October 18, 2025

Hurricane-Proof Comfort: Choosing Miami-Dade Approved, Energy‑Efficient Impact Windows Over Shutters

STS Impact Windows & Doors

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

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

Business Hours

  • Monday: 08:00 - 17:00
  • Tuesday: 08:00 - 17:00
  • Wednesday: 08:00 - 17:00
  • Thursday: 08:00 - 17:00
  • Friday: 08:00 - 17:00
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed
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STS Impact Windows and Doors is a business
STS Impact Windows and Doors is based in Boca Raton Florida
STS Impact Windows and Doors is located at 1000 Holland Dr Suite 10 Boca Raton FL 33487 United States
STS Impact Windows and Doors operates in the United States
STS Impact Windows and Doors is a veteran owned company
STS Impact Windows and Doors specializes in hurricane protection solutions
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides impact windows
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides impact doors
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides custom storefronts
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides roofing services
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides expert installation
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides full transparency
STS Impact Windows and Doors provides outstanding customer service
STS Impact Windows and Doors has over 25 years of industry experience
STS Impact Windows and Doors offers a 3 year installation warranty
STS Impact Windows and Doors serves residential clients
STS Impact Windows and Doors serves commercial clients
STS Impact Windows and Doors focuses on quality reliability and efficiency
STS Impact Windows and Doors has phone number 5616001018
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 stock up, and the ritual of transporting ladders to install panels. After twenty years specifying, setting up, and troubleshooting structure envelopes from Secret Largo to Palm Beach, I've seen what holds up and what does not. When the objective is real protection with year-round convenience, Miami-Dade authorized, energy‑efficient impact windows surpass shutters in manner ins which surpass storm day. They alter how a house feels NOA approval 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 useful take a look at why lots of South Florida homeowners are moving from shutters to cyclone impact-resistant windows, how to check out the requirements 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 Department sets one of the hardest benchmarks in the country for developing components exposed to windborne particles. Approval is not a marketing sticker label. It is earned through specific laboratory tests that imitate genuine typhoon conditions.

First comes large missile effect. A 9-pound 2x4 is contended the glass at approximately 34 miles per hour. That mimics roofing system tiles, branches, or pieces of fencing that fly in the eyewall. After the impact, the same unit faces cyclic pressure loading, thousands of pressurization and depressurization cycles that simulate 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 regulations windows" and "Miami-Dade authorized windows" frequently lives in these test thresholds. Miami-Dade is simply stiffer, particularly in High Velocity Typhoon Zone requirements, which include Miami-Dade and Broward.

Wind ratings differ by opening size and design pressures, denoted as PSF values. On ocean-facing properties or high-rises, I frequently define units ranked at +60/ -80 PSF or higher. Inland or in more protected exposures, scores in the +45/ -60 PSF variety can be sufficient, however you size and spec based upon the website's wind map, building height, tempered glass code Florida and surrounding structures. A professional understands that a corner exposure at the second story needs various reinforcement than a protected window under a deep porch.

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

Hurricane shutters vs impact windows is not a one-to-one contrast. Shutters can satisfy code, and they're better than absolutely nothing. But they ask you to do work at the worst possible time. When a watch turns to a caution and the projection track tightens 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 continuous security, 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 advantage. Laminated impact glass is essentially a sandwich: 2 panes of glass bonded by a resistant interlayer, usually PVB interlayer glass or SentryGlas. That interlayer damps noise. On tasks along hectic 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 coupled with insulated glass units.

Security enhances because laminated glass withstands required entry. A burglar can shatter the outer lite with a hammer, however the interlayer holds the fragments. They meet a sticky, persistent membrane rather of a quick course inside. Insurance coverage underwriters understand this, which is why policies often provide credits for impact doors and windows. In my jobs, premiums typically drop 10 to 25 percent, depending upon the provider and how many openings are protected.

