas faces severe weather from multiple directions — Gulf hurricanes hitting the coast, tornado-force winds across North Texas, and intense hail storms in the DFW metroplex. If your home has glass entry doors or large glass walls, storm resistance isn't optional. It's essential.
Understanding Impact-Rated Glass
Impact-rated glass is designed to withstand flying debris during high winds. It's built with two layers of glass bonded to an interlayer (usually PVB or SGP) — similar to a car windshield. Even if the outer layer cracks, the interlayer holds the glass in place, preventing breach.
Do Dallas and North Texas Homes Need Impact Glass?
Texas building codes require impact-rated glass primarily in coastal wind zones (Galveston, Corpus Christi, Beaumont). DFW is not in a hurricane wind zone, but North Texas gets:
- Hail — Dallas-Fort Worth is one of the most hail-prone metros in the US. Large hailstones can shatter standard tempered glass.
- Tornadoes — Straight-line winds and tornado debris are real threats across North Texas
- Break-in attempts — Impact glass also doubles as security glass, making forced entry much harder
Even outside code requirements, many DFW homeowners choose laminated or impact glass for the combined storm + security benefit.
Glass Options by Protection Level
Tempered Glass (Standard)
4-5x stronger than regular glass. Breaks into small pebbles instead of shards. Required by code for all entry doors. Good baseline but does not hold together on impact.
Laminated Glass (Recommended)
Two glass layers with a PVB interlayer. Holds together when cracked. Provides UV protection, sound reduction, and security. Our recommended minimum for all exterior glass doors in Texas.
Impact-Rated Laminated Glass (Maximum Protection)
Laminated glass tested and certified to withstand large missile impact and cyclic pressure per Miami-Dade protocols. Required for coastal Texas. Available for any of our iron or aluminum door systems.
Our Storm-Ready Door Systems
Every door we build can be configured with laminated or impact-rated glass:
- Iron French Doors — heavy iron frames provide structural strength beyond what aluminum or wood can offer in a storm
- Thermal Break Iron Doors — insulated AND impact-ready for the ultimate combination
- Aluminum Glass Doors — available with impact-rated glass for modern coastal homes
Insurance Benefits
Many Texas insurers offer premium discounts for homes with impact-rated openings. Check with your carrier — the savings can be significant in hail-prone DFW zip codes.
Get Storm-Ready
Contact us to discuss impact glass options for your Texas home. We'll help you choose the right protection level for your location and budget.