October 18, 2025

Hurricane-Proof Peace of Mind: 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 routine of carrying ladders to install panels. After two decades specifying, installing, and repairing structure envelopes from Key Largo to Palm Beach, I have actually seen what holds up and what doesn't. When the goal is genuine security with year-round convenience, Miami-Dade approved, energy‑efficient effect windows outshine shutters in manner ins which exceed storm day. They alter how a home feels in August, how quiet your living room remains on a Saturday night, and how positive you are when a storm line spins up quicker than predicted.

This is a useful take a look at why numerous South Florida house owners are moving from shutters to hurricane impact-resistant windows, how to check out the standards behind "Miami-Dade authorized," what products matter, and how to get the setup right the first time.

What "Miami-Dade Approved" really means

Miami-Dade County's Item Control Department sets one of the hardest standards in the nation for constructing elements exposed to windborne debris. Approval is not a marketing sticker label. It is earned through particular laboratory tests that simulate real cyclone conditions.

First comes big missile impact. A 9-pound 2x4 is contended the glass at approximately 34 miles per hour. That simulates roofing system tiles, branches, or pieces of fencing that fly in the eyewall. After the impact, the exact same unit deals with cyclic pressure loading, thousands of pressurization and depressurization cycles that imitate fast wind gusts over hours. If the glass stays in the frame without letting the envelope breach, it passes. The distinction in between "meets Florida building code windows" and "Miami-Dade authorized windows" typically lives in these test thresholds. Miami-Dade is just stiffer, particularly in High Speed Typhoon Zone requirements, that include Miami-Dade and Broward.

Wind ratings differ by opening size and design pressures, signified as PSF worths. On ocean-facing properties or high-rises, I often specify units rated at +60/ -80 PSF or greater. Inland or in more secured direct exposures, ratings in the +45/ -60 PSF range can suffice, but you size and specification based on the site's wind map, building height, and surrounding structures. A professional knows that a corner direct exposure at the 2nd story demands various support than a protected window under a deep porch.

Why impact windows change the day-to-day experience, not just storm season

Hurricane shutters vs impact windows is not a one-to-one comparison. Shutters can satisfy code, and they're better than absolutely nothing. But they ask you to do operate 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 protection, even if a pop-up storm surprises you while you're stuck on US 1. You likewise get benefits every day of the year.

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

Security improves since laminated glass resists required entry. A burglar can shatter the external lite with a hammer, but the interlayer holds the fragments. They fulfill a sticky, persistent membrane instead of a quick path inside. Insurance underwriters understand this, which is why policies typically provide credits for effect doors and windows. In my tasks, premiums usually drop 10 to 25 percent, depending on the carrier and the number of openings are protected.

Energy efficiency is the 3rd pillar. Energy-efficient effect windows with contemporary low-E impact glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while protecting noticeable light. That means less a/c demand, particularly on west and south exposures where the afternoon sun penalizes interiors. In one Coral Gables retrofit, we changed 1980s single-pane sliders with laminated low-E impact units. Summer afternoon peak load come by roughly a lots of cooling, and the home's yearly electrical power use fell between 12 and 18 percent. Results vary with shading, attic insulation, and a/c efficiency, however the instructions is consistent.

Material choices that matter: glass, interlayers, and frames

Laminated effect glass is the heart of the system, but 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 multiple plies. Thicker interlayers improve effect resistance and sound control, however they add weight and expense. For oceanfront or high openings, you may see SGP (ionoplast) interlayers, which are stiffer and more powerful than PVB, allowing thinner sections to attain greater style pressures. For noise-sensitive websites, acoustic PVB formulas fine-tune the polymer to better absorb noise in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz range, where traffic and voices sit.

