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

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
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STS Impact Windows and Doors serves commercial clients
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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 stock up, and the routine of carrying ladders to install panels. After two decades specifying, setting up, and fixing building envelopes from Secret Largo to Palm Beach, I've seen what holds up and what does not. When the objective is real defense with year-round convenience, Miami-Dade approved, energy‑efficient effect windows outperform shutters in manner ins which go beyond storm day. They alter how a house feels in August, how peaceful your living room stays on a Saturday night, and how confident you are when a storm line spins up quicker than predicted.

This is a useful take a look at why many South Florida house owners are moving from shutters to typhoon impact-resistant windows, how to check out the standards behind "Miami-Dade approved," what materials matter, and how to get the installation right the first time.

What "Miami-Dade Approved" actually means

Miami-Dade County's Item Control Division sets one of the hardest criteria in the nation for developing parts exposed to windborne debris. Approval is not a marketing sticker label. It is made through particular laboratory tests that imitate real typhoon conditions.

First comes large missile impact. A 9-pound 2x4 is contended the glass at roughly 34 miles per hour. That imitates roofing system tiles, branches, or pieces of fencing that fly in the eyewall. After the impact, the same system deals with cyclic pressure loading, countless pressurization and depressurization cycles that imitate fast wind gusts over hours. If the glass remains in the frame without letting the envelope breach, it passes. The difference between "fulfills Florida building regulations windows" and "Miami-Dade approved windows" frequently lives in these test thresholds. Miami-Dade is just stiffer, especially in High Velocity Hurricane Zone requirements, that include Miami-Dade and Broward.

Wind ratings differ by opening size and style pressures, represented as PSF values. On ocean-facing residential or commercial properties or high-rises, I typically define units ranked at +60/ -80 PSF or greater. Inland or in more protected direct exposures, ratings in the +45/ -60 PSF range can be enough, however you size and spec based upon the website's wind map, building height, and surrounding structures. A professional knows that a corner direct exposure at the 2nd story needs various reinforcement than a sheltered window under a deep porch.

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

Hurricane shutters vs impact windows is not a one-to-one contrast. Shutters can satisfy 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 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 place. You get continuous defense, even if a pop-up storm surprises you while you're stuck on US 1. You also get advantages 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 resilient interlayer, usually PVB interlayer glass or SentryGlas. That interlayer damps noise. On tasks along hectic passages like Biscayne Boulevard or near flight paths, I've measured interior sound drops in the 5 to 10 decibel range, in some cases more when coupled with insulated glass units.

Security enhances since laminated glass withstands required entry. An intruder can shatter the outer lite with a hammer, but the interlayer holds the shards. They fulfill a sticky, persistent membrane instead of a quick course inside. Insurance coverage underwriters know this, which is why policies typically use credits for impact doors and windows. In my projects, premiums normally drop 10 to 25 percent, depending upon the provider and the number of openings are protected.

Energy performance is the 3rd pillar. Energy-efficient effect windows with modern-day low-E impact glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while protecting noticeable light. That indicates less cooling need, especially on west and south exposures where the afternoon sun punishes interiors. In one Coral Gables retrofit, we replaced 1980s single-pane sliders with laminated low-E effect systems. Summer season afternoon peak load visited roughly a lots of cooling, and the home's yearly electrical energy usage fell between 12 and 18 percent. Results vary with shading, attic insulation, and heating and cooling performance, however the direction is consistent.

Material choices that matter: glass, interlayers, and frames

Laminated impact glass is the heart of the system, but not all laminated products are equal.

Most domestic cyclone windows use a PVB interlayer glass stack, typically 0.030 to 0.090 inches thick in single or numerous plies. Thicker interlayers enhance effect resistance and sound control, however they add weight and cost. For oceanfront or tall openings, you may see SGP (ionoplast) interlayers, which are stiffer and more powerful than PVB, permitting thinner areas to achieve higher design pressures. For noise-sensitive sites, acoustic PVB formulas modify the polymer to better take in noise in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz variety, where traffic and voices sit.

Tempered glass windows turn up often in discussions because 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 unit. However tempered alone is not impact-resistant in the cyclone sense. When it fails, it explodes into little cubes and falls out of the frame, which leaves the opening susceptible. The impact performance comes from laminated building, not tempering by itself. Many systems use a tempered outer lite laminated to a hardened inner lite, or both tempered, however constantly bonded through a PVB or ionoplast interlayer.

Low-E finishings matter for comfort. 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 50 percent or greater. Go too low on SHGC and the glass can look gray or green, particularly in larger openings. The sweet area depends upon your façade orientation and shading. On east and west elevations, I frequently tighten up SHGC and accept a slight tint to handle early morning and afternoon blasts. On north elevations, I lean toward higher visible transmittance for daylighting.

