Hurricane-Proof Comfort: Choosing 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
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STS Impact Windows and Doors provides custom storefronts
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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 method neighbors track tropical waves, the pre-storm rush to stockpile, and the ritual of hauling ladders to install panels. After 20 years defining, installing, and repairing building envelopes from Key Largo to Palm Beach, I've seen what holds up and what does not. When the objective is genuine protection with year-round comfort, Miami-Dade authorized, energy‑efficient impact windows exceed shutters in ways that go beyond storm day. They alter how a house feels in August, how peaceful your living-room remains 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 numerous South Florida property owners are moving from shutters to cyclone impact-resistant windows, how to check out the requirements behind "Miami-Dade approved," 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 benchmarks in the country for building parts exposed to windborne particles. Approval is not a marketing sticker label. It is made through particular lab tests that mimic genuine hurricane conditions.

First comes large rocket effect. A 9-pound 2x4 is shot at the glass at approximately 34 miles per hour. That mimics roofing tiles, branches, or pieces of fencing that fly in the eyewall. After the effect, the exact same unit faces 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 between "fulfills Florida building code windows" and "Miami-Dade authorized windows" often resides in these test thresholds. Miami-Dade is simply stiffer, particularly in High Velocity Typhoon Zone requirements, which include Miami-Dade and Broward.

Wind ratings vary by opening size and design pressures, represented as PSF worths. On ocean-facing properties or high-rises, I typically specify units ranked at +60/ -80 PSF or greater. Inland or in more secured direct exposures, rankings in the +45/ -60 PSF variety can be sufficient, however you size and spec based upon the website's wind map, developing height, and surrounding structures. A professional knows that a corner direct exposure at the 2nd story needs different support than a sheltered window under a deep porch.

Why impact 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 satisfy 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 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 continuous security, even if a pop-up storm surprises you while you're stuck on United States 1. You likewise 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, generally 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 variety, sometimes more when paired with insulated glass units.

Security enhances because laminated glass withstands required entry. A robber can shatter the outer lite with a hammer, however the interlayer holds the fragments. They fulfill a sticky, stubborn membrane rather of a fast course inside. Insurance underwriters know this, which is why policies typically use credits for effect windows and doors. In my projects, premiums normally drop 10 to 25 percent, depending on the carrier and how many openings are protected.

Energy efficiency is the 3rd pillar. Energy-efficient effect windows with contemporary low-E impact glass and warm-edge spacers can cut solar heat gain while maintaining noticeable light. That suggests less a/c need, especially on west and south direct exposures where the afternoon sun penalizes interiors. In one Coral Gables retrofit, we replaced 1980s single-pane sliders with laminated low-E effect units. Summer season afternoon peak load visited approximately a ton of cooling, and the home's annual electrical energy usage fell in between 12 and 18 percent. Outcomes differ with shading, attic insulation, and HVAC effectiveness, however the instructions is consistent.

Material options that matter: glass, interlayers, and frames

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

Most property hurricane windows use a PVB interlayer glass stack, commonly 0.030 to 0.090 inches thick in single or several plies. Thicker interlayers improve impact resistance and sound control, but they add weight and cost. For oceanfront or high openings, you may see SGP (ionoplast) interlayers, which are stiffer and more powerful than PVB, enabling thinner areas to accomplish greater style pressures. For noise-sensitive websites, acoustic PVB solutions tweak the polymer to better absorb sound in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz range, where traffic and voices sit.

Tempered glass windows turn up typically in discussions because tempered glass is stronger in bending than annealed glass. That holds true, and tempered lites are typically used as the external or inner ply in an impact system. But tempered alone is not impact-resistant in the hurricane sense. When it fails, it blows up into little 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 outer lite laminated to an annealed 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 normally targets a solar heat gain coefficient in the 0.25 to 0.35 range while keeping noticeable light transmission around 50 percent or higher. Go too short on SHGC and the glass can look gray or green, especially in bigger openings. The sweet spot depends upon your façade orientation and shading. On east and west elevations, I often tighten up SHGC and accept a minor tint to manage morning and afternoon blasts. On north elevations, I favor higher visible transmittance for daylighting.

Frames are the other half of the story. Aluminum frames control here since they deal with big openings and will not swell. Thermal breaks and enhanced glazing gaskets have actually narrowed the energy gap with vinyl. Top quality vinyl impact frames, when strengthened correctly, can perform well for standard-sized openings and have better insulating worths, however I avoid them for really broad sliders or high storefront-style windows in high-wind zones. Wood-clad units look stunning in older Mediterranean Revival homes, but they require cautious upkeep and clever flashing. The Florida sun damages inexpensive vinyl and chalks low-grade aluminum surfaces rapidly. Try to find powder-coated finishes rated for seaside direct exposure, and demand composed guarantee details in salt-air environments.