Tempered glass windows come up frequently in conversations due to the fact that tempered glass is more powerful in flexing than annealed glass. That's true, and tempered lites are commonly used as the external or inner ply in an effect system. But tempered alone is not impact-resistant in the hurricane sense. When it stops working, it blows up into small cubes and falls out of the frame, which leaves the opening vulnerable. The effect efficiency comes from laminated building and construction, not tempering by itself. Many systems utilize a tempered external lite laminated to a hardened inner lite, or both tempered, however always bonded through a PVB or ionoplast interlayer.

Low-E coatings matter for comfort. 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 noticeable light transmission around 50 percent or higher. Go too low on SHGC and the glass can look gray or green, particularly in bigger openings. The sweet area depends upon your façade 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 higher visible transmittance for daylighting.

Frames are the other half of the story. Aluminum frames control here due to the fact that they deal with big openings and will not swell. Thermal breaks and improved glazing gaskets have narrowed the energy gap with vinyl. Top quality vinyl effect frames, when reinforced appropriately, can perform well for standard-sized openings and have much better insulating worths, however I avoid them for really wide sliders or tall storefront-style windows in high-wind zones. Wood-clad systems look stunning in older Mediterranean Revival homes, but they require careful upkeep and wise flashing. The Florida sun ruins cheap vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum finishes rapidly. Try to find powder-coated finishes ranked for seaside direct exposure, and request composed guarantee details in salt-air environments.

The concealed hero: installation 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 path is the essence. Effect forces need to take a trip from the glass through the frame, to the anchors, into the substrate, and after that into the structure's framing or masonry.

In cinder block building, you want stainless or hot-dipped galvanized anchors embedded into solid material. Hollow cells should be grouted or you require to hit the bond beam. Tapcons in soft, unfilled block are a failure waiting to happen. In wood-framed houses, structural screws must bite into solid trimmers, not just sheathing. Shimming and plumb positioning matter so the locks engage easily and the weatherstripping compresses evenly.

The sealant joint is not just aesthetic. An appropriately sized backer rod and premium polyurethane or silyl-modified polymer sealant produce a long lasting, versatile seal that handles thermal expansion. Too little a bead and it tears under movement. Too big and it treatments inadequately. On seaside tasks, I never ever pair dissimilar metals without a barrier, and I always 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 crucial. If you depend on sealant alone, water will discover its method. That wetness might disappoint up as a drip. It might rot a sill plate slowly, then betray itself as a buckling flooring or a musty smell two cyclone seasons later.

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

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

Second homes or seasonal rentals where budget plan is tight in some cases lean on shutters to fulfill the Florida building code windows requirement for safeguarded openings. On specialized openings like a lanai that is hardly ever used in summer, a tidy motorized roll-down can be reasonable, specifically if coupling with impact doors and windows somewhere else stresses the spending plan. For property owners who prepare to move within a year, shutters can be a short bridge to compliance before a sale.

But shutters bring compromises. They darken the house when deployed, and they need action at precisely the time you are juggling insurance coverage documents, gas cans, and family logistics. During Hurricane Irma, I enjoyed a next-door neighbor attempt to install steel panels hours before landfall. The ladder sank in saturated soil, a panel slipped, and we spent the next hour in the urgent care waiting space. He survived with stitches. His living-room window did not. Shutters also rattle and can vibrate under sustained winds, often loosening fasteners with time if not maintained.

For long-lasting owners who want to set it and forget it, impact windows offer cyclone proof windows coverage while protecting daytime and view. The benefit grows valuable once you have actually experienced one storm season with no prep beyond locking the sash.

The energy story: how glass specifications equate to comfort and bills

South Florida homes battle 2 fights: hidden load from humidity and sensible load from direct solar heat gain. Impact glass upgrades can help both if specified intelligently.

