Galveston Homes Withstand Hurricane Ike with Kolbe's K-Force Doors and Windows

Hurricane Ike's onslaught of the Galveston area was so intense that most homes in the storm's path were severely damaged0151 if not completely destroyed0151by its 115 mph winds. Notable exceptions were a pair of beachfront houses that emerged intact, with the aid of K-Force™ impact-certified windows and doors from Kolbe.

ith three stories and an average of 45 windows and 15 doors apiece, these multi-million dollar homes, which were still under construction, would seem to be tempting hurricane targets. "These houses were on the very front line of the hurricane, right on Galveston Beach, but the structures and the windows and doors beat the storm," says Bob Petersma, Houston area sales manager for Grand Openings, a multi-state distributor of Kolbe products.

"The builder, American Villas, had a chance to see the properties right after the storm, and told us how impressed and pleased they were at how Kolbe's K-Force windows and doors withstood Ike," adds Petersma.

The K-Force doors and windows installed in the Galveston Beach homes are a mix of casements, sterling double-hungs and outswing doors in standard sizes with traditional styling and divided lites. All are from Kolbe's Ultra Series, which features traditional styling, wood interiors, aluminum cladding and laminated glass designed to stay intact even if the glass is broken.

Kolbe says its K-Force door and window units are tested extensively to withstand hurricane force winds and the impact of flying debris, and meet or exceed the strict building codes of the coastal region.

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