October 18, 2025

Hurricane-Proof Peace of Mind: Selecting 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 method neighbors track tropical waves, the pre-storm rush to stockpile, and the ritual of carrying ladders to install panels. After twenty years defining, setting up, and fixing structure envelopes from Key Largo to Palm Beach, I've seen what holds up and what does not. When the objective is real protection with year-round comfort, Miami-Dade approved, energy‑efficient effect windows surpass shutters in manner ins which go beyond storm day. They alter how a home feels in August, how peaceful your living-room remains on a Saturday night, and how positive you are when a storm line spins up faster than predicted.

This is a practical look at why numerous South Florida property owners are moving from shutters to hurricane impact-resistant windows, how to read the standards behind "Miami-Dade approved," what products matter, and how to get the installation right the first time.

What "Miami-Dade Approved" really means

Miami-Dade County's Product Control Division sets one of the toughest standards in the nation for constructing parts exposed to windborne debris. Approval is not a marketing sticker. It is earned through specific laboratory tests that replicate real hurricane conditions.

First comes large rocket impact. A 9-pound 2x4 is shot at the glass at approximately 34 miles per hour. That simulates roof tiles, branches, or pieces of fencing that fly in the eyewall. After the impact, the exact same system faces cyclic pressure loading, countless pressurization and depressurization cycles that simulate rapid wind gusts over hours. If the glass stays in the frame without letting the envelope breach, it passes. The distinction in between "satisfies Florida building code windows" and "Miami-Dade authorized windows" frequently resides in these test thresholds. Miami-Dade is merely stiffer, particularly in High Speed Hurricane Zone requirements, that include Miami-Dade and Broward.

Wind rankings vary by opening size and design pressures, signified as PSF values. On ocean-facing residential or commercial properties or high-rises, I often specify systems rated at +60/ -80 PSF or greater. Inland or in more secured exposures, scores in the +45/ -60 PSF range can be adequate, but you size and specification based on the site's wind map, developing height, and surrounding structures. A professional understands that a corner direct exposure at the 2nd story needs various support than a protected window under a deep porch.

Why effect windows change the daily experience, not just storm season

Hurricane shutters vs impact windows is not a one-to-one contrast. 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 caution 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 reside in place. You get constant defense, even if a pop-up storm surprises you while you're stuck on US 1. You also get advantages every day of the year.

Noise control is the most underappreciated benefit. Laminated effect glass is basically a sandwich: 2 panes of glass bonded by a resistant interlayer, generally PVB interlayer glass or SentryGlas. That interlayer damps noise. On tasks along hectic passages like Biscayne Boulevard or near flight courses, I've determined interior sound drops in the 5 to 10 decibel variety, often more when paired with insulated glass units.

Security improves since laminated glass resists forced entry. A robber can shatter the outer lite with a hammer, however the interlayer holds the shards. They satisfy a sticky, persistent membrane rather of a quick path inside. Insurance underwriters understand this, which is why policies often offer credits for effect doors and windows. In my jobs, premiums normally drop 10 to 25 percent, depending on the carrier and how many openings are protected.

Energy performance is the 3rd pillar. Energy-efficient effect windows with modern low-E effect glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while preserving noticeable light. That suggests less a/c need, particularly on west and south direct exposures where the afternoon sun penalizes interiors. In one Coral Gables retrofit, we replaced 1980s single-pane sliders with laminated low-E effect units. Summertime afternoon peak load stopped by roughly a ton of cooling, and the home's annual electrical power use fell in between 12 and 18 percent. Results differ with shading, attic insulation, and HVAC effectiveness, however the direction is consistent.

Material options that matter: glass, interlayers, and frames

Laminated effect glass is the heart of the system, but not all laminated items are equal.

Most property typhoon windows use a PVB interlayer glass stack, frequently 0.030 to 0.090 inches thick in single or multiple plies. Thicker interlayers enhance impact resistance and sound control, however they include weight and cost. For oceanfront or tall openings, you may see SGP (ionoplast) interlayers, which are stiffer and more powerful than PVB, allowing thinner areas to accomplish higher design pressures. For noise-sensitive websites, acoustic PVB formulas modify the polymer to better soak up noise in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz range, where traffic and voices sit.

Tempered glass windows come up frequently in discussions because tempered glass is stronger in flexing than annealed glass. That's true, and tempered lites are typically used as the external or inner ply in an impact unit. However tempered alone is not impact-resistant in the hurricane sense. When it fails, it takes off into small cubes and falls out of the frame, which leaves the opening susceptible. The impact performance originates from laminated building and construction, not tempering by itself. Numerous systems utilize a tempered outer lite laminated to a hardened inner lite, or both tempered, but constantly bonded through a PVB or ionoplast interlayer.

