CGI Windows & Doors in South Florida, FL

CGI Windows & Doors: The South Florida Owner’s Guide

We stock and install CGI windows and doors across South Florida, with typical installed replacement costs running $8,000-$25,000 for full impact-rated window packages and most standard hardware repairs completed same-day. Most homeowners discover a problem when a sash won’t lock flush against the frame after a storm, or when they notice salt corrosion on the multipoint locking hardware after a few hurricane seasons. In coastal South Florida, the combination of salt air, UV exposure, and repeated pressure cycling from tropical weather wears on CGI’s aluminum and vinyl systems differently than inland climates.

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Which CGI Models This Applies To

CGI’s product lines fall into three main series you’ll see across South Florida homes: the Estate Collection (impact-rated aluminum), the Sentinel Series (vinyl impact windows), and the WinGuard aluminum line. The part you need depends on which generation you own. Estate Collection units from 2015-2020 use a specific multipoint lock actuator with a 7-inch backset that changed in 2021 to a 6.5-inch pattern. Check the etched marking on the glass corner or the AAMA label inside the frame jamb for the series code and manufacturing quarter.

We carry both OEM CGI hardware and quality aftermarket equivalents from Truth Hardware and AmesburyTruth for common wear items like rollers, balances, and tilt latches. For impact-rated units, we recommend staying with OEM on any component that affects the missile-impact certification, including glazing beads, interlayer gaskets, and reinforced hinges. Non-structural hardware like standard rollers and screen clips can often be matched aftermarket without compromising performance. If you’re in a Miami-Dade HVHZ zone, the part needs to carry the same product approval number as your original installation.

Signs Your CGI Windows & Doors Is Failing

• Sash won’t stay open or slams shut unexpectedly. The coil balance system has lost tension, usually from corrosion in the balance shoe or a fatigued spring. In South Florida’s humidity, we’ve seen balances fail in 6-8 years instead of the 15-year lifespan you’d expect inland.
• Visible gap between sash and frame when locked. The multipoint lock actuator or keepers have shifted or worn, breaking the compression seal. This kills your impact rating and lets wind-driven rain penetrate during a storm.
• Condensation between glass panes. The insulated glass unit (IGU) seal has failed, allowing moist South Florida air into the airspace. Once the desiccant saturates, the fogging becomes permanent and the Low-E coating may degrade.
• Difficulty locking or unlocking, especially after a storm. Salt corrosion attacks the zinc-coated lock components, or the frame has micro-shifted from pressure cycling. We see this most in oceanfront properties from Palm Beach down through Key Biscayne.
• Cracked or brittle glazing beads or weatherstripping. UV degradation hardens the vinyl or Santoprene components, breaking the seal against wind and water. This is often the first visible sign of aging on east-facing exposures.

Replacement Cost & What’s Included

What drives the range: unit size, floor height (lift charges above second story), whether the original frame can be preserved, and whether you’re in a high-velocity hurricane zone requiring additional fastening patterns. Our quotes separate parts and labor so you see exactly what you’re paying for. We don’t markup CGI OEM hardware; you pay what we pay. Workmanship carries our standard warranty, and OEM parts retain their manufacturer coverage.

DIY or Call Us?

There’s a safe middle ground for most homeowners. You can check the series label, photograph the failed component, and verify whether the lock engages fully by hand pressure. What you shouldn’t attempt: removing an impact-rated sash without proper support (they’re 40-60% heavier than standard windows), adjusting multipoint lock alignments (misalignment voids the impact certification), or reglazing an IGU (the interlayer and spacer assembly requires controlled conditions).

Raymond Estevez has seen too many well-meaning DIY fixes turn into full unit replacements because a homeowner cracked the frame or lost the glazing bead tension. “Do it right the first time or you’ll do it twice - and the second time always costs more.” For a free assessment and exact part match, call us at (844) 665-0162.

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