October 18, 2025

Hurricane-Proof Comfort: Picking Miami-Dade Approved, Energy‑Efficient Effect Windows Over Shutters

STS Impact Windows & Doors

STS Impact Windows, Doors & Roofing is a veteran-owned company based in South Florida that specializes in premium hurricane protection solutions, including impact windows, doors, custom storefronts, and roofing. Combining over 25 years of industry experience with military precision, STS provides expert installation, full transparency, and outstanding customer service, backed by a leading 3-year installation warranty. Their comprehensive services ensure security and peace of mind for both residential and commercial clients, with a strong focus on quality, reliability, and efficiency.

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1000 Holland Dr #10, Boca Raton, 33487, US

Business Hours

  • Monday: 08:00 - 17:00
  • Tuesday: 08:00 - 17:00
  • Wednesday: 08:00 - 17:00
  • Thursday: 08:00 - 17:00
  • Friday: 08:00 - 17:00
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed
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STS Impact Windows and Doors is a business
STS Impact Windows and Doors is based in Boca Raton Florida
STS Impact Windows and Doors is located at 1000 Holland Dr Suite 10 Boca Raton FL 33487 United States
STS Impact Windows and Doors operates in the United States
STS Impact Windows and Doors is a veteran owned company
STS Impact Windows and Doors specializes in hurricane protection solutions
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides impact windows
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides impact doors
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides custom storefronts
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides roofing services
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides expert installation
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides full transparency
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides outstanding customer service
STS Impact Windows and Doors has over 25 years of industry experience
STS Impact Windows and Doors offers a 3 year installation warranty
STS Impact Windows and Doors serves residential clients
STS Impact Windows and Doors serves commercial clients
STS Impact Windows and Doors focuses on quality reliability and efficiency
STS Impact Windows and Doors has phone number 5616001018
STS Impact Windows and Doors has website https://stswindows.com/
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STS Impact Windows and Doors has opening hours Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm
STS Impact Windows and Doors was awarded South Florida Veteran Owned Business Excellence Award
STS Impact Windows and Doors was awarded Best Hurricane Protection Provider 2023 Florida
STS Impact Windows and Doors was awarded Angis Super Service Award for Window Installation

People Also Ask about STS Impact Windows and Doors

What does STS Impact Windows and Doors do?

STS Impact Windows and Doors specializes in hurricane protection solutions, offering high-quality impact windows, storm-resistant doors, custom storefronts, and professional roofing services. With expert installation, full transparency, and outstanding customer service, the company ensures homes and businesses stay secure and energy-efficient.

Where is STS Impact Windows and Doors located?

STS Impact Windows and Doors is located at 1000 Holland Dr Suite 10, Boca Raton, FL 33487, United States. The company proudly serves residential and commercial clients across Florida and throughout the United States, delivering reliable storm protection solutions. View their location on Google Maps.

Is STS Impact Windows and Doors a veteran-owned business?

Yes, STS Impact Windows and Doors is a veteran-owned company recognized for its dedication, integrity, and service to the community. This background adds an extra level of trust and reliability for homeowners and businesses seeking storm protection solutions.

What services does STS Impact Windows and Doors provide?

STS Impact Windows and Doors provides a wide range of services including the installation of hurricane impact windows, impact doors, custom commercial storefronts, and roofing services. Each project is backed by expert craftsmanship, a 3-year installation warranty, and over 25 years of industry experience.

Who does STS Impact Windows and Doors serve?

The company proudly serves both residential homeowners and commercial property owners. From protecting family homes to fortifying businesses with hurricane-rated storefronts, STS Impact Windows and Doors delivers customized solutions that ensure safety, durability, and efficiency.

What are the benefits of choosing STS Impact Windows and Doors?

Clients benefit from the company’s focus on quality, reliability, and efficiency. Their impact-resistant windows and doors not only enhance security and hurricane protection but also improve energy efficiency, reduce noise, and increase property value. With a 3-year installation warranty, customers can trust in long-term performance and peace of mind.

