Hurricane-Proof Peace of Mind: Picking Miami-Dade Approved, Energy‑Efficient Impact Windows Over Shutters

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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
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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
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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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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 stockpile, and the routine of transporting ladders to mount panels. After 20 years specifying, setting up, 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 security with year-round convenience, Miami-Dade approved, energy‑efficient effect windows outperform shutters in manner ins which exceed storm day. They alter how a house feels in August, how peaceful your living room stays on a Saturday night, and how positive you are when a storm line spins up quicker than predicted.

This is a useful look at why lots of South Florida property owners are moving from shutters to hurricane impact-resistant windows, how to read the requirements behind "Miami-Dade authorized," what materials matter, and how to get the installation right the first time.

What "Miami-Dade Approved" really means

Miami-Dade County's Product Control Department sets one of the most difficult benchmarks in the country for building elements exposed to windborne particles. Approval is not a marketing sticker label. It is earned through specific laboratory tests that replicate real cyclone conditions.

First comes large missile effect. A 9-pound 2x4 is shot at the glass at roughly 34 miles per hour. That mimics roof tiles, branches, or pieces of fencing that fly in the eyewall. After the effect, the exact same unit deals with cyclic pressure loading, countless pressurization and depressurization cycles that simulate 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 code windows" and "Miami-Dade authorized windows" typically resides in these test thresholds. Miami-Dade is just stiffer, especially in High Speed Cyclone Zone requirements, that include Miami-Dade and Broward.

Wind rankings vary by opening size and style pressures, denoted as PSF worths. On ocean-facing residential or commercial properties or high-rises, I frequently define systems ranked at +60/ -80 PSF or greater. Inland or in more protected exposures, scores in the +45/ -60 PSF variety can be enough, however you size and specification based on the site's wind map, developing height, and surrounding structures. A professional understands that a corner direct exposure at the second story needs different reinforcement than a protected window under a deep porch.

Why effect windows alter the day-to-day experience, not just storm season

Hurricane shutters vs impact windows is not a one-to-one comparison. Shutters can fulfill code, and they're much better than absolutely nothing. However they ask you to do operate at the worst possible time. When a watch turns to a caution and the forecast track tightens, 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 protection, even if a pop-up storm surprises you while you're stuck on US 1. You likewise get advantages every day of the year.

Noise control is the most underappreciated advantage. Laminated impact glass is essentially a sandwich: two panes of glass bonded by a resistant interlayer, usually PVB interlayer glass or SentryGlas. That interlayer damps sound. On jobs along busy passages like Biscayne Boulevard or near flight paths, I have actually determined interior sound drops in the 5 to 10 decibel range, in some cases more when paired with insulated glass units.

Security improves because laminated glass withstands forced entry. A burglar can shatter the external lite with a hammer, however the interlayer holds the shards. They meet a sticky, stubborn membrane instead of a quick course inside. Insurance coverage underwriters understand this, which is why policies typically provide credits for effect doors and windows. In my jobs, premiums generally drop 10 to 25 percent, depending on the provider and the number of openings are protected.

Energy performance is the 3rd pillar. Energy-efficient impact windows with modern-day low-E impact glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while protecting visible light. That means less cooling need, specifically on west and south exposures where the afternoon sun penalizes interiors. In one Coral Gables retrofit, we changed 1980s single-pane sliders with laminated low-E impact systems. Summer afternoon peak load come by roughly a lots of cooling, and the home's annual electrical power usage fell between 12 and 18 percent. Results vary with shading, attic insulation, and HVAC efficiency, but 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 domestic hurricane windows use a PVB interlayer glass stack, typically 0.030 to 0.090 inches thick in single or several plies. Thicker interlayers improve impact resistance and sound control, but 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 areas to achieve greater design pressures. For noise-sensitive websites, acoustic PVB formulations modify the polymer to better take in noise in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz range, where traffic and voices sit.

Tempered glass windows turn up frequently in discussions because tempered glass is stronger in bending than annealed glass. That's true, and tempered lites are commonly utilized as the outer or inner ply in an impact system. But tempered alone is not impact-resistant in the cyclone sense. When it stops working, it takes off into small cubes and falls out of the frame, which leaves the opening susceptible. The effect efficiency comes from laminated building and construction, not tempering by itself. Many systems use a tempered external lite laminated to an annealed inner lite, or both tempered, however constantly bonded through a PVB or ionoplast interlayer.

Low-E finishes matter for convenience. A soft-coat low-E tuned for South Florida usually targets a solar heat gain coefficient in the 0.25 to 0.35 range while keeping noticeable light transmission around half or greater. Go too low on SHGC and the glass can look gray or green, particularly in larger openings. The sweet area depends on your exterior orientation and shading. On east and west elevations, I frequently tighten up SHGC and accept a minor tint to manage morning and afternoon blasts. On north elevations, I favor greater noticeable transmittance for daylighting.

