October 18, 2025

Hurricane-Proof Assurance: Selecting Miami-Dade Approved, Energy‑Efficient Impact 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
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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 stock up, and the routine of carrying ladders to mount panels. After 20 years defining, installing, and repairing building envelopes from Key Largo to Palm Beach, I have actually seen what holds up and what doesn't. When the goal is real security with year-round comfort, Miami-Dade approved, energy‑efficient effect windows outperform shutters in manner ins which surpass storm day. They change how a home feels in August, how quiet your living-room stays on a Saturday night, and how confident you are when a storm line spins up much faster than predicted.

This is a practical look at why many South Florida homeowners are moving from shutters to cyclone impact-resistant windows, how to check out the standards behind "Miami-Dade approved," what materials matter, and how to get the setup right the very first time.

What "Miami-Dade Approved" in fact means

Miami-Dade County's Item Control Division sets among the hardest criteria in the country for developing elements exposed to windborne particles. Approval is not a marketing sticker label. It is earned through particular laboratory tests that simulate genuine cyclone conditions.

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

Wind rankings vary by opening size and style pressures, denoted as PSF worths. On ocean-facing residential or commercial properties or high-rises, I often define systems ranked at +60/ -80 PSF or greater. Inland or in more safeguarded exposures, scores in the +45/ -60 PSF heat-strengthened glass range can suffice, but you size and spec based upon the website's wind map, building height, and surrounding structures. An expert knows that a corner direct exposure at the second story demands different reinforcement than a protected window under a deep porch.

Why effect windows alter the everyday experience, not just storm season

Hurricane shutters vs effect windows is not a one-to-one contrast. Shutters can meet code, and they're better than 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 desire is a ladder, a dead cordless drill, and a missing wing nut.

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

Noise control is the most underappreciated advantage. Laminated impact glass is basically a sandwich: 2 panes of glass bonded by a resilient interlayer, generally PVB interlayer glass or SentryGlas. That interlayer damps noise. On tasks along busy passages 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 improves because laminated glass resists required entry. An intruder can shatter the outer lite with a hammer, but the interlayer holds the fragments. They meet a sticky, stubborn membrane rather of a fast path inside. Insurance coverage underwriters understand this, which is why policies frequently provide credits for impact doors and windows. In my tasks, premiums generally drop 10 to 25 percent, depending upon the provider and the number of openings are protected.

Energy performance is the 3rd pillar. Energy-efficient effect windows with modern low-E impact glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while preserving visible light. That implies less a/c need, specifically 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 impact systems. Summer afternoon peak load come by roughly a lots of cooling, and the home's annual electrical energy use fell in between 12 and 18 percent. Results differ with shading, attic insulation, and heating and cooling performance, but the direction is consistent.

Material choices that matter: glass, interlayers, and frames

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

Most residential hurricane windows use a PVB interlayer glass stack, commonly 0.030 to 0.090 inches thick in single or several plies. Thicker interlayers improve impact resistance and sound control, but they add weight and cost. For oceanfront or high openings, you might see SGP (ionoplast) interlayers, which are stiffer and more powerful than PVB, allowing thinner sections to achieve higher design pressures. For noise-sensitive sites, acoustic PVB formulas tweak the polymer to much better soak up noise in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz variety, where traffic and voices sit.

Tempered glass windows turn up often in conversations because tempered glass is more powerful in bending than annealed glass. That holds true, and tempered lites are typically utilized as the external or inner ply in an effect unit. However tempered alone is not impact-resistant in the cyclone sense. When it fails, it explodes into small cubes and falls out of the frame, which leaves the opening susceptible. The impact performance comes from laminated building and construction, not tempering by itself. Many systems use a tempered external lite laminated to an annealed inner lite, or both tempered, but constantly bonded through a PVB or ionoplast interlayer.

Low-E finishings matter for comfort. A soft-coat low-E tuned for South Florida generally targets a solar heat gain coefficient in the 0.25 to 0.35 range while keeping visible light transmission around half 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 small tint to handle 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 dominate here due to the fact that they manage 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 reinforced correctly, 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 require mindful upkeep and smart flashing. The Florida sun destroys cheap vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum surfaces rapidly. Try to find powder-coated surfaces rated for coastal exposure, and request composed guarantee information in salt-air environments.

