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 method next-door neighbors track tropical waves, the pre-storm rush to stockpile, and the routine of hauling ladders to install panels. After two decades specifying, installing, and troubleshooting structure envelopes from Secret Largo to Palm Beach, I have actually seen what holds up and what doesn't. When the objective is real defense with year-round convenience, Miami-Dade authorized, energy‑efficient effect windows surpass shutters in manner ins which go beyond storm day. They alter how a house feels in August, how peaceful your living-room stays on a Saturday night, and how confident you are when a storm line spins up quicker than predicted.
This is a practical take a look at why lots of South Florida property owners are moving from shutters to cyclone impact-resistant windows, how to check out the requirements behind "Miami-Dade approved," what materials matter, and how to get the setup right the very first time.
Miami-Dade County's Item Control Department sets one of the toughest standards in the country for building parts exposed to windborne particles. Approval is not a marketing sticker. It is earned through particular laboratory tests that replicate real cyclone conditions.
First comes large missile impact. A 9-pound 2x4 is contended the glass at approximately 34 miles per hour. That mimics roof tiles, branches, or pieces of fencing that fly in the eyewall. After the impact, the exact same system deals with cyclic pressure loading, thousands of pressurization and depressurization cycles that imitate rapid wind gusts over hours. If the glass remains in the frame without letting the envelope breach, it passes. The difference in between "meets Florida building code windows" and "Miami-Dade authorized windows" often resides in these test thresholds. Miami-Dade is just stiffer, especially in High Speed Typhoon Zone requirements, that include Miami-Dade and Broward.
Wind ratings vary by opening size and design pressures, represented as PSF values. On ocean-facing residential or commercial properties or high-rises, I typically specify systems rated at +60/ -80 PSF or higher. Inland or in more secured direct exposures, scores in the +45/ -60 PSF range can be sufficient, but you size and spec based on the website's wind map, constructing height, and surrounding structures. An expert knows that a corner direct exposure at the 2nd story needs various support than a protected window under a deep porch.
Hurricane shutters vs impact windows is not a one-to-one contrast. Shutters can meet code, and they're better than nothing. However they ask you to do work at the worst possible time. When a watch turns to a warning and the projection track tightens, the last thing you want 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 likewise get benefits every day of the year.
Noise control is the most underappreciated benefit. Laminated effect glass is essentially a sandwich: 2 panes of glass bonded by a resilient interlayer, generally PVB interlayer glass or SentryGlas. That interlayer damps sound. On tasks along hectic corridors like Biscayne Boulevard or near flight courses, I've measured interior noise drops in the 5 to 10 decibel range, often more when paired with insulated glass units.
Security improves due to the fact that laminated glass withstands forced entry. An intruder can shatter the external lite with a hammer, but the interlayer holds the shards. They satisfy a sticky, persistent membrane rather of a quick path inside. Insurance coverage underwriters know this, which is why policies frequently provide credits for impact windows and doors. In my projects, premiums typically drop 10 to 25 percent, depending upon the carrier and the number of openings are protected.
Energy efficiency is the third pillar. Energy-efficient impact windows with modern low-E impact glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while preserving visible light. That implies less cooling demand, specifically on west and south direct exposures where the afternoon sun punishes interiors. In one Coral Gables retrofit, we replaced 1980s single-pane sliders with laminated low-E impact systems. Summer season afternoon peak load visited approximately a lots of cooling, and the home's annual electrical power use fell in between 12 and 18 affordable window installation percent. Outcomes vary with shading, attic insulation, and heating and cooling effectiveness, however the instructions is consistent.
Laminated impact glass is the heart of the system, however not all laminated products are equal.
Most domestic 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, but they include weight and cost. For oceanfront or high openings, you may see SGP (ionoplast) interlayers, which are stiffer and stronger than PVB, enabling thinner areas to attain higher design pressures. For noise-sensitive websites, acoustic PVB solutions tweak the polymer to much better absorb sound in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz variety, where traffic and voices sit.
Tempered glass windows show up often in conversations because tempered glass is more powerful in bending than annealed glass. That's true, and tempered lites are commonly utilized as the external or inner ply in an impact system. However tempered alone is not impact-resistant in the typhoon sense. When it fails, it takes off into small cubes and falls out of the frame, which leaves the opening susceptible. The effect efficiency originates from laminated building and construction, not tempering by itself. Lots of systems utilize a tempered outer lite laminated to an annealed inner lite, or both tempered, but constantly bonded through a PVB or ionoplast interlayer.
Low-E finishes matter for convenience. 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 noticeable light transmission around 50 percent or higher. Go too short on SHGC and the glass can look gray or green, specifically in bigger openings. The sweet area depends on your exterior orientation and shading. On east and west elevations, I frequently tighten SHGC and accept a small tint to manage early morning and afternoon blasts. On north elevations, I favor higher visible transmittance for daylighting.
