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.
View on Google MapsSTS 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 routine of hauling ladders to install panels. After twenty years defining, setting up, and fixing building envelopes from Secret Largo to Palm Beach, I've seen what holds up and what doesn't. When the goal is real defense with year-round comfort, Miami-Dade approved, energy‑efficient impact windows outshine shutters in manner ins which go beyond storm day. They change how a home feels in August, how quiet your living-room stays 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 many South Florida property owners are moving from shutters to typhoon 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.
Miami-Dade County's Product Control Division sets among the hardest standards in the country for building parts exposed to windborne particles. Approval is not a marketing sticker. It is earned through particular lab tests that replicate genuine hurricane conditions.
First comes big missile effect. A 9-pound 2x4 is contended the glass at approximately 34 miles per hour. That mimics roofing tiles, branches, or pieces of fencing that fly in the eyewall. After the effect, the very same system faces 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 difference in between "fulfills Florida building regulations windows" and "Miami-Dade approved windows" frequently resides in these test limits. Miami-Dade is simply stiffer, especially in High Velocity Typhoon Zone requirements, which include Miami-Dade and Broward.
Wind scores vary by opening size and style pressures, signified as PSF values. On ocean-facing residential or commercial properties or high-rises, I typically specify units ranked at +60/ -80 PSF or greater. Inland or in more secured exposures, rankings in the +45/ -60 PSF range can be adequate, but you size and specification based upon the website's wind map, building height, and surrounding structures. An expert understands that a corner direct exposure at the 2nd story needs different support than a sheltered window under a deep porch.
Hurricane shutters vs impact windows is not a one-to-one comparison. Shutters can fulfill code, and they're much better than absolutely nothing. However they ask you to do operate at the worst possible time. When a watch turns to a warning and the forecast track tightens up, the last thing you desire is a ladder, a dead cordless drill, and a missing wing nut.
Impact windows live in location. You get constant security, even if a pop-up storm surprises you while you're stuck on United States 1. You likewise get advantages every day of the year.
Noise control is the most underappreciated advantage. Laminated impact glass is essentially a sandwich: two panes of glass bonded by a resistant interlayer, generally PVB interlayer glass or SentryGlas. That interlayer damps sound. On jobs along busy corridors like Biscayne Boulevard or near flight paths, I have actually measured interior noise drops in the 5 to 10 decibel range, often more when coupled with insulated glass units.
Security enhances since laminated glass resists forced entry. An intruder can shatter the outer lite with a hammer, however the interlayer holds the shards. They meet a sticky, persistent membrane instead of a quick course inside. Insurance underwriters know this, which is why policies frequently offer credits for effect doors and windows. In my jobs, premiums generally drop 10 to 25 percent, depending on the provider and the number of openings are protected.
Energy performance is the 3rd pillar. Energy-efficient impact windows with contemporary low-E effect glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while maintaining visible 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 effect systems. Summertime afternoon peak load stopped by roughly a lots of cooling, and the home's annual electrical energy usage fell between 12 and 18 percent. Results differ with shading, attic insulation, and HVAC effectiveness, however the instructions is consistent.
Laminated impact glass is the heart of the system, but not all laminated products are equal.
![]()
Most domestic hurricane windows use a PVB interlayer glass stack, commonly 0.030 to 0.090 inches thick in single or numerous plies. Thicker interlayers enhance impact resistance and sound control, but they include weight and cost. For oceanfront or tall openings, you may see SGP (ionoplast) interlayers, which are stiffer and more powerful than PVB, enabling thinner sections to attain greater style pressures. For noise-sensitive sites, acoustic PVB formulations fine-tune the polymer to better absorb noise in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz variety, where traffic and voices sit.
Tempered glass windows turn up typically in conversations because tempered glass is stronger in bending than annealed glass. That's true, and tempered lites are typically utilized as the outer or inner ply in an effect system. However tempered alone is not impact-resistant in the typhoon sense. When it stops working, it explodes into little cubes and falls out of the frame, which leaves the opening susceptible. The impact efficiency comes from laminated building and construction, not tempering by itself. Many systems use a tempered outer lite laminated to an annealed inner lite, or both tempered, however always bonded through a PVB or ionoplast interlayer.
Low-E coverings matter for convenience. A soft-coat low-E tuned for South Florida usually targets a solar heat gain coefficient in the 0.25 to 0.35 variety while keeping noticeable light transmission around 50 percent or higher. Go too short on SHGC and the glass can look gray or green, particularly in larger openings. The sweet spot depends upon your façade orientation and shading. On east and west elevations, I typically tighten up SHGC and accept a minor tint to handle morning and afternoon blasts. On north elevations, I favor greater visible transmittance for daylighting.