Frames are the other half of the story. Aluminum frames dominate here since they handle large openings and will not swell. Thermal breaks and improved glazing gaskets have narrowed the energy gap with vinyl. Top quality vinyl impact frames, when strengthened correctly, can perform well for standard-sized openings and have much better insulating worths, however I avoid them for extremely large sliders or tall storefront-style windows in high-wind zones. Wood-clad units look gorgeous in older Mediterranean Revival homes, however they require mindful upkeep and wise flashing. The Florida sun ruins inexpensive vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum surfaces rapidly. Look for powder-coated surfaces rated for coastal exposure, and demand composed service warranty details in salt-air environments.

The surprise hero: installation that appreciates the load path

Window setup can make or break performance. A pricey system installed like a handyman swap-out will not pass a storm's stress test. The load course is the core. Effect forces have to travel 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 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 occur. In wood-framed homes, structural screws must bite into solid trimmers, not just sheathing. Shimming and plumb alignment matter so the locks engage cleanly and the weatherstripping compresses evenly.

The sealant joint is not just visual. A correctly sized backer rod and premium polyurethane or silyl-modified polymer sealant create a long lasting, versatile seal that handles thermal expansion. Too little a bead and it tears under movement. Too big and it cures inadequately. On seaside jobs, I never combine dissimilar metals without a barrier, and I always specify 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 important. If you rely on sealant alone, water will discover its way in. That wetness may disappoint up as a drip. It might rot a sill plate slowly, then betray itself as a buckling flooring or a moldy smell 2 typhoon seasons later.

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

I have absolutely nothing versus well-designed shutters. Accordion shutters that are kept and oiled, roll-down shutters with battery backups, and even detachable panels saved carefully can secure homes effectively. They likewise help in certain cases.

Second homes or seasonal leasings where budget plan is tight sometimes lean on shutters to fulfill the Florida building regulations windows requirement for secured openings. On specialized openings like a lanai that is rarely utilized in summer, a clean motorized roll-down can be reasonable, specifically if pairing with impact windows and doors in other places stresses the budget plan. For property owners who plan to move within a year, shutters can be a short bridge to compliance before a sale.

But shutters bring compromises. They darken your house when released, and they require action at specifically the time you are managing insurance documents, gas cans, and family logistics. During Hurricane Irma, I enjoyed a next-door neighbor try to install 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, in some cases loosening fasteners gradually if not maintained.

For long-lasting owners who want to set it and forget it, impact windows provide hurricane proof windows protection while preserving daytime and view. The convenience grows important once you have actually experienced one storm season with zero preparation beyond locking the sash.

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

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

Low-E impact glass uses microscopically thin metallic layers to show infrared energy while letting noticeable light through. With the ideal covering stacks, you can obstruct a large part of convected heat and UV. UV blockage in laminated units comes mainly from the interlayer itself, which usually filters 95 to 99 percent of UV, minimizing fading of materials and floor covering. Include the low-E, and you curb the solar heat that drives your AC crazy midafternoon.

I evaluate glass specifications with three numbers: U-factor, SHGC, and VT. While U-factor matters more up north, it still helps here by lowering nighttime heat circulation and keeping the interior glass temperature closer to room temperature, which decreases condensation risk. SHGC drives how much solar heat enters. VT affects how bright the interior feels. Balance is key. Some homeowners desire the crisp, clear look of higher VT, even if it suggests accepting a couple of degrees more heat in late afternoon, since their landscaping and roof overhangs already do some shading. Others choose a more powerful tint for glare control on waterside lots that show severe light.

In useful terms, going from clear single-pane sliders to modern-day low-E laminated double-glazed units can decrease 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 HVAC, and you start to build strength. If the grid decreases and you switch to a generator, a lower cooling load suggests a smaller sized generator and fewer gallons of fuel.

Reading labels and approvals without getting lost in alphabet soup

Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance, or NOA, is the document you request for. It details the authorized configurations, sizes, anchors, and pressures evaluated. It is inadequate to hear "these are Miami-Dade authorized windows" in a display room. Validate the NOA matches the exact design and choices you are buying, including the glazing makeup and hardware. If you are in Broward or Miami-Dade, your allowing office will want this paper trail.

Statewide, the Florida Product Approval system offers FL numbers that laminated safety glass reveal code compliance. In the remainder of the state outside the High Speed Typhoon Zone, Florida building code windows can count on Florida Product Approval without Miami-Dade particular NOAs. Numerous leading producers carry both. Where budgets enable, I prefer NOA items even outside the zone since the testing is stiffer.

NFRC labels manage energy metrics. They won't inform you impact efficiency, but 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 make sure your home still has actually stabilized ventilation. Sealing the envelope and ignoring 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 upfront than shutters. There's no spin around that. Installed expenses differ with size, shape, surface, and access. On simple single-family homes, per-opening costs frequently land between 1,200 and 3,000 dollars for basic sizes. Large multi-panel sliders, custom arches, and coastal-grade surfaces raise the numbers quickly.

