CGI Kitchen Remodeling: The South Florida Owner’s Guide
CGI kitchen remodeling in South Florida typically runs $14,000-$45,000 for a full project, with cabinet installation, countertop replacement, and island reconfiguration available as standalone services starting at $2,000. We stock CGI-compatible window and door components for kitchen renovations that open to patios, pools, or lanais, and we can usually source matching CGI impact-rated units within 48 hours. Most South Florida homeowners discover their CGI kitchen components need attention when hurricane-season humidity swells frame seals, salt air corrodes hardware, or an older non-impact unit fails Miami-Dade or Broward code during a permitted remodel.
Which CGI Models This Applies To
CGI’s product lines for kitchen-adjacent spaces fall into three categories: the Sentinel Series (impact-rated windows and doors for openings under 48 inches), the Estate Collection (architectural-grade aluminum frames with thermal breaks), and the WinDoor Series (pre-2018 units common in Pembroke Pines and Miramar builds). Check the etched mark on the glass corner or the frame sticker inside the jamb for the series code and manufacturing date.
Here’s the compatibility gotcha: CGI updated its frame depth from 2⅜ inches to 2¾ inches in 2019. A new Sentinel sash won’t seat in a 2017 frame without a complete tear-out, something we’ve run into twice in Weston ranch homes where owners wanted to keep existing trim. For kitchen pass-through windows and French doors opening to outdoor kitchens, we typically spec OEM CGI rather than aftermarket. The aluminum alloy composition and anodized finish match matters when you’re staring at the frame from three feet away at a kitchen island. Aftermarket equivalents exist for hardware and screens, but we haven’t found a third-party frame that integrates cleanly with CGI’s interlocking meeting stile design.
Signs Your CGI Kitchen Remodeling Components Are Failing
- The sash drags or sticks when you open the window over the sink. In South Florida, this usually means the weep holes are clogged with kitchen grease and humidity has swollen the sill track. Left alone, the operator mechanism strips its gears trying to overcome the friction.
- Condensation beads between the glass panes on your pass-through window. The insulating glass unit (IGU) seal has failed. Kitchen heat cycling accelerates this, and in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, we’ve seen IGUs fail in 6-8 years instead of the 15-year nominal lifespan.
- The lock lever feels loose or won’t fully engage. Salt air attacks the zinc alloy in older CGI multipoint hardware. A kitchen window that won’t lock is a code violation on any permitted remodel, and it’s a security issue if it faces a side yard.
- You feel air movement around the frame when the AC kicks on. The compression seal has hardened. South Florida’s UV exposure turns silicone bulb seals brittle in 7-10 years, and kitchen windows get extra heat load from cooking.
- Water stains on the drywall below the window or door. The frame-to-wall flashing failed, or the weep system is overwhelmed. In Coral Gables and Pinecrest homes with older CGI units, we’ve found the sill pan sloped toward the house, not away, a detail that only shows up during full-frame replacement.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
| Service | Price Range in South Florida |
|---|---|
| Full Kitchen Remodel | $14,000 - $45,000 |
| Small Kitchen Remodel | $9,000 - $20,000 |
| Cabinet Installation | $4,000 - $13,000 |
| Countertop Installation | $2,000 - $6,500 |
| Backsplash Installation | $800 - $2,500 |
| Kitchen Island Installation | $3,000 - $10,000 |
| CGI Window/Door Replacement (per opening, kitchen-adjacent) | $800 - $3,500 |
The range on CGI units depends on three factors: impact rating versus non-impact (Miami-Dade and Broward require HVHZ certification), frame depth and whether we’re doing insert or full-frame replacement, and glass options like low-E or laminated impact layers. Our quotes separate parts and labor so you see where the money goes. We carry CGI hardware and screen inventory on our trucks for same-day fixes when the frame itself is sound. Raymond Estevez reviews every kitchen project personally before we order, since a mismeasured pass-through can hold up cabinet installation by two weeks.
DIY or Call Us?
You can safely check the model number, clear weep holes with a pipe cleaner, and lubricate hardware with silicone spray. Don’t attempt to remove or adjust a CGI impact-rated sash yourself. These units weigh 40-80 pounds depending on size, and the interlocking frame requires specific shimming sequences to maintain the impact certification. We’ve been called to jobs in Davie and Plantation where a homeowner cracked the IGU trying to force a stuck sash, turning a $200 service call into a full unit replacement.
For kitchen remodels that involve moving or enlarging a CGI opening, you’ll need engineered drawings for Miami-Dade or Broward permitting, plus HVHZ product approval documentation we handle as part of our build package. Call (844) 665-0162 and we’ll walk through what’s actually wrong before you commit to anything.
FAQs
Expect 15-20 years for the frame and 10-15 years for seals and hardware under normal conditions, but kitchen-adjacent units see 20-30% faster wear from heat cycling and grease exposure. In coastal South Florida zip codes like 33139 and 33401, salt air can pull that toward the lower end. Call (844) 665-0162 for an exact assessment of your units - estimates are free.
Hardware, screens, and IGU replacements are straightforward repairs. Frame corrosion, warped sashes, or failed thermal breaks require full replacement. We stock replacement IGUs and multipoint hardware for Sentinel and Estate Series on our trucks. Call (844) 665-0162 to confirm whether your unit is worth repairing.
A same-size replacement in an existing opening takes 4-6 hours per unit. Enlarging the opening, reframing for impact rating, or coordinating with cabinet installation adds 1-3 days. We schedule CGI replacements to align with your kitchen remodel timeline so you’re not living without a window during rainy season. Call (844) 665-0162 to lock in your project sequence.
We stock replacement hardware, screens, and IGUs for Sentinel and Estate Series. Full frame-and-sash units are ordered to spec with a 2-5 day lead time from CGI’s Miami distribution center, or 24-48 hours for standard sizes. We also stock KraftMaid and Wellborn cabinet components, plus Cambria, Silestone, and Caesarstone countertop materials for kitchen projects that move beyond window work. Call (844) 665-0162 to check current inventory against your model number.
Groundwork Construction Co. of South Florida is an independent service provider and is not affiliated with CGI Windows & Doors. We source genuine CGI products and compatible components through authorized distribution channels.
Do it right the first time or you’ll do it twice - and the second time always costs more. That’s the standard Raymond Estevez set when he founded this company, and it’s the one our crews still work to on every kitchen job from Aventura to Weston.
Ready to get your CGI kitchen components sorted? Call (844) 665-0162 for a free estimate. We’ll confirm your model, check what we have in stock, and build the replacement or full remodel around your timeline.
Written by Raymond Estevez, Owner & General Contractor, Groundwork Construction Co. of South Florida at Groundwork Construction Co. of South Florida, serving South Florida and nearby areas.