October 18, 2025

Hurricane-Proof Comfort: Choosing 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 next-door neighbors track tropical waves, the pre-storm rush to stock up, and the ritual of transporting ladders to mount panels. After two decades specifying, installing, and repairing structure envelopes from Secret Largo to Palm Beach, I've seen what holds up and what does not. When the objective is genuine security with year-round convenience, Miami-Dade authorized, energy‑efficient effect windows exceed shutters in manner ins which exceed storm day. They alter how a house feels in August, how quiet your living room remains on a Saturday night, and how positive you are when a storm line spins up much faster than predicted.

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

What "Miami-Dade Approved" in fact means

Miami-Dade County's Item Control Division sets among the most difficult standards in the nation for constructing components exposed to windborne particles. Approval is not a marketing sticker label. It is earned through specific lab tests that replicate genuine cyclone conditions.

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

Wind ratings vary by opening size and design pressures, signified as PSF values. On ocean-facing properties or high-rises, I frequently specify systems ranked at +60/ -80 PSF or higher. Inland or in more secured exposures, ratings in the +45/ -60 PSF variety can be adequate, but you size and specification based upon the site's wind map, developing height, and surrounding structures. An expert understands that a corner direct exposure at the 2nd story demands various support than a sheltered window under a deep porch.

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

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

Impact windows live in location. 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 advantage. Laminated impact glass is basically a sandwich: two panes of glass bonded by a resistant interlayer, generally PVB interlayer glass or SentryGlas. That interlayer damps noise. On jobs along hectic corridors like Biscayne Boulevard or near flight paths, I have actually measured interior noise drops in the 5 to 10 decibel variety, in some cases more when paired with insulated glass units.

Security enhances because laminated glass resists forced entry. A burglar can shatter the external lite with a hammer, however the interlayer holds the fragments. They meet PVB interlayer glass a sticky, stubborn membrane rather of a fast path inside. Insurance coverage underwriters understand this, which is why policies often offer credits for effect windows and doors. In my tasks, premiums normally drop 10 to 25 percent, depending on the provider and the number of openings are protected.

Energy efficiency is the 3rd pillar. Energy-efficient impact windows with modern low-E effect glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while maintaining visible light. That suggests less air conditioning demand, specifically 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 impact units. Summertime afternoon peak load come by roughly a ton of cooling, and the home's yearly electrical energy usage fell in between 12 and 18 percent. Results differ with shading, attic insulation, and a/c efficiency, but the instructions is consistent.

Material options that matter: glass, interlayers, and frames

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

Most property typhoon windows use a PVB interlayer glass stack, typically 0.030 to 0.090 inches thick in single or numerous plies. Thicker interlayers enhance effect resistance and sound control, however they add weight and cost. For oceanfront or tall openings, you may see SGP (ionoplast) interlayers, which are stiffer and stronger than PVB, permitting thinner sections to achieve greater design pressures. For noise-sensitive sites, acoustic PVB solutions fine-tune the polymer to much better soak up sound in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz variety, where traffic and voices sit.

Tempered glass windows come up often in discussions due to the fact that tempered glass is more powerful in flexing than annealed glass. That's true, and tempered lites are typically utilized as the outer or inner ply in an impact system. However tempered alone is not impact-resistant in the cyclone sense. When it stops working, it explodes into small cubes and falls out of the frame, which leaves the opening susceptible. The impact efficiency comes from laminated construction, not tempering by itself. Numerous systems utilize a tempered outer lite laminated to a hardened inner lite, or both tempered, however constantly bonded through a PVB or ionoplast interlayer.

Low-E finishings matter for comfort. A soft-coat low-E tuned for South Florida normally targets a solar heat gain coefficient in the 0.25 to 0.35 variety while keeping noticeable light transmission around half or higher. Go too low on SHGC and the glass can look gray or green, especially in bigger openings. The sweet area depends upon your façade orientation and shading. On east and west elevations, I often tighten SHGC and accept a minor tint to handle early morning and afternoon blasts. On north elevations, I lean toward greater visible transmittance for daylighting.

Frames are the other half of the story. Aluminum frames dominate 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 effect frames, when enhanced correctly, can perform well for standard-sized openings and have much better insulating values, but I prevent them for really large sliders or tall storefront-style windows in high-wind zones. Wood-clad units look stunning in older Mediterranean Revival homes, but they demand mindful maintenance and smart flashing. The Florida sun damages inexpensive vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum finishes rapidly. Search for powder-coated finishes ranked for seaside exposure, and request written warranty information in salt-air environments.

The covert hero: installation that appreciates the load path

Window installation can make or break performance. An expensive system installed like a handyman swap-out will not pass a storm's tension test. The load path is the crux. Impact forces need to take a trip from the glass through the frame, to the anchors, into the substrate, and then into the structure's framing or masonry.

In cinder block construction, you want stainless or hot-dipped galvanized anchors embedded into solid material. Hollow cells should be grouted or you need to strike the bond beam. Tapcons in soft, unfilled block are a failure waiting to happen. In wood-framed homes, structural screws need to bite into solid trimmers, not simply sheathing. Shimming and plumb alignment matter so the locks engage cleanly and the weatherstripping compresses evenly.