Frames are the other half of the story. Aluminum frames dominate here due to the fact that they handle large openings and will not swell. Thermal breaks and improved glazing gaskets have narrowed the energy gap with vinyl. Top quality vinyl effect frames, when strengthened effectively, can perform well for standard-sized openings and have better insulating values, however I prevent them for very wide sliders or tall storefront-style windows in high-wind zones. Wood-clad units look stunning in older Mediterranean Revival homes, but they demand cautious maintenance and smart flashing. The Florida sun damages inexpensive vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum surfaces quickly. Look for powder-coated finishes ranked for seaside exposure, and demand composed warranty details in salt-air environments.
Window setup can make or break performance. A costly system installed like a handyman swap-out will not pass a storm's tension test. The load path is the core. Effect forces need 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 and construction, you want stainless or hot-dipped galvanized anchors embedded into strong product. Hollow cells should be grouted or you require to hit the bond beam. Tapcons in soft, unfilled block are a failure waiting to occur. In wood-framed homes, structural screws must bite into strong trimmers, not simply sheathing. Shimming and plumb alignment matter so the locks engage cleanly and the weatherstripping compresses evenly.
The sealant joint is not just visual. A properly sized backer rod and top 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 motion. Too big and it cures improperly. On coastal jobs, I never combine different 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 combination with the water-resistive barrier are crucial. If you rely on sealant alone, water will discover its way in. That moisture might not show up as a drip. It may rot a sill plate gradually, then betray itself as a buckling floor or a moldy smell 2 hurricane seasons later.
I have absolutely nothing against well-designed shutters. Accordion shutters that are preserved and lubed, roll-down shutters with battery backups, and even detachable panels kept thoroughly can secure homes successfully. They also assist in certain cases.
Second homes or seasonal leasings where budget plan is tight sometimes lean on shutters to satisfy the Florida building regulations windows requirement for protected openings. On specialized openings like a lanai that is hardly ever used in summertime, a tidy motorized roll-down can be reasonable, specifically if pairing with impact doors and windows somewhere else stresses the budget 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 trade-offs. They darken the house when deployed, and they need action at specifically the time you are handling insurance coverage documents, gas cans, and family logistics. Throughout Typhoon Irma, I saw a 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 endured with stitches. His living room window did not. Shutters likewise rattle and can vibrate under continual winds, sometimes loosening up fasteners with time if not maintained.
For long-lasting owners who wish to set it and forget it, impact windows offer hurricane proof windows coverage while protecting daytime and view. The convenience grows valuable once you have actually experienced one storm season with no prep beyond locking the sash.
South Florida homes battle two battles: latent load from humidity and reasonable load from direct solar heat gain. Impact glass upgrades can assist both if defined intelligently.
Low-E impact glass utilizes microscopically thin metallic layers to reflect infrared energy while letting noticeable light through. With the best finish stacks, you can obstruct a big portion of radiant heat and UV. UV obstruction in laminated systems comes largely from the interlayer itself, which typically 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 AC crazy 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 room temperature level, which minimizes condensation threat. SHGC drives how much solar heat gets in. VT affects how intense the interior feels. Balance is key. Some house owners want the crisp, clear appearance of greater VT, even if it implies accepting a few degrees more heat in late afternoon, since their landscaping and roofing system overhangs already do some shading. Others prefer a stronger tint for glare control on waterfront lots that reflect harsh light.
In practical terms, going from clear single-pane sliders to modern low-E laminated double-glazed systems can decrease peak solar gains by 30 to half on the most exposed sides. Couple that with tuned overhangs, light-colored exterior surfaces, and an effectively sized variable-speed heating and cooling, and you start to develop resilience. If the grid goes down and you change to a generator, a lower cooling load means a smaller generator and less gallons of fuel.
Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance, or NOA, is the file you request. It information the approved configurations, sizes, anchors, and pressures tested. It is inadequate to hear "these are Miami-Dade approved windows" in a showroom. Verify the NOA matches the specific model and alternatives you are buying, including 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 provides FL numbers that reveal code compliance. In the remainder of the state outside the High Speed Hurricane Zone, Florida building code windows can count on Florida Product Approval without Miami-Dade particular NOAs. Lots of top makers bring both. Where budget plans permit, I prefer NOA items even outside the zone because the testing is stiffer.
NFRC labels handle energy metrics. They won't tell you impact efficiency, however they reveal 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 ensure your home still has actually stabilized ventilation. Sealing the envelope and overlooking fresh air is a dish for indoor air quality complaints.