Frames are the other half of the story. Aluminum frames control here aluminum impact windows because they manage large openings and won't swell. Thermal breaks and enhanced glazing gaskets have actually narrowed the energy space with vinyl. Premium vinyl effect frames, when reinforced properly, can carry out well for standard-sized openings and have much better insulating worths, however I prevent them for very wide sliders or tall storefront-style windows in high-wind zones. Wood-clad systems look beautiful in older Mediterranean Revival homes, but they demand careful upkeep and smart flashing. The Florida aluminum windows sun damages inexpensive vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum surfaces rapidly. Try to find powder-coated surfaces ranked for seaside direct exposure, and request written service warranty information in salt-air environments.
Window installation can make or break efficiency. An expensive unit set up like a handyman swap-out will not pass a storm's stress 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 after that into the structure's framing or masonry.
In cinder block construction, you desire stainless or hot-dipped galvanized anchors embedded into strong material. Hollow cells must be grouted or you need to strike the bond beam. Tapcons in soft, unfilled block are a failure waiting to take place. In wood-framed houses, structural screws should 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. A correctly sized backer rod and top quality polyurethane or silyl-modified polymer sealant create a resilient, flexible seal that handles thermal growth. Too little a bead and it tears under movement. Too big and it remedies improperly. On coastal jobs, I never match different metals without a barrier, and I constantly specify corrosion-resistant fasteners. Ten years later on, 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 rely on sealant alone, water will discover its method. That moisture may disappoint up as a drip. It might rot a sill plate gradually, then betray itself as a buckling floor or a moldy smell 2 cyclone seasons later.
I have absolutely nothing against well-designed shutters. Accordion shutters that are maintained and lubricated, roll-down shutters with battery backups, and even detachable panels stored carefully can protect homes successfully. They likewise assist in particular cases.
Second homes or seasonal rentals where budget plan is tight often lean on shutters to satisfy the Florida building regulations windows requirement for protected openings. On specialized openings like a lanai that is seldom utilized in summer, a tidy motorized roll-down can be sensible, particularly if pairing with impact doors and windows in other places worries the budget plan. For house owners who plan to move within a year, shutters can be a brief bridge to compliance before a sale.
But shutters bring compromises. They darken the house when released, and they need action at precisely the time you are juggling insurance documents, gas cans, and family logistics. Throughout Hurricane Irma, I saw a next-door neighbor try to mount 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 survived with stitches. His living-room window did not. Shutters also rattle and can vibrate under sustained winds, in some cases loosening fasteners gradually if not maintained.
For long-term owners who wish to set it and forget it, impact windows give cyclone evidence windows coverage while preserving daylight and view. The convenience grows valuable once you have actually experienced one storm season with zero preparation beyond locking the sash.
South Florida homes combat 2 fights: hidden load from humidity and practical Impact resistant glass load from direct solar heat gain. Impact glass upgrades can help both if defined intelligently.
Low-E impact glass utilizes microscopically thin metal layers to show infrared energy while letting visible light through. With the right coating stacks, you can block a large portion of radiant heat and UV. UV obstruction in laminated units comes mainly from the interlayer itself, which normally filters 95 to 99 percent of UV, minimizing fading of fabrics and floor covering. Add the low-E, and you curb the solar heat that drives your air conditioning insane midafternoon.
I evaluate glass specifications with three numbers: U-factor, SHGC, and VT. While U-factor matters more up north, it still helps here by minimizing nighttime heat flow and keeping the interior glass temperature level closer to space temperature level, which reduces condensation risk. SHGC drives how much solar heat enters. VT influences how intense the interior feels. Balance is essential. 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 roofing system overhangs currently 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-day 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 exterior finishes, and an effectively sized variable-speed a/c, and you start to construct resilience. If the grid goes down and you switch to a generator, a lower cooling load implies a smaller sized generator and less gallons of fuel.
Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance, or NOA, is the file you request for. It information the approved configurations, sizes, anchors, and pressures checked. It is insufficient to hear "these are Miami-Dade authorized windows" in a showroom. Validate 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 office will want this paper trail.
Statewide, the Florida Product Approval system supplies FL numbers that reveal code compliance. In the rest of the state outside the High Speed Hurricane Zone, Florida building code windows can depend on Florida Product Approval without Miami-Dade specific NOAs. Lots of top makers carry both. Where budget plans allow, I prefer NOA products even outside the zone because the testing is stiffer.
NFRC labels manage energy metrics. They will not tell you effect efficiency, however they show U-factor, SHGC, VT, and air leakage. Go for air leak at or below 0.3 cfm/ft ². Tighter is much better for humidity control, but ensure your home still has actually stabilized ventilation. Sealing the envelope and neglecting fresh air is a recipe for indoor air quality complaints.