Energy efficiency is the third pillar. Energy-efficient effect windows with modern low-E impact glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while maintaining noticeable light. That implies less a/c need, specifically on west and south direct exposures where the afternoon sun penalizes interiors. In one Coral Gables retrofit, we replaced 1980s single-pane sliders with laminated low-E impact systems. Summertime afternoon peak load visited roughly a ton of cooling, and the home's yearly electrical power use fell in between 12 and 18 percent. Results vary with shading, attic insulation, and a/c efficiency, however the direction is consistent.

Material options that matter: glass, interlayers, and frames

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

Most residential typhoon windows utilize a PVB interlayer glass stack, typically 0.030 to 0.090 inches thick in single or multiple plies. Thicker interlayers improve impact resistance and sound control, however they include weight and expense. For oceanfront or high openings, you might see SGP (ionoplast) interlayers, which are stiffer and more powerful than PVB, enabling thinner sections to accomplish greater style pressures. For noise-sensitive sites, acoustic PVB formulations tweak the polymer to better take in noise in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz variety, where traffic and voices sit.

Tempered glass windows come up typically in discussions because tempered glass is stronger in bending than annealed glass. That's true, and tempered lites are frequently used as the outer or inner ply in an effect system. But tempered alone is not impact-resistant in the typhoon sense. When it stops working, it takes off into small cubes and falls out of the Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance frame, which leaves the opening vulnerable. The effect efficiency originates from laminated building and construction, not tempering by itself. Lots of systems use a tempered external lite laminated to a hardened inner lite, or both tempered, but constantly 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 range while keeping visible light transmission around half or higher. Go too short on SHGC and the glass can look gray or green, especially in bigger openings. The sweet area depends on your façade orientation and shading. On east and west elevations, I frequently tighten SHGC and accept a minor tint to handle 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 control here due to the fact that they deal with big openings and will not swell. Thermal breaks and improved glazing gaskets have narrowed the energy space with vinyl. Premium vinyl effect frames, when reinforced properly, can carry out well for standard-sized openings and have much better insulating values, but I avoid them for very large sliders or tall storefront-style windows in high-wind zones. Wood-clad units look stunning in older Mediterranean Revival homes, however they require cautious upkeep and clever flashing. The Florida sun ruins low-cost vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum finishes rapidly. Search for powder-coated finishes rated for coastal direct exposure, and request written guarantee details in salt-air environments.

The hidden hero: setup that appreciates the load path

Window setup can make or break efficiency. A costly system installed like a handyman swap-out will not pass a storm's stress test. The load course is the essence. Effect forces need to take a trip from the glass through the frame, to the anchors, into the substrate, and after that into the structure's framing or masonry.

In concrete block building, you desire stainless or hot-dipped galvanized anchors embedded into solid material. Hollow cells must be grouted or you need to strike the bond beam. Tapcons in soft, unfilled block are a failure waiting to happen. In wood-framed homes, structural screws should bite into solid trimmers, not just sheathing. Shimming and plumb positioning matter so the locks engage cleanly and the weatherstripping compresses evenly.

The sealant joint is not just aesthetic. An effectively sized backer rod and high-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 motion. Too big and it treatments inadequately. On seaside jobs, I never match different metals without a barrier, and I always define 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 combination with the water-resistive barrier are crucial. If you depend on sealant alone, water will discover its way in. That wetness may disappoint up as a drip. It may rot a sill plate gradually, then betray itself as a buckling floor or a moldy odor two hurricane seasons later.

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

I have nothing versus properly designed shutters. Accordion shutters that are preserved and lubed, roll-down shutters with battery backups, and even removable panels kept carefully can secure homes efficiently. They likewise help in specific cases.

Second homes or seasonal leasings where budget plan is tight in some cases lean on shutters to meet the Florida building regulations windows requirement for safeguarded openings. On specialized openings like a lanai that is hardly ever utilized in summer, a tidy motorized roll-down can be sensible, specifically if coupling with impact doors and windows in other places worries the budget plan. For property owners who plan to move within a year, shutters can be a brief bridge to compliance before a sale.

