October 18, 2025

Hurricane-Proof Assurance: Choosing 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 next-door neighbors track tropical waves, the pre-storm rush to stockpile, and the ritual of hauling ladders to mount panels. After two decades specifying, setting up, and fixing structure envelopes from Secret Largo to Palm Beach, I have actually seen what holds up and what doesn't. When the goal is real protection with year-round comfort, Miami-Dade approved, energy‑efficient impact windows surpass shutters in manner ins which surpass storm day. They alter how a house feels in August, how quiet your living-room stays on a Saturday night, and how positive you are when a storm line spins up much faster than predicted.

This is a useful take a look at why lots of South Florida property owners are moving from shutters to typhoon impact-resistant windows, how to read the requirements behind "Miami-Dade authorized," what materials matter, and how to get the installation right the very first time.

What "Miami-Dade Approved" really means

Miami-Dade County's Item Control Division sets among the toughest standards in the nation for developing parts Best hurricane windows brand exposed to windborne particles. Approval is not a marketing sticker label. It is made through particular lab tests that imitate genuine hurricane conditions.

First comes large missile impact. A 9-pound 2x4 is shot at the glass at approximately 34 miles per hour. That simulates roofing tiles, branches, or pieces of fencing that fly in the eyewall. After the impact, the very 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 distinction in between "satisfies Florida building regulations windows" and "Miami-Dade approved windows" typically resides in these test thresholds. Miami-Dade is merely stiffer, especially in High Speed Hurricane Zone requirements, that include Miami-Dade and Broward.

Wind scores vary by opening size and style pressures, denoted as PSF values. On ocean-facing properties or high-rises, I frequently specify systems rated at +60/ -80 PSF or greater. Inland or in more safeguarded direct exposures, scores in the +45/ -60 PSF range can be sufficient, but you size and specification based on the site's wind map, developing height, and surrounding structures. An expert understands that a corner exposure at the second story needs various reinforcement than a sheltered window under a deep porch.

Why effect windows alter the day-to-day experience, not simply storm season

Hurricane shutters vs effect windows is not a one-to-one comparison. Shutters can satisfy 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 warning and the projection track tightens, the last thing you desire is a ladder, a dead cordless drill, and a missing wing nut.

Impact windows live in place. You get constant protection, even if a pop-up storm surprises you while you're stuck on United States 1. You also get advantages 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 durable interlayer, generally PVB interlayer glass or SentryGlas. That interlayer damps noise. On jobs along busy corridors like Biscayne Boulevard or near flight paths, I've measured interior noise drops in the 5 to 10 decibel variety, in some cases more when paired with insulated glass units.

Security improves since laminated glass withstands forced entry. An intruder can shatter the outer lite with a hammer, however the interlayer holds the shards. They satisfy a sticky, persistent membrane instead of a fast path inside. Insurance coverage underwriters understand this, which is why policies often use credits for impact doors and windows. In my jobs, premiums generally drop 10 to 25 percent, depending upon the carrier and the number of openings are protected.

Energy performance is the 3rd pillar. Energy-efficient impact windows with modern low-E effect glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while maintaining noticeable light. That indicates less air conditioning need, specifically on west and south exposures where the afternoon sun penalizes interiors. In one Coral Gables retrofit, we changed 1980s single-pane sliders with laminated low-E effect systems. Summer season afternoon peak load stopped by roughly a ton of cooling, and the home's yearly electricity usage fell between 12 and 18 percent. Results differ with shading, attic insulation, and heating and cooling efficiency, but 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 items are equal.

Most domestic typhoon windows utilize a PVB interlayer glass stack, frequently 0.030 to 0.090 inches thick in single or several plies. Thicker interlayers improve effect resistance and sound control, but they include weight and cost. For oceanfront or high openings, you might see SGP (ionoplast) interlayers, which are stiffer and stronger than PVB, permitting thinner areas to attain higher design pressures. For noise-sensitive websites, acoustic PVB formulations fine-tune the polymer to much better soak up sound in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz range, where traffic and voices sit.

Tempered glass windows turn up frequently in conversations since tempered glass is stronger in bending than annealed glass. That holds true, and tempered lites are frequently used as the external or inner ply in an impact unit. However tempered alone is not impact-resistant in the typhoon sense. When it fails, it explodes into small cubes and falls out of the frame, which leaves the opening susceptible. The effect performance originates from laminated building, not tempering by itself. Lots of systems use a tempered outer lite laminated to a hardened inner lite, or both tempered, but always bonded through a PVB or ionoplast interlayer.

Low-E coatings matter for comfort. A soft-coat low-E tuned for South Florida usually 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 low 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 often tighten SHGC and accept a small tint to manage 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 dominate here since they handle large openings and won't swell. Thermal breaks and enhanced glazing gaskets have actually narrowed the energy gap with vinyl. High-quality vinyl impact frames, when enhanced properly, can perform well for standard-sized openings and have much better insulating values, but I avoid them for really wide sliders or tall storefront-style windows in high-wind zones. Wood-clad systems look beautiful in older Mediterranean Revival homes, but they demand cautious maintenance and clever flashing. The Florida sun ruins low-cost vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum surfaces rapidly. Search for powder-coated finishes ranked for seaside direct exposure, and demand written warranty information in salt-air environments.