What awards has STS Impact Windows and Doors won?

STS Impact Windows and Doors has been recognized with multiple industry honors, including the South Florida Veteran Owned Business Excellence Award, Best Hurricane Protection Provider 2023 Florida, and the Angi’s Super Service Award for Window Installation. These awards highlight their commitment to excellence, customer satisfaction, and industry leadership.

How can I contact STS Impact Windows and Doors?

You can reach STS Impact Windows and Doors by phone at 561-600-1018 or visit their website at stswindows.com. They are open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm and are available on Facebook and Instagram for updates and project showcases.


Business Name: STS Impact Windows & Doors
Address: 1000 Holland Dr #10, Boca Raton, FL 33487, United States
Phone: (561)-600-1018

Hurricane season shapes life along Florida's coasts. You feel it in the way neighbors track tropical waves, the pre-storm rush to stock up, and the ritual of hauling ladders to mount panels. After twenty years specifying, setting up, and troubleshooting building envelopes from Secret Largo to Palm Beach, I have actually seen what holds up and what doesn't. When the objective is genuine defense with year-round comfort, Miami-Dade approved, energy‑efficient effect windows outperform shutters in manner ins which exceed storm day. They alter how a home feels in August, how peaceful your living-room remains on a Saturday night, and how confident you are when a storm line spins up much faster than predicted.

This is a useful take a look at why many South Florida property owners are moving from shutters to hurricane impact-resistant windows, how to check out the requirements behind "Miami-Dade approved," what materials matter, and how to get the installation right the very first time.

What "Miami-Dade Approved" in fact means

Miami-Dade County's Item Control Department sets among the hardest criteria in the nation for building elements exposed to windborne debris. Approval is not a marketing sticker label. It is made through specific laboratory tests that simulate real typhoon conditions.

First comes big missile effect. A 9-pound 2x4 is contended the glass at roughly 34 miles per hour. That mimics roofing tiles, branches, or pieces of fencing that fly in the eyewall. After the effect, the exact same unit deals with cyclic pressure loading, thousands of pressurization and depressurization cycles that mimic quick wind gusts over hours. If the glass stays in the frame without letting the envelope breach, it passes. The difference in between "satisfies Florida building regulations windows" and "Miami-Dade approved windows" typically lives in these test limits. Miami-Dade is merely stiffer, particularly in High Velocity Hurricane Zone requirements, which include Miami-Dade and Broward.

Wind rankings differ by opening size and design pressures, represented as PSF worths. On ocean-facing properties or high-rises, I typically define systems ranked at +60/ -80 PSF or higher. Inland or in more safeguarded direct exposures, rankings in the +45/ -60 PSF range can be sufficient, but you size and spec based upon the site's wind map, constructing height, and surrounding structures. A professional knows that a corner exposure at the 2nd story needs different reinforcement than a sheltered window under a deep porch.

Why impact windows alter the daily experience, not just storm season

Hurricane shutters vs impact windows is not a one-to-one comparison. Shutters can fulfill code, and they're much better than nothing. However they ask you to do work at the worst possible time. When a watch turns to a caution and the projection track tightens up, the last thing you desire is a ladder, a dead cordless drill, and a missing wing nut.

Impact windows reside in place. You get continuous defense, even if a pop-up storm surprises you while you're stuck on United States 1. You likewise get benefits every day of the year.

Noise control is the most underappreciated benefit. Laminated impact glass is essentially a sandwich: two panes of glass bonded by a durable interlayer, generally PVB interlayer glass or SentryGlas. That interlayer damps noise. On jobs along busy passages like Biscayne Boulevard or near flight paths, I've measured interior sound drops in the 5 to 10 decibel range, often more when coupled with insulated glass units.

