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 stock up, and the routine of hauling ladders to install panels. After two decades defining, installing, and repairing structure envelopes sliding glass impact doors from Secret Largo to Palm Beach, I have actually seen what holds up and what does not. When the goal is real protection with year-round convenience, Miami-Dade approved, energy‑efficient effect windows exceed shutters in ways that surpass storm-resistant windows 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 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 materials matter, and how to get the installation right the first time.
Miami-Dade County's Product Control Division sets one of the most difficult criteria in the nation for developing parts exposed to windborne particles. Approval is not a marketing sticker. It is made through particular lab tests that mimic real cyclone conditions.
First comes large rocket effect. A 9-pound 2x4 is contended the glass at roughly 34 miles per hour. That simulates roof tiles, branches, or pieces of fencing that fly in the eyewall. After the impact, the same system faces cyclic pressure loading, thousands of pressurization and depressurization cycles that imitate fast wind gusts over hours. If the glass stays in the frame without letting the envelope breach, it passes. The difference between "satisfies Florida building regulations windows" and "Miami-Dade authorized windows" often resides in these test limits. Miami-Dade is merely stiffer, particularly in High Velocity Typhoon Zone requirements, which include Miami-Dade and Broward.
Wind rankings differ by opening pressure and impact testing size and design pressures, represented as PSF worths. On ocean-facing homes or high-rises, I typically specify systems ranked at +60/ -80 PSF or higher. Inland or in more protected direct exposures, ratings in the +45/ -60 PSF range can suffice, but you size and specification based on the site's wind map, developing height, and surrounding structures. A professional understands that a corner direct exposure at the second story needs different reinforcement than a sheltered window under a deep porch.
Hurricane shutters vs effect windows is not a one-to-one comparison. Shutters can fulfill 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 forecast track tightens, the last thing you desire is a ladder, a dead cordless drill, and a missing wing nut.
Impact windows live in location. You get constant defense, even if a pop-up storm surprises you while you're stuck on United States 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, typically PVB interlayer glass or SentryGlas. That interlayer damps noise. On jobs along hectic passages like Biscayne Boulevard or near flight courses, I've determined interior sound drops in the 5 to 10 decibel variety, in some cases more when paired with insulated glass units.
Security improves because laminated glass withstands required entry. An intruder can shatter the external lite with a hammer, however the interlayer holds the fragments. They fulfill a sticky, stubborn membrane instead of a quick course inside. Insurance coverage underwriters understand this, which is why policies frequently provide credits for impact doors and windows. In my projects, premiums generally drop 10 to 25 percent, depending upon the provider and the number of openings are protected.
Energy performance is the third pillar. Energy-efficient effect windows with modern-day low-E effect glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while protecting visible light. That indicates less cooling need, particularly on west and south exposures where the afternoon sun penalizes interiors. In one Coral Gables retrofit, we replaced 1980s single-pane sliders with laminated low-E effect systems. Summertime afternoon peak load come by approximately a ton of cooling, and the home's annual electricity usage fell between 12 and 18 percent. Results differ with shading, attic insulation, and HVAC performance, however the instructions is consistent.
Laminated impact glass is the heart of the system, but not all laminated items are equal.
Most residential typhoon windows use a PVB interlayer glass stack, typically 0.030 to 0.090 inches thick in single or numerous plies. Thicker interlayers improve impact resistance and sound control, however they include weight and cost. For oceanfront or tall openings, you might see SGP (ionoplast) interlayers, which are stiffer and stronger than PVB, permitting thinner areas to accomplish higher design pressures. For noise-sensitive websites, acoustic PVB solutions modify the polymer to much better absorb noise in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz range, where traffic and voices sit.
Tempered glass windows come up frequently in conversations because tempered glass is more powerful in flexing than annealed glass. That holds true, and tempered lites are typically utilized as the external or inner ply in an impact system. But tempered alone is not impact-resistant in the typhoon sense. When it fails, it blows up into little cubes and falls out of the frame, which leaves the opening vulnerable. The impact efficiency comes from laminated building, not tempering by itself. Many systems use a tempered external lite laminated to an annealed inner lite, or both tempered, however always bonded through a PVB or ionoplast interlayer.
Low-E coatings matter for convenience. A soft-coat low-E tuned for South Florida typically targets a solar heat gain coefficient in the 0.25 to 0.35 variety while keeping noticeable light transmission around 50 percent or higher. Go too low on SHGC and the glass can look gray or green, especially in bigger openings. The sweet area depends upon your façade orientation and shading. On east and west elevations, I frequently tighten SHGC and accept a small tint to manage 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 because they deal with large openings and won't swell. Thermal breaks and enhanced glazing gaskets have narrowed the energy gap with vinyl. High-quality vinyl effect frames, when enhanced appropriately, can perform well for standard-sized openings and have better insulating worths, however I avoid them for really large sliders or high storefront-style windows in high-wind zones. Wood-clad units look beautiful in older Mediterranean Revival homes, however they require mindful maintenance and wise flashing. The Florida sun ruins cheap vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum finishes rapidly. Try to find powder-coated surfaces rated for seaside direct exposure, and demand composed service warranty details in salt-air environments.
