Hurricane-Proof Assurance: 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 method 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 repairing building envelopes from Secret Largo to Palm Beach, I've seen what holds up and what doesn't. When the goal is real protection with year-round comfort, Miami-Dade approved, energy‑efficient impact windows outperform shutters in ways that go beyond storm day. They change how a home feels in August, how quiet your living room stays on a Saturday night, and how confident you are when a storm line spins up much faster than predicted.

This is a useful take a look at why lots of South Florida property owners are moving from shutters to cyclone impact-resistant windows, how to check out the standards behind "Miami-Dade authorized," what materials matter, and how to get the setup right the first time.

What "Miami-Dade Approved" really means

Miami-Dade County's Item Control Department sets one of the hardest standards in the nation for building components exposed to windborne particles. Approval is not a marketing sticker. It is earned through specific lab tests that mimic real typhoon conditions.

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

Wind rankings vary by opening size and design pressures, represented as PSF values. On ocean-facing residential or commercial properties or high-rises, I typically specify units rated at +60/ -80 PSF or higher. Inland or in more safeguarded direct exposures, scores in the +45/ -60 PSF range can be adequate, however you size and spec based on the website's wind map, developing 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 change the day-to-day experience, not just storm season

Hurricane shutters vs effect windows is not a one-to-one contrast. Shutters can meet code, and they're better than absolutely nothing. However 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 desire is a ladder, a dead cordless drill, and a missing wing nut.

Impact windows live in location. You get constant security, 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 advantage. Laminated impact glass is essentially a sandwich: 2 panes of glass bonded by a durable interlayer, generally PVB interlayer glass or SentryGlas. That interlayer damps noise. On jobs along busy corridors like Biscayne Boulevard or near flight paths, I've determined interior noise drops in the 5 to 10 decibel variety, in some cases 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 shards. They meet a sticky, persistent membrane rather of a fast course inside. Insurance coverage underwriters know this, which is why policies frequently provide credits for effect doors and windows. In my jobs, premiums usually drop 10 to 25 percent, depending upon the carrier and how many openings are protected.

Energy performance is the third pillar. Energy-efficient impact windows with modern-day low-E effect glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while preserving noticeable light. That implies less a/c demand, 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 units. Summertime afternoon peak load dropped by roughly a ton of cooling, and the home's yearly electricity use fell between 12 and 18 percent. Results vary with shading, attic insulation, and heating and cooling efficiency, however the instructions is consistent.

Material choices that matter: glass, interlayers, and frames

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

Most domestic typhoon windows use a PVB interlayer glass stack, frequently 0.030 to 0.090 inches thick in single or several plies. Thicker interlayers enhance effect resistance and sound control, but they include weight and cost. For oceanfront or high openings, you might see SGP (ionoplast) interlayers, which are stiffer and stronger than PVB, enabling thinner sections to accomplish greater style pressures. For noise-sensitive websites, acoustic PVB solutions fine-tune the polymer to better absorb sound in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz variety, where traffic and voices sit.

Tempered glass windows turn 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 typically utilized as the external or inner ply in an impact unit. However tempered alone is not impact-resistant in the cyclone sense. When it stops working, it blows up into little cubes and falls out of the frame, which leaves the opening vulnerable. The impact efficiency originates from laminated building and construction, not tempering by itself. Numerous systems utilize a tempered outer lite laminated to a hardened inner lite, or both tempered, but always bonded through a PVB or ionoplast interlayer.

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

Frames are the other half of the story. Aluminum frames dominate here because they handle big openings and won't swell. Thermal breaks and improved glazing gaskets have actually narrowed the energy space with vinyl. Top quality vinyl effect frames, when enhanced effectively, can perform well for standard-sized openings and have much better insulating worths, but I avoid them for extremely large sliders or tall storefront-style windows in high-wind zones. Wood-clad systems look lovely in older Mediterranean Revival homes, however they demand cautious maintenance and smart flashing. The Florida sun destroys cheap vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum surfaces quickly. Look for powder-coated finishes ranked for seaside direct exposure, and demand composed service warranty information in salt-air environments.

The surprise hero: installation that respects the load path

Window installation can make or break efficiency. An expensive unit set up like a handyman swap-out will not pass a storm's stress test. The load path is the essence. 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, you want stainless or hot-dipped galvanized anchors embedded into solid material. Hollow cells need to 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 need to bite into solid trimmers, not simply sheathing. Shimming and plumb positioning matter so the locks engage cleanly and the weatherstripping compresses evenly.

