If you live along the coast, Memorial Day signals the unofficial start of summer followed by the very official start of the Atlantic hurricane season on June 1.

Florida homeowners can take advantage of the Home Hardening Sales Tax Exemption to purchase qualifying impact-resistant garage doors. The goal is to make homes stronger and safer to reduce property loss from future hurricanes.

The impact-rated garage door sales tax exemption began last year and continues through June 30, 2024.

If you recently bought a home in a hurricane-prone region, check to be sure your existing garage door is up to code...even if you don’t live in Florida. A local garage door dealer can advise you on current building codes or look for the sticker inside the door that identifies the door as wind-load rated.

If it’s time for a curb appeal update, now is a good time to research your options. Most garage doors can be ordered and installed in a few weeks. Some insurance companies may offer discounts on homeowner premiums if your garage door exceeds local building code requirements.

NOAA, a division of the National Weather Service, is forecasting 12 to 17 total named storms this season, which runs June 1 – November 30. Of those, 5 to 9 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 1 to 4 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher).

Learn more about WindCode® reinforced garage doors.