Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/620205
PEOPLE IN THE KNOW 2015 / STORM & SECURITY PROTECTION 11 Weathering Any Storm Approaching the house, a visitor first encounters the entry door. Security and protection begin here with a reinforced door from Signature Door, Altoona, PA. "Besides looking great, this entry door is one tough customer. This door is a Miami-Dade County approved door for hurricane force winds. No other additional hurricane protection systems are needed [to protect the entryway]," says Pennington. But the door guards against more than weather. "Even if you don't live in a hurricane-prone area, you can add hurricane glass to any of the Signature Door's decorative units as a great theft deterrent." Overhead, the home's roof is not overlooked when it comes to providing protection. The stone-coated steel roofing from Decra Roofing Systems Inc., Corona, CA, offers a 145 mph wind warranty with a Class 4 hail rating. Impressive Protection With waterfront views from the home, plenty of windows were called for in the design. The windows, casement and fixed casement, and patio doors are all impact resistant specified from the OceanView line from Viwinco Inc., Morgantown, PA. The laminated and tempered glass fortifies the windows against extreme hurricane conditions such as high velocity wind and flying debris. "With the windows, by Viwinco, we're talking about hurricane resistance so a two-by-four can be flying in the air at 150 mph and hit that thing and it's not going to go through the window. That's impressive," Pennington says. "Here on the Florida coast we deal with high winds, which means we need more than just beautiful windows. We need impact-resistant windows." Protecting the window openings goes beyond severe weather, however, to provide efficiency and safety. "The windows are much more of an important aspect of a home than even I realized getting into this project," Pennington admits. "We all love windows because they let light in, but you really should get how important the insulation of a window is and also the protection against Mother Nature as well as security." New Normal From top to bottom and all throughout, the First to the Future Home, built by Palm West Home Builders, is beauti- ful but so much more. It is smart, healthy, environmentally conscious and efficient. Better still, it is strong and resilient. Attitudes are changing—perhaps all too slowly—as the nation learns it is far better to prepare for a storm than to respond in its wake. Efforts by people in the know help bring these changes about. Adding Pennington's popular- ity and energy could make storm preparation and security protection the new normal. Approaching the home, visitors encounter storm protection immediately. The home is high enough to mitigate damage from storm surge and is protected by a reinforced entry door. Photo courtesy of NextGen Home TV. The home is designed to maximize views. The impact resistant windows not only protect from wind and debris damage, they insulate and secure the interior. Photo courtesy of NextGen Home TV. Indoor and outdoor living is important for coastal Florida living. The window and door openings were "much more of an important aspect of a home than even I realized," says Pennington. Photo courtesy of NextGen Home TV.