The concealed hero: installation that respects the load path

Window installation can make or break efficiency. An expensive system installed like a handyman swap-out will not pass a storm's stress test. The load course is the core. Impact forces have to travel from the glass through the frame, to the anchors, into the substrate, and then into the structure's framing or masonry.

In concrete block building and construction, you desire stainless or hot-dipped galvanized anchors embedded into solid material. Hollow cells should be grouted or you require to hit the bond beam. Tapcons in soft, unfilled block are a failure waiting to happen. In wood-framed homes, structural screws must bite into solid trimmers, not just sheathing. Shimming and plumb alignment matter so the locks engage easily and the weatherstripping compresses evenly.

The sealant joint is not simply aesthetic. An appropriately sized backer rod and top quality polyurethane or silyl-modified polymer sealant create a durable, flexible seal that handles thermal growth. Too little a bead and it tears under motion. Too huge and it cures improperly. On seaside tasks, I never match different metals without a barrier, and I always specify corrosion-resistant fasteners. 10 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 vital. If you depend on sealant alone, water will find its way in. That wetness might disappoint up as a drip. It may rot a sill plate slowly, then betray itself as a buckling flooring or a musty odor 2 cyclone seasons later.

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

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

Second homes or seasonal rentals where spending plan is tight in some cases lean on shutters to satisfy the Florida building code windows requirement for protected openings. On specialized openings like a lanai that is rarely used in summer, a clean motorized roll-down can be reasonable, specifically if coupling with effect doors and windows in other places stresses the spending plan. For property owners who prepare to move within a year, shutters can be a brief bridge to compliance before a sale.

But shutters bring compromises. They darken your house when released, and they require action at specifically the time you are juggling insurance coverage documents, gas cans, and household logistics. Throughout Typhoon Irma, I watched a next-door neighbor attempt 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 space. He made it through with stitches. His living-room window did not. Shutters likewise rattle and can vibrate under continual winds, often loosening up fasteners over time if not maintained.

For long-term owners who want to set it and forget it, impact windows offer cyclone evidence windows protection while maintaining daylight and view. The convenience grows important once you've experienced one storm season with no preparation beyond locking the sash.

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

South Florida homes battle 2 fights: latent load from humidity and reasonable load from direct solar heat gain. Impact glass upgrades can help both if specified intelligently.

Low-E effect glass uses microscopically thin metal layers to reflect infrared energy while letting noticeable light through. With the ideal coating stacks, you can obstruct a big portion of convected heat and UV. UV blockage in laminated units comes mainly from the interlayer itself, which normally filters 95 to 99 percent of UV, reducing fading of fabrics and floor covering. Add the low-E, and you curb the solar heat that drives your a/c crazy midafternoon.

I evaluate glass specifications with three numbers: U-factor, SHGC, and VT. While U-factor matters more up north, it still assists here by minimizing nighttime heat circulation and keeping the interior glass temperature closer to room temperature, which minimizes condensation danger. SHGC drives how much solar heat gets in. VT influences how bright the interior feels. Balance is key. Some house owners want the crisp, clear look of greater VT, even if it implies accepting a couple of degrees more heat in late afternoon, because their landscaping and roofing overhangs already do some shading. Others choose a more powerful tint for glare control on waterfront lots that reflect extreme light.

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

Reading labels and approvals without getting lost in alphabet soup

Miami-Dade Notice of Approval, or NOA, is the document you request for. It details the authorized setups, sizes, anchors, and pressures tested. It is not enough to hear "these are Miami-Dade authorized windows" in a showroom. Confirm the NOA matches the exact design and alternatives you are purchasing, consisting of the glazing makeup and hardware. If you are in Broward or Miami-Dade, your permitting office will desire this paper trail.

Statewide, the Florida Product Approval system supplies FL numbers that reveal code compliance. In the rest of the state outside the High Velocity Cyclone Zone, Florida building code windows can count on Florida Product Boca Raton window upgrades Approval without Miami-Dade particular NOAs. Many leading producers carry both. Where budgets permit, I choose NOA items even outside the zone due to the fact that the testing is stiffer.

