Why the doors matter more than the windows
The largest piece of glass in most Lee County homes is the slider onto the lanai. It is also the opening most likely to fail in a storm: a wide, tall panel on the side of the house that usually faces the pool, the canal or the open lot, with nothing to slow the wind down. Once a slider lets go, the house pressurizes from the inside and the roof is next. Protecting the windows and leaving the slider is the most common gap we find when we measure.
Impact sliding glass doors
We replace two, three and four-panel sliders, and convert old aluminum sliders with worn rollers to new systems with stainless or sealed rollers that glide again. Panels can stack to one side or, where the wall allows, slide into a pocket so the opening clears completely to the lanai.
Taller units, 8 feet and up, are increasingly popular in remodels. They need a frame rated for the higher load and sometimes a new header, which we check at the measure rather than at installation.
Sill height and water
On a pool deck the threshold is where the trouble starts. The higher a slider's water rating, the taller its sill tends to be. We go through the trade-off between an easy step-over and a door that keeps wind-driven rain out, and pick the sill to suit how the lanai drains.
Impact front doors
Entry doors come as fiberglass or aluminum slabs with impact glass inserts, solid panels, or full-lite designs. Sidelights and transoms are glazed with the same laminated glass and rated as part of the assembly. We fit a multi-point lock as standard; a single deadbolt does not hold a door tight against its frame the way the tested assembly needs.
Out-swing doors resist wind better because the pressure pushes the door into its stops. Most older Fort Myers homes have in-swing entries; switching direction is possible but changes how the porch and the steps work, so we sketch it out first.
French doors
Pairs of French doors are common onto rear patios in the older neighborhoods around Edison Park and the Dean Park historic district. Impact French doors keep the look, with simulated divided lites if you want them, and add a center astragal and flush bolts so the inactive leaf locks top and bottom.
Garage doors and the insurance form
For the top opening-protection rating on a Florida wind mitigation inspection, every opening has to be covered, and that includes the garage door. We do not install garage doors, but we will tell you at the measure whether yours carries an impact rating and what that means for the credit.
Door prices at a glance
A two-panel impact slider of about 8 feet usually runs $3,800 to $6,500 installed, and a single impact front door $3,000 to $6,500. These are estimates to plan around; a written quote follows the measure. The cost guide lists every door type we quote.
Questions about impact doors
Can I keep my existing slider frame and just change the glass?
No. An impact rating applies to the tested assembly: glass, frame, rollers, locks and anchors together. Laminated glass in an old non-rated frame does not meet the code and will not count on a wind mitigation form.
Will a new slider fit the same opening?
Usually. Sliders come in standard widths, and we order to the rough opening. Where an older door was an odd size, we build the opening out or down with treated wood and finish it to match.
Are impact doors harder to open?
The panels are heavier, but a slider on good rollers moves with one hand, and a front door on a properly set frame closes as easily as the one it replaces.
Do impact doors need a permit?
Yes. Exterior door replacement is permitted work in Fort Myers and across Lee County, just like windows. The permit and the final inspection are part of our price.
Last updated October 8, 2026