Window setup can make or break performance. A costly unit set up like a handyman swap-out will not pass a storm's stress 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 then into the structure's framing or masonry.
In concrete block construction, you want stainless or hot-dipped galvanized anchors embedded into solid product. Hollow cells should 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 homes, structural screws need to bite into solid trimmers, not just sheathing. Shimming and plumb alignment matter so the locks engage easily and the weatherstripping compresses evenly.
The sealant joint is not simply aesthetic. An effectively sized backer rod and premium polyurethane or silyl-modified polymer sealant develop a long lasting, versatile seal that deals with thermal expansion. Too small a bead and it tears under motion. Too big and it remedies inadequately. On coastal tasks, I never combine different metals without a barrier, and I constantly define corrosion-resistant fasteners. 10 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 depend on sealant alone, water will find its way in. That wetness may not show up as a drip. It might rot a sill plate gradually, then betray itself as a buckling floor or a musty odor two typhoon seasons later.
I have nothing versus properly designed shutters. Accordion shutters that are maintained and lubricated, roll-down shutters with battery backups, and even removable panels saved thoroughly can safeguard homes effectively. They also help in specific cases.
Second homes or seasonal leasings where budget is tight in some cases lean on shutters to satisfy the Florida building regulations windows requirement for protected openings. On specialized openings like a lanai that is rarely utilized in summer season, a tidy motorized roll-down can be affordable, specifically if pairing with impact windows and doors elsewhere stresses the budget. For homeowners who prepare to move within a year, shutters can be a brief bridge to compliance before a sale.
But shutters bring compromises. They darken the house when released, and they require action at specifically the time you are handling insurance coverage papers, gas cans, and household logistics. During Typhoon Irma, I saw a neighbor try to install 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 space. He survived with stitches. His living-room window did not. Shutters likewise rattle and can vibrate under sustained winds, often loosening fasteners gradually if not maintained.
For long-term owners who wish to set it and forget it, effect windows provide cyclone proof windows protection while protecting daytime and view. The convenience grows valuable once you have actually experienced one storm season with no preparation beyond locking the sash.
South Florida homes fight 2 fights: latent load from humidity and practical load from direct solar heat gain. Effect glass upgrades can help both if specified intelligently.
Low-E effect glass uses microscopically thin metal layers to show infrared energy while letting noticeable light through. With the best finish stacks, you can obstruct a big part of convected heat and UV. UV clog in laminated systems comes largely code compliant window replacement from the interlayer itself, which usually filters 95 to 99 percent of UV, lowering fading of fabrics and flooring. Add the low-E, and you curb the solar heat that drives your air conditioner crazy midafternoon.
I evaluate glass specs with 3 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 level, which minimizes condensation threat. SHGC drives how much solar heat goes into. VT influences how brilliant the interior feels. Balance is essential. Some property owners desire the crisp, clear look of higher VT, even if it indicates accepting a couple of degrees more heat in late afternoon, due to the fact that their landscaping and roof overhangs already do some shading. Others prefer a more powerful tint for glare control on waterside lots that reflect severe light.
In practical terms, going from clear single-pane sliders to contemporary low-E laminated double-glazed systems can minimize peak solar gains by 30 to half on the most exposed sides. Couple that with tuned overhangs, light-colored outside finishes, and a correctly sized variable-speed a/c, and you start to construct resilience. If the grid goes down and you change to a generator, a lower cooling load indicates a smaller generator and less gallons of fuel.
Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance, or NOA, is the document you request. It information the authorized configurations, sizes, anchors, and pressures evaluated. It is inadequate to hear "these are Miami-Dade authorized windows" in a showroom. Verify the NOA matches the precise design and options you are purchasing, consisting of the glazing makeup and hardware. If you are in Broward or Miami-Dade, your permitting workplace will want this paper trail.
Statewide, the Florida Product Approval system provides FL numbers that reveal code compliance. In the rest of the state outside the High Velocity Typhoon Zone, Florida building regulations windows can depend on Florida Product Approval without Miami-Dade particular NOAs. Lots of leading manufacturers carry both. Where budget plans permit, I prefer NOA items even outside the zone since the screening is stiffer.
NFRC labels manage energy metrics. They will not inform you effect efficiency, however they show U-factor, SHGC, VT, and air leakage. Go for air leakage at or listed below 0.3 cfm/ft ². Tighter is much better for humidity control, but ensure your home still has actually balanced ventilation. Sealing the envelope and disregarding fresh air is a recipe for indoor air quality complaints.
