CWS Home Additions & ADU Nationwide

CWS Home Additions & ADU: The Fort Lauderdale Owner’s Guide

We stock and install CWS-compatible structural components and finishing systems for home additions and ADUs in Fort Lauderdale, with typical installed project costs running $45,000-$130,000 for additions and $90,000-$220,000 for detached ADUs. Most CWS material failures show up during the dry season, when coastal humidity drops and expansion gaps reveal themselves as cracks, separations, or binding doors. Call (754) 254-7676 to schedule your free estimate with a written line-item price before any work starts.

Call (754) 254-7676

Which CWS Models This Applies To

CWS, or Custom Window Systems, manufactures impact-rated windows, doors, and glass wall systems commonly specified for Fort Lauderdale home additions and ADUs where Florida Building Code requires HVHZ (High Velocity Hurricane Zone) compliance. The product lines we see most often on local additions are the CWS 3120 and 5400 series impact windows, the CWS Titan sliding glass door systems, and the CWS folding glass wall configurations used to open living spaces toward the pool or patio.

To identify your exact CWS unit, look for the etched mark in the glass corner or the aluminum frame label - it lists the series number, the DP (design pressure) rating, and the missile impact certification. For additions built between 2010 and 2020, we regularly find CWS 3120 single-hung windows with the older bronze anodized frame; the newer 5400 series uses a thermal break frame that is not interchangeable without reframing the rough opening. The OEM part is the safest match for warranty and code compliance, though we also source Florida-approved aftermarket equivalents from PGT and CGI when the CWS lead time runs long, which it often does in storm season.

Measure twice, write it down, then say it once: the frame depth, the exact rough opening, and the DP rating must all match. A 3120 window in a non-thermal frame will not fit a 5400 rough opening without structural modification, and that modification triggers re-inspection under Fort Lauderdale’s building department requirements.

Signs Your CWS Home Additions & ADU Is Failing

• Window or door operation grows stiff or binds in the frame. This usually means the CWS unit has shifted in the rough opening due to settling of the addition’s foundation or inadequate header support during the original build. In Fort Lauderdale’s sandy coastal soils, we see this most in Victoria Park additions where the original 1950s footings were not designed for the load of a second story.
• Visible gaps between the frame and the surrounding wall finish. The caulk joint has failed or the frame has pulled away from the buck, allowing wind-driven rain to enter the wall cavity. Once moisture reaches the sheathing, the repair scope expands from window replacement to siding, insulation, and potentially framing repair.
• Condensation between the panes of insulated glass. The CWS sealed unit has lost its argon fill and the desiccant is saturated. In Florida’s humidity, this happens faster than the manufacturer’s 10-year glass warranty predicts, especially on west-facing additions that bake all afternoon.
• Corrosion or pitting on the aluminum frame, particularly at the sill. Salt air from the Atlantic accelerates anodized finish failure. We see this on CWS units in Fort Lauderdale east of Federal Highway where the sea breeze carries chloride year-round, and once the anodizing is breached, the frame section loses structural integrity.
• Cracked or delaminated impact glass with the laminate layer visible. The CWS impact-rated glass is built with an interlayer that holds shards in place during a storm, but if the interlayer has separated or the glass has spidered without breaking through, the unit no longer meets HVHZ standards and will fail inspection.

Before

After

Replacement Cost & What’s Included

For a CWS window or door replacement within an existing Fort Lauderdale home addition or ADU, installed costs typically run $800-$2,500 per opening depending on size, series, and whether the rough opening needs reframing. A full CWS sliding glass door replacement in an ADU runs $3,500-$7,500 installed, with the folding glass wall systems starting around $8,000 and climbing with panel count.

What drives the range: the CWS unit itself, permit and inspection fees through the City of Fort Lauderdale, reframing or header reinforcement, interior and exterior finish repair, and disposal of the old unit. Under Clause 1 of the Haven Standard, we deliver a written price before any work starts, with material brands listed by name and labor itemized separately - no bundled charges. Every CWS replacement carries our 365-Day Done Right Promise, and the documented photo record of the opening condition, the installation process, and the final inspection is included as standard, not an upgrade.

DIY or Call Us?

An owner can safely check the CWS label for the series and DP rating, photograph any visible damage, and verify whether the unit still opens and locks smoothly. Do not attempt to remove an impact-rated window or door yourself - these units are heavy, the frames are screwed and foamed into the opening, and improper handling can shatter the laminated glass or compromise the HVHZ seal that the inspector will check.

More critically, Fort Lauderdale requires a building permit for any window or door replacement in an addition or ADU, with a final inspection to confirm the new unit meets the approved plans. We pull the permit, coordinate the inspection, and guarantee the installation passes - because a failed inspection means re-doing the work at your expense. Call (754) 254-7676 for a free estimate with a written line-item price.

FAQs