The concealed hero: installation that respects the load path

Window installation can make or break performance. An expensive system set up like a handyman swap-out will not pass a storm's tension test. The load course is the crux. Effect forces need 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, you desire stainless or hot-dipped galvanized anchors embedded into solid product. Hollow cells should be grouted or you require to strike the bond beam. Tapcons in soft, unfilled block are a failure waiting to occur. In wood-framed homes, structural screws should bite into solid trimmers, not just sheathing. Shimming and plumb positioning matter so the locks engage easily and the weatherstripping compresses evenly.

The sealant joint is not just aesthetic. A properly sized backer rod and high-quality polyurethane or silyl-modified polymer sealant produce a resilient, flexible seal that handles thermal growth. Too little a bead and it tears under motion. Too big and it remedies improperly. On coastal jobs, I never ever match different metals without a barrier, and I constantly specify corrosion-resistant fasteners. 10 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 crucial. If you rely on sealant alone, water will discover 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 odor two typhoon seasons later.

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

I have nothing versus well-designed shutters. Accordion shutters that are maintained and lubricated, roll-down shutters with battery backups, and even detachable panels stored thoroughly can protect homes effectively. They also assist in specific cases.

Second homes or seasonal leasings where budget 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 hardly ever utilized in summer season, a tidy motorized roll-down can be sensible, especially if coupling with effect windows and doors elsewhere worries the budget. For property owners who prepare to move within a year, shutters can be a brief bridge to compliance before a sale.

But shutters bring trade-offs. They darken the house when deployed, and they require action at specifically the time you are handling insurance papers, gas cans, and family logistics. During Hurricane Irma, I watched a neighbor attempt to mount steel panels hours before landfall. The ladder sank in saturated soil, a panel slipped, and we invested the next hour in the immediate care waiting room. He survived with stitches. His living-room window did not. Shutters likewise rattle and can vibrate under continual winds, often loosening up fasteners over time if not maintained.

For long-term owners who want to set it and forget it, impact windows provide cyclone evidence windows protection while protecting daylight and view. The benefit grows important once you've experienced one storm season with zero prep beyond locking the sash.

The energy story: how glass specs equate to comfort and bills

South Florida homes battle 2 battles: hidden load from humidity and reasonable load from direct solar heat gain. Effect glass upgrades can assist both if defined intelligently.

Low-E impact glass stormproof window maintenance uses microscopically thin metallic layers to reflect infrared energy while letting visible light through. With the right covering stacks, you can obstruct a big part of radiant heat and UV. UV obstruction in laminated systems comes mostly from the interlayer itself, which typically filters 95 to 99 percent of UV, minimizing fading of fabrics and flooring. Add the low-E, and you suppress the solar heat that drives your AC crazy midafternoon.

I examine glass specs with three numbers: U-factor, SHGC, and VT. While U-factor matters more up north, it still helps here by minimizing nighttime heat circulation and keeping the interior glass temperature closer to space temperature, which lowers condensation threat. SHGC drives just how much solar heat goes into. VT influences how bright the interior feels. Balance is key. Some homeowners desire the crisp, clear appearance of higher VT, even if it means accepting a few degrees more heat in late afternoon, because their landscaping and roof overhangs currently do some shading. Others prefer a more powerful tint for glare control on waterfront lots that show extreme light.

In useful terms, going from clear single-pane sliders to modern-day 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 exterior surfaces, and a correctly sized variable-speed heating and cooling, and you start to build resilience. If the grid goes down and you change to a generator, a lower cooling load suggests 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 for. It details the authorized configurations, sizes, anchors, and pressures evaluated. It is inadequate to hear "these are Miami-Dade authorized windows" in a showroom. Validate the NOA matches the exact model and options you are purchasing, consisting of the glazing makeup and hardware. If you remain in Broward or Miami-Dade, your permitting workplace will want this paper trail.

Statewide, the Florida Item Approval system provides FL numbers that show code compliance. In the rest of the state outside the High Velocity Cyclone Zone, Florida building code windows can depend on Florida Item Approval without Miami-Dade specific NOAs. Numerous top producers bring both. Where budgets allow, I prefer NOA products even outside the zone due to the fact that the screening is stiffer.

NFRC labels manage energy metrics. They will not tell you effect performance, however they reveal U-factor, SHGC, VT, and air leak. Go for air leakage at or listed below 0.3 cfm/ft ². Tighter is much better for humidity control, however make certain your home still has stabilized 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 upfront than shutters. There's no spin around that. Installed expenses differ with size, shape, surface, and access. On straightforward single-family homes, per-opening expenses frequently land between 1,200 and 3,000 dollars for basic sizes. Large multi-panel sliders, custom arches, and coastal-grade surfaces raise the numbers quickly.

