Florida Commercial Glazing Buyer Guide
What to look for in a commercial glazing warranty (Florida 2026)
Florida commercial glazing warranty is a 4-layer stack: glass manufacturer, aluminum manufacturer, sealant, and installer labor. Each layer has different terms, different coverage scopes, and different enforcement pathways. Owners who don't get all four documented at substantial completion enforce warranty 3x slower when issues come up.
What should the installer labor warranty cover?
Anchor performance, sealant joint integrity, flashing, weatherstripping integration, hardware function, glass alignment, and field workmanship defects. Should NOT cover acts of God, building structural movement beyond design tolerance, owner-caused damage, or modifications by other trades after installation. ACG installer warranty is 2 years standard, 5 years extended on commercial.
What does the glass manufacturer warranty cover?
IGU edge seal failure (typically 10 years), low-E coating defects (5-10 years), lamination delamination (5 years on PVB, 10 years on SGP). Does NOT cover breakage, owner-caused damage, post-installation tinted film application, or chemical exposure beyond manufacturer-approved cleaning agents.
What does the aluminum manufacturer warranty cover?
Extrusion finish (PVDF Kynar, anodized, powder coat) against fade, chalk, peel, adhesion failure — typically 5-10 years. Aluminum substrate is generally lifetime on structural extrusion. Hardware (operators, locks, hinges) typically 1-3 years. Specialty finishes (custom colors, two-tone) may carry shorter terms.
How long should sealant warranty be?
Structural sealant (Dow 995, Sika SikaSil WS-305): 10-20 years when applied per spec by an approved applicator. Weatherseal sealants: typically 5 years. Critical: get the applicator's manufacturer certification on file. ACG is approved applicator for Dow Corning and Sika commercial sealant lines.
What voids commercial glazing warranty most often?
Owner-side power washing with non-approved chemicals (citrus-based, ammoniated). HVAC overspray. Tinted film applied after installation (voids low-E coating warranty almost universally). Modification of frame for tenant signage without manufacturer approval. Building settlement beyond design tolerance.
Is the warranty transferable to a new building owner?
On commercial glazing, yes. ACG installer warranty transfers with documentation. Manufacturer warranties on glass (Vitro, Viracon, Guardian), aluminum (Kawneer, YKK AP), and sealant (Dow, Sika) also transferable. Documentation file at substantial completion makes future transfers fast.