The surprise hero: setup that respects the load path

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

In concrete block building and construction, you want stainless or hot-dipped galvanized anchors embedded into strong material. Hollow cells must be grouted or you require to hit the bond beam. Tapcons in soft, unfilled block are a failure waiting to take place. In wood-framed houses, structural screws need to 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 effectively sized backer rod and top quality polyurethane or silyl-modified polymer sealant produce a resilient, flexible seal that manages thermal growth. Too little a bead and it tears under motion. Too huge and it remedies poorly. On coastal jobs, I never ever pair different metals without a barrier, and I always 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 integration with the water-resistive barrier are vital. If you rely on sealant alone, water will find its method. That wetness may not show up as a drip. It may rot a sill plate gradually, then betray itself as a buckling flooring or a musty smell two typhoon seasons later.

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

I have absolutely nothing versus properly designed shutters. Accordion shutters that are preserved and oiled, roll-down shutters with battery backups, and even removable panels saved carefully can safeguard homes effectively. They likewise assist in certain cases.

Second homes or seasonal leasings where spending plan is tight often lean on shutters to fulfill the Florida building regulations windows requirement for safeguarded openings. On specialized openings like a lanai that is rarely used in summer, a clean motorized roll-down can be sensible, particularly if coupling with impact windows and doors somewhere else worries the budget plan. For property 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 your house when released, and they require action at specifically the time you are managing insurance coverage papers, gas cans, and family logistics. Throughout Cyclone Irma, I enjoyed a next-door neighbor try 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 made it through with stitches. His living-room window did not. Shutters likewise rattle and can vibrate under sustained winds, in some cases loosening up fasteners gradually if not maintained.

For long-term owners who want to set it and hurricane window replacement forget it, impact windows offer typhoon evidence windows protection while protecting daytime and view. The convenience grows important once you've experienced one storm season with no preparation beyond locking the sash.

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

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

Low-E impact glass uses microscopically thin metal layers to show infrared energy while letting visible light through. With the ideal finishing stacks, you can block a big part of radiant heat and UV. UV blockage in laminated systems comes mostly from the interlayer itself, which usually filters 95 to 99 percent of UV, lowering fading of materials and flooring. Include the low-E, and you suppress the solar heat that drives your air conditioning insane midafternoon.

I evaluate glass specifications with 3 numbers: U-factor, SHGC, and VT. While U-factor matters more up north, it still assists here by lowering nighttime heat circulation and keeping the interior glass temperature closer to space temperature level, which minimizes condensation risk. SHGC drives how much solar heat gets in. VT influences how bright the interior feels. Balance is essential. Some property owners want the crisp, clear appearance of greater VT, even if it suggests accepting a couple of degrees more heat in late afternoon, due to the fact that their landscaping and roof overhangs currently do some shading. Others choose a stronger tint for glare control on waterside lots that show severe light.

In practical terms, going from clear single-pane sliders to modern low-E laminated double-glazed units can minimize peak solar gains by 30 to 50 percent on the most exposed sides. Couple that with tuned overhangs, light-colored exterior surfaces, and an effectively sized variable-speed a/c, and you begin to develop resilience. If the grid goes down and you switch to a generator, a lower cooling load means a smaller generator and fewer 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 approved configurations, sizes, anchors, and pressures tested. It is insufficient to hear "these are Miami-Dade approved windows" in a showroom. Confirm the NOA matches the precise model and alternatives you are purchasing, including the glazing makeup and hardware. If you remain in Broward or Miami-Dade, your allowing workplace will want this paper trail.

Statewide, the Florida Product Approval system supplies FL numbers that show code compliance. In the rest of the state outside the High Velocity Typhoon Zone, Florida building code windows can rely on Florida Item Approval without Miami-Dade specific NOAs. Many top makers carry both. Where budgets enable, I prefer NOA items even outside the zone because the screening is stiffer.

NFRC labels handle energy metrics. They won't tell you effect performance, but they show U-factor, SHGC, VT, and air leak. Aim for air leak at or below 0.3 cfm/ft ². Tighter is much better for humidity control, but make certain your home still has balanced ventilation. Sealing the envelope and neglecting fresh air is a dish for indoor air quality complaints.

