A quality unit will have the appropriate UV stabilizers in and and will last 20+ years. Without more data on how the windows in NJ were installed or who's they were, tough to say why they smiled on you.

Yes, I guess the unknowns were definitely a factor there. Any suggestions on what I’ll need to ask in this regard if I happen to consider vinyl window alternatives down this way?

Do you need hurricane impact windows in the Florida home?

I’m in Central Florida in the Northeastern most point in unincorporated Apopka, bordering Wekiva State Park (if that helps). No one in this area that I know of has impact windows. I haven’t been here too long so I wasn’t here during Irma. I do know that when Irma came through it tore up the shingles some on this house. The owners at that time had the roof replaced. This is what I found online about the history of this area.

There have been 243 recorded wind events in Orange County. The most severe event was Donna, which occurred in 1960.
It was recorded as a category 4 with 1-min sustained wind speeds up to 144 mph and 3-second wind gusts up to 184 mph.

If an exceedingly rare windstorm (a 1-in-3,000 year storm event) occurred today, it could cause wind gusts of up to 164 mph to reach Apopka. A hurricane of this severity has a 1% chance of occurring at least once over the next 30 years. In 30 years, an event of this same likelihood would show increased wind gusts of up to 178 mph due to a changing environment.

However, when Irma came through here the highest sustained wind gusts were 79 mph in Orange County and 91 mph at the top of Disney Tower.

I called my insurance company and (if I believe them) they said that depending on the sizes of the windows, they’d have to meet a wind speed of 133, Zone 4 (not quite sure what the Zone means), and depending on the size of the window rated anywhere from DP +30 / -30 to DP +50 / -50. But they didn’t say they had to be impact rated windows.

" they’d have to meet a wind speed of 133, Zone 4 (not quite sure what the Zone means), and depending on the size of the window rated anywhere from DP +30 / -30 to DP +50 / -50. But they didn’t say they had to be impact rated windows. "

133 mph wind speed is and will definitely require impact rated windows. This will somewhat limit the brands available and definitely pump up the price. Look at PGT as they are the largest and most widely used in Florida. Avoid the private label, "locally" made windows for best results long term.

Thanks. I wonder then how my neighbor got non impact Renewal By Andersen installed?

" I wonder then how my neighbor got non impact Renewal By Andersen installed? "

No idea. But he might want to be sure his home is covered if there is a hurricane as it very well may not be.

@millworkman, I did more research on the Orange County permit website and spoke to the residential building codes guy. My part of Orange County is not in a Wind Debris rated area, and as such according to the Florida codes I am not required to have impact rated windows. As long as the selected windows meet the wind speed ratings mentioned above I will meet the permitting requirements.

its a known fact that alligators dont like the taste of vinyl windows. So yes, they will last in Florida.