Hurricane-Proof Peace of Mind: Picking Miami-Dade Approved, Energy‑Efficient Effect 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
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/
STS Impact Windows and Doors has Google Business Profile https://maps.app.goo.gl/3G8xjFMpsJzufTpC6
STS Impact Windows and Doors has Facebook profile https://web.facebook.com/STSimpactwondowsanddoors/
STS Impact Windows and Doors has Instagram profile https://www.instagram.com/sts.impact.windows/
STS Impact Windows and Doors has logo https://stswindows.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/website-sts-doors-roofing-logo.png
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 stockpile, and the routine of carrying ladders to install panels. After two decades specifying, installing, and fixing structure envelopes from Secret Largo to Palm Beach, I've seen what holds up and what doesn't. When the objective is real protection with year-round convenience, Miami-Dade authorized, energy‑efficient effect windows exceed shutters in manner ins which go beyond storm day. They alter how a home feels in August, how peaceful your living-room remains 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 numerous South Florida property owners are moving from shutters to cyclone impact-resistant windows, how to read the requirements behind "Miami-Dade authorized," what products 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 most difficult criteria in the nation for building elements exposed to windborne debris. Approval is not a marketing sticker. It is earned through specific laboratory tests that replicate genuine typhoon conditions.

First comes big rocket effect. A 9-pound 2x4 is shot at the glass at approximately 34 miles per hour. That imitates roof tiles, branches, or pieces of fencing that fly in the eyewall. After the impact, the exact same unit deals with cyclic pressure loading, thousands of pressurization and depressurization cycles that imitate quick wind gusts over hours. If the glass remains in the frame without letting the envelope breach, it passes. The distinction in between "satisfies Florida building regulations windows" and "Miami-Dade approved windows" often lives in these test thresholds. Miami-Dade is simply stiffer, especially in High Speed Hurricane Zone requirements, which include Miami-Dade and Broward.

Wind ratings vary by opening size and style pressures, denoted as PSF values. On ocean-facing residential or commercial properties or high-rises, I frequently specify systems rated at +60/ -80 PSF or higher. Inland or in more safeguarded exposures, scores in the +45/ -60 PSF range can be sufficient, however you size and specification based upon the site's wind map, building height, and surrounding structures. An expert understands that a corner exposure at the 2nd story needs various reinforcement than a sheltered window under a deep porch.

Why effect windows change the daily experience, not just storm season

Hurricane shutters vs impact windows is not a one-to-one comparison. Shutters can satisfy code, and they're much better than nothing. However they ask you to do work at the worst possible time. When a watch turns to a caution and the forecast track tightens up, the last thing you desire is a ladder, a dead cordless drill, and a missing wing nut.

Impact windows reside in location. You get continuous protection, even if a pop-up storm surprises you while you're stuck on United States 1. You likewise get benefits every day of the year.

Noise control is the most underappreciated benefit. Laminated effect glass is basically a sandwich: two panes of glass bonded by a resistant interlayer, typically PVB interlayer glass or SentryGlas. That interlayer damps sound. On jobs along busy corridors like Biscayne Boulevard or near flight paths, I've measured interior noise drops in the 5 to 10 decibel variety, often more when coupled with insulated glass units.

Security improves due to the fact that laminated glass withstands forced entry. A robber can shatter the outer lite with a hammer, however the interlayer holds the shards. They satisfy a sticky, persistent membrane instead of a fast path inside. Insurance underwriters know this, which is why policies often provide credits for impact windows and doors. In my jobs, premiums typically drop 10 to 25 percent, depending on the carrier and the number of openings are protected.

Energy performance is the third pillar. Energy-efficient effect windows with modern low-E impact glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while protecting noticeable light. That suggests less a/c demand, especially on west and south exposures where the afternoon sun punishes interiors. In one Coral Gables retrofit, we changed 1980s single-pane sliders with laminated low-E effect systems. Summer season afternoon peak load stopped by roughly a lots of cooling, and the home's annual electrical energy usage fell in between 12 and 18 percent. Outcomes vary with shading, attic insulation, and a/c efficiency, however the instructions is consistent.

Material choices that matter: glass, interlayers, and frames

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

Most property typhoon windows use a PVB interlayer glass stack, commonly 0.030 to 0.090 inches thick in single or multiple plies. Thicker interlayers enhance effect resistance and sound control, however they add weight and expense. For oceanfront or tall openings, you may see SGP (ionoplast) interlayers, which are stiffer and more powerful than PVB, allowing thinner sections to accomplish higher style pressures. return on investment storm upgrades For noise-sensitive sites, acoustic PVB formulas tweak the polymer to much better soak up sound in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz variety, where traffic and voices sit.

