Door Style Guide

Impact Garage Doors, the biggest opening.

The garage door is the largest opening in most homes, and one of the most common failure points in a major storm. Here's how to make it one of the strongest.

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Two-story South Florida home with a two-car garage, palm trees, and a paver driveway
HVHZ-rated
Miami-Dade NOA verified
TypeSectional, roll-up
Rated forHVHZ wind loads
Built withReinforcing struts
ProtectsThe whole house
Impact garage door: reinforced sections that roll up along side tracks LARGEST OPENING IN THE HOME Yellow lines: reinforcing struts across each section

How it protects

Strong where storms push hardest.

  1. 1

    Reinforced sections. Horizontal struts stiffen each section so the door resists bending under wind pressure.

  2. 2

    Heavy-duty tracks. Tracks and hardware are anchored to carry the door's tested wind load into the structure.

  3. 3

    Rolls up as usual. Day to day it works like any sectional garage door, just built to a far higher standard.

The good stuff

Why homeowners upgrade their garage door

Protects the whole house

If a garage door fails, wind can rush in and pressurize the home from inside. A rated door helps keep the envelope intact.

Engineered for HVHZ

Sectional impact-rated doors are engineered and tested for the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone's wind loads.

A fresh face for the house

The garage door can be a big share of the front elevation, a new door refreshes curb appeal instantly.

South Florida neighborhood of tile-roof homes with garages and palm trees
Often overlooked, the garage door is the largest single opening in a home, and a common failure point in major storms.

Where it shines

Perfect for

One-car garagesTwo-car garagesOlder, unrated doorsWhole-home protectionCoastal homesCurb-appeal refreshes

If you're protecting every other opening with impact windows and doors, the garage door completes the envelope. It's also one of the openings insurers and inspectors look at closely.

Choosing

Impact-rated or wind-rated?

This page

Impact-Rated Door

  • Tested for wind load and debris
  • Needed if the door has glass
  • Highest level of protection
  • Carries a Miami-Dade NOA

Wind-Rated Door

  • Tested for wind pressure
  • Often solid, no windows
  • Must still meet local code
  • Confirm the rating for your zone

Questions

Good questions, straight answers.

Still wondering about something? Call 954-251-0866 and talk to a real person.

Garage doors in Miami-Dade and Broward's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone must meet the Florida Building Code's requirements for your wind zone, and doors with glass must be impact-rated. We confirm the right rating for your address and pull the permit.

Yes, as long as the glass is part of the door's tested, NOA-approved assembly. Decorative window sections are available on many impact-rated models.

It's usually the largest opening in the house. If it fails, wind can enter and pressurize the home from inside, which puts stress on the roof and other openings.

Most garage door replacements are completed in about a day once the permit is approved and the door has arrived.

Free estimate

Let's find the right doors for your home.

A Haven consultant measures every opening, confirms your wind zone, and walks you through options with itemized pricing. No cost, no pressure.

  • Permits and inspection handled for you
  • Dedicated, long-tenured install crews
  • Financing available
954-251-0866

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Explore

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General information based on current Florida Building Code requirements and Haven's field experience. Product approvals, sizes, costs, and timelines vary by home and municipality. Your free estimate confirms the details for your project. Verify any contractor's license at myfloridalicense.com.