November 4, 2025

Hurricane-Proof Peace of Mind: Picking Miami-Dade Approved, Energy‑Efficient Effect Windows Over Shutters

STS Impact Windows & Doors

STS Impact Windows, Doors & Roofing is a veteran-owned company based in South Florida that specializes in premium hurricane protection solutions, including impact windows, doors, custom storefronts, and roofing. Combining over 25 years of industry experience with military precision, STS provides expert installation, full transparency, and outstanding customer service, backed by a leading 3-year installation warranty. Their comprehensive services ensure security and peace of mind for both residential and commercial clients, with a strong focus on quality, reliability, and efficiency.

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1000 Holland Dr #10, Boca Raton, 33487, US

Business Hours

  • Monday: 08:00 - 17:00
  • Tuesday: 08:00 - 17:00
  • Wednesday: 08:00 - 17:00
  • Thursday: 08:00 - 17:00
  • Friday: 08:00 - 17:00
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed
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STS Impact Windows and Doors is a business
STS Impact Windows and Doors is based in Boca Raton Florida
STS Impact Windows and Doors is located at 1000 Holland Dr Suite 10 Boca Raton FL 33487 United States
STS Impact Windows and Doors operates in the United States
STS Impact Windows and Doors is a veteran owned company
STS Impact Windows and Doors specializes in hurricane protection solutions
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides impact windows
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides impact doors
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides custom storefronts
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides roofing services
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides expert installation
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides full transparency
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides outstanding customer service
STS Impact Windows and Doors has over 25 years of industry experience
STS Impact Windows and Doors offers a 3 year installation warranty
STS Impact Windows and Doors serves residential clients
STS Impact Windows and Doors serves commercial clients
STS Impact Windows and Doors focuses on quality reliability and efficiency
STS Impact Windows and Doors has phone number 5616001018
STS Impact Windows and Doors has website https://stswindows.com/
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STS Impact Windows and Doors has opening hours Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm
STS Impact Windows and Doors was awarded South Florida Veteran Owned Business Excellence Award
STS Impact Windows and Doors was awarded Best Hurricane Protection Provider 2023 Florida
STS Impact Windows and Doors was awarded Angis Super Service Award for Window Installation

People Also Ask about STS Impact Windows and Doors

What does STS Impact Windows and Doors do?

STS Impact Windows and Doors specializes in hurricane protection solutions, offering high-quality impact windows, storm-resistant doors, custom storefronts, and professional roofing services. With expert installation, full transparency, and outstanding customer service, the company ensures homes and businesses stay secure and energy-efficient.

Where is STS Impact Windows and Doors located?

STS Impact Windows and Doors is located at 1000 Holland Dr Suite 10, Boca Raton, FL 33487, United States. The company proudly serves residential and commercial clients across Florida and throughout the United States, delivering reliable storm protection solutions. View their location on Google Maps.

Is STS Impact Windows and Doors a veteran-owned business?

Yes, STS Impact Windows and Doors is a veteran-owned company recognized for its dedication, integrity, and service to the community. This background adds an extra level of trust and reliability for homeowners and businesses seeking storm protection solutions.

What services does STS Impact Windows and Doors provide?

STS Impact Windows and Doors provides a wide range of services including the installation of hurricane impact windows, impact doors, custom commercial storefronts, and roofing services. Each project is backed by expert craftsmanship, a 3-year installation warranty, and over 25 years of industry experience.

Who does STS Impact Windows and Doors serve?

The company proudly serves both residential homeowners and commercial property owners. From protecting family homes to fortifying businesses with hurricane-rated storefronts, STS Impact Windows and Doors delivers customized solutions that ensure safety, durability, and efficiency.

What are the benefits of choosing STS Impact Windows and Doors?

Clients benefit from the company’s focus on quality, reliability, and efficiency. Their impact-resistant windows and doors not only enhance security and hurricane protection but also improve energy efficiency, reduce noise, and increase property value. With a 3-year installation warranty, customers can trust in long-term performance and peace of mind.

What awards has STS Impact Windows and Doors won?

STS Impact Windows and Doors has been recognized with multiple industry honors, including the South Florida Veteran Owned Business Excellence Award, Best Hurricane Protection Provider 2023 Florida, and the Angi’s Super Service Award for Window Installation. These awards highlight their commitment to excellence, customer satisfaction, and industry leadership.

