Picture & Fixed Windows

Picture & Fixed Windows in Palm Beach, FL | Winslow Windows & Doors

Picture and fixed windows are the non-operable workhorses of Florida coastal architecture. They don’t open, they don’t slide, and that’s exactly the point. They exist to give you an uninterrupted wall of glass with a clean sightline to the water, the garden, or the street, while standing up to the wind loads Palm Beach throws at them. Winslow Windows & Doors has installed these across Palm Beach since we opened our doors, and we build every opening to the same HVHZ standard whether it faces the Intracoastal or a quiet side street in Flamingo Park. Call (561) 831-7863 to talk about your project or schedule a free measurement.

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Product Overview - Picture & Fixed Windows

A picture window is a fixed pane of glass set into a frame that does not move. No sashes, no tracks, no cranks. In Palm Beach, where code compliance and storm performance drive nearly every window decision, the fixed profile has a real advantage: fewer moving parts means fewer points of failure under wind pressure and wind-driven rain. The frame holds laminated impact glass directly, sealed around the full perimeter, and the whole assembly is anchored into the rough opening. That direct anchoring is what lets a fixed window carry a taller and wider glass area than an operable unit of the same frame line.

Architecturally, picture windows anchor the room. They go in the center of a living room wall, over a kitchen sink, across a hallway landing, or floor-to-ceiling in a two-story foyer. They’re often paired with operable units on either side, a common Palm Beach arrangement where a fixed center panel is flanked by casements or single hungs that provide the ventilation. The fixed panel gives you the view, the operable panels give you the breeze, and the whole assembly reads as one continuous wall of glass. We configure this combination regularly for homeowners in neighborhoods like El Cid, Northwood, and South Palm Beach, where sightlines to the water matter as much as the engineering behind them.

Frame material matters here. We install fixed windows in aluminum and vinyl. Aluminum carries the larger spans and holds tighter tolerances in high heat, which is why it shows up so often on modern Palm Beach builds and waterfront homes. Vinyl offers strong thermal performance at a more approachable price point and holds its finish well in salt air. Both materials, when paired with laminated impact glass and set properly, meet the FBC-HVHZ requirements for this region.

Technical Specifications

The fixed window profile is the one we lean on when a client wants the biggest possible piece of glass in a given wall. Here’s what this product line offers:

• Frame materials: Aluminum or vinyl, both engineered for coastal Palm Beach exposure.
• Maximum size: Up to 120 inches wide, depending on configuration and design pressure requirements for your specific wind zone.
• Glass options: Laminated impact glass with a PVB interlayer, Low-E insulated glass, tinted glass, or clear glass. Laminated impact glass is the standard for any opening that must meet HVHZ code.
• Finish options: White, almond, bronze, black, and tan. Finishes are available on both aluminum and vinyl frames.
• Design pressure: Matched to your wind zone, up to +/-100 psf, never higher.
• Compliance documentation: Miami-Dade NOA and Florida Product Approval numbers are issued per configuration. We verify the exact approval number on your quote before permitting.

Hurricane & Compliance Performance

Laminated Impact Glass
Laminated impact glass uses a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) interlayer sandwiched between two panes. Under impact, the glass may crack but the interlayer holds the pieces in the frame, keeping the building envelope sealed. That’s the core of what makes this window hurricane-ready. It’s the same technology used in automotive windshields, scaled for residential and commercial openings across Palm Beach County.

Miami-Dade NOA and Florida Product Approval
Every configuration we quote carries the appropriate Miami-Dade NOA (Notice of Acceptance) and Florida Product Approval numbers. These are not blanket ratings. They are issued per configuration, per frame, per glass package, and per size range. When we put numbers on your quote, they reflect the exact window we’re installing in your opening, and we’ll verify them against your specific quote before any permit submittal in Palm Beach.

FBC-HVHZ Compliance
These windows are engineered to Florida Building Code High-Velocity Hurricane Zone requirements. HVHZ applies throughout Palm Beach County and is the stricter of Florida’s two wind codes. That means the product, the anchoring, and the installation method all have to work together as a system. A compliant product installed wrong is not a compliant window.

TAS 201 / TAS 202 / TAS 203 Testing Context
The HVHZ-rated products we install are tested under the TAS protocol family. TAS 201 covers large-missile impact, which fires a 2×4 at the glass to simulate wind-borne debris. TAS 202 tests cyclic wind-pressure loading, the repeated push-pull force of hurricane gusts. TAS 203 tests forced-entry resistance. These three tests together describe what a window in Palm Beach actually has to survive.

Design Pressure for Your Wind Zone
Design pressure, or DP, is the structural rating for how much wind force a window can take. For this product line, we match DP to your specific wind zone, up to +/-100 psf. We never spec a higher DP than the building requires, because doing so adds cost without adding real-world protection. The right number is the one that matches your site.