Impact windows cost more upfront than shutters. There's no spin around that. Set up expenses differ with size, shape, surface, and gain access to. On straightforward single-family homes, per-opening expenses frequently land in between 1,200 and 3,000 dollars for standard sizes. Big multi-panel sliders, custom-made arches, and coastal-grade surfaces raise the numbers quickly.
Where you recover value:
If you prepare to own the property for five years or more, the mathematics typically tilts in favor of effect windows, particularly when you factor the intangible of comfort. If you prepare to sell within a year and require to reveal compliance quickly, shutters might make more short-term sense. Context matters.
I take note of hardware and accessories. Multi-point locks on sashes and awnings improve seal compression and security. For sliders, robust tandem rollers in stainless housings move smoother and last longer on sandy patio areas. Look at the sill design on sliding doors. Weep systems must 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 fashion. Reflective films can contravene of neighborhood associations or produce mirror-like glare toward surrounding homes. In seaside ecosystems, 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 offer. Dark bronze or black frames look wonderful on modern homes, but in Florida sun low-cost finishes chalk and fade. AAMA 2605-rated coatings offer the very best color retention and chalk resistance. I specify them for coastal exposures whenever budgets allow.

Historic districts frequently need profiles that imitate old wood sash sightlines. There are impact-rated windows that fit these requirements, however lead times extend and costs climb. Expect extra review by architectural boards, and line up a professional acquainted with these submissions.
Condos have another layer of governance. Associations in some cases define a narrow list of authorized items for harmony. They likewise care about noise control between systems. If your building sits directly on Collins Avenue or deals with a hectic beach boardwalk, push for acoustic laminated options. Work with building 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, require special attention in design pressure, deflection, and running hardware. Not every system that looks strong in a showroom fulfills the wind loads on a ninth-floor veranda. Do not count on brochure maximum sizes. Use the NOA tables that correspond to your site's zone, favorable and unfavorable pressures, and mullion combinations if any.
The best tasks start with a determined study and exposure analysis. You map each opening, note the substrate, and identify any framing abnormalities or settlement fractures. Throughout proposition, the specialist reveals you the NOA and the Florida Product Approval, notes anchor types, and describes how each opening will be flashed and sealed. They plan for stucco or drywall repairs, not pretend no damage will occur.
On install day, they get rid of one opening at a time to keep your home safe. They safeguard floors, pull back window treatments, and cap sprinklers. Old frames come out with 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 authorization file, specifically if they will be concealed. After glazing, they water-test with a controlled spray to verify drain courses and seals. The inspector sees a cool jobsite, clear labels, and documentation in order.
Six months later on, your windows still close with 2 fingers, locks bite efficiently, and there is no secret rattle throughout thunderstorms. You did not have to require a roller modification after the very first week. That is the standard.
Impact rating does not equivalent breakproof. Laminated glass can split under extreme effects, however it must remain in the frame and hold together. After a storm that sends out particles into the glass, you might see star fractures 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 substitute for an evaluated, anchored system. Your insurance provider and structure department will not count films as safeguarded openings.
Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient impact windows reduce air leakage. That's terrific, however it increases the value of an effectively sized heating and cooling with excellent dehumidification. If your system is oversized, the thermostat satisfies rapidly and stops working to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your heating and cooling pro to check practical heat ratio, air flow, and run time. You want consistent, longer cycles, not brief bursts.
Maintenance is simple but 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. Small routines extend lifespan.
There are genuine factors to blend options. A set of seldom used garage windows can keep detachable panels to shave spending plan. A deep-set porch with minimal sun exposure may do great with accordion shutters if you prioritize other upgrades like a new roof deck accessory or a fortified garage door. Shutters can likewise secure outdoor kitchens or cabana openings where grease and smoke would age fancy hardware prematurely.
If you select shutters, purchase quality. Stainless fasteners, smooth tracks, and motors with handbook overrides for roll-downs make a distinction. Assign obligation for deployment and practice once beyond a storm watch. Inventory your hardware. The day you need 32 wing nuts is not the morning you want to discover you have 29.
Impact windows are not only about enduring the huge one. They reshape daily living. The living room stays 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 hurricane threatens, your preparation list gets much shorter. You lock the sashes, set storm mode on the alarm, and focus on people rather than panels.
For a number of my customers, that intangible is the deciding factor. They know storms will come. They also understand life in South Florida is too good to live inside a fortress that just awakens 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 way in September.
If you are weighing the choice, begin with a site-specific assessment. Match your direct exposures to develop pressures, pick the best laminated glass stack for wind and heat, select frames that fit the architecture and conditions, and employ a crew that appreciates the load path. Done right, energy‑efficient effect windows provide what shutters can not: defense that never asks for a ladder and a better home every day of the year.