Impact windows cost more in advance than shutters. There's no spin around that. Set up costs differ with size, shape, finish, and gain access to. On uncomplicated single-family homes, per-opening expenses typically land between 1,200 and 3,000 dollars for standard sizes. Big multi-panel sliders, custom-made arches, and coastal-grade finishes raise the numbers quickly.
Where you recover worth:
If you plan to own the home for five years or more, the math often tilts in favor of impact windows, especially when you factor the intangible of peace of mind. If you plan to offer within a year and require to show compliance quickly, shutters may make more short-term sense. Context matters.
I take notice of 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 patios. Take a look at the sill style on moving doors. Weep systems ought to be crafted 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 movies can contravene of neighborhood associations or produce mirror-like glare towards neighboring properties. In coastal communities, extremely reflective glass can confuse birds or sea turtles in some jurisdictions. Local pros know which coverings balance performance with compliance.
Color stability is a big deal. Dark bronze or black frames look wonderful on modern-day homes, but in Florida sun cheap finishes chalk and fade. AAMA 2605-rated coatings supply the very best color retention and chalk resistance. I define them for seaside direct exposures whenever budgets allow.
Historic districts frequently require 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 contractor familiar with these weather-resistant impact windows submissions.
Condos have another layer of governance. Associations in some cases specify a narrow list of authorized products for harmony. They likewise appreciate noise control between units. If your structure sits directly on Collins Opportunity or deals with 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 include days and dollars.
Large openings, like a 16-foot-wide slider, need special attention in style pressure, deflection, and running hardware. Not every unit that looks strong in a display room fulfills the wind loads on a ninth-floor terrace. Do not rely on catalog maximum sizes. Use the NOA tables that represent your website's zone, positive and negative pressures, and mullion mixes if any.
The finest projects begin with a measured study and exposure analysis. You map each opening, keep in mind the substrate, and recognize any framing irregularities or settlement fractures. Throughout proposal, the contractor shows you the NOA and the Florida Item Approval, lists anchor types, and discusses 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 remove one opening at a time to keep your house secure. They protect floorings, pull back window treatments, and cap sprinklers. Old frames come out with care to maintain interior finishes. New systems get dry-fit, shimmed, and anchored per the schedule. The crew checks squareness and diagonals before setting sealant. They photograph anchors for the authorization file, especially if they will be concealed. After glazing, they water-test with a controlled spray to verify drain paths 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 during thunderstorms. You did not have to call for a roller modification after the very first week. That is the standard.
Impact rating does not equivalent breakproof. Laminated glass can break under serious effects, but it needs to remain in the frame and hold together. After a storm that sends out particles into the glass, you may see star fractures or spidering. The window did its job. Replace the sash or IGU after the event.
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Window movies do not convert non-impact windows into cyclone impact-resistant windows. They can add shatter resistance, but they do not replacement for a tested, anchored system. Your insurance company and structure department will not count films as protected openings.
Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient impact windows reduce air leak. That's fantastic, however it increases the importance of an appropriately sized heating and cooling with great dehumidification. If your system is large, the thermostat satisfies quickly and fails to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your heating and cooling pro to examine practical heat ratio, airflow, and run time. You desire consistent, longer cycles, not brief bursts.
Maintenance is straightforward but not optional. Tidy weep holes on sliders, wash salt spray from frames, and oil hardware yearly with a silicone-based product that will not gum up in heat. Small habits extend lifespan.
There are legitimate factors to blend solutions. A set of seldom used garage windows can keep removable panels to shave spending plan. A deep-set porch with very little sun exposure might do fine with accordion shutters if you prioritize other upgrades like a brand-new roofing system deck attachment or a fortified garage door. Shutters can also secure outside kitchens or cabana openings where grease and smoke would age expensive hardware prematurely.
If you choose shutters, purchase quality. Stainless fasteners, smooth tracks, local window installation experts and motors with handbook bypasses for roll-downs make a distinction. Designate duty for release and practice once outside of a storm watch. Inventory your hardware. The day you require 32 wing nuts is not the morning you wish to discover you have 29.
Impact windows are not only about enduring the huge one. They reshape 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 much shorter. You buy hurricane proof windows lock the sashes, set storm mode on the alarm, and focus on people rather than panels.
For much of my clients, that intangible is the choosing factor. They understand storms will come. They also know life in South Florida is too great 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 morning and peaceful confidence when the spaghetti designs point our way in September.
If you are weighing the choice, begin with a site-specific evaluation. Match your exposures to create pressures, select the best laminated glass stack for wind and heat, select frames that fit the architecture and conditions, and work with a crew that appreciates the load path. Done right, energy‑efficient impact windows provide what shutters can not: protection that never requests a ladder and a much better home every day of the year.