Frames are the other half of the ANSI Z97.1 story. Aluminum frames control here due to the fact that they manage big thermal break window frames openings and won't swell. Thermal breaks and improved glazing gaskets have narrowed the energy space with vinyl. Top quality vinyl effect frames, when reinforced correctly, can perform well for standard-sized openings and have better insulating worths, however I avoid them for extremely broad sliders or high storefront-style windows in high-wind zones. Wood-clad systems look gorgeous in older Mediterranean Revival homes, but they demand mindful maintenance and clever flashing. The Florida sun damages inexpensive vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum surfaces quickly. Try to find powder-coated finishes ranked for coastal exposure, and request written service warranty information in salt-air environments.

The concealed hero: setup that appreciates the load path

Window installation can make or break efficiency. A costly system set up like a handyman swap-out will not pass a storm's stress test. The load path is the core. Impact 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 and construction, you desire stainless or hot-dipped galvanized anchors embedded into strong material. Hollow cells need to be grouted or you require to hit the bond beam. Tapcons in soft, unfilled block are a failure waiting to occur. In wood-framed houses, structural screws need to 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 simply aesthetic. An effectively sized backer rod and premium polyurethane or silyl-modified polymer sealant develop a resilient, versatile seal that manages thermal growth. Too small a bead and it tears under motion. Too big and it treatments poorly. On seaside tasks, I never pair dissimilar 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 integration with the water-resistive barrier are essential. If you rely on sealant alone, water will find its way in. That moisture may disappoint up as a drip. It might rot a sill plate gradually, then betray itself as a buckling flooring or a musty smell 2 cyclone seasons later.

Shutters in the real world, 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 detachable panels saved carefully can protect homes efficiently. They also help in specific cases.

Second homes or seasonal leasings where budget plan is tight sometimes lean on shutters to satisfy the Florida building code windows requirement for secured openings. On specialized openings like a lanai that is rarely utilized in summertime, a clean motorized roll-down can be reasonable, particularly if pairing with effect doors and windows elsewhere stresses the spending 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 trade-offs. They darken your house when released, and they need action at precisely the time you are juggling insurance coverage papers, gas cans, and family logistics. Throughout Cyclone Irma, I saw a next-door neighbor attempt to mount steel panels hours before landfall. The ladder sank in saturated soil, a panel slipped, and we spent the next hour in the immediate care waiting space. He made it through with stitches. His living room window did not. Shutters also 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, impact windows offer hurricane proof windows protection while protecting daytime and view. The convenience grows important once you've experienced one storm season with absolutely no prep beyond locking the sash.

The energy story: how glass requirements translate to comfort and bills

South Florida homes combat two fights: latent load from humidity and reasonable load from direct solar heat gain. Effect glass upgrades can assist both if defined intelligently.

Low-E effect glass utilizes microscopically thin metallic layers to show infrared energy while letting noticeable light through. With the ideal finishing stacks, you can obstruct a large portion of radiant heat and UV. UV blockage in laminated systems comes mostly from the interlayer itself, which usually 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 air conditioning insane midafternoon.

I examine glass specifications with three numbers: U-factor, SHGC, and VT. While U-factor matters more up north, it still assists here by lowering nighttime heat flow and keeping the interior glass temperature level closer to room temperature level, which minimizes condensation danger. SHGC drives just how much solar heat goes into. VT influences how bright the interior feels. Balance is key. Some property owners desire the crisp, clear appearance of higher VT, even if it means accepting a few degrees more heat in late afternoon, due to the fact that their landscaping and roofing overhangs currently do some shading. Others prefer a more powerful tint for glare control on waterfront lots that show harsh light.

In practical terms, going from clear single-pane sliders to modern-day 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 exterior finishes, and an appropriately sized variable-speed a/c, and you begin to build resilience. If the grid goes down and you switch 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 information the approved configurations, sizes, anchors, and pressures tested. It is not enough to hear "these are Miami-Dade authorized windows" in a display room. Validate the NOA matches the precise design and choices you are purchasing, including the glazing makeup and hardware. If you remain in Broward or Miami-Dade, your allowing office will want this paper trail.

Statewide, the Florida Item Approval system offers FL numbers that show code compliance. In the rest of the state outside the High Speed Typhoon Zone, Florida building code windows can count on Florida Item Approval without Miami-Dade particular NOAs. Numerous leading makers carry both. Where spending plans permit, I prefer NOA products even outside the zone because the testing is stiffer.

NFRC labels handle energy metrics. They will not tell you effect performance, however they reveal U-factor, SHGC, VT, and air leakage. Go for air leakage at or listed below 0.3 cfm/ft TWO. Tighter is much better for humidity control, however make sure your home still has stabilized ventilation. Sealing the envelope and ignoring fresh air is a dish for indoor air quality complaints.

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

Impact windows cost more in advance than shutters. There's no spin around that. Set up costs vary with size, shape, finish, and gain access to. On straightforward single-family homes, per-opening costs often land between 1,200 and 3,000 dollars for basic sizes. Large multi-panel sliders, custom-made arches, and coastal-grade finishes raise the numbers quickly.

