Every June the same question returns: what should we actually do about our glass before a storm? The honest answer is more reassuring than most homeowners expect — properly engineered glass in South Florida is designed for this — but preparation still matters, especially for the things attached to and around the glass. Here is a practical pre-storm checklist from a company that installs hurricane-zone glass year-round.
First, the Reassurance
Glass railings, wind screens, and storefronts installed to Miami-Dade and Broward requirements are engineered for High-Velocity Hurricane Zone wind pressures — the strictest in the country — with laminated glass that stays in place even when damaged. Your railing is not the weak point of your home; unsecured patio furniture flying at it is. Which brings us to the actual checklist.
The Pre-Storm Checklist
1. Clear the projectiles
The number one cause of storm-damaged glass is impact from loose objects: furniture, planters, umbrellas, grills, decorations. Everything on the balcony, terrace, or pool deck comes inside or gets secured. Condo associations typically require cleared balconies before a warning — do it early, elevators get busy.
2. Walk your railings and screens
Ten minutes, once at the start of season: look for loose fasteners, cracked or missing sealant at base shoes, wobble in panels, and any chipped glass edges. A panel that is solid today rides out weather; hardware already loose deserves attention before a storm tests it. Anything questionable — send us a photo.
3. Know what your shower and interior glass need: nothing
Interior glass — shower enclosures, mirrors, partitions — needs no storm prep. Skip the tape, skip the worry.
4. Storefronts: check the closers and clear the zone
Commercial owners: confirm doors latch and closers work, clear signage and displays from the sidewalk zone, and know whether your storefront glazing is impact-rated or protected by shutters — if you are unsure which you have, find out before you need to know.
5. Do not tape glass
Tape does nothing for strength and creates larger, more dangerous fragments — emergency managers have asked people to stop for decades. Preparation is clearing impacts and securing hardware, not decorating windows with X’s.
After the Storm
Walk the same loop: look for chips, cracks, bent hardware, and sealant gaps. Laminated panels that took a hit may crack and hold — that is the design working — but they should be evaluated and replaced promptly. Document damage with photos for insurance before cleanup, and keep people away from any compromised panel until it is assessed.
The Bigger Fix: Upgrade While You Renovate
If your building or home still carries decades-old railings or non-rated storefront glazing, the calm months are the time to upgrade — modern laminated systems with marine-grade hardware turn storm prep from a worry into a walk-through. Our guide to hurricane impact railings covers what current code delivers.
Questions Before the Season Peaks?
IG Glass installs and services hurricane-zone glass railings, wind screens, enclosures, and storefronts across Miami-Dade and Broward. Contact us or call 786-312-8778 — a quick photo review now beats an emergency call in October.