Security improves because laminated glass withstands required entry. A burglar can shatter the outer lite with a hammer, but the interlayer holds the fragments. They satisfy a sticky, persistent membrane instead of a quick path inside. Insurance coverage underwriters understand this, which is why policies typically use credits for impact windows and doors. In my jobs, premiums usually drop 10 to 25 percent, depending upon the carrier and the number of openings are protected.

Energy efficiency is the 3rd pillar. Energy-efficient effect windows with modern-day low-E impact glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while protecting noticeable light. That means less air conditioning need, particularly on west and south exposures where the afternoon sun punishes interiors. In one Coral Gables retrofit, we changed 1980s single-pane sliders with laminated low-E effect units. Summertime afternoon peak load dropped by roughly a lots of cooling, and the home's yearly electrical power usage fell in between 12 and 18 percent. Outcomes differ with shading, attic insulation, and heating and cooling performance, however the instructions is consistent.

Material options that matter: glass, interlayers, and frames

Laminated impact glass is the heart of the system, however not all laminated products are equal.

Most residential cyclone windows use a PVB interlayer glass stack, typically 0.030 to 0.090 inches thick in single or numerous plies. Thicker interlayers improve effect resistance and sound control, however they include weight and cost. For oceanfront or tall openings, you might see SGP (ionoplast) interlayers, which are stiffer and stronger than PVB, allowing thinner areas to achieve higher design pressures. For noise-sensitive sites, acoustic PVB formulas modify the polymer to much better take in noise in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz range, where traffic and voices sit.

Tempered glass windows show up often in discussions since tempered glass is more powerful in flexing than annealed glass. That's true, and tempered lites are typically used as the outer or inner ply in an impact system. However tempered alone is not impact-resistant in the typhoon sense. When it fails, it takes off into small cubes and falls out of the frame, which leaves the opening vulnerable. The impact performance comes from laminated construction, not tempering by itself. Many systems use a tempered outer lite laminated to a hardened inner lite, or both tempered, however always bonded through a PVB or ionoplast interlayer.

Low-E finishings matter for convenience. A soft-coat low-E tuned for South Florida typically targets a solar heat gain coefficient in the 0.25 to 0.35 range while keeping visible light transmission around half or greater. Go too short on SHGC and the glass can look gray or green, particularly in larger openings. The sweet area depends upon your exterior orientation and shading. On east and west elevations, I frequently tighten SHGC and accept a minor tint to handle morning and afternoon blasts. On north elevations, I favor greater noticeable transmittance for daylighting.

Frames are the other half of the story. Aluminum frames control here because they deal with big openings and will not swell. Thermal breaks and enhanced glazing gaskets have actually narrowed the energy space with vinyl. Premium vinyl impact frames, when reinforced effectively, can perform well for standard-sized openings and have better insulating worths, however I avoid them for extremely broad sliders or tall storefront-style windows in high-wind zones. Wood-clad systems look stunning in older Mediterranean Revival homes, however they require careful upkeep and wise flashing. The Florida sun ruins cheap vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum finishes rapidly. Search for powder-coated surfaces ranked for coastal exposure, and demand written guarantee details in salt-air environments.

The covert hero: setup that appreciates the load path

Window setup can make or break performance. A pricey unit set up like a handyman swap-out will not pass a storm's tension test. The load course is the core. Impact forces have to travel from the glass through the frame, to the anchors, into the substrate, and then into the structure's framing or masonry.

In concrete block building and construction, you want stainless or hot-dipped galvanized anchors embedded into strong product. Hollow cells need to be grouted or you need to hit the bond beam. Tapcons in soft, unfilled block are a failure waiting to take place. In wood-framed homes, structural screws must bite into solid trimmers, not just sheathing. Shimming and plumb alignment matter so the locks engage cleanly and the weatherstripping compresses evenly.

The sealant joint is not just visual. A properly sized backer rod and high-quality polyurethane or silyl-modified polymer sealant develop a durable, flexible seal that manages thermal growth. Too small a bead and it tears under motion. Too huge and it remedies improperly. On coastal tasks, I never ever combine dissimilar metals without a barrier, and I constantly define corrosion-resistant fasteners. 10 years later, you will see who took shortcuts.