Where you recoup worth:

• Insurance credits build up, frequently 10 to 25 percent off premiums when all openings are protected.
• Energy cost savings, normally 8 to 20 percent on yearly cooling expenses in older homes after a full window upgrade paired with sealing and attic improvements.
• Resale appeal, particularly in markets where purchasers anticipate effect doors and windows as a baseline. A home with accordion shutters completes, but a home with storm impact windows shows better, feels quieter, and typically assesses stronger.

If you prepare to own the residential or commercial property for 5 years or more, the mathematics typically tilts in favor of impact windows, especially when you factor the intangible of comfort. If you plan to sell within a year and require to show compliance quickly, shutters may make more short-term sense. Context matters.

Details that separate excellent systems from excellent ones

I focus on hardware and accessories. Multi-point locks on casements and safety glass awnings improve seal compression and security. For sliders, robust tandem rollers in stainless real estates glide smoother and last longer on sandy outdoor patios. Take a look at the sill design on sliding doors. Weep systems must be engineered to drain pipes heavy rainfall without letting wind-driven water permit for window replacement Florida 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 properties. In coastal ecosystems, highly reflective glass can puzzle birds or sea turtles in some jurisdictions. Regional pros understand which coatings balance performance with compliance.

Color stability is a big deal. Dark bronze or black frames look fantastic on modern homes, however in Florida sun cheap finishes chalk and fade. AAMA 2605-rated finishes offer the best color retention and chalk resistance. I define them for coastal exposures whenever budget plans allow.

Special cases: historic homes, condominiums, and challenging openings

Historic districts frequently require profiles that simulate old wood sash sightlines. There are impact-rated windows that fit these requirements, but lead times extend and costs climb. Anticipate extra review by architectural boards, and line up a specialist familiar with these submissions.

Condos have another layer of governance. Associations in some cases define a narrow list of approved items for harmony. They also appreciate noise control between units. If your building sits directly on Collins Avenue or faces 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 add 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 fulfills the wind loads on a ninth-floor balcony. Do not count on catalog optimum sizes. Utilize the NOA tables that correspond to your site's zone, favorable and negative pressures, and mullion mixes if any.

What a clean project appears like from study to final inspection

The finest jobs start with a measured survey and exposure analysis. You map each opening, keep in mind the substrate, and determine any framing abnormalities or settlement fractures. Throughout proposal, the professional reveals you the NOA and the Florida Product Approval, notes anchor types, and explains 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 eliminate one opening at a time to keep your home secure. They protect floorings, draw back window treatments, and cap sprinklers. Old frames come out with care to preserve interior finishes. New units get dry-fit, shimmed, and anchored per the schedule. The team checks squareness and diagonals before setting sealant. They picture anchors for the license file, particularly if they will be hidden. After glazing, they water-test with a regulated spray to verify drain paths and seals. The inspector sees a neat jobsite, clear labels, and documentation in order.

Six months later, your windows still close with two fingers, locks bite efficiently, and there is no mystery rattle throughout thunderstorms. You did not need to require a roller adjustment after the first week. That is the standard.

Frequently misinterpreted points that cost homeowners later

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

Window movies do not transform non-impact windows into typhoon impact-resistant windows. They can include shatter resistance, but they do not substitute for an evaluated, anchored system. Your insurance provider and building department will not count movies as safeguarded openings.

Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient effect windows minimize air leak. That's great, but it increases the significance of a correctly sized HVAC with good dehumidification. If your system is oversized, the thermostat satisfies quickly and fails to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your a/c pro to examine reasonable heat ratio, airflow, and run time. You want stable, longer cycles, not short bursts.

Maintenance is straightforward however not optional. Tidy weep holes on sliders, wash salt spray from frames, and lubricate hardware every year with a silicone-based item that will not gum up in heat. Little practices extend lifespan.

When shutters still belong in the conversation

There are genuine factors to mix services. A pair of hardly ever utilized garage windows can keep removable panels to shave spending plan. A deep-set patio with minimal sun 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 kitchens or cabana openings where grease and smoke would age elegant hardware prematurely.

If you select shutters, buy quality. Stainless fasteners, smooth tracks, and motors with handbook overrides for roll-downs make a distinction. Assign duty for release and practice once beyond a storm watch. Inventory your hardware. The day you require 32 wing nuts is not the morning you wish to discover you have 29.

The bottom line: peace of mind 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 AC 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 shorter. You lock the sashes, set storm mode on the retrofit window installation alarm, and focus on people rather than panels.

For much of my clients, that intangible is the choosing aspect. They understand storms will come. They also know life in South Florida is too great to live inside a fortress that only gets up in August. Miami-Dade approved windows provide you both: a clear view of Biscayne Bay on a breezy February early morning and peaceful 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 exposures to design pressures, select the best laminated glass stack for wind and heat, choose frames that fit the architecture and conditions, and hire a crew that respects the load path. Done right, energy‑efficient effect windows provide what shutters can not: protection that never ever requests a ladder and a much better home every day of the year.