How can I contact STS Impact Windows and Doors?

You can reach STS Impact Windows and Doors by phone at 561-600-1018 or visit their website at stswindows.com. They are open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm and are available on Facebook and Instagram for updates and project showcases.


Business Name: STS Impact Windows & Doors
Address: 1000 Holland Dr #10, Boca Raton, FL 33487, United States
Phone: (561)-600-1018

Hurricane season shapes life along Florida's coasts. You feel it in the way next-door neighbors track tropical waves, the pre-storm rush to stockpile, and the routine of carrying ladders to mount panels. After 20 years specifying, installing, and troubleshooting building envelopes from Key Largo to Palm Beach, I have actually seen what holds up and what doesn't. When the objective is genuine security with year-round convenience, Miami-Dade approved, energy‑efficient effect windows outperform shutters in ways that surpass 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 quicker than predicted.

This is a practical look at why many South Florida house 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" actually means

Miami-Dade County's Product Control Division sets among the hardest standards in the nation for developing elements exposed to windborne debris. Approval is not a marketing sticker label. It is made through specific laboratory tests that imitate genuine hurricane conditions.

First comes big rocket effect. 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 same system deals with cyclic pressure loading, thousands of pressurization and depressurization cycles that mimic quick 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 authorized windows" often resides in these test limits. Miami-Dade is just stiffer, particularly in High Speed Hurricane Zone requirements, that include Miami-Dade and Broward.

Wind rankings differ by opening size and style pressures, denoted as PSF values. On ocean-facing homes or high-rises, I often specify units rated at +60/ -80 PSF or greater. Inland or in more secured exposures, ratings in the +45/ -60 PSF variety can be sufficient, however you size and spec based upon the website's wind map, developing height, and surrounding structures. An expert knows that a corner exposure at the second story needs different support than a sheltered window under a deep porch.

Why impact windows alter the daily experience, not simply storm season

Hurricane shutters vs effect windows is not a one-to-one contrast. Shutters can meet 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 projection track tightens up, the last thing you want is a ladder, a dead cordless drill, and a missing wing nut.

Impact windows live in location. You get constant protection, 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 benefit. Laminated impact glass is essentially a sandwich: 2 panes of glass bonded by a resilient interlayer, usually PVB interlayer glass or SentryGlas. That interlayer damps sound. On tasks along busy passages like Biscayne Boulevard or near flight courses, I have actually measured interior sound drops in the 5 to 10 decibel range, sometimes more when paired with insulated glass units.

Security improves since laminated glass resists forced entry. A burglar can shatter the external lite with a hammer, but the interlayer holds the fragments. They satisfy a sticky, stubborn membrane instead of a fast path inside. Insurance underwriters understand this, which is why policies typically offer credits for impact windows and doors. In my tasks, premiums normally drop 10 to 25 percent, depending upon the provider and the number of openings are protected.

Energy efficiency is the 3rd pillar. Energy-efficient effect windows with modern-day low-E impact glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while protecting visible light. That suggests less cooling demand, especially on west and south direct exposures where the afternoon sun punishes interiors. In one Coral Gables retrofit, we changed 1980s single-pane sliders with laminated low-E effect units. Summer season afternoon peak load stopped by approximately a lots of cooling, and the home's annual electrical energy usage fell between 12 and 18 percent. Results vary with shading, attic insulation, and HVAC effectiveness, however the instructions is consistent.

Material options that matter: glass, interlayers, and frames

Laminated effect 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 several plies. Thicker interlayers improve effect resistance and sound control, but they add weight and cost. For oceanfront or high openings, you may see SGP (ionoplast) interlayers, which are stiffer and more powerful than PVB, allowing thinner areas to attain higher style pressures. For noise-sensitive websites, acoustic PVB solutions tweak the polymer to much better soak up sound in custom window installation services the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz range, where traffic and voices sit.

Tempered glass windows come up frequently in conversations due to the fact that tempered glass is stronger in flexing than annealed glass. That's true, and tempered lites are frequently utilized as the outer or inner ply in an effect system. However tempered alone is not impact-resistant in the hurricane sense. When it fails, it blows up into little cubes and falls out of the frame, which leaves the opening susceptible. The impact performance originates from laminated construction, not tempering by itself. Numerous systems use a tempered outer lite laminated to a hardened inner lite, or both tempered, however always bonded through a PVB or ionoplast interlayer.