NFRC labels deal with energy metrics. They won't tell you impact performance, however they reveal U-factor, SHGC, VT, and air leakage. Go for air leak at or listed below 0.3 cfm/ft ². Tighter is much better for humidity control, however make sure your home still has 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, surface, and access. On simple single-family homes, per-opening costs typically land in between 1,200 and 3,000 dollars for basic sizes. Big multi-panel sliders, custom arches, and coastal-grade surfaces raise the numbers quickly.

Where you recoup value:

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

If you prepare to own the property for 5 years or more, the mathematics frequently tilts in favor of impact windows, especially when you factor the intangible of peace of mind. If you plan to sell within a year and need to reveal compliance rapidly, shutters might make more short-term sense. Context matters.

Details that separate good systems from terrific ones

I pay attention to hardware and devices. Multi-point locks on sashes and awnings enhance seal compression and security. For sliders, robust tandem rollers in stainless housings slide smoother and last longer on sandy patios. Take a look at the sill style on moving doors. Weep systems need to be crafted to drain pipes heavy rains without letting wind-driven water blow back in. Ask to see a cutaway sample in the showroom.

Tint colors and reflectivity are more than style. Reflective films can contravene of neighborhood watch or produce mirror-like glare toward surrounding residential or commercial properties. In coastal environments, extremely reflective glass can puzzle birds or sea turtles in some jurisdictions. Local pros know which finishes 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 cheap finishes chalk and fade. AAMA 2605-rated finishes supply the best color retention and chalk resistance. I define them for coastal exposures whenever budgets allow.

Special cases: historic homes, condos, and challenging openings

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

Condos have another layer of governance. Associations often define a narrow list of approved products for harmony. They also care about sound control between systems. If your building sits straight on Collins Avenue or faces a hectic beach boardwalk, push for acoustic laminated alternatives. Work with structure 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 special attention in style pressure, deflection, and operating hardware. Not every unit that looks durable in a showroom fulfills the wind loads on a ninth-floor veranda. Do not count on catalog maximum sizes. Utilize the NOA tables that represent your website's zone, positive and negative pressures, and mullion mixes if any.

What a tidy job looks like from survey to final inspection

The best tasks begin with a determined survey and exposure analysis. You map each opening, note the substrate, and determine any framing irregularities or settlement cracks. Throughout proposition, the professional reveals you the NOA and the Florida Item Approval, lists anchor types, and describes how each opening will be flashed and sealed. They plan for stucco or drywall repair work, not pretend no damage will occur.

On install day, they get rid of 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 protect 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 authorization file, especially if they will be concealed. After glazing, they water-test with a regulated spray to verify drain paths and seals. The inspector sees a neat jobsite, clear labels, and paperwork in order.

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

Frequently misconstrued points that cost house owners later

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

Window films do not convert non-impact windows into cyclone impact-resistant windows. They can include shatter resistance, but they do not substitute for a checked, anchored system. Your insurer and structure department will not count films as safeguarded openings.

Interior humidity matters. Tight, energy-efficient impact windows lower air leak. That's fantastic, however it increases the importance of an appropriately sized HVAC with great dehumidification. If your system is extra-large, the thermostat satisfies rapidly and fails to pull enough moisture from the air. Ask your a/c pro to examine sensible heat ratio, air flow, and run time. You desire constant, longer cycles, not short bursts.

Maintenance is straightforward however not optional. Clean weep holes on sliders, wash salt spray from frames, and lube hardware yearly with a silicone-based product that will not gum up in heat. Small practices extend lifespan.

When shutters still belong in the conversation

There are genuine factors to blend services. A pair of hardly ever utilized garage windows can keep removable panels to shave budget plan. A deep-set deck with very little sun direct exposure might do great with accordion shutters if you prioritize other upgrades like a brand-new roofing deck attachment or a fortified garage door. Shutters can also safeguard outside cooking areas or cabana openings where grease and smoke would age elegant hardware prematurely.

If you choose shutters, buy quality. Stainless fasteners, smooth tracks, and motors with handbook overrides for roll-downs make a difference. Assign responsibility for implementation and practice when beyond a storm watch. Inventory your hardware. The day you need 32 wing nuts is not the morning you want to find you have 29.

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

Impact windows are not only about surviving the big one. They improve daily living. The living room stays cooler and quieter. The a/c 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 cyclone threatens, your preparation list gets shorter. You lock the sashes, set storm mode on the alarm, and focus on people instead of panels.

For much of my clients, that intangible is the deciding aspect. They know storms will come. They likewise understand life in South Florida is too good to live inside a fortress that only wakes 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 way in September.

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