The sealant joint is not simply visual. A properly sized backer rod and premium polyurethane or silyl-modified polymer sealant create a durable, flexible seal that deals with thermal growth. Too small a bead and it tears under movement. Too huge and it treatments improperly. On coastal jobs, I never match different metals without a barrier, and I constantly define corrosion-resistant fasteners. Ten 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 combination with the water-resistive barrier are crucial. If you count on sealant alone, water will find its way in. That moisture might not show up as a drip. It may rot a sill plate gradually, then betray itself as a buckling floor or a musty odor 2 cyclone seasons later.

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

I have nothing against well-designed shutters. Accordion shutters that are maintained and lubricated, roll-down shutters with battery backups, and even detachable panels kept carefully can safeguard homes successfully. They likewise help in specific cases.

Second homes or seasonal rentals where spending plan is tight in some cases lean on shutters to satisfy the Florida building code windows requirement for protected openings. On specialized openings like a lanai that is hardly ever utilized in summertime, a tidy motorized roll-down can be affordable, specifically if pairing with effect doors and windows somewhere else stresses the budget plan. For homeowners 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 home when deployed, and they need action at specifically the time you are handling insurance documents, gas cans, and household logistics. During Typhoon Irma, I enjoyed a neighbor attempt to mount steel panels hours before landfall. The ladder sank in saturated soil, a panel slipped, and we spent the next hour in the immediate care waiting space. He endured with stitches. His living room window did not. Shutters likewise rattle and can vibrate under sustained winds, in some cases loosening fasteners over time if not maintained.

For long-term owners who wish to set it and forget it, effect windows provide cyclone evidence windows coverage while protecting daytime and view. The convenience grows important once you have actually experienced one storm season with no prep beyond locking the sash.

The energy story: how glass requirements equate to convenience and bills

South Florida homes fight two battles: hidden load from humidity and sensible load from direct solar heat gain. Impact glass upgrades can assist 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 coating stacks, you can block a big portion of radiant heat and UV. UV blockage in laminated units comes mainly from the interlayer itself, which normally filters 95 to 99 percent of UV, decreasing fading of materials and floor covering. Include the low-E, and Impact windows you curb the solar heat that drives your air conditioning insane midafternoon.

I examine glass specifications with three numbers: U-factor, SHGC, and VT. While U-factor matters more up north, it still helps here by decreasing nighttime heat flow and keeping the interior glass temperature closer to room temperature, which decreases condensation danger. SHGC drives how much solar heat goes into. VT influences how brilliant the interior feels. Balance is key. Some property owners want the crisp, clear appearance of greater VT, even if it indicates accepting a couple of degrees more heat in late afternoon, since their landscaping and roof overhangs currently do some shading. Others prefer a more powerful tint for glare control on waterfront lots that show severe light.

In practical terms, going from clear single-pane sliders to contemporary low-E laminated double-glazed systems can reduce peak solar gains by 30 to half on the most exposed sides. Couple that with tuned overhangs, light-colored outside surfaces, and an appropriately sized variable-speed HVAC, and you start to develop strength. If the grid decreases and you switch to a generator, a lower cooling load suggests a smaller sized generator and fewer gallons of fuel.

Reading labels and approvals without getting lost in alphabet soup

Miami-Dade Notification of Approval, or NOA, is the document you request for. It information the authorized configurations, sizes, anchors, and pressures checked. It is insufficient to hear "these are Miami-Dade authorized windows" in a showroom. Confirm the NOA matches the specific design and options you are buying, including the glazing makeup and hardware. If you remain in Broward or Miami-Dade, your permitting workplace will want this paper trail.

Statewide, the Florida Item Approval system supplies FL numbers that reveal code compliance. In the remainder of the state outside the High Speed Cyclone Zone, Florida building code windows can depend on Florida Item Approval without Miami-Dade particular NOAs. Numerous top makers bring both. Where budgets permit, I prefer NOA products even outside the zone since the screening is stiffer.

NFRC labels deal with energy metrics. They will not tell you effect performance, but they reveal U-factor, SHGC, VT, and air leak. Aim for air leak at or listed below 0.3 cfm/ft TWO. Tighter is better for humidity control, but ensure your home still has stabilized ventilation. Sealing the envelope and overlooking fresh air is a recipe for indoor air quality complaints.

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

Impact windows cost more in advance than shutters. There's no spin around that. Set up expenses differ with size, shape, surface, and access. 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, customized arches, and coastal-grade surfaces raise the numbers quickly.

Where you recoup value:

  • Insurance credits add up, typically 10 to 25 percent off premiums when all openings are protected.
  • Energy savings, generally 8 to 20 percent on yearly cooling expenses in older homes after a full window upgrade paired with sealing and attic improvements.
  • Resale appeal, specifically in markets where purchasers expect effect windows and doors as a standard. A home with accordion shutters competes, however a home with storm effect windows reveals much better, feels quieter, and generally assesses stronger.