Low-E finishes matter for convenience. 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 visible light transmission around 50 percent or greater. Go too short on SHGC and the glass can look gray or green, specifically in bigger openings. The sweet area depends on your façade orientation and shading. On east and west elevations, I often tighten SHGC and accept a minor tint to manage early morning and afternoon blasts. On north elevations, I favor greater visible transmittance for daylighting.

Frames are the other half of the story. Aluminum frames dominate here because they handle big openings and will not swell. Thermal breaks and improved glazing gaskets have narrowed the energy space with vinyl. High-quality vinyl effect frames, when strengthened properly, can perform well for standard-sized openings and have much better insulating values, but I avoid them for really wide sliders or high storefront-style windows in high-wind zones. Wood-clad systems look beautiful in older Mediterranean Revival homes, however they require careful maintenance and smart flashing. The Florida sun destroys inexpensive vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum finishes quickly. Look for powder-coated finishes rated for seaside direct exposure, and request composed service warranty information in salt-air environments.

The hidden hero: setup that appreciates the load path

Window setup can make or break efficiency. A pricey unit installed like a handyman swap-out will not pass a storm's tension test. The load path is the crux. 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 building, you desire stainless or hot-dipped galvanized anchors embedded into solid product. 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 need to bite into strong trimmers, not simply sheathing. Shimming and plumb positioning matter so the locks engage cleanly and the weatherstripping compresses evenly.

The sealant joint is not simply visual. An appropriately sized backer rod and top quality polyurethane or silyl-modified polymer sealant create a long lasting, flexible seal that manages thermal expansion. Too little a bead and it tears under movement. Too huge and it cures inadequately. On seaside tasks, I never ever 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 integration with the water-resistive barrier are important. If you rely on sealant alone, water will find its way in. That wetness might disappoint up as a drip. It may rot a sill plate gradually, then betray itself as a buckling floor or a musty smell two typhoon seasons later.

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

I have absolutely nothing against properly designed shutters. Accordion shutters that are maintained and oiled, roll-down shutters with battery backups, and even removable panels stored carefully can safeguard homes successfully. They likewise help in particular cases.

Second homes or seasonal rentals where budget is tight sometimes lean on shutters to fulfill the Florida building regulations windows requirement for secured openings. On specialized openings like a lanai that is hardly ever utilized in summer, a clean motorized roll-down can be sensible, especially if pairing with effect doors and windows elsewhere stresses the spending plan. For property owners who prepare to move within a year, shutters can be a short bridge to compliance before a sale.

But shutters bring compromises. They darken your home when released, and they require action at specifically the time you are handling insurance papers, gas cans, and family logistics. During Cyclone Irma, I watched a next-door neighbor try 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 made it through with stitches. His living room window did not. Shutters also rattle and can vibrate under continual winds, sometimes loosening up fasteners with time if not maintained.

For long-term owners who wish to set it and forget it, effect windows give cyclone evidence windows protection while preserving daytime and view. The convenience grows valuable once you have actually experienced one storm season with absolutely 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. Effect glass upgrades can assist both if defined intelligently.

Low-E impact glass uses microscopically thin metal layers to reflect infrared energy while letting noticeable light through. With the right covering stacks, you can obstruct a large portion of convected heat and UV. UV clog in laminated systems comes largely from the interlayer itself, which typically filters 95 to 99 percent of UV, lowering fading of materials and floor covering. Add the low-E, and you suppress the solar heat that drives your air conditioner 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 lowering nighttime heat flow and keeping the interior glass temperature closer to space temperature, which decreases condensation danger. SHGC drives how much solar heat goes into. VT affects how brilliant the interior feels. Balance is crucial. Some homeowners desire the crisp, clear appearance of greater VT, even if it implies accepting a couple of degrees more heat in late afternoon, because their landscaping and roof overhangs already do some shading. Others prefer a more powerful tint for glare control on waterfront lots that show extreme light.

In practical terms, going from clear single-pane sliders to modern-day 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 finishes, and an effectively sized variable-speed heating and cooling, and you begin to construct strength. 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 ask for. It information the authorized setups, sizes, anchors, and pressures checked. It is inadequate to hear "these are Miami-Dade approved windows" in a display room. Validate the NOA matches the precise design and options you are buying, consisting of the glazing makeup and hardware. If you remain in Broward or Miami-Dade, your permitting office will want this paper trail.

