November 3, 2025

Hurricane-Proof Peace of Mind: 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 neighbors track tropical waves, the pre-storm rush to stock up, and the ritual of hauling ladders to install panels. After 20 years defining, setting up, and troubleshooting building envelopes from Key Largo to Palm Beach, I've seen what holds up and what doesn't. When the goal is real security with year-round convenience, Miami-Dade authorized, energy‑efficient effect windows outperform shutters in manner ins which exceed 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 look at why many South Florida property owners are moving from shutters to hurricane impact-resistant windows, how to read the requirements behind "Miami-Dade authorized," what products matter, and how to get the setup right the first time.

What "Miami-Dade Approved" really means

Miami-Dade County's Product Control Division sets one of the most difficult standards in the nation for constructing components exposed to windborne particles. Approval is not a marketing sticker. It is earned through particular lab tests that replicate genuine cyclone conditions.

First comes large missile effect. A 9-pound 2x4 is shot at the glass at approximately 34 miles per hour. That mimics roofing tiles, branches, or pieces of fencing that fly in the eyewall. After the effect, the very same unit faces cyclic pressure loading, thousands of pressurization and depressurization cycles that mimic rapid wind gusts over hours. If the glass remains in the frame without letting the envelope breach, it passes. The difference in between "satisfies Florida building code windows" and "Miami-Dade approved windows" frequently lives in these test thresholds. Miami-Dade is just stiffer, especially in High Velocity Typhoon Zone requirements, that include Miami-Dade and Broward.

Wind rankings differ by opening size and design pressures, represented as PSF values. On ocean-facing properties or high-rises, I often specify systems ranked at +60/ -80 PSF or higher. Inland or in more safeguarded exposures, ratings in the +45/ -60 PSF range can be adequate, however you size and spec based upon the site's wind map, developing height, and surrounding structures. A professional understands that a corner exposure at the second story demands various support than a protected window under a deep porch.

Why effect windows alter the everyday experience, not simply storm season

Hurricane shutters vs effect windows is not a one-to-one contrast. Shutters can meet code, and they're much better than nothing. But they ask you to do operate at the worst possible time. When a watch turns to a warning and the forecast 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 constant security, 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 benefit. Laminated impact glass is essentially a sandwich: two panes of glass bonded by a resilient interlayer, generally PVB interlayer glass or SentryGlas. That interlayer damps noise. On tasks along hectic corridors like Biscayne Boulevard or near flight paths, I've determined interior noise drops in the 5 to 10 decibel variety, often more when coupled with insulated glass units.

Security enhances due to the fact that laminated glass resists required entry. A robber can shatter the external lite with a hammer, however the interlayer holds the fragments. They fulfill a sticky, stubborn membrane instead of a fast course inside. Insurance underwriters know this, which is why policies frequently offer credits for impact windows and doors. In my tasks, premiums usually drop 10 to 25 percent, depending upon the provider and the number of openings are protected.

Energy efficiency is the 3rd pillar. Energy-efficient effect windows with modern low-E impact glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while maintaining noticeable light. That suggests less cooling demand, particularly 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 effect units. Summer season afternoon peak load stopped by approximately a lots of cooling, and the home's annual electrical energy usage fell between 12 and 18 percent. Results differ with shading, attic insulation, and heating and cooling effectiveness, but the direction 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 residential hurricane windows use 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 add weight and expense. For oceanfront or high openings, you may see SGP (ionoplast) interlayers, which are stiffer and more powerful than PVB, allowing thinner areas to accomplish higher style pressures. For noise-sensitive websites, acoustic PVB formulations modify the polymer to much better take in sound in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz variety, where traffic and voices sit.

Tempered glass windows show up often in discussions due to the fact that tempered glass is stronger in flexing than annealed glass. That holds 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 hurricane sense. When it fails, it takes off into small cubes and falls out of the frame, which leaves the opening susceptible. The effect performance comes from laminated building, not tempering by itself. Lots of systems utilize a tempered outer lite laminated to an annealed inner lite, or both tempered, however always bonded through a PVB or ionoplast interlayer.