But shutters bring compromises. They darken your house when released, and they need action at specifically the time you are juggling insurance documents, gas cans, and household logistics. Throughout Hurricane Irma, I watched a neighbor try to mount steel panels hours before landfall. The ladder sank in saturated soil, a panel slipped, and we invested the next hour in the urgent care waiting space. He survived with stitches. His living room window did not. Shutters also rattle and can vibrate under continual winds, sometimes loosening fasteners with time if not maintained.

For long-term owners who wish to set it and forget it, effect windows provide typhoon evidence windows coverage while preserving daylight 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 specs equate to comfort and bills

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

Low-E impact glass utilizes microscopically thin metal layers to reflect infrared energy while letting visible light through. With the ideal covering stacks, you can block a large portion of convected heat and UV. UV obstruction in laminated units comes largely from the interlayer itself, which normally filters 95 to 99 percent of UV, lowering fading of fabrics and floor covering. Add the low-E, and you curb the solar heat that drives your AC crazy midafternoon.

I evaluate glass specifications with 3 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 minimizes condensation danger. SHGC drives how much solar heat enters. VT affects how brilliant the interior feels. Balance is crucial. Some homeowners want the crisp, clear look of greater VT, even if it indicates accepting a couple of degrees more heat in late afternoon, because their landscaping and roofing system overhangs currently 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 modern low-E laminated double-glazed systems can minimize peak solar gains by 30 to 50 percent on the most exposed sides. Couple that with tuned overhangs, light-colored outside surfaces, and an effectively sized variable-speed heating and cooling, and you start to build durability. If the grid decreases and you switch to a generator, a lower cooling load indicates a smaller sized 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 file you request for. It details the authorized configurations, sizes, anchors, and pressures evaluated. It is not enough to hear "these are Miami-Dade approved windows" in a showroom. Confirm the NOA matches the exact design and options you are purchasing, including the glazing makeup and hardware. If you remain 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 Speed Cyclone Zone, Florida building regulations windows can count on Florida Item Approval without Miami-Dade specific NOAs. Many leading manufacturers carry both. Where budget plans permit, I choose NOA products even outside the zone since the screening is stiffer.

NFRC labels handle energy metrics. They will not tell you impact performance, however they show U-factor, SHGC, VT, and air leak. Go for air leakage at or below 0.3 cfm/ft ². Tighter is better for humidity control, but ensure your home still has actually balanced ventilation. Sealing the envelope and ignoring fresh air is a recipe for indoor air quality complaints.

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

Impact windows cost more upfront 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 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 recoup value:

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

If you plan to own the home for five years or more, the math typically tilts in favor of effect windows, especially when you factor the intangible of peace of mind. If you prepare to offer within a year and require to reveal compliance rapidly, shutters might make more short-term sense. Context matters.

Details that separate excellent systems from excellent ones

I pay attention to hardware and devices. Multi-point locks on casements and awnings improve seal compression and security. For sliders, robust tandem rollers in stainless real estates move smoother and last longer on sandy outdoor patios. Take a look at the sill style on moving doors. Weep systems need to be engineered 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 fashion. Reflective movies can contravene of neighborhood associations or produce mirror-like glare toward neighboring properties. In coastal environments, highly reflective glass can confuse birds or sea turtles in some jurisdictions. Local pros know which coverings balance efficiency with compliance.

Color laminated glass stability is a big offer. Dark bronze or black frames look fantastic on modern homes, however in Florida sun low-cost finishes chalk and fade. AAMA 2605-rated coverings provide the very best color retention and chalk resistance. I specify them for coastal direct exposures whenever budget plans allow.

Special cases: historical homes, apartments, and challenging openings

Historic districts often need 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 sometimes define a narrow list of approved items for uniformity. They also care about noise control between units. If your structure sits straight on Collins Opportunity or faces a busy beach boardwalk, push for acoustic laminated alternatives. Work with structure management on staging and lift access. Weekend work windows and limited parking can include days and dollars.