Impact windows cost more in advance than shutters. There's no spin around that. Installed costs differ with size, shape, surface, and access. On simple single-family homes, per-opening costs often 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 worth:
If you prepare to own the residential or commercial property for 5 years or more, the mathematics frequently tilts in favor of effect windows, particularly when you factor the intangible of assurance. If you prepare to offer within a year and require to show compliance quickly, shutters might make more short-term sense. Context matters.
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 real estates slide smoother and last longer on sandy patios. Take a look at the sill style on sliding doors. Weep systems need to be crafted to drain heavy rains without letting wind-driven water blow back in. Ask to see a cutaway sample in the showroom.
Tint colors and reflectivity are more than fashion. Reflective films can contravene of neighborhood associations or produce mirror-like glare toward neighboring properties. In seaside communities, highly reflective glass can puzzle birds or sea turtles in some jurisdictions. Local pros know which coverings balance performance with compliance.
Color stability is a huge deal. Dark bronze or black frames look wonderful on modern homes, however in Florida sun cheap finishes chalk and fade. AAMA 2605-rated coverings provide the very best color retention and chalk resistance. I define them for coastal direct exposures whenever budgets allow.
Historic districts frequently need profiles that imitate old wood sash sightlines. There are impact-rated windows that fit these requirements, but lead times extend and costs climb. Expect additional evaluation by architectural boards, and line up a specialist acquainted with these submissions.
Condos have another layer of governance. Associations often specify a narrow list of authorized products for harmony. They likewise appreciate sound control between systems. If your building sits straight on Collins Avenue or faces a hectic beach boardwalk, push for acoustic laminated options. Work with structure management on staging and lift gain access to. Weekend work windows and restricted parking can add days and dollars.
Large openings, like a 16-foot-wide slider, require unique attention in design pressure, deflection, and running hardware. Not every system that looks sturdy in a showroom meets the wind loads on a ninth-floor veranda. Do not count on catalog maximum sizes. Utilize the NOA tables that correspond to your site's zone, positive and negative pressures, and mullion combinations if any.
The best projects start with a measured survey and exposure analysis. You map each opening, note the substrate, and recognize any framing irregularities or settlement cracks. During proposal, the specialist 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 repair work, not pretend no damage will occur.
On install day, they eliminate one opening at a time to keep your house protected. They protect floors, draw back window treatments, and cap sprinklers. Old frames bring out care to protect interior finishes. New units get dry-fit, shimmed, and anchored per the schedule. The crew checks squareness and diagonals before setting sealant. They picture anchors for the license file, specifically if they will be concealed. After glazing, they water-test with a regulated spray to confirm drainage courses and seals. The inspector sees a cool jobsite, clear labels, and documentation in order.
Six months later, your windows still close with two fingers, locks bite efficiently, and there is no secret rattle during thunderstorms. You did not have to require a roller modification after the first week. That is the standard.
Impact rating does not equivalent breakproof. Laminated glass can crack under severe impacts, but it should stay in the frame and hold together. After a storm that sends out debris into the glass, you might see star fractures 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, however they do not replacement for an evaluated, anchored system. Your insurer and building department will not count movies as secured openings.
Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient impact windows lower air leakage. That's great, but it increases the significance of a properly sized a/c with excellent dehumidification. If your system is large, the thermostat pleases quickly and fails to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your HVAC pro to check reasonable heat ratio, air flow, and run time. You want stable, longer cycles, not short bursts.
Maintenance is straightforward however not optional. Tidy weep holes on sliders, wash salt spray from frames, and oil hardware yearly with a silicone-based item that will not gum up in heat. Little practices extend lifespan.

There are legitimate factors to blend solutions. A set of hardly ever used garage windows can keep removable panels to shave budget. A deep-set deck with minimal sun direct exposure may do great with accordion shutters if you prioritize other upgrades like a new roof deck attachment or a prepared garage door. Shutters can likewise protect outside cooking areas or cabana openings where grease and smoke would age fancy hardware prematurely.
If you choose shutters, buy quality. Stainless fasteners, smooth tracks, and motors with handbook bypasses for roll-downs make a difference. Appoint obligation for implementation and practice as soon as beyond a storm watch. Inventory your hardware. The day you need 32 wing nuts is not the morning you wish to discover you have 29.
Impact windows are not only about making it through the huge one. They improve 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 noise when a squall line passes at 2 a.m. When a hurricane threatens, your preparation list gets much shorter. You lock the sashes, set storm mode on the alarm, and focus on individuals instead of panels.
For much of my customers, that intangible is the choosing element. They understand storms will come. They also know life in South Florida is too great 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 early morning and quiet self-confidence when the spaghetti designs point our way in September.
If you are weighing the choice, start with a site-specific evaluation. Match your direct exposures to create pressures, pick the ideal laminated glass stack for wind and heat, choose frames that fit the architecture and conditions, and work with a team that appreciates the load course. Done right, energy‑efficient effect windows deliver what shutters can not: security that never requests a ladder and a much better home every day of the year.