Low-E coverings 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 low on SHGC and the glass can look gray or green, especially in larger openings. The sweet spot depends on your exterior orientation and shading. On east and west elevations, I frequently tighten up SHGC and accept a slight tint to manage early morning and afternoon blasts. On north elevations, I favor higher noticeable 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 actually narrowed the energy space with vinyl. High-quality vinyl effect frames, when reinforced correctly, can perform well for standard-sized openings and have much better insulating worths, but I avoid them for extremely wide sliders or high storefront-style windows in high-wind zones. Wood-clad systems look lovely in older Mediterranean Revival homes, however they demand cautious maintenance and clever flashing. The Florida sun damages cheap vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum finishes affordable window installation Boca Raton rapidly. Search for powder-coated surfaces ranked for seaside exposure, and request composed warranty information in salt-air environments.

The hidden hero: setup that respects the load path

Window setup can make or break efficiency. A pricey unit installed like a handyman swap-out will not pass a storm's stress test. The load path is the essence. 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 construction, you want stainless or hot-dipped galvanized buy hurricane proof windows 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 must bite into solid trimmers, not simply sheathing. hurricane proof windows Boca Raton 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 produce a durable, flexible seal that deals with thermal growth. Too small a bead and it tears under movement. Too huge and it remedies improperly. On seaside tasks, I never match dissimilar metals without a barrier, and I always define corrosion-resistant fasteners. Ten 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 count on sealant alone, water will find its way in. That wetness may not show up as a drip. It may rot a sill plate slowly, then betray itself as a buckling floor or a moldy odor two typhoon seasons later.

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

I have nothing against well-designed shutters. Accordion shutters that are preserved and lubed, roll-down shutters with battery backups, and even removable panels stored carefully can secure homes efficiently. They likewise assist in particular 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 secured openings. On specialized openings like a lanai that is seldom utilized in summer season, a tidy motorized roll-down can be reasonable, specifically if pairing with impact doors and windows in other places stresses the spending plan. For homeowners 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 deployed, and they need action at precisely the time you are juggling insurance coverage documents, gas cans, and household logistics. During Typhoon Irma, I watched a next-door neighbor attempt to install steel panels hours before landfall. The ladder sank in saturated soil, a panel slipped, and we spent the next hour in the urgent care waiting space. He endured with stitches. His living-room window did not. Shutters likewise rattle and can vibrate under continual winds, often loosening up fasteners with time if not maintained.

For long-term owners who want to set it and forget it, effect windows provide cyclone proof windows protection while maintaining daytime and view. The benefit grows valuable once you've experienced one storm season with zero preparation beyond locking the sash.

The energy story: how glass requirements equate to convenience and bills

South Florida homes battle two battles: hidden load from humidity and sensible load from direct solar heat gain. Effect glass upgrades can help both if specified intelligently.

Low-E effect glass uses microscopically thin metallic layers to reflect infrared energy while letting noticeable light through. With the right finishing stacks, you can block a large portion of radiant heat and UV. UV clog in laminated units comes mainly from the interlayer itself, which typically filters 95 to 99 percent of UV, lowering fading of materials and floor covering. Include 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 reducing nighttime heat flow and keeping the interior glass temperature level closer to space temperature, which reduces condensation danger. SHGC drives just how much solar heat enters. VT influences how intense the interior feels. Balance is crucial. Some house owners want the crisp, clear appearance of higher VT, even if it suggests accepting a few degrees more heat in late afternoon, due to the fact that their landscaping and roof overhangs currently do some shading. Others prefer a more powerful tint for glare control on waterfront lots that show severe light.

In practical terms, going from clear single-pane sliders to contemporary low-E laminated double-glazed units can minimize peak solar gains by 30 to 50 percent on the most exposed sides. Couple that with tuned overhangs, light-colored outside finishes, and a properly sized variable-speed a/c, and you start to construct durability. If the grid decreases and you change 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. It information the approved configurations, sizes, anchors, and pressures checked. It is inadequate to hear "these are Miami-Dade approved windows" in a showroom. Verify the NOA matches the precise model and choices you are purchasing, including the glazing makeup and hardware. If you remain in Broward or Miami-Dade, your permitting office will desire this paper trail.

Statewide, the Florida Item Approval system supplies FL numbers that show code compliance. In the rest of the state outside the High Speed Cyclone Zone, Florida building code windows can rely on Florida Item Approval without Miami-Dade specific NOAs. Many leading manufacturers bring both. Where budget plans allow, I prefer NOA items even outside the zone because the testing is stiffer.

NFRC labels deal with energy metrics. They will not inform you impact efficiency, but they reveal U-factor, SHGC, VT, and air leakage. Aim for air leak at or below 0.3 cfm/ft ². Tighter is much better for humidity control, but make certain your home still has actually balanced ventilation. Sealing the envelope and neglecting fresh air is a dish for indoor air quality complaints.