Tempered glass windows come up often in discussions due to the fact that tempered glass is more powerful in bending than annealed glass. That's true, and tempered lites are frequently utilized as the outer or inner ply in an effect system. However tempered alone is not impact-resistant in the hurricane sense. When it fails, it blows up into small cubes and falls out of the frame, which leaves the opening vulnerable. The effect performance comes from laminated building and construction, not tempering by itself. Lots of systems utilize a tempered external lite laminated to a hardened inner lite, or both tempered, however always bonded through a PVB or ionoplast interlayer.

Low-E finishes 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 visible light transmission around half or greater. Go too low on SHGC and the glass can look gray or green, particularly in bigger openings. The sweet area depends on your exterior orientation and shading. On east and west elevations, I typically tighten up 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 since they deal with big openings and won't swell. Thermal breaks and improved 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 much better insulating values, however I prevent them for extremely large sliders or tall storefront-style windows in high-wind zones. Wood-clad units look lovely in older Mediterranean Revival homes, however they require careful maintenance and wise flashing. The Florida sun destroys inexpensive vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum finishes rapidly. Try to find powder-coated surfaces rated for coastal exposure, and request composed guarantee details in salt-air environments.

The covert hero: installation that appreciates the load path

Window setup can make or break efficiency. A pricey system set up like a handyman swap-out will not pass a storm's stress test. The load course is the core. Impact forces have 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 cinder block building and construction, you desire stainless or hot-dipped galvanized anchors embedded into strong material. Hollow cells must be grouted or you require to strike the bond beam. Tapcons in soft, unfilled block are a failure waiting to take place. In wood-framed homes, structural screws must bite into strong trimmers, not simply sheathing. Shimming and plumb alignment matter so the locks engage easily and the weatherstripping compresses evenly.

The sealant joint is not simply visual. A correctly sized backer rod and high-quality polyurethane or silyl-modified polymer sealant produce a resilient, flexible seal that manages thermal expansion. Too little a bead and it tears under motion. Too big and it treatments improperly. On seaside tasks, I never combine different metals without a barrier, and I constantly 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 combination with the water-resistive barrier are essential. If you count on sealant alone, water will discover its method. That wetness may not show up as a drip. It may rot a sill plate gradually, then betray itself as a buckling floor or a moldy odor two cyclone 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 kept thoroughly can protect homes efficiently. They also assist in certain cases.

Second homes or seasonal rentals where budget is tight sometimes lean on shutters to meet the Florida building code windows requirement for protected openings. On specialized openings like a lanai that is hardly ever used in summer, a clean motorized roll-down can be reasonable, especially if pairing with effect doors and windows somewhere else stresses the budget. For house 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 home when deployed, and they need action at exactly the time you are juggling insurance coverage papers, gas cans, and family logistics. During Hurricane Irma, I watched a next-door 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 room. He survived with stitches. His living room window did not. Shutters also rattle and can vibrate under continual winds, often loosening up fasteners in time if not maintained.

For long-lasting owners who wish to set it and forget it, impact windows give hurricane evidence windows coverage while protecting daytime and view. The benefit grows important once you've experienced one storm season with no preparation beyond locking the sash.

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

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

Low-E impact glass uses microscopically thin metallic layers to reflect infrared energy while letting visible light through. With the right covering stacks, you can block a large part of convected heat and UV. UV blockage in laminated systems comes mainly from the interlayer itself, which generally filters 95 to 99 percent of UV, reducing fading of fabrics and flooring. Add the low-E, and you suppress the solar heat that drives your air conditioning crazy midafternoon.

I assess glass specs with three 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 level closer to space temperature level, which reduces condensation threat. SHGC drives just how much solar heat enters. VT affects how brilliant the interior feels. Balance is crucial. Some property owners desire the crisp, clear look of greater VT, even if it suggests accepting a few degrees more heat in late afternoon, since their landscaping and roofing system overhangs currently do some shading. Others choose a more powerful tint for glare control on waterside lots that show harsh light.

In practical terms, going from clear single-pane sliders to modern low-E laminated double-glazed units can reduce peak solar gains by 30 to 50 percent on the most exposed sides. Couple that with tuned overhangs, light-colored exterior finishes, and an effectively sized variable-speed heating and cooling, and you start to develop strength. If the grid goes down and you switch to a generator, a lower cooling load means a smaller sized generator and less gallons of fuel.

Reading labels and approvals without getting lost in alphabet soup

Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance, or NOA, is the file you request. It details the authorized configurations, sizes, anchors, and pressures checked. It is insufficient to hear "these are Miami-Dade approved windows" in a display room. Confirm the NOA matches the precise design and alternatives 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 Product Approval system supplies FL numbers that show code compliance. In the remainder of the state outside the High Velocity Typhoon Zone, Florida building code windows can count on Florida Item Approval without Miami-Dade specific NOAs. Lots of leading makers carry both. Where spending plans permit, I choose NOA items even outside the zone since the testing is stiffer.

NFRC labels handle energy metrics. They won't tell you impact efficiency, however they reveal U-factor, SHGC, VT, and air leak. Go for air leakage at or listed below 0.3 cfm/ft TWO. Tighter is much better for humidity control, however ensure your home still has actually stabilized ventilation. Sealing the envelope and disregarding fresh air is a dish for indoor air quality complaints.

