The ultimate frenemies, high winds and windows. When the wind decides to Hulk-smash your glass, it’s not just about shattered pieces of sadness all over your floor. Nope, it’s a full-blown invitation for rain, wind, and chaos to waltz into your house like they own the place. 🌀🪟💥
Flying debris? Yep, branches, lawn chairs, or whatever random object the wind picked up on its joyride are the usual suspects for window destruction. And once those windows are busted, in comes the rain to soak your couch, ruin your rugs, and turn your insulation into a soggy mess of regret.
And let’s not forget the broken glass everywhere. It’s like a glitter bomb, but instead of sparkles, you’ve got dangerous shards trying to punk your pets and unsuspecting bare feet.
Here’s how to armor up windows and make windstorms cry:
Follow these steps, and windstorms will roll in, look at your windows, and immediately nope out.
Science has been busy cooking up some sweet anti-wind debris gadgets. Here’s the latest in window armor:
Wind doesn’t stand a chance against these futuristic innovations. Pick your weapon and let your windows laugh in the face of storms.
Has wind decided to turn your windows into abstract art? No worries, fixing that mess is totally doable by the pros—just don’t expect it to be fun.
End result: Armor up and tell wind to pick on someone else.
For minor damage—like small chips or cracks that can be fixed with a little repair magic—you’re looking at $100 to $300 per window. Cheap-ish, right? Don’t get too comfy.
For moderate damage, where the glass is cracked but the frame is still holding on for dear life, it’ll cost around $300 to $800 per window. This is where you start regretting not installing those storm shutters.
But if a windstorm went full 'Smash' and shattered the glass, damaged the frames, and messed with the seals? You’re in the $800 to $1,500+ per window zone. Multiply that by however many windows Mother Nature decided to bully, and voilà! Your wallet cries.
And let’s not even talk about custom or oversized windows. Those bad boys can push the bill into $2,000+ per window territory. Yep, windstorms aren’t just icy—they’re expensive.
Pro tip: Call in a Public Adjuster to help you get the most out of your insurance claim so you don’t have to fund this mess out of pocket.
Wind-related window destruction falls squarely under the "windstorm" peril in your property insurance policy. Yep, your insurance company literally has a box labeled "windstrom" punched your windows, pay up." Fancy, right?
BUT—because there’s always a "but"—if your policy has a wind/hail deductible, you might be footing a bigger chunk of the bill than you’d like. And if you’ve got exclusions for hail damage in your policy (seriously, read the fine print), you’re on your own, my friend.
So, wind damage? Usually covered, unless your insurance company decides to play hardball. Just make sure your policy is up to snuff before the next storm shows up uninvited.
Homeowners Insurance: Most homeowners policies—like the HO-1, HO-2, HO-3 , HO-5 , HO-7 and HO-8 — cover it under windstorm damage peril coverage. Just watch out for those wind/hail deductibles, because they can make your wallet cry harder than your windows did.
Reminder that the standard homeowner insurance polices HO-1, HO-2, and HO-8 offer limited coverage compared with HO-3 , HO-5 and HO-7.
Commercial Property Insurance: Got a business with a storefront? Commercial property insurance will cover wind damage to windows, doors, and other property. Because let’s face it—broken windows aren’t great for business unless you’re in the “open-air” market.
Renters Insurance (HO-4): Sorry, renters—your stuff might be covered if wind wrecked your landlord’s windows and let the weather in, but the windows themselves? That’s your landlord’s circus and their monkeys.
Condo Insurance (HO-6): If you’re in a condo, your policy will cover damage to the windows inside your unit. Anything on the outside? That’s your HOA’s problem—or at least it should be, assuming they have a good master policy.
Bottom line? Most standard policies have windstrom's number, but always read the fine print. Exclusions and deductibles are the insurance world’s way of keeping things spicy. Don’t wait until wind turns your house into Swiss cheese to figure it out!
Get a free insurance policy review with a Tiger Adjuster Public Adjuster!
High winds can shatter windows, creating safety hazards from broken glass and exposing the home’s interior to the elements. Flying debris, such as branches or other objects, is a common cause of window breakage during windstorms. Broken windows can allow rain and wind to enter, leading to water damage, ruined furnishings, and compromised insulation. Additionally, shattered glass may pose a danger to occupants and pets, requiring careful cleanup. Promptly securing the damaged area and replacing the window is essential to restore the home's safety and energy efficiency.
Each year, 1 in every 20 insured homes file an insurance claim with 98% involving property damage.
(Insurance Information Institute, 2021. Claim average from 2017-2021.)