The sealant joint is not simply visual. An effectively sized backer rod and premium polyurethane or silyl-modified polymer sealant create a resilient, versatile seal that deals with thermal expansion. Too small a bead and it tears under motion. Too huge and it remedies improperly. On coastal jobs, I never pair dissimilar metals without a barrier, and I always define corrosion-resistant fasteners. Ten years later on, 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 important. If you depend on sealant alone, water will discover its way in. That wetness may not show up as a drip. It might rot a sill plate slowly, then betray itself as a buckling flooring or a musty 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 maintained and lubed, roll-down shutters with battery backups, and even removable panels kept carefully can secure homes efficiently. They also help in particular cases.

Second homes or seasonal leasings where budget is tight sometimes lean on shutters to satisfy the Florida building regulations windows requirement for secured openings. On specialized openings like a lanai that is hardly ever used in summer season, a tidy motorized roll-down can be sensible, particularly if pairing with effect doors and windows somewhere else worries the budget. For homeowners 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 home when deployed, and they require action at specifically the time you are managing insurance coverage papers, gas cans, and household logistics. During Hurricane 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 urgent care waiting room. He endured with stitches. His living room window did not. Shutters also rattle and can vibrate under continual winds, in some cases loosening up fasteners with time if not maintained.

For long-term owners who wish to set it and forget it, effect windows offer typhoon proof windows coverage while protecting daylight and view. The benefit grows valuable once you've experienced one storm season with absolutely no prep beyond locking the sash.

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

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

Low-E impact glass uses microscopically thin metal layers to reflect infrared energy while letting noticeable light through. With the ideal finish stacks, you can obstruct a big portion of radiant heat and UV. UV clog in laminated units comes mostly from the interlayer itself, which normally filters 95 to 99 percent of UV, decreasing fading of fabrics and floor covering. Add the low-E, and you suppress the solar heat that drives your AC insane midafternoon.

I examine glass specs with three numbers: U-factor, SHGC, and VT. While U-factor matters more up north, it still assists here by decreasing nighttime heat flow and keeping the interior glass temperature level closer to space temperature, which reduces condensation risk. SHGC drives how much solar heat enters. VT influences how bright the interior feels. Balance is key. Some house owners desire the crisp, clear look of higher VT, even if it implies accepting a couple of degrees more heat in late afternoon, because their landscaping and roofing overhangs currently do some shading. Others prefer a stronger tint for glare control on waterfront lots that show extreme light.

In useful terms, going from clear single-pane sliders to modern-day low-E laminated double-glazed systems can decrease peak solar gains by 30 to 50 percent on the most exposed sides. Couple that with tuned overhangs, light-colored outside finishes, and an effectively sized variable-speed a/c, and you start to construct strength. If the grid goes down and installation cost hurricane shutters you switch to a generator, a lower cooling load implies a smaller generator and less gallons of fuel.

Reading labels and approvals without getting lost in alphabet soup

Miami-Dade Notification of Acceptance, or NOA, is the document you ask for. It information the approved configurations, sizes, anchors, and pressures evaluated. It is inadequate to hear "these are Miami-Dade approved windows" in a display room. Confirm the NOA matches the specific design and alternatives you are buying, 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 provides FL numbers that reveal code compliance. In the remainder of the state outside the High Speed Cyclone Zone, Florida building regulations windows can count on Florida Product Approval without Miami-Dade particular NOAs. Many leading makers bring both. Where budgets enable, I choose NOA products even outside the zone due to the fact that the screening is stiffer.

NFRC labels manage energy metrics. They won't inform you effect efficiency, however they show 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 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, savings, and resale

Impact windows cost more upfront than shutters. There's no spin around that. Set up expenses vary with size, shape, surface, and access. On uncomplicated single-family homes, per-opening expenses frequently land in between 1,200 and 3,000 dollars for basic sizes. Large multi-panel sliders, customized arches, and coastal-grade finishes raise the numbers quickly.

Where you recoup value:

• Insurance credits accumulate, often 10 to 25 percent off premiums when all openings are protected.
• Energy cost savings, typically 8 to 20 percent on annual cooling costs in older homes after a full window upgrade paired with sealing and attic improvements.
• Resale appeal, especially in markets where purchasers expect impact windows and doors as a baseline. A home with accordion shutters contends, however a home with storm impact 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 frequently tilts in favor of impact windows, especially when you factor the intangible of assurance. If you prepare to offer within a year and require to reveal compliance quickly, shutters may make more short-term sense. Context matters.