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

Impact windows cost more in advance than shutters. There's no spin around that. Installed costs differ with size, shape, surface, and access. On uncomplicated single-family homes, per-opening costs typically land in between 1,200 and 3,000 dollars for standard sizes. Big multi-panel sliders, customized arches, and coastal-grade finishes raise the numbers quickly.

Where you recoup value:

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

If you plan to own the residential or commercial property for 5 years or more, the math often tilts in favor of impact windows, particularly when you factor the intangible of assurance. If you prepare to sell within a year and need to reveal compliance quickly, shutters might make more short-term sense. Context matters.

Details that separate great systems from excellent ones

I pay attention to hardware and accessories. Multi-point locks on sashes and awnings enhance seal compression and security. For sliders, robust tandem rollers in stainless housings move smoother and last longer on sandy outdoor patios. Take a look at the sill style on sliding doors. Weep systems ought 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 style. Reflective films can contravene of neighborhood associations or produce mirror-like glare towards surrounding homes. In coastal environments, highly reflective glass can puzzle birds or sea turtles in some jurisdictions. Regional pros know which finishings balance efficiency with compliance.

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

Special cases: historic homes, apartments, and tricky openings

Historic districts typically require 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 contractor familiar with these submissions.

Condos have another layer of governance. Associations often define a narrow list of authorized items for uniformity. They also appreciate sound control between units. If your structure sits directly on Collins Avenue or deals with a busy beach boardwalk, push for acoustic laminated alternatives. Work with structure management on staging and lift access. Weekend work windows and restricted parking can add days and dollars.

Large openings, like a 16-foot-wide slider, need special attention in design pressure, deflection, and running hardware. Not every unit that looks tough in a display room fulfills the wind loads on a ninth-floor veranda. Do not depend on brochure optimum sizes. Use the NOA tables that correspond to your site's zone, favorable and negative pressures, and mullion combinations if any.

What a tidy job appears like from study to last inspection

The finest tasks begin with a measured survey and exposure analysis. You map each opening, note the substrate, and determine any framing irregularities or settlement cracks. During proposition, the contractor 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 set up day, they eliminate one opening at a time to keep the house safe and secure. They safeguard floorings, draw back window treatments, and cap sprinklers. Old frames come out with care to maintain interior surfaces. New systems get dry-fit, shimmed, and anchored per the schedule. The crew checks squareness and diagonals before setting sealant. They picture anchors for the license file, specifically if they will be concealed. After glazing, they water-test with a regulated spray to confirm drain courses and seals. The inspector sees a cool jobsite, clear labels, and documents in order.

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

Frequently misinterpreted points that cost property owners later

Impact rating does not equivalent breakproof. Laminated glass can break under severe effects, but it needs to remain in the frame and hold together. After a storm that sends out debris into the glass, you may see star cracks or spidering. The window did its task. Change the sash or IGU after the event.

Window movies do not transform non-impact windows into cyclone impact-resistant windows. They can include shatter resistance, however they do not replacement for an evaluated, anchored system. Your insurance provider and building department will not count films as protected openings.

Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient impact windows minimize air leakage. That's terrific, however it increases the significance of a properly sized HVAC with excellent dehumidification. If your system is extra-large, the thermostat pleases rapidly and stops working to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your a/c pro to check sensible heat ratio, airflow, and run time. You desire consistent, longer cycles, not brief bursts.

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

When shutters still belong in the conversation

There are legitimate reasons to blend solutions. A pair of hardly ever used garage windows can keep detachable panels to shave budget plan. A deep-set porch with minimal sun direct exposure might do fine with accordion shutters if you prioritize other upgrades like a new roofing system deck attachment or a fortified garage door. Shutters can also protect 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 handbook bypasses for roll-downs make a difference. Assign obligation for release 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.

The bottom line: peace of mind you can feel on a quiet Tuesday

Impact windows are not only about enduring the big one. They reshape daily living. The living-room remains cooler and quieter. The air conditioner cycles calmly instead 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 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 number of my clients, that intangible is the choosing element. They know storms will come. They also know life in South Florida is too excellent to live inside a fortress that only awakens in August. Miami-Dade approved windows provide 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, start with a site-specific assessment. Match your exposures to develop pressures, choose the ideal laminated glass stack for wind and heat, select frames that fit the architecture and conditions, and work with a team that appreciates the load course. Done right, energy‑efficient impact windows deliver what shutters can not: defense that never ever 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.