If you’ve lived in New Orleans for more than one hurricane season, you know the drill. June 1st rolls around, and the mental checklist begins: flashlights, water, generator fuel, shutters. But one item that often gets overlooked in storm prep is the condition of your existing window glass — and it’s worth paying attention to before storm season is in full swing.
Standard Glass vs. Impact-Resistant Glass
Most homes in the New Orleans area — particularly older ones in Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish — have standard annealed or tempered glass in their windows. Neither of these is designed to withstand hurricane-force wind and debris impacts. Standard glass will break under significant pressure, and while tempered glass shatters into smaller, less dangerous pieces, it still breaks.
Impact-resistant glass, sometimes called hurricane glass, is laminated — constructed similarly to a car windshield, with a plastic interlayer between two panes. When it breaks, the interlayer holds the pieces together, preventing the window from being breached. This is what keeps wind pressure from entering the home, which is what causes roof failure in many cases.
If your home doesn’t have impact glass and you’re not using hurricane shutters, you have a vulnerability. Replacing glass panes with impact-resistant units is one option — but it’s a significant investment and should be done thoughtfully with a professional assessment.
Pre-Season: What to Inspect
Before June, walk through your home and look at every window. You’re looking for existing cracks or chips, failed seals on double-pane units (fogging between the panes), frames that don’t close or latch properly, and any glass that has shifted in its frame.
Any of these conditions makes a window more vulnerable in a storm. A cracked pane doesn’t need a hurricane to fail — a tropical storm or even a strong line of thunderstorms can do the job. Addressing these issues before storm season is far less stressful than dealing with them during or after.
Don’t Wait Until June — Call or text Star Glass Inc. at (504) 368-8826 or visit starglass.com/glass-replacement/
Storm Damage: What Happens After
If you sustain glass damage during a storm, the priority is to secure the opening as quickly as possible to prevent water intrusion and further structural damage. Heavy plastic sheeting or plywood can provide a temporary fix.
For glass replacement after a storm, demand spikes immediately. Having a relationship with a local glass shop before a storm hits — rather than trying to find one when every shop in the metro is backed up — is a practical advantage.
Star Glass Inc. serves Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish for post-storm glass replacement. We replace glass panes — not full frames — which means faster turnaround and lower cost in most cases.
A Note on Glass Railings and Storm Prep
If you have an outdoor glass railing, hurricane season is also a good time to inspect the hardware — particularly the fasteners and base shoe or post bases — for any signs of corrosion or loosening. New Orleans’ humidity is hard on metal hardware over time, and a compromised connection point is a liability in high winds.
Ready to Get Started?
Star Glass Inc. serves Jefferson Parish, Orleans Parish, and the greater New Orleans metro. Reach us any way that works best for you:
Call or text: (504) 368-8826 Email: glass@starglass.com Visit us: 1000 Westbank Expy, Gretna, LA 70053