Details that separate great systems from great ones

I focus on hardware and devices. Multi-point locks on sashes 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 fashion. Reflective films can run afoul of neighborhood associations or produce mirror-like glare toward surrounding residential or commercial properties. In coastal communities, highly reflective glass can puzzle birds or sea turtles in some jurisdictions. Local pros know which finishings balance performance with compliance.

Color stability is a big offer. Dark bronze or black frames look wonderful on modern homes, but in Florida sun inexpensive surfaces chalk and fade. AAMA 2605-rated coatings supply the best color retention and chalk resistance. I define them for seaside direct exposures whenever budgets allow.

Special cases: historical homes, condos, and tricky openings

Historic districts often require profiles that mimic old wood sash sightlines. There are impact-rated windows that fit these requirements, however lead times lengthen and costs climb. Anticipate additional review by architectural boards, and line up a contractor knowledgeable about these submissions.

Condos have another layer of governance. Associations sometimes define a narrow list of approved items for harmony. They likewise care about noise control between units. If your building sits straight on Collins Opportunity or faces a hectic beach boardwalk, push for acoustic laminated alternatives. Work with structure management on staging and lift gain access to. Weekend work windows and minimal parking can add days and dollars.

Large openings, like a 16-foot-wide slider, require unique attention in design pressure, deflection, and operating hardware. Not every unit that looks tough in a showroom meets the wind loads on a ninth-floor veranda. Do not rely on brochure optimum sizes. Use the NOA tables that correspond to your website's zone, positive and unfavorable pressures, and mullion combinations if any.

What a tidy project looks like from survey to last inspection

The finest projects begin with a measured study and exposure analysis. You map each opening, note the substrate, and identify any framing irregularities or settlement fractures. Throughout proposition, the specialist shows you the NOA and the Florida Item Approval, lists anchor types, and explains how each opening will be flashed and sealed. They prepare for stucco or drywall repair work, not pretend no damage will occur.

On set up day, they eliminate one opening at a time to keep your home secure. They secure 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 photo anchors for the authorization file, especially if they will be hidden. After glazing, they water-test with a regulated spray to validate drainage courses and seals. The inspector sees a neat jobsite, clear labels, and paperwork in order.

Six months later, your windows still close with two fingers, locks bite smoothly, and there is no secret rattle throughout 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 impacts, but it needs to stay in the frame and hold together. After a storm that sends debris into the glass, you may see star fractures or spidering. The window did its job. Replace the sash or IGU after the event.

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

Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient impact windows reduce air leakage. That's great, but it increases the value of a correctly sized a/c with good dehumidification. If your system is large, the thermostat pleases rapidly and stops working to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your a/c pro to inspect sensible heat ratio, air flow, and run time. You want constant, longer cycles, not short bursts.

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

When shutters still belong in the conversation

There are genuine factors to mix options. A pair of rarely utilized garage windows can keep detachable panels to shave budget. A deep-set porch with minimal sun exposure might do fine with accordion shutters if you focus on other upgrades like a brand-new roofing system deck attachment or a prepared garage door. Shutters can likewise protect 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 manual overrides for roll-downs make a difference. Assign responsibility for deployment and practice when beyond a storm watch. Inventory your hardware. The day you require 32 wing nuts is not the 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 making it through the big one. They reshape daily living. The living room stays cooler and quieter. The air conditioner cycles calmly rather 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 hurricane threatens, your preparation list gets shorter. You lock the sashes, set storm mode on the alarm, and concentrate on people instead of panels.

For much of my customers, that intangible is the choosing factor. They know storms will come. They likewise know life in South Florida is too excellent to live inside a fortress that only wakes up in August. Miami-Dade authorized windows give you both: a clear view of Biscayne Bay on a breezy February morning and peaceful self-confidence when the spaghetti models point our way in September.

If you are weighing the option, begin with a site-specific assessment. Match your direct exposures to develop pressures, select the best laminated glass stack for wind and heat, select frames that fit the architecture and conditions, and hire a team that appreciates the load path. Done right, energy‑efficient effect windows provide what shutters can not: protection that never ever requests a ladder and a better home every day of the year.