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

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

Where you recoup value:

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

If you plan to own the residential or commercial property for five years or more, the math often tilts in favor of impact windows, especially when you factor the intangible of peace of mind. If you plan to offer within a year and require to reveal compliance rapidly, shutters may make more short-term sense. Context matters.

Details that separate excellent systems from terrific ones

I take note of hardware and devices. Multi-point locks on casements and awnings improve seal compression and security. For sliders, robust tandem rollers in stainless real estates glide smoother and last longer on sandy patio areas. Look at the sill design on sliding doors. Weep systems need to be crafted to drain pipes 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 style. Reflective films can run afoul of neighborhood watch or produce mirror-like glare toward surrounding properties. In coastal ecosystems, highly reflective glass can confuse birds or sea turtles in some jurisdictions. Local pros know which coverings balance performance with compliance.

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

Special cases: historic homes, condominiums, and tricky openings

Historic districts frequently require profiles that mimic old wood sash sightlines. There are impact-rated windows that fit these requirements, however lead times lengthen and costs climb. Expect extra review by architectural boards, and line up a contractor familiar with these submissions.

Condos have another layer of governance. Associations sometimes specify a narrow list of authorized items for uniformity. They also appreciate sound control between systems. If your structure sits directly on Collins Avenue or faces a busy beach boardwalk, push for acoustic laminated choices. Deal with building management on staging and lift access. Weekend work windows and minimal parking can include days and dollars.

Large openings, like a 16-foot-wide slider, need unique attention in design pressure, deflection, and running hardware. Not every unit that looks durable in a showroom satisfies the wind loads on a ninth-floor balcony. Do not depend on catalog optimum sizes. Use the NOA tables that represent your site's zone, positive and unfavorable pressures, and mullion combinations if any.

What a tidy job appears like from survey to final inspection

The best projects begin with a determined survey and direct exposure analysis. You map each opening, note the substrate, and recognize any framing abnormalities or settlement fractures. During proposal, the professional shows you the NOA and the Florida Product Approval, notes anchor types, and discusses 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 your house safe. They secure floorings, pull 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 photo anchors for the permit file, particularly if they will be hidden. After glazing, they water-test with a regulated spray to validate drainage paths and seals. The inspector sees a neat jobsite, clear labels, and documentation in order.

Six months later on, your windows still close with two fingers, locks bite smoothly, and there is no secret rattle during thunderstorms. You did not have to require a roller adjustment after the first week. That is the standard.

Frequently misinterpreted points that cost homeowners later

Impact ranking does not equal breakproof. Laminated glass can break under severe impacts, but it ought to stay in the frame and hold together. After a storm that sends out particles into the glass, you might 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 typhoon impact-resistant windows. They can include shatter resistance, however they do not alternative to a checked, anchored system. Your insurance provider and structure department will not count movies as protected openings.

Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient effect windows reduce air leakage. That's fantastic, but it increases the significance of an effectively sized a/c with good dehumidification. If your system is large, the thermostat satisfies quickly and fails to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your HVAC pro to check reasonable heat ratio, air flow, and run time. You want constant, longer cycles, not brief bursts.

Maintenance is simple but not optional. Tidy weep holes on sliders, wash salt spray from frames, and oil hardware annually with a silicone-based product that will not gum up in heat. Small habits extend lifespan.

When shutters still belong in the conversation

There are legitimate reasons to blend options. A pair of rarely utilized garage windows can keep removable panels to shave spending plan. A deep-set deck with minimal sun exposure may do great with accordion shutters if you focus on other upgrades like a new roof deck accessory or a fortified garage door. Shutters can likewise secure outside kitchen areas or cabana openings where grease and smoke would age elegant hardware prematurely.

If you select shutters, purchase quality. Stainless fasteners, smooth tracks, and motors with manual overrides for roll-downs make a difference. Designate duty for release and practice as soon as outside of a storm watch. Inventory your hardware. The day you require 32 heat-strengthened glass wing nuts is not the early morning you wish to discover you have 29.

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

Impact windows are not only about surviving the huge one. They improve daily living. The living-room remains cooler and quieter. The a/c 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 shorter. You lock the sashes, set storm mode on the alarm, and focus on people instead of panels.

For a number of my customers, that intangible is the choosing aspect. They know storms will come. They also know life in South Florida is too great to live inside a fortress that only awakens in August. Miami-Dade authorized windows provide you both: a clear view of Biscayne Bay on a breezy February early morning and quiet confidence when the spaghetti models point our method September.

If you are weighing the choice, begin with a site-specific evaluation. Match your exposures to design pressures, choose the best laminated glass stack for wind and heat, select frames that fit the architecture and conditions, and work with a crew that respects the load course. Done right, energy‑efficient impact windows deliver what shutters can not: defense that never requests for a ladder and a better home every day of the year.