Materials Guide

Materials & Glass, made simple.

Every impact door starts with a tested frame and laminated glass. The materials you choose shape how it looks, feels, and holds up to the South Florida climate.

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Tall impact doors with an HVHZ-rated, NOA-approved badge
HVHZ-rated
Miami-Dade NOA verified
FramesAluminum, fiberglass, steel
GlassLaminated IGU
CoatingsLow-E for heat control
Every buildNOA-verified for your zone
Cross-sections of aluminum-and-glass, fiberglass, and steel impact door construction ALUMINUM frame · laminated glass FIBERGLASS skin · foam core · skin STEEL steel skin · foam core · steel skin

What's inside

Three materials, one standard.

  1. 1

    Aluminum is the most popular on the coast: light, strong, and resistant to salt-air corrosion.

  2. 2

    Fiberglass wraps a foam core in a tough skin for superior insulation and wood-look finishes.

  3. 3

    Steel delivers the highest forced-entry resistance, with a quality paint system to protect it.

The good stuff

Three choices that shape your doors

The glass

Laminated insulated glass with a PVB or SentryGlas interlayer holds together if it cracks. Low-E coatings can cut solar heat gain by up to 70%.

The frame

Aluminum for slim sightlines and coastal durability, fiberglass for insulation, steel for maximum security.

The finish

Powder-coated colors, wood-grain textures, and hardware finishes let the door match your home's style.

South Florida home with a dark wood impact entry door
Outdoor temperatures in South Florida hover above 85°F for seven or more months a year. The right materials make that easier to live with.

Where it shines

Quick guide

Coastal homes: aluminumEnergy savings: fiberglassMaximum security: steelSunny exposures: low-E glassWood look: fiberglassBig glass walls: aluminum

There's no single right answer. It depends on how close you are to the coast, how much sun the opening gets, and the look you want. During your free estimate we'll recommend a build for each door.

Choosing

Aluminum or fiberglass?

This page

Aluminum Frame

  • Excellent salt-air resistance
  • Lower insulation; thermal break helps
  • Widest choice of HVHZ products
  • Slim sightlines, big glass

Fiberglass Frame

  • Won't rust near the coast
  • Natural insulator
  • Can mimic wood grain
  • Growing selection; confirm NOA

Questions

Good questions, straight answers.

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

Aluminum is the most popular choice on the coast because it resists salt-air corrosion and is light on the frame. Fiberglass is also impervious to rust. Steel works well but needs a quality paint system and regular upkeep in humid coastal air.

Low-E is a microscopically thin coating that reflects the sun's heat while keeping the glass clear. It can cut solar heat gain by up to 70%, which helps most on doors that face south or west.

Both are interlayers bonded between panes of laminated glass to hold it together on impact. SentryGlas is a stiffer ionoplast interlayer often used in larger or higher-load glass. The door's NOA specifies which is used.

Yes. Frame colors, glass tints, and grille styles can usually be coordinated. If you're also upgrading windows, we can plan both together.

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
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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.