Low-E effect glass uses microscopically thin metal layers to reflect infrared energy while letting visible light through. With the best finish stacks, you can obstruct a large portion of radiant heat and UV. UV blockage in laminated units comes mostly from the interlayer itself, which usually filters 95 to 99 percent of UV, reducing fading of fabrics 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 3 numbers: U-factor, SHGC, and VT. While U-factor matters more up north, it still assists here by minimizing nighttime heat circulation and keeping the interior glass temperature level closer to space temperature, which reduces condensation danger. SHGC drives just how much solar heat enters. VT influences how bright the interior feels. Balance is key. Some homeowners desire the crisp, clear look of greater VT, even if it indicates accepting a couple of degrees more heat in late afternoon, because their landscaping and roof overhangs already do some shading. Others prefer a stronger tint for glare control on waterside lots that reflect harsh light.

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

Reading labels and approvals without getting lost in alphabet soup

Miami-Dade Notice of Approval, or NOA, is the file you ask for. It information the approved setups, sizes, anchors, and pressures evaluated. It is insufficient to hear "these are Miami-Dade approved windows" in a display room. Verify the NOA matches the specific design and choices you are purchasing, consisting of the glazing makeup and hardware. If you are in Broward or Miami-Dade, your allowing office will want this paper trail.

Statewide, the Florida Item Approval system offers FL numbers that reveal code compliance. In the remainder of the state outside the High Velocity Cyclone Zone, Florida building code windows can count on Florida Item Approval without Miami-Dade specific NOAs. Numerous leading makers carry both. Where budget plans permit, I prefer NOA products even outside the zone since the screening is stiffer.

NFRC labels handle energy metrics. They will not tell you impact performance, but they reveal U-factor, SHGC, VT, and air leakage. Go for air leak at or below 0.3 cfm/ft TWO. Tighter is much better for humidity control, but make sure your home still has balanced ventilation. Sealing the envelope and overlooking fresh air is a dish for indoor air quality complaints.

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

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

Where you recover worth:

  • Insurance credits add up, frequently 10 to 25 percent off premiums when all openings are protected.
  • Energy cost savings, generally 8 to 20 percent on annual cooling costs in older homes after a full window upgrade coupled with sealing and attic improvements.
  • Resale appeal, specifically in markets where purchasers anticipate impact windows and doors as a baseline. A home with accordion shutters completes, but a home with storm effect windows reveals much better, feels quieter, and normally appraises stronger.

If you prepare to own the property for five years or more, the mathematics typically tilts in favor of effect windows, particularly when you factor the intangible of assurance. If you prepare to offer within a year and need to reveal compliance rapidly, shutters may make more short-term sense. Context matters.

Details that separate good systems from great ones

I pay attention to hardware and accessories. Multi-point locks on casements and awnings improve seal compression and security. For sliders, robust tandem rollers in stainless housings glide smoother and last longer on sandy patios. Look at the sill design on sliding doors. Weep systems should be crafted to drain 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 movies can run afoul of neighborhood associations or produce mirror-like glare toward neighboring properties. In coastal ecosystems, highly reflective glass can confuse birds or sea turtles in some jurisdictions. Regional pros know which finishings balance efficiency with compliance.

Color stability is a big deal. Dark bronze or black frames look great on modern-day homes, but in Florida sun cheap surfaces chalk and fade. AAMA 2605-rated finishes provide the best color retention and chalk resistance. I specify them for coastal exposures whenever budget plans allow.

Special cases: historic homes, apartments, and tricky openings

Historic districts frequently need profiles that mimic old wood sash sightlines. There are impact-rated windows that fit these requirements, but lead times lengthen and costs climb. Expect extra review by architectural boards, and line up a specialist knowledgeable about these submissions.

Condos have another layer of governance. Associations in some cases define a narrow list of approved items for uniformity. They also care about sound control in between units. If your building sits directly on Collins Avenue or faces a busy beach boardwalk, push for acoustic laminated alternatives. Work with structure management on staging and lift access. Weekend work windows and limited parking can include days and dollars.

