Hurricane force wind resistant window or door with aesthetic sacrificial member and associated methods

A window or door resistant to hurricane force winds comprising:

• a sash;
• at least one reinforced transparent panel carried by said sash;
• said sash comprising a body portion and an aesthetic sacrificial member extending outwardly therefrom and toward said at least one reinforced transparent panel, said body portion being spaced from an adjacent portion of said at least one reinforced transparent panel to define a cavity beneath said aesthetic sacrificial member;
• and
• sealant material in the cavity, and being covered from view by said aesthetic sacrificial member;
• said aesthetic sacrificial member moving relative to said body portion during hurricane force winds to permit said at least one reinforced transparent panel to move within said sash.

A sash comprising:

• a body portion;
• and
• an aesthetic sacrificial member extending outwardly from said body portion and toward at least one reinforced transparent panel;
• said body portion to be spaced from an adjacent portion of the at least one reinforced transparent panel to define a cavity beneath said aesthetic sacrificial member;
• the cavity for holding sealant material covered from view by said aesthetic sacrificial member;
• said aesthetic sacrificial member moving relative to said body portion during hurricane force winds to permit the at least one reinforced transparent panel to move within said sash.

A method for making a window or door resistant to hurricane force winds, the method comprising the steps of:

• forming a sash to have a body portion and an aesthetic sacrificial member extending outwardly therefrom and toward at least one reinforced transparent panel, the body portion being spaced from an adjacent portion of the at least one reinforced transparent panel to define a cavity beneath the aesthetic sacrificial member;
• and
• positioning sealant material in the cavity, and being covered from view by the aesthetic sacrificial member;
• whereby the aesthetic sacrificial member moves relative to the body portion during hurricane force winds to permit the at least one reinforced transparent panel to move within the sash.