Low-E coatings 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 noticeable light transmission around half or greater. Go too short on SHGC and the glass can look gray or green, specifically in bigger openings. The sweet spot depends on your façade orientation and shading. On east and west elevations, I frequently tighten up SHGC and accept a minor tint to handle early morning and afternoon blasts. On north elevations, I lean toward higher visible transmittance for daylighting.

Frames are the other half of the story. Aluminum frames control here because they deal with big openings and won't swell. Thermal breaks and improved glazing gaskets have actually narrowed the energy space with vinyl. Premium vinyl effect frames, when strengthened correctly, can carry out well for standard-sized openings and have much better insulating values, but I prevent them for really large sliders or high storefront-style windows in high-wind zones. Wood-clad systems look gorgeous in older Mediterranean Revival homes, but they demand cautious upkeep and wise flashing. The Florida sun destroys cheap vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum finishes rapidly. Search for powder-coated surfaces ranked for seaside direct exposure, and demand written warranty information in salt-air environments.

The surprise hero: setup that respects the load path

Window installation can make or break performance. A pricey unit set up like a handyman swap-out will not pass a storm's stress test. The load path is the essence. Impact forces have to travel from the glass storm damage prevention through the frame, to the anchors, into the substrate, and after that into the structure's framing or masonry.

In cinder block building, you desire stainless or hot-dipped galvanized anchors embedded into strong product. Hollow cells need to be grouted or you need to strike 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 cleanly and the weatherstripping compresses evenly.

The sealant joint is not just visual. An appropriately sized backer rod and high-quality polyurethane or silyl-modified polymer sealant create a long lasting, flexible seal that deals with thermal expansion. Too little a bead and it tears under movement. Too big and it remedies improperly. On seaside jobs, I never match dissimilar metals without a barrier, and I always 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 integration with the water-resistive barrier are crucial. If you rely on sealant alone, water will find its way in. That wetness might not show up as a drip. It may rot a sill plate gradually, then betray itself as a buckling floor or a moldy smell 2 hurricane seasons later.

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

I have absolutely nothing against well-designed shutters. Accordion shutters that are preserved and oiled, roll-down shutters with battery backups, and even detachable panels saved carefully can safeguard homes efficiently. They likewise assist in specific cases.

Second homes or seasonal leasings where spending plan is tight sometimes lean on shutters to meet the Florida building code windows requirement for protected openings. On specialized openings like a lanai that is rarely used in summer, a clean motorized roll-down can be sensible, specifically if pairing with effect windows and doors somewhere else worries the spending plan. For property owners who plan to move within a year, shutters can be a short bridge to compliance before a sale.

But shutters bring compromises. They darken your house when deployed, and they need action at specifically the time you are juggling insurance documents, gas cans, and family logistics. During Typhoon Irma, I watched a next-door 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 survived with stitches. His living-room window did not. Shutters likewise rattle and can vibrate under continual winds, often loosening up fasteners in time if not maintained.

For long-term owners who wish to set it and forget it, impact windows give cyclone proof windows coverage while preserving daytime and view. The convenience grows important once you have actually experienced one storm season with no preparation beyond locking the sash.

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

South Florida homes battle two battles: latent load from humidity and practical load from direct solar heat gain. Impact glass upgrades can assist both if specified intelligently.

Low-E effect glass uses microscopically thin metallic layers to show infrared energy while letting visible light through. With the right finish stacks, you can block a large part of radiant heat and UV. UV obstruction in laminated systems comes mostly 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 AC 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 closer to space temperature, which minimizes condensation threat. SHGC drives just how much solar heat goes into. VT influences how intense the interior feels. Balance is crucial. Some property owners desire the crisp, clear look of higher VT, even if it means accepting a few degrees more heat in late afternoon, since their landscaping and roof overhangs currently do some shading. Others prefer a stronger tint for glare control on waterfront lots that show severe light.

In useful terms, going from clear single-pane sliders to contemporary low-E laminated double-glazed systems can reduce peak solar gains by 30 to 50 percent on the most exposed sides. Couple that with tuned overhangs, light-colored outside surfaces, and a correctly sized variable-speed HVAC, and you start to construct durability. If the grid goes down and you change to a generator, a lower cooling load means a smaller 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 document you request. It details the authorized setups, sizes, anchors, and pressures checked. It is not enough to hear "these are Miami-Dade authorized windows" in a display room. Confirm the NOA matches the specific model and alternatives you are buying, consisting of the glazing makeup and hardware. If you are 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 rest of the state outside the High Velocity Cyclone Zone, Florida building regulations windows can count on Florida Item Approval without Miami-Dade specific NOAs. Lots of top manufacturers bring both. Where spending plans allow, I choose NOA products even outside the zone due to the fact that the testing is stiffer.