Flashing is the other non-negotiable. Pan flashing at sills, self-adhered membranes at jambs and heads, and integration with the water-resistive barrier are vital. If you count on sealant alone, water will discover its way in. That moisture may not show up as a drip. It might rot a sill plate gradually, then betray itself as a buckling floor or a musty odor two cyclone seasons later.

Shutters in the real life, and where they still make sense

I have absolutely nothing against properly designed shutters. Accordion shutters that are kept and lubed, roll-down shutters with battery backups, and even detachable panels kept carefully can secure homes efficiently. They also help in specific cases.

Second homes or seasonal rentals where budget is tight sometimes lean on shutters to satisfy the Florida building regulations windows requirement for safeguarded openings. On specialized openings like a lanai that is hardly ever used in summertime, a tidy motorized roll-down can be sensible, specifically if coupling with impact doors and windows elsewhere stresses the budget plan. For property owners who prepare to move within a year, shutters can be a brief bridge to compliance before a sale.

But shutters bring trade-offs. They darken your house when released, and they need action at precisely the time you are managing insurance coverage papers, gas cans, and household logistics. During Hurricane Irma, I watched a next-door neighbor attempt to install steel panels hours before landfall. The ladder sank in saturated soil, a panel slipped, and we invested the next hour in the immediate care waiting room. He endured with stitches. His living-room window did not. Shutters also rattle and can vibrate under sustained winds, in some cases loosening up fasteners with time if not maintained.

For long-lasting owners who want to set it and forget it, effect windows give cyclone evidence windows protection while preserving daytime and view. The benefit grows valuable once you have actually experienced one storm season with absolutely no prep beyond locking the sash.

The energy story: how glass requirements translate to comfort and bills

South Florida homes combat two battles: latent load from humidity and reasonable load from direct solar heat gain. Effect glass upgrades can help both if defined intelligently.

Low-E effect glass uses microscopically thin metal layers to show infrared energy while letting visible light through. With the right finishing stacks, you can block a large part of convected heat and UV. UV clog in laminated units comes mainly from the interlayer itself, which usually filters 95 to 99 percent of UV, decreasing fading of materials and floor covering. Include the low-E, and you curb the solar heat that drives your air conditioner crazy midafternoon.

I evaluate glass specs with three numbers: U-factor, SHGC, and VT. While U-factor matters more up north, it still assists here by minimizing nighttime heat flow and keeping the interior glass temperature closer to room temperature level, which decreases condensation threat. SHGC drives just how much solar heat enters. VT affects how bright the interior feels. Balance is crucial. Some property owners desire the crisp, clear appearance of higher VT, even if it suggests accepting a few degrees more heat in late afternoon, since their landscaping and roofing system overhangs currently do some shading. Others choose a more powerful tint for glare control on waterside lots that reflect harsh light.

In useful terms, going from clear single-pane sliders to contemporary low-E laminated double-glazed units can lower peak solar gains by 30 to 50 percent on the most exposed sides. Couple that with tuned overhangs, light-colored outside finishes, and an appropriately sized variable-speed a/c, and you start to build resilience. If the grid goes down and you switch to a generator, a lower cooling load implies a smaller generator and less gallons of fuel.

Reading labels and approvals without getting lost in alphabet soup

Miami-Dade Notification of Approval, or NOA, is the file you ask for. It details the approved configurations, sizes, anchors, and pressures evaluated. It is inadequate to hear "these are Miami-Dade authorized windows" in a display room. Verify the NOA matches the exact design and options you are buying, consisting of the glazing makeup and hardware. If you are in Broward or Miami-Dade, your allowing workplace will want this paper trail.