Large openings, like a 16-foot-wide slider, need unique attention in style pressure, deflection, and running hardware. Not every unit that looks strong in a display room satisfies the wind loads on a ninth-floor terrace. Do not rely on brochure maximum sizes. Utilize the NOA tables that represent your website's zone, positive and unfavorable pressures, and mullion combinations if any.

What a tidy task looks like from study to final inspection

The best projects start with a measured study and direct exposure analysis. You map each opening, keep in mind the substrate, and recognize any framing irregularities or settlement fractures. During proposal, the contractor shows you the NOA and the Florida Product Approval, notes anchor types, and discusses 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 remove one opening at a time to keep your home safe and secure. They safeguard floorings, pull back window treatments, and cap sprinklers. Old frames come out with care to protect interior finishes. New systems get dry-fit, shimmed, and anchored per the schedule. The team checks squareness and diagonals before setting sealant. They photograph anchors for the license file, particularly if they will be hidden. After glazing, they water-test with a controlled spray to confirm drainage paths and seals. The inspector sees a neat jobsite, clear labels, and documents in order.

Six months later on, 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 first week. That is the standard.

Frequently misunderstood points that cost homeowners later

Impact ranking does not equal breakproof. Laminated glass can break under serious effects, however it must stay in the frame and hold together. After a storm that sends particles into the glass, you may see star fractures or spidering. The window did its task. Replace the sash or IGU after the event.

Window movies do not convert non-impact windows into cyclone impact-resistant windows. They can add shatter resistance, however they do not substitute for a tested, anchored system. Your insurance provider and building department will not count movies as safeguarded openings.

Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient effect windows decrease air leakage. That's great, however it increases the value of a properly sized a/c with excellent dehumidification. If your system is extra-large, the thermostat pleases rapidly and fails to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your a/c pro to check reasonable heat ratio, air flow, and run time. You want stable, longer cycles, not brief bursts.

Maintenance is straightforward but not optional. Tidy 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. Small practices extend lifespan.

When shutters still belong in the conversation

There are genuine reasons to blend solutions. A pair of rarely utilized garage windows can keep detachable panels to shave budget. A deep-set porch with minimal sun exposure might do fine with accordion shutters if you prioritize other upgrades like a brand-new roof deck accessory or a prepared garage door. Shutters can also safeguard outside cooking areas or cabana openings where grease and smoke would age fancy hardware prematurely.

If you select shutters, invest in quality. Stainless fasteners, smooth tracks, and motors with handbook bypasses for roll-downs make a distinction. Appoint responsibility for release and practice when 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.

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

Impact windows are not just about making it through the huge one. They reshape daily living. The living room remains cooler and quieter. The air conditioning 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 typhoon threatens, your preparation list gets much shorter. You lock the sashes, set storm mode on the alarm, and concentrate on people rather than panels.

For a lot of my clients, that intangible is the deciding aspect. They know storms will come. They likewise understand life in South Florida is too good to live inside a fortress that just awakens in August. Miami-Dade approved windows give you both: a clear view of Biscayne Bay on a breezy February early morning window permit requirements and peaceful self-confidence when the spaghetti models point our method September.

If you are weighing the choice, start with a site-specific evaluation. Match your direct exposures to design pressures, pick the ideal laminated glass stack for wind and heat, select frames that fit the architecture and conditions, and hire a crew that appreciates the load path. Done right, energy‑efficient effect windows deliver what shutters can not: protection that never requests for a ladder and a much better home every day of the year.

I am a dynamic innovator with a broad knowledge base in entrepreneurship. My conviction in entrepreneurship spurs my desire to innovate disruptive organizations. In my business career, I have cultivated a profile as being a daring thinker. Aside from creating my own businesses, I also enjoy counseling young startup founders. I believe in empowering the next generation of startup founders to pursue their own aspirations. I am easily seeking out disruptive opportunities and working together with similarly-driven creators. Redefining what's possible is my purpose. Aside from engaged in my enterprise, I enjoy immersing myself in dynamic environments. I am also focused on health and wellness.