Large openings, like a 16-foot-wide slider, need unique attention in style pressure, deflection, and running hardware. Not every unit that looks tough in a showroom meets the wind loads on a ninth-floor terrace. Do not count on catalog maximum sizes. Use the NOA tables that correspond to your website's zone, favorable and unfavorable pressures, and mullion mixes if any.

What a tidy job appears like from study to final inspection

The finest projects start with a determined survey and exposure analysis. You map each opening, keep in mind the substrate, and determine any framing abnormalities or settlement fractures. During proposal, the professional reveals you the NOA and the Florida Product Approval, notes anchor types, and describes how each opening will be flashed and sealed. They prepare for stucco or drywall repair work, not pretend no damage will occur.

On install day, they get rid of one opening at a time to keep the house safe and secure. They secure floors, draw back window treatments, and cap sprinklers. Old frames come out with care to protect interior surfaces. New units get dry-fit, shimmed, and anchored per the schedule. The crew checks squareness and diagonals before setting sealant. They photo anchors for the license file, especially if they will be hidden. After glazing, they water-test with a controlled spray to verify drainage courses and seals. The inspector sees a cool jobsite, clear labels, and paperwork in order.

Six months later on, your windows still close with 2 fingers, locks bite efficiently, and there is no secret rattle throughout thunderstorms. You did not have to call for a roller adjustment after the first week. That is the standard.

Frequently misconstrued points that cost property owners later

Impact score does not equivalent breakproof. Laminated glass can break under extreme impacts, but it must remain in the frame and hold together. After a storm that sends out debris into the glass, you might see star cracks or spidering. The window did its task. Change the sash or IGU after the event.

Window movies do not convert non-impact windows into cyclone impact-resistant windows. They can add shatter resistance, but they do not substitute for a tested, anchored system. Your insurer and building department will not count films as safeguarded openings.

Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient impact windows lower air leak. That's great, however it increases the value of a properly sized heating and cooling with good dehumidification. If your system is oversized, the thermostat satisfies quickly and fails to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your heating and cooling pro to examine reasonable heat ratio, airflow, and run hurricane impact-resistant windows Boca Raton time. You desire constant, longer cycles, not brief bursts.

Maintenance is simple but not optional. Clean weep holes on sliders, wash salt spray from frames, and lubricate hardware every year with a silicone-based item that will not gum up in heat. Little practices extend lifespan.

When shutters still belong in the conversation

There are genuine reasons to blend solutions. A pair of hardly ever utilized garage windows can keep removable panels to shave budget. A deep-set deck with minimal sun exposure might do fine with accordion shutters if you prioritize other upgrades like a brand-new roof deck attachment or a prepared garage door. Shutters can also secure outdoor kitchens or cabana openings where grease and smoke would age elegant hardware prematurely.

If you select shutters, invest in quality. Stainless fasteners, smooth tracks, and motors with manual bypasses for roll-downs make a difference. Assign responsibility for release and practice when beyond a storm watch. Inventory your hardware. The day you need 32 wing nuts is not the early morning you want to discover you have 29.

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

Impact windows are not only about making it through the big one. They improve daily living. The living-room remains cooler and quieter. The a/c cycles calmly rather of racing at 4 p.m. You sleep without freight trains of wind noise when a squall line passes at 2 a.m. When a typhoon threatens, your preparation list gets shorter. You lock the sashes, set storm mode on the alarm, and focus on people rather than panels.

For much of my clients, that intangible is the deciding aspect. They understand storms will come. They also know life in South Florida is too good to live inside a fortress that just awakens in August. Miami-Dade approved windows provide you both: a clear view of Biscayne Bay on a breezy February morning and quiet self-confidence when the spaghetti models point our method September.

If you are weighing the option, begin with a site-specific assessment. Match your direct exposures to design pressures, choose the right laminated glass stack for wind and heat, select frames that fit the architecture and conditions, and employ a crew that appreciates the load course. Done right, energy‑efficient impact windows deliver what shutters can not: defense that never asks for a ladder and a much 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.