If you prepare to own the residential or commercial property for 5 years or more, the mathematics often tilts in favor of impact windows, especially when you factor the intangible of assurance. If you plan to offer within a year and need to reveal compliance quickly, shutters may make more short-term sense. Context matters.

Details that separate great systems from excellent ones

I pay attention to hardware and accessories. Multi-point locks on sashes and awnings enhance seal compression and security. For sliders, robust tandem rollers in stainless housings move smoother and last longer on sandy patio areas. Take a look at the sill style 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 maintenance hurricane shutters films can contravene of neighborhood watch or produce mirror-like glare toward neighboring residential or commercial properties. In seaside ecosystems, highly reflective glass can puzzle birds or sea turtles in some jurisdictions. Regional pros understand which finishings balance performance with compliance.

Color stability is a big deal. Dark bronze or black frames look fantastic on modern-day homes, however in Florida sun low-cost surfaces chalk and fade. AAMA 2605-rated finishings offer the best color retention and chalk resistance. I specify them for seaside exposures whenever budget plans allow.

Special cases: historic homes, condominiums, and challenging openings

Historic districts often require profiles that simulate old wood sash sightlines. There are impact-rated windows that fit these requirements, but lead times extend and costs climb. Anticipate additional review by architectural boards, and line up a contractor knowledgeable about these submissions.

Condos have another layer of governance. Associations in some cases define a narrow list of approved products for harmony. They also care about sound control in between units. If your structure sits straight on Collins Opportunity or deals with a hectic beach boardwalk, push for acoustic laminated alternatives. Deal with building management on staging and lift gain access to. Weekend work windows and restricted parking can include days and dollars.

Large openings, like a 16-foot-wide slider, require unique attention in design pressure, deflection, and operating hardware. Not every unit that looks sturdy in a display room fulfills the wind loads on a ninth-floor veranda. Do not rely on catalog maximum sizes. Utilize the NOA tables that correspond to your site's zone, favorable and unfavorable pressures, and NOA approval mullion combinations if any.

What a clean job appears like from survey to final inspection

The finest tasks start with a measured survey and direct exposure analysis. You map each opening, keep in mind the substrate, and determine any framing abnormalities or settlement cracks. During proposition, the contractor reveals you the NOA and the Florida Product Approval, notes anchor types, and explains how each opening will be flashed and sealed. They prepare for stucco or drywall repairs, not pretend no damage will occur.

On install day, they get rid of one opening at a time to keep the house protected. They safeguard floors, pull back window treatments, and cap sprinklers. Old frames bring out care to maintain 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 permit file, especially if they will be concealed. After glazing, they water-test with a regulated spray to validate drainage courses and seals. The inspector sees a cool jobsite, clear labels, and paperwork 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 modification after the very 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 needs to stay in the frame and hold together. After a storm that sends debris into the glass, you might see star fractures or spidering. The window did its job. Replace the sash or IGU after the event.

Window movies do not convert non-impact windows into hurricane impact-resistant windows. They can include shatter resistance, but they do not alternative to a checked, anchored system. Your insurer and structure department will not count films as safeguarded openings.

Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient effect windows reduce air leakage. That's excellent, but it increases the significance of a properly sized HVAC with excellent dehumidification. If your system is extra-large, the thermostat satisfies rapidly and fails to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your heating and cooling pro to examine sensible heat ratio, airflow, and run time. You desire steady, longer cycles, not brief bursts.

Maintenance is straightforward however not optional. Clean weep holes on sliders, wash salt spray from frames, and lube hardware annually with a silicone-based product that will not gum up in heat. Small practices extend lifespan.

When shutters still belong in the conversation

There are legitimate factors to mix solutions. A set of rarely used garage windows can keep removable panels to shave budget. A deep-set patio with very little sun direct exposure may do fine with accordion shutters if you focus on other upgrades like a brand-new roof deck accessory or a fortified garage door. Shutters can also safeguard outdoor kitchen areas or cabana openings where grease and smoke would age fancy hardware prematurely.

If you pick shutters, buy quality. Stainless fasteners, smooth tracks, and motors with manual bypasses for roll-downs make a distinction. Designate responsibility for release and practice once outside of a storm watch. Inventory your hardware. The day you require 32 wing nuts is not the 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 reshape daily living. The living room stays cooler and quieter. The air conditioning cycles calmly rather of racing at 4 p.m. You sleep without freight trains of wind sound 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 concentrate on people rather than panels.

For a lot of my clients, that intangible is the choosing factor. They understand storms will come. They also understand life in South Florida is too excellent to live inside a fortress that just wakes up in August. Miami-Dade authorized windows give you both: a clear view of Biscayne Bay on a breezy February morning and peaceful confidence when the spaghetti designs point our way in September.

If you are weighing the choice, begin with a site-specific assessment. Match your exposures to create pressures, choose the best laminated glass stack for wind and heat, select frames that fit the architecture and conditions, and employ a team that respects the load course. Done right, energy‑efficient effect windows deliver what shutters can not: defense that never ever requests 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.