Where you recover worth:

  • Insurance credits add up, typically 10 to 25 percent off premiums when all openings are protected.
  • Energy cost savings, generally 8 to 20 percent on annual cooling expenses in older homes after a complete window upgrade paired with sealing and attic improvements.
  • Resale appeal, specifically in markets where purchasers expect effect windows and doors as a baseline. A home with accordion shutters contends, but a home with storm impact windows shows much better, feels quieter, and generally evaluates stronger.

If you plan 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 need to show compliance rapidly, shutters may make more short-term sense. Context matters.

Details that separate great systems from excellent ones

I take notice of hardware and accessories. Multi-point locks on sashes and awnings improve seal compression and security. For sliders, robust tandem rollers in stainless real estates slide smoother and last longer on sandy patio areas. Take a look at the sill design on sliding doors. Weep systems must be crafted to drain heavy rains without letting wind-driven water blow back in. Ask to see a cutaway sample in the showroom.

Tint colors and reflectivity are more than style. Reflective films can run afoul of neighborhood associations or produce mirror-like glare toward neighboring residential or commercial properties. In seaside environments, extremely reflective glass can puzzle birds or sea turtles in some jurisdictions. Local pros know which coverings balance efficiency with compliance.

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

Special cases: historic homes, condos, and difficult openings

Historic districts frequently require profiles that mimic old wood sash sightlines. There are impact-rated windows that fit these requirements, however lead times lengthen and costs climb. Expect extra evaluation 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 authorized items for harmony. They likewise care about noise control between systems. If your building sits directly on Collins Opportunity or deals with a busy beach boardwalk, push for acoustic laminated choices. Deal with building management on staging and lift access. Weekend work windows and minimal parking can include days and dollars.

Large openings, like a 16-foot-wide slider, require special attention in design pressure, deflection, and operating hardware. Not every unit that looks strong in a showroom satisfies the wind loads on a ninth-floor balcony. Do not rely on catalog optimum sizes. Use the NOA tables that correspond to your website's zone, positive and unfavorable pressures, and mullion combinations if any.

What a clean task looks like from study to last inspection

The finest tasks start with a determined study and direct exposure analysis. You map each opening, note the substrate, and determine any framing abnormalities or settlement fractures. Throughout proposition, the specialist shows you the NOA and the Florida Item Approval, lists 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 install day, they get rid of one opening at a time to keep your house safe. They safeguard floorings, pull back window treatments, and cap sprinklers. Old frames bring out care to preserve interior surfaces. New units get dry-fit, shimmed, and anchored per the schedule. The crew checks squareness and diagonals before setting sealant. They photo anchors for the permit file, especially if they will be hidden. After glazing, they water-test with a regulated spray to confirm drain courses and seals. The inspector sees a cool jobsite, clear labels, and documentation in order.

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

Frequently misunderstood points that cost property owners later

Impact score does not equal breakproof. Laminated glass can crack under serious effects, but it should stay in the frame and hold together. After a storm that sends debris into the glass, you may see star fractures or spidering. The window did its job. Change the sash or IGU after the event.

Window films do not convert non-impact windows into cyclone impact-resistant windows. They can add shatter resistance, however they do not alternative to a tested, anchored system. Your insurance company and structure department will not count films as secured openings.

Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient impact windows decrease air leakage. That's fantastic, however it increases the value of an effectively sized a/c with excellent dehumidification. If your system is extra-large, the thermostat satisfies rapidly and fails to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your a/c pro to inspect practical heat ratio, air flow, and run time. You desire stable, longer cycles, not short bursts.

Maintenance is uncomplicated but not optional. Clean weep holes on sliders, wash salt spray from frames, and lube hardware each 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 mix solutions. hurricane window vs shutters A set of rarely used garage windows can keep removable panels to shave spending plan. A deep-set patio with very little sun direct exposure may do fine with accordion shutters if you focus on other upgrades like a brand-new roofing deck attachment or a fortified garage door. Shutters can also safeguard outside cooking areas or cabana openings where grease and smoke would age elegant hardware prematurely.

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

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

Impact windows are not just about surviving the big one. They reshape daily living. The living room remains cooler and quieter. The air conditioning cycles calmly rather 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 typhoon threatens, your preparation list gets shorter. You lock the sashes, set storm mode on the alarm, and focus on people instead of panels.

For many of my customers, that intangible is the deciding element. They know storms will come. They likewise know life in South Florida is too good to live inside a fortress that just gets up in August. Miami-Dade approved windows offer you both: a clear view of Biscayne Bay on a breezy February morning and quiet self-confidence when the spaghetti models vinyl vs aluminum window frames point our method September.

If you are weighing the option, start with a site-specific assessment. Match your exposures to develop pressures, pick the ideal laminated glass stack for wind and heat, select frames that fit the architecture and conditions, and employ a team that respects the load course. Done right, energy‑efficient effect windows deliver what shutters can not: defense that never asks for a ladder and a 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.