Energy Performance
Low-E and insulated glass options are available for fixed windows, which lets you separate the impact function from the energy function. The impact layer protects the building. The Low-E coating and insulating airspace manage solar heat gain and UV exposure. On a west-facing wall in Palm Beach, that combination makes a noticeable difference in air-conditioning load.

Color & Glass Options

Finish selection in Palm Beach tends to follow the architecture. White and almond remain the most common choices for Mediterranean and Spanish Colonial homes, where they blend with stucco walls and light trim. Bronze and black are increasingly popular on contemporary builds, particularly in the modern homes going up along the Intracoastal and in West Palm Beach’s newer infill lots. Tan works well on homes with warmer earth tones or wood-look flooring visible through the glass. All five finishes are available in both aluminum and vinyl.

Glass selection starts with the laminated impact glass, which is non-negotiable for any HVHZ-compliant opening. From there, you’re choosing what else the glass needs to do. Clear laminated glass maximizes light transmission and color neutrality, which matters if you’re framing a view you don’t want altered. Tinted glass cuts glare and solar heat gain, and we recommend it for east- and west-facing openings. Low-E insulated glass adds a thermal break and a low-emissivity coating, the best choice for rooms that get afternoon sun or for clients who want the strongest energy performance from a fixed panel. Your Palm Beach home may need different glass on different walls, and we’ll spec it that way.

Installation by Winslow Windows & Doors in Palm Beach

We install every fixed window as if the building inspector is going to stand in the room and watch us do it. That starts with a pre-installation inspection. We check the rough opening dimensions against the approved shop drawings, verify the substrate condition around the opening, and confirm that the anchoring plan matches the wind-zone requirements for your specific Palm Beach address. Then we set the window level, plumb, and square, shimming precisely so the frame is not twisted or racked. A fixed window with a bowed frame will show it in the glass reflections every single day.

Perimeter sealing follows AAMA 812 practice, using low-expansion foam around the full perimeter of the frame. That’s the air and water seal, and it only works if it’s applied in a continuous band with no voids. We then install per AAMA 2400 and 2410 standards, which govern the proper installation of windows and the flashing details around them. For HVHZ jurisdictions in Palm Beach, the anchoring is the part that matters most. The window unit itself carries the NOA rating. The anchors, the fastener spacing, and the embedment into the structure all have to match what the approval documentation requires.

We finish with a water test on the critical openings, clean the glass and frames, and walk you through what was installed. We also know the permitting realities in Palm Beach County. HVHZ permit submittals require the product approval numbers to match the window actually installed, and we handle that paperwork so the permit moves without delays. Improper installation compromises a NOA-rated system, which is why this part of the job is not where you save money.

Frequently Asked Questions - Picture & Fixed Windows

What wind zone or design pressure is the Picture & Fixed Window rated for?
Design pressure is matched to your specific wind zone, up to +/-100 psf, never higher. Your home’s location in Palm Beach determines the required DP rating, and we spec the window to meet that requirement exactly. Call (561) 831-7863 and we’ll confirm the right rating for your street.

What is the lead time for Picture & Fixed Windows in Palm Beach?
Lead time varies by frame line, glass package, and configuration. Current residential orders generally run several weeks from approved shop drawings to delivery at our Palm Beach warehouse. We confirm lead time on your quote and update you as the order moves through production.

Does my permit in Palm Beach require a Miami-Dade NOA or Florida Product Approval submittal?
Yes. Any HVHZ permit in Palm Beach County requires the product approval numbers for the exact windows being installed. We provide the NOA and Florida Product Approval documentation for your specific configuration as part of your quote package, so the permit application matches what actually goes into the wall. Call (561) 831-7863 for help with your specific opening.

Can I customize the size or configuration of a Picture & Fixed Window?
Fixed windows are built to order. Widths up to 120 inches are possible depending on frame material and design pressure requirements. We’ll measure your opening, confirm what the wind zone allows, and order the unit to your exact dimensions. Custom sizing is standard practice for us in Palm Beach, not an upgrade.

How do I maintain the frame on a fixed window in Palm Beach?
Rinse the frame and glass with fresh water a few times a year, especially if you’re close to salt air. Check the perimeter sealant once a year for shrinkage or gaps, and recaulk when needed. The frame itself needs no lubrication or moving-part maintenance because there are no moving parts. If you notice condensation between panes, that’s a seal failure, and we’ll replace the insulated glass unit. Call (561) 831-7863 if you see anything that doesn’t look right.

Get a Quote - Picture & Fixed Windows in Palm Beach

If you’re planning new construction, a remodel, or replacing old windows in Palm Beach, start with a conversation. We’ll come out, measure your openings, confirm the wind-zone requirements, and put a written quote together with real product approval numbers. Call (561) 831-7863 to schedule your free on-site measurement and estimate.

Written by the team at Winslow Windows & Doors, serving Palm Beach since our founding.