Impact Windows in Virginia Gardens, FL

Virginia Gardens is about a third of a square mile, and Miami International Airport sits right along its southern edge, so impact windows here are judged by two standards: how they hold up in a hurricane and how much jet noise they keep out. The village was formed in 1947 when about 50 residents left Miami Springs after it banned horses, and the new village took its name from the state of Virginia.

Why laminated glass helps with noise

An impact window uses laminated glass, two panes bonded to a plastic interlayer. That interlayer damps vibration, so laminated units generally block more sound than the single-pane glass found in many older homes. The effect varies with the product, the glass makeup and how well the frame is sealed, and no window will erase an overhead departure. Still, owners near the runways often say the indoor difference is the part they notice every day, long after hurricane season ends.

Options that improve sound control

• Thicker or asymmetric laminated glass makeups
• Insulated laminated glass, which adds an air space
• Careful perimeter sealing, since sound leaks through gaps
• Fixed picture windows where you do not need ventilation

Every option still has to appear in the product's Notice of Acceptance for the size you need, so we start from approved configurations and narrow from there.

Lots that used to be estates

At incorporation, many Virginia Gardens residents owned estates of up to 5 acres. Today only one 1-acre residential property is left and most lots are about 0.2 acres. That history shows up as a mix of older homes and later infill. Older houses often have smaller openings and original jalousie or awning windows; newer infill may have larger sliders. We look at each opening rather than quoting a whole-house package from a template.

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Permits in a small village

Virginia Gardens is its own municipality, so check with the village's building department for its submittal requirements before work starts. Across Miami-Dade, expect to provide approved product documents for each window and door type and a plan showing where each unit goes, and expect inspections while the work is still open. We assemble the product approvals and the opening schedule for the application.

Entry and patio doors

With such small lots, the front door and the patio door often face the street or a neighbor only a few feet away. An impact entry door or impact French door adds storm protection and a solid, well-sealed door that also helps with sound. If you are replacing windows in stages, the doors are worth pricing in the same visit. Call (786) 699-6948 to arrange a measure.