Where you recoup worth:

• Insurance credits add up, typically 10 to 25 percent off premiums when all openings are protected.
• Energy savings, generally 8 to 20 percent on yearly cooling expenses in older homes after a complete window upgrade paired with sealing and attic improvements.
• Resale appeal, specifically in markets where purchasers expect effect doors and windows as a baseline. A home with accordion shutters contends, however a home with storm impact windows shows much better, feels quieter, and usually appraises stronger.

If you plan to own the residential or commercial property for five years or more, the math frequently tilts in favor of impact windows, especially when you factor the intangible of comfort. If you plan to offer within a year and need to show compliance quickly, 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 enhance seal compression and security. For sliders, robust tandem rollers in stainless housings move smoother and last longer on sandy patio areas. Look at the sill design on sliding doors. Weep systems need to be engineered 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 towards surrounding homes. In seaside communities, extremely reflective glass can confuse birds or sea turtles in some jurisdictions. Local pros understand which coverings 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 inexpensive finishes chalk and fade. AAMA 2605-rated coatings offer the best color retention and chalk resistance. I specify them for seaside exposures whenever budgets allow.

Special cases: historical homes, condos, and challenging openings

Historic districts typically need profiles that simulate old wood sash sightlines. There are impact-rated windows that fit these requirements, but lead times extend and costs climb. Expect extra review by architectural boards, and line up a contractor knowledgeable about these submissions.

Condos have another layer of governance. Associations in some cases specify a narrow list of approved products for harmony. They likewise appreciate sound control in between systems. If your structure sits straight on Collins Opportunity or faces a busy beach boardwalk, push for acoustic laminated options. Work with building 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 operating hardware. Not every unit that looks durable in a display room fulfills the wind loads on a ninth-floor terrace. Do not count on brochure maximum sizes. Use the NOA tables that represent your site's zone, positive and unfavorable pressures, and mullion mixes if any.

What a tidy job looks like from survey to final inspection

The best tasks start with a determined study and exposure analysis. You map each opening, note the substrate, and determine any framing abnormalities or settlement fractures. During proposal, the specialist reveals you the NOA and the Florida Item 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 remove one opening at a time to keep the house protected. They secure floorings, pull back window treatments, and cap sprinklers. Old frames come out with care to preserve interior surfaces. New systems 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, specifically if they will be concealed. After glazing, they water-test with a regulated spray to validate drain paths and seals. The inspector sees a cool jobsite, clear labels, and paperwork in order.

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

Frequently misinterpreted points that cost house owners later

Impact rating does not equivalent breakproof. Laminated glass can crack under extreme effects, but it must stay in the frame and hold together. After a storm that sends out 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 hurricane impact-resistant windows. They can include shatter resistance, but they do not substitute for a tested, anchored system. Your insurance provider and building department will not count movies as secured openings.

Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient effect windows lower air leakage. That's great, however it increases the importance of an effectively sized heating and cooling with excellent dehumidification. If your system is extra-large, the thermostat satisfies rapidly and fails to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your heating and cooling pro to examine sensible heat ratio, air flow, and run time. You desire consistent, longer cycles, not short bursts.

Maintenance is uncomplicated but not optional. Clean 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. Little routines extend lifespan.

When shutters still belong in the conversation

There are legitimate factors to blend solutions. A set of rarely used garage windows can keep detachable panels to shave budget. A deep-set deck with minimal sun direct exposure might do fine with accordion shutters if you prioritize other upgrades like a brand-new roofing deck attachment or a prepared garage door. Shutters can likewise safeguard outside cooking areas or cabana openings where grease and smoke would age elegant hardware prematurely.

If you pick shutters, purchase quality. Stainless fasteners, smooth tracks, and motors with handbook bypasses for roll-downs make a distinction. Appoint duty for deployment and practice when beyond a storm watch. Inventory your hardware. The day you need 32 wing nuts is not the early morning you wish to find you have 29.

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

Impact windows are not only about enduring the big one. They improve daily living. The living-room stays cooler and quieter. The air conditioner cycles calmly rather of racing at 4 p.m. You Category 5 hurricane rating sleep without freight trains of wind noise when a squall line passes at 2 a.m. When a cyclone threatens, your preparation list gets shorter. You lock the sashes, set storm mode on the alarm, and focus on people rather than panels.

For a number of my customers, that intangible is the choosing element. They understand storms will come. They likewise know life in South Florida is too good to live inside a fortress that just gets up in August. Miami-Dade approved windows offer 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 option, begin with a site-specific assessment. Match your exposures to design 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 respects the load course. Done right, energy‑efficient impact windows provide what shutters can not: protection that never ever requests for a ladder and a much better home every day of the year.