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

Impact windows cost more in advance than shutters. There's no spin around that. Installed expenses differ with size, shape, finish, and access. On straightforward single-family homes, per-opening expenses often 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 worth:

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

If you prepare to own the home for five years or more, the mathematics typically tilts in favor of impact windows, particularly when you factor the intangible of comfort. If you prepare to sell within a year and require to reveal compliance quickly, shutters may make more short-term sense. Context matters.

Details that separate excellent systems from excellent ones

I focus on hardware and devices. Multi-point locks on casements and awnings enhance seal compression and security. For sliders, robust tandem rollers in stainless real estates move smoother and last longer on sandy patio areas. Look at the sill design on moving doors. Weep systems should be engineered 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 fashion. Reflective movies can contravene of neighborhood watch or produce mirror-like glare towards neighboring properties. In coastal environments, extremely reflective glass can puzzle birds or sea turtles in some jurisdictions. Regional pros understand which finishes balance efficiency with compliance.

Color stability is a huge deal. Dark bronze or black frames look wonderful on contemporary homes, however in Florida sun inexpensive finishes chalk and fade. AAMA 2605-rated finishes offer the very best color retention and chalk resistance. I define them for coastal direct exposures whenever budget plans allow.

Special cases: historic homes, condominiums, and difficult openings

Historic districts typically need profiles that simulate old wood sash sightlines. There are impact-rated windows that fit these requirements, but lead times lengthen and costs climb. Anticipate extra review by architectural boards, and line up a contractor acquainted with these submissions.

Condos have another layer of governance. Associations in some cases specify a narrow list of approved items for uniformity. They likewise appreciate noise control in between systems. If your building sits straight on Collins Opportunity or faces a busy beach boardwalk, push for acoustic laminated options. Work with structure management on staging and lift gain access to. Weekend work windows and minimal parking can add days and dollars.

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

What a tidy project appears like from study to final inspection

The finest tasks start with a determined study and exposure analysis. You map each opening, keep in mind the substrate, and identify any framing abnormalities or settlement fractures. During proposition, the contractor shows you the NOA and the Florida Item 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 set up day, they eliminate one opening at a time to keep the house safe and secure. They safeguard floorings, draw back window treatments, and cap sprinklers. Old frames come out with care to preserve interior surfaces. New systems 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, especially if they will be concealed. After glazing, they water-test with a regulated spray to confirm drain 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 efficiently, and there is no secret rattle throughout thunderstorms. You did not have to call for a roller adjustment after the very first week. That is the standard.

Frequently misconstrued points that cost house owners later

Impact score does not equal breakproof. Laminated glass can break under extreme impacts, however it needs to remain in the frame and hold together. After a storm that sends particles into the glass, you may see star cracks or spidering. The window did its job. Change the sash or IGU after the event.

Window films do not transform non-impact windows into typhoon impact-resistant windows. They can add shatter resistance, however they do not alternative to a checked, anchored system. Your insurer and structure department will not count films as protected openings.

Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient effect windows reduce air leakage. That's fantastic, but it increases the significance of an appropriately sized HVAC with excellent dehumidification. If your system is large, the thermostat pleases rapidly and stops working to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your heating and cooling pro to examine sensible heat ratio, airflow, and run time. You want stable, longer cycles, not brief bursts.

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

When shutters still belong in the conversation

There are legitimate reasons to blend services. A set of hardly ever utilized garage windows can keep detachable panels to shave spending plan. A deep-set porch with minimal sun exposure might do fine with accordion shutters if you focus on other upgrades like a brand-new roof deck attachment or a prepared garage door. Shutters can likewise secure outdoor cooking areas or cabana openings where grease and smoke would age expensive hardware prematurely.

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

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

Impact windows are not just about enduring the big one. They reshape daily living. The living room stays cooler and quieter. The air conditioner cycles calmly instead 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 cyclone threatens, your preparation list gets shorter. You lock the sashes, set storm mode on the alarm, and concentrate on individuals instead of panels.

For a number of my clients, that intangible is the choosing element. They know storms will come. They likewise know life in South Florida is too great to live inside a fortress that only gets up in August. Miami-Dade authorized windows give you both: a clear view of Biscayne Bay on a breezy February morning and quiet self-confidence when the spaghetti designs point our method September.

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