Statewide, the Florida Product Approval system provides FL numbers that reveal code compliance. In the remainder of the state outside the High Speed Hurricane Zone, Florida building code windows can depend on Florida Item Approval without Miami-Dade particular NOAs. Many top producers carry both. Where spending plans allow, I prefer NOA items even outside the zone due to the fact that the testing is stiffer.

NFRC labels handle energy metrics. They will not tell you effect efficiency, however they show U-factor, SHGC, VT, and air leak. Go for air leakage at or below 0.3 cfm/ft ². Tighter is better for humidity control, but make certain your home still has balanced ventilation. Sealing the envelope and ignoring fresh air is a dish for indoor air quality complaints.

Dollars and sense: what to anticipate on cost, cost savings, and resale

Impact windows cost more in advance than shutters. There's no spin around that. Set up costs vary with size, shape, finish, and gain access to. On straightforward single-family homes, per-opening costs typically land in between 1,200 and 3,000 dollars for basic sizes. Large multi-panel sliders, custom arches, and coastal-grade finishes raise the numbers quickly.

Where you recover value:

  • Insurance credits add up, frequently 10 to 25 percent off premiums when all openings are protected.
  • Energy savings, usually 8 to 20 percent on annual cooling costs in older homes after a complete window upgrade coupled with sealing and attic improvements.
  • Resale appeal, especially in markets where purchasers expect impact windows and doors as a standard. A home with accordion shutters contends, however a home with storm effect windows shows much better, feels quieter, and usually appraises stronger.

If you plan to own the property for 5 years or more, the math typically tilts in favor of effect windows, especially when you factor the intangible of comfort. If you plan to offer within a year and require to reveal compliance rapidly, shutters may make more short-term sense. Context matters.

Details that separate great systems from fantastic ones

I pay attention to hardware and devices. Multi-point locks on sashes and awnings enhance seal compression and security. For sliders, robust tandem rollers in stainless housings slide smoother and last longer on sandy outdoor patios. Look at the sill design on sliding doors. Weep systems should be crafted to drain pipes heavy rainfall without letting wind-driven water blow back in. Ask to see a cutaway sample in the showroom.

Tint colors and reflectivity are more than style. Reflective films can contravene of neighborhood associations or produce mirror-like glare towards surrounding properties. In seaside ecosystems, extremely reflective glass can confuse birds or sea turtles in some jurisdictions. Regional pros understand which coverings balance efficiency with compliance.

Color stability is a huge offer. Dark bronze or black frames look fantastic on contemporary homes, but in Florida sun inexpensive surfaces chalk and fade. AAMA 2605-rated finishes offer the very best color retention and chalk resistance. I specify them for seaside direct exposures whenever spending plans allow.

Special cases: historical homes, condos, and challenging openings

Historic districts often require profiles that imitate old wood sash sightlines. There are impact-rated windows that fit these requirements, but lead times lengthen and costs climb. Anticipate additional evaluation by architectural boards, and line up a professional acquainted with these submissions.

Condos have another layer of governance. Associations in some cases specify a narrow list of authorized items for harmony. They also appreciate sound control between units. If your structure sits straight on Collins Avenue or faces a busy beach boardwalk, push for acoustic laminated choices. Deal with building management on staging and lift access. Weekend work windows and limited parking can add days and dollars.

Large openings, like a 16-foot-wide slider, need special attention in style pressure, deflection, and operating hardware. Not every system that looks tough in a display room meets the wind loads on a ninth-floor veranda. Do not depend on catalog optimum sizes. Use the NOA tables that represent your site's zone, positive and negative pressures, and mullion mixes if any.

What a clean task looks like from survey to final inspection

The best jobs begin with a measured survey and exposure analysis. You map each opening, note the substrate, and recognize any framing irregularities or settlement fractures. Throughout proposition, the professional reveals you the NOA and the Florida Item Approval, notes anchor types, and describes how each opening will be flashed and sealed. They plan for stucco or drywall repair work, not pretend no damage will occur.