NFRC labels manage energy metrics. They will not tell you effect performance, but they show U-factor, SHGC, VT, and air leakage. Go for air leak at or listed below 0.3 cfm/ft ². Tighter is better for humidity control, but make sure your home still has actually balanced ventilation. Sealing the envelope and neglecting 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 in advance than shutters. There's no spin around that. Installed costs vary with size, shape, finish, and access. On simple single-family homes, per-opening expenses frequently land between 1,200 and 3,000 dollars for basic sizes. Big multi-panel sliders, custom arches, and coastal-grade surfaces raise the numbers quickly.

Where you recoup value:

  • Insurance credits add up, often 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 complete window upgrade coupled with sealing and attic improvements.
  • Resale appeal, specifically in markets where buyers anticipate impact windows and doors as a standard. A home with accordion shutters competes, but a home with storm impact windows reveals better, feels quieter, and generally assesses stronger.

If you prepare to own the home for 5 years or more, the math frequently tilts in favor of effect windows, particularly when you factor the intangible of comfort. If you prepare to offer within a year and need to reveal compliance quickly, shutters might make more short-term sense. Context matters.

Details that separate good systems from fantastic ones

I take note of hardware and devices. Multi-point locks on sashes and awnings enhance seal compression and security. For sliders, robust tandem rollers in stainless housings glide smoother and last longer on sandy patio areas. Look at the sill design on sliding doors. Weep systems ought to be engineered 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 style. Reflective movies can contravene of neighborhood watch or produce mirror-like glare towards surrounding residential or commercial properties. In seaside communities, highly reflective glass can puzzle birds or sea turtles in some jurisdictions. Local pros understand which coatings balance performance with compliance.

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

Special cases: historical homes, condos, and tricky openings

Historic districts typically need profiles that simulate old wood sash sightlines. There are impact-rated windows that fit these requirements, however lead times extend and costs climb. Expect extra review by architectural boards, and line up a professional knowledgeable about these submissions.

Condos have another layer of governance. Associations in some cases define a narrow list of authorized products for harmony. They likewise care about noise control between units. If your building sits directly on Collins Opportunity or faces a hectic beach boardwalk, push for acoustic laminated options. Work with building management on staging and lift access. Weekend work windows and minimal parking can add days and dollars.

Large openings, like a 16-foot-wide slider, require unique attention in style pressure, deflection, and operating hardware. Not every system that looks sturdy in a display room satisfies the wind loads on a ninth-floor balcony. Do not depend on catalog optimum sizes. Use the NOA tables that represent your site's zone, positive and unfavorable pressures, and mullion combinations if any.

What a clean job looks like from survey to last inspection

The finest tasks start with a determined survey and direct exposure analysis. You map each opening, note the substrate, and determine any framing irregularities or settlement cracks. During proposition, the professional reveals you the NOA and the Florida Item Approval, lists anchor types, and explains how each opening will be flashed and sealed. They plan for stucco or drywall repairs, not pretend no damage will occur.

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

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

Frequently misconstrued points that cost homeowners later

Impact score does not equal breakproof. Laminated glass can break under serious effects, but 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 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 alternative to a checked, anchored system. Your insurer and structure department will not count movies as secured openings.

Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient effect windows minimize air leakage. That's excellent, however it increases the significance of a correctly sized a/c with great dehumidification. If your system is oversized, the thermostat pleases rapidly and fails to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your HVAC pro to inspect sensible heat ratio, air flow, and run time. You desire stable, longer cycles, not brief bursts.

Maintenance is straightforward but not optional. Clean weep holes on sliders, wash salt spray from frames, and lubricate hardware each 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 set of hardly ever utilized garage windows can keep removable panels to shave budget plan. A deep-set deck with minimal sun exposure may do fine with accordion shutters if you focus on other upgrades like a brand-new roofing system deck accessory or a prepared garage door. Shutters can likewise secure outdoor kitchens or cabana openings where grease and smoke would age elegant hardware prematurely.

If you pick shutters, buy quality. Stainless fasteners, smooth tracks, and motors with manual overrides for roll-downs make a difference. Assign obligation for deployment and practice as soon as outside of a storm watch. Inventory your hardware. The day you need 32 wing nuts is not the morning you wish to find you have 29.

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

Impact windows are not just about enduring the huge 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 cyclone threatens, your preparation list gets shorter. You lock the sashes, set storm mode on home window installation services the alarm, and concentrate on people instead of panels.

For a lot of my clients, that intangible is the deciding factor. They understand storms will come. They also know life in South Florida is too good to live inside a fortress that only gets up in August. Miami-Dade authorized windows provide you both: a clear view of Biscayne Bay on a breezy February early 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 develop pressures, choose the ideal laminated glass stack for wind and heat, choose frames that fit the architecture and conditions, and hire a crew that respects the load course. Done right, energy‑efficient effect windows deliver what shutters can not: security 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.