Impact Windows in Venice, FL

Few towns had a harder fall in 2024 than Venice, and that is why so many owners here are now pricing impact windows. Hurricane Helene pushed several feet of storm surge through the city in late September. Less than two weeks later, Hurricane Milton came ashore just to the north near Siesta Key, and Venice recorded sustained winds of 92 mph with gusts to 107 mph.

What 107 mph gusts do to a window

A gust that strong does two things. It pushes on the glass and frame with steady pressure, and it throws whatever it picks up: roof tiles, branches, patio furniture. A standard window may hold the pressure and then fail when something hits it. Impact windows are tested both ways: a missile test that fires a piece of lumber at the glass, then cycles of pressure pushing in and pulling out. The laminated glass may crack, but it is designed to stay in the frame and keep the house closed.

What the City permits

The City of Venice building guidelines list replacement of windows, doors, garage doors or skylights in existing or altered wall openings as work that needs a permit. Hurricane shutters need one too, and power-operated shutters need an electrical permit alongside it. Re-screening a lanai is exempt. For anything unusual, or for questions about doing work on your own home, the Building Department's number is on the City's guidelines page.

Roll-down shutters on Venice Island

The part of the city locals call Venice Island sits between the Gulf and the Intracoastal Waterway, which was dug, not natural. Homes there are close to open water on two sides. Roll-down shutters are a common pick for big Gulf-side openings because they close in seconds. They mount in a box above the opening and run on side rails. We cover:

• Motorized versus manual operation, and a manual override if power is out
• Housing size and where it can sit under the soffit
• Rinsing salt from the rails so the slats keep running smoothly

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A planned city

Venice was laid out by planner John Nolen for Dr. Fred Albee, and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers took over the project. The first sections were built in 1925 and 1926. That gives Venice a mix that ranges from 1920s homes near downtown to newer subdivisions on the mainland. The 2020 census counted 25,463 residents, up 22.7% in ten years.

Matching the window to the house

Older homes near the historic core often have smaller, more numerous windows, sometimes in custom sizes. Newer homes on the mainland tend to have larger openings and sliders to the lanai. Either way, we measure each opening, check the framing around it and list the product approval number for each window in the estimate. Call (941) 390-3550 to set up a visit.