On install day, they eliminate one opening at a time to keep the house safe. They protect floors, draw back window treatments, and cap sprinklers. Old frames bring out care to preserve interior finishes. New units get dry-fit, shimmed, and anchored per the schedule. The crew checks squareness and diagonals before setting sealant. They photograph anchors for the license file, particularly if they will be hidden. After glazing, they water-test with a controlled spray to confirm drainage courses and seals. The inspector sees a neat jobsite, clear labels, and documents in order.

Six months later, your windows still close with two fingers, locks bite smoothly, and there is no secret rattle during thunderstorms. You did not have to call for a roller adjustment after the first week. That is the standard.

Frequently misinterpreted points that cost property owners later

Impact score does not equal breakproof. Laminated glass can crack under serious impacts, however it ought to remain in the frame and hold together. After a storm that sends out particles into the glass, you might see star fractures or spidering. The window did its task. Change the sash or IGU after the event.

Window films do not transform non-impact windows into typhoon impact-resistant windows. They can add shatter resistance, however they do not replacement for an evaluated, anchored system. Your insurance provider and structure department will not count films as secured openings.

Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient effect windows decrease air leak. That's terrific, however it increases the value of an effectively sized heating and cooling with excellent dehumidification. If your system is large, the thermostat pleases quickly and stops working to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your heating and cooling pro to examine reasonable heat ratio, air flow, and run time. You desire constant, longer cycles, not short bursts.

Maintenance is straightforward but not optional. Tidy weep holes on sliders, wash salt spray from frames, and oil hardware each year with a silicone-based item that will not gum up in heat. Small practices extend lifespan.

When shutters still belong in the conversation

There are genuine factors to mix options. A pair of rarely utilized garage windows can keep detachable panels to shave budget. A deep-set deck with minimal sun direct exposure might do fine with accordion shutters if you focus on other upgrades like a new roofing system deck accessory or a prepared garage door. Shutters can also protect outdoor kitchen areas or cabana openings where grease and smoke would age fancy hardware prematurely.

If you select shutters, buy quality. Stainless fasteners, smooth tracks, and motors with handbook bypasses for roll-downs make a distinction. Assign responsibility for implementation and practice as soon as beyond a storm watch. Inventory your hardware. The day you need 32 wing nuts is not the early morning you wish to find you have 29.

The bottom line: assurance you can feel on a peaceful Tuesday

Impact windows are not only about surviving the big one. They improve daily living. The living-room remains cooler and quieter. The air conditioning cycles calmly rather of racing at 4 p.m. You sleep without freight trains Design Pressure (DP) ratings of wind sound when a squall line passes at 2 a.m. When a typhoon threatens, your preparation list gets much shorter. You lock the sashes, set storm mode on the alarm, and concentrate on people rather than panels.

For much of my customers, that intangible is the choosing element. They know storms will come. They likewise understand life in South Florida is too good to live inside a fortress that only awakens in August. Miami-Dade authorized windows provide you both: a clear view of Biscayne Bay on a breezy February morning and peaceful self-confidence when the spaghetti models point our method September.

If you are weighing the choice, start with a site-specific evaluation. Match your exposures to develop pressures, select the ideal laminated glass stack for wind and heat, select frames that fit the architecture and conditions, and hire a crew that respects the load course. Done right, energy‑efficient impact windows deliver what shutters can not: security that never ever requests for a ladder and a better home every day of the year.

I am a dynamic innovator with a broad knowledge base in entrepreneurship. My conviction in entrepreneurship spurs my desire to innovate disruptive organizations. In my business career, I have cultivated a profile as being a daring thinker. Aside from creating my own businesses, I also enjoy counseling young startup founders. I believe in empowering the next generation of startup founders to pursue their own aspirations. I am easily seeking out disruptive opportunities and working together with similarly-driven creators. Redefining what's possible is my purpose. Aside from engaged in my enterprise, I enjoy immersing myself in dynamic environments. I am also focused on health and wellness.