A Complete Guide to Impact-Rated Doors and Glass

When you live in an area prone to severe weather — whether it’s hurricanes, tornadoes or hailstorms — ensuring your home is well-protected is a top priority. One of the best ways to safeguard your home from the elements is by investing in impact-rated doors and glass that can offer lasting protection where it matters most. At Masonite, we understand the concerns homeowners face when weathering extreme conditions, and we’re committed to providing solutions that offer peace of mind. 

What Are Impact-Rated Doors?

Impact-rated doors are designed to take on nature’s toughest forces, like strong winds or rain that seems to never stop. These doors for hurricanes and other severe weather are made with reinforced materials, offering the durability needed for homes in storm-prone areas. 

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What Is the Difference Between Impact and HVHZ Doors?

All impact-rated doors are meant for harsh weather, but HVHZ (High-Velocity Hurricane Zone) doors are built specifically to meet the strictest code requirements in South Florida, which has frequent hurricanes. HVHZ doors even undergo missile testing, so they’re more durable than your standard impact-rated door.  

Masonite’s Storm Guard doors meet HVHZ standards, offering coastal homeowners a blend of safety and style. With options that include decorative glass, paneling and internal grids, you get the security you need, plus a door that enhances your home’s curb appeal. 

What Is Impact-Rated Glass?

Impact-rated glass is specially engineered to withstand impact without shattering. Made with multiple layers of glass sandwiched together with polymeric interlayers, this glass is ultra durable. In a storm, standard or tempered glass might shatter, but impact-rated glass stays intact and offers crucial protection against flying debris. 

Benefits of Impact-Rated Products for Your Home

Benefits are plentiful when it comes to impact-rated options for your home. Here are some of them:

Durability Against Severe Weather

Impact-rated doors and glass go through extensive testing to ensure they can withstand the most extreme weather conditions. They’re designed to meet strict building codes, giving homeowners the assurance that their home is protected against strong winds, flying debris, rain and other harsh elements.  

To enhance the weather resistance of impact-rated doors, the Masonite Performance Door System (MPDS) is an effective option because it features a premium fiberglass door, rot-resistant frame and 4-Point Performance Seal. These doors for bad weather have square edges for a better seal, a self-adjusting sill, adaptive weatherstripping and enhanced corner pads that help keep wind out of the home and prevent leaks. When tested, the Performance Door System performed 64% better at keeping air and water out than the leading competitor. Most MPDS-enabled doors are also available as an impact-rated door, which means homes with an impact-rated MPDS door will be highly weather-resistant. 

Noise Reduction

In addition to their strength, impact-rated doors and glass also help reduce noise. Their layered construction dampens sound, making them a great choice for homeowners who want a quieter living environment. From blocking out street noise to loud thunder, these products keep your home feeling more peaceful. 

Energy Efficiency

Impact-rated doors and glass are excellent at keeping your home’s interior well-insulated, which helps reduce energy costs in both hot and cold climates. Especially when doors feature impact-rated glass with low-emissivity coatings, they have better thermal performance than standard doors because the glass reflects heat inside the home during the winter and outside the home during the summer. 

Security Enhancements

For those concerned about security, the strength of impact-rated doors adds an extra layer of protection against break-ins. Homeowners can also upgrade their impact-rated door to have Masonite’s Multi-Point Security Lock, which enhances durability and includes multiple points of contact, making it 4x stronger than a standard deadbolt lock.* This combination of weather resistance and security features creates a front door that not only shields your home from storms, but also keeps your family safe from intruders. 

Aesthetic Appeal and Variety

Homeowners don’t have to compromise looks for safety and durability because Masonite’s impact-rated doors are available in a wide range of designs. The VistaGrande Flush-Glazed Full Lite is perfect for homeowners seeking to maximize natural light while still maintaining safety, and for those preferring a more traditional look, the 2 Panel Hollister door blends classic design with impact-rated strength. Masonite’s collection allows you to find the right balance between aesthetic appeal and protective features, making them ideal as a patio door or front door. 

Even coastal homeowners, who need to consider challenges like high winds, saltwater corrosion and flying debris, can maintain scenic views of the water while still getting the safety they need. Masonite’s fiberglass exterior doors are an excellent choice for these homeowners due to their high resistance against salt and moisture — plus, many of our doors feature impact-rated glass for those beautiful coastal views.  

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How to Find Your Ideal Impact-Rated Solution

To ensure you have the right impact-rated door for your home, there are a few factors to consider. 

1. Follow Building Codes

While choosing your exterior door, keep regional building codes in mind. In areas like South Florida with strict requirements, going for an HVHZ door is an easy way to guarantee compliance with any rules.   

2. Compare Materials and Design Choices

Selecting the right door also involves choosing materials and designs that suit your home’s needs and style. Fiberglass and steel are two popular materials for impact-rated doors, each offering unique benefits. Fiberglass doors are lightweight yet durable, resistant to warping and corrosion. Steel doors provide unmatched resilience against strong winds and flying debris in storm-prone regions. Masonite has both fiberglass and steel impact-rated doors that come in a range of colors and designs, so you can achieve the look you want while still maintaining weather resistance.  

3. Hire Professional Installation Services

When it comes to protecting your home, proper installation of impact-rated products is just as important as the products themselves. This ensures that the door and glass are positioned correctly, and that all elements function to their fullest potential. A professional can handle the precise measurements and instructions required to install these products, giving you confidence that your home is fully safeguarded. 

The Ultimate Protection for Your Home

At Masonite, we believe that every homeowner deserves the highest level of safety for their home–– and everyone inside it–– without sacrificing style. With our range of impact-rated doors and glass, you can feel secure knowing that your doors are ready to stand up to the elements, no matter what comes your way. Want to upgrade your home’s protection? Explore our impact-rated options and discover the peace of mind that comes with Masonite’s trusted solutions. 

*Testing performed on a door without glass, results may vary for other door styles.