Whether you move into a new home or want to invest in a replacement for your existing home, it’s necessary to learn how much wind your garage door can withstand. Ensuring your doors have the correct WindCode® rating for your area can help keep your family, home and belongings safe.
Why Is It Important to Know Your Garage Door’s Wind Load?
Your garage door separates your home and the elements. Garage doors act as physical barriers against weather and burglars and help regulate your interior temperature by keeping hot or cold air out so you can save money over time.
Without the right level of wind resistance, a garage door can sustain significant damage. A garage door that fits your home’s wind load offers:
- Impact resistance: A suitable, wind-rated garage door has a strong resistance to debris picked up by the wind, preventing dents and damage.
- Ideal window pressure: The correct wind resistance can prevent internal pressure from damaging windows, keeping your home safer.
- Secure tracks and structure: Proper resistance can bar strong winds from opening your garage door and keep its components securely attached, maintaining excellent structural integrity.
Wind-Rated Garage Doors Explained
Generally, standard garage doors withstand winds around 20 miles per hour (mph). However, areas prone to strong wind, like Florida, require homeowners to meet local requirements for hurricane resistance. Some exposure zones need wind resistance for winds faster than 150 mph to protect structures from Category 5 hurricanes.
Garage doors built with protection for storms and hurricanes have a WindCode rating of W1 through W9, with higher numbers indicating more resistance.
How to Determine Your WindCode® Rating
To see your garage door’s score, you can look for a label on an orange, yellow or white sticker along the inside of the door. If you need help determining what wind load your garage door needs to handle, you can use a WindCode calculator designed for residential homes in Florida.
You can also have a specialized technician evaluate your garage door’s “W” score, explain what level of resistance you need and indicate whether you need to invest in repairs, service or replacement to keep you and your home safe.
Contact The Doorman for Wind-Rated Garage Doors
As a Clopay® Authorized Dealer™ in Southeast Florida, The Doorman can help you ensure your garage door meets local building codes for hurricane resistance. To request an installation, repair or service, reach out to us today!