Statewide, the Florida Item Approval system offers FL numbers that reveal code compliance. In the rest of the state outside the High Speed Cyclone Zone, Florida building code windows can count on Florida Product Approval without Miami-Dade particular NOAs. Many leading manufacturers bring both. Where spending plans allow, I choose NOA products even outside the zone because the screening is stiffer.

NFRC labels deal with energy metrics. They won't inform you effect performance, but they show U-factor, SHGC, VT, and air leakage. Aim for air leakage at or below 0.3 cfm/ft ². Tighter is better for humidity control, however make sure your home still has actually stabilized ventilation. Sealing the envelope and overlooking fresh air is a recipe for indoor air quality complaints.

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

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

Where you recover value:

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

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

Details that separate great systems from terrific 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 housings glide smoother and last longer on sandy patios. Take a look at the sill design on moving doors. Weep systems need to be engineered to drain heavy rainfall without letting wind-driven water blow back in. Ask to see a cutaway sample in the showroom.

Tint colors and reflectivity are more than style. Reflective films can contravene of neighborhood associations or produce mirror-like glare toward neighboring homes. In coastal environments, extremely reflective glass can puzzle birds or sea turtles in some jurisdictions. Regional pros understand which coverings balance performance with compliance.

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

Special cases: historic homes, apartments, and challenging openings

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

Condos have another layer of governance. Associations often define a narrow list of approved products for uniformity. They also appreciate sound control between units. If your building sits straight on Collins Opportunity or faces a busy beach boardwalk, push for acoustic laminated alternatives. Deal with structure management on staging and lift gain access to. Weekend work windows and limited parking can add days and dollars.

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

What a tidy task appears like from survey to final inspection

The finest projects begin with a determined study and direct exposure analysis. You map each opening, keep in mind the substrate, and identify any framing irregularities or settlement cracks. During proposal, the contractor reveals you the NOA and the Florida Item Approval, notes anchor types, and describes 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 get rid of one opening at a time to keep your house secure. They protect floors, draw back window treatments, and cap sprinklers. Old frames bring out care to protect interior surfaces. New systems get dry-fit, shimmed, and anchored per the schedule. The team checks squareness and diagonals before setting sealant. They photo anchors for the authorization file, specifically if they will be hidden. After glazing, they water-test with a regulated spray to verify drainage courses and seals. The inspector sees a neat jobsite, clear labels, and paperwork in order.

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

Frequently misconstrued points that cost property owners later

Impact rating does not equivalent breakproof. Laminated glass can crack under severe effects, but it should remain in the frame and hold together. After a storm that sends out 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 movies do not convert non-impact windows into cyclone impact-resistant windows. They can include shatter resistance, but they do not substitute for a tested, anchored system. Your insurance company and structure department will Boca Raton hurricane proof window installation not count films as safeguarded openings.

Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient effect windows decrease air leakage. That's fantastic, however it increases the significance of an effectively sized a/c with excellent dehumidification. If best impact windows Boca Raton your system is extra-large, the thermostat satisfies quickly and fails to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your heating and cooling pro to inspect sensible heat ratio, air flow, and run time. You want constant, longer cycles, not brief bursts.

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

When shutters still belong in the conversation

There are legitimate reasons to mix solutions. A pair of rarely utilized garage windows can keep removable panels to shave budget plan. A deep-set patio with very little sun exposure may do fine with accordion shutters if you focus on other upgrades like a new roofing system deck attachment or a prepared garage door. Shutters can also protect outside cooking areas or cabana openings where grease and smoke would age expensive hardware prematurely.

If you choose shutters, purchase quality. Stainless fasteners, smooth tracks, and motors with manual overrides for roll-downs make a difference. Appoint duty for release and practice as soon as 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: peace of mind you can feel on a quiet Tuesday

Impact windows are not just about surviving the huge one. They reshape daily living. The living-room remains cooler and quieter. The a/c 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 hurricane threatens, your preparation list gets much shorter. You lock the sashes, set storm mode on the alarm, and concentrate on individuals rather than panels.

For much of my customers, that intangible is the deciding element. They understand storms will come. They also understand life in South Florida is too great to live inside a fortress that only gets up in August. Miami-Dade approved windows offer you both: a clear view of Biscayne Bay on a breezy February early morning and quiet self-confidence when the spaghetti models point our method September.

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