CGI Home Additions & ADU Nationwide

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

CGI-compatible home additions and ADU construction in Fort Lauderdale typically runs $45,000-$130,000 for standard additions and $90,000-$220,000 for detached ADUs, with most projects quoted within 48 hours and permits pulled within two weeks of contract signing. We stock and source CGI framing hardware, impact-rated window and door assemblies, and structural connectors specified for coastal Florida wind loads. Most Fort Lauderdale homeowners discover their CGI components need attention during the permitting phase, when city inspectors flag outdated hardware on older additions, or after storm events when salt air exposure has compromised fasteners in Victoria Park and Coral Ridge installations.

Call (754) 254-7676

Which CGI Models This Applies To

CGI produces three product lines relevant to Fort Lauderdale home additions and ADUs: the Estate Series impact windows and doors (2008-present), the Sentinel Series entry systems (2012-present), and the commercial-grade CitiRail framing used in larger additions and multi-story ADUs. The Estate Series uses a 2.5-inch frame depth with monolithic or laminated glass; the Sentinel Series steps to 3.25 inches with reinforced corner keys. CitiRail employs a thermally broken aluminum extrusion rated for HVHZ (High Velocity Hurricane Zone) loads.

To identify your CGI hardware, check the etched mark on the glass spacer or the interior frame label, usually found on the hinge side of operable units. The model prefix tells you the series: ES for Estate, SE for Sentinel, CR for CitiRail. The suffix indicates the missile rating, with D for large missile (required within one mile of Fort Lauderdale’s coast) and S for small missile (inland zones).

OEM CGI hardware ships from the company’s Miami-Dade distribution center with a 10-year finish warranty. We also source Miami-Dade-approved aftermarket equivalents from Eastern Architectural Systems and PGT Custom Windows + Doors when CGI lead times extend beyond project schedules. The aftermarket route saves roughly 8-12% on material costs but requires verification that the substitution maintains the NOA (Notice of Acceptance) number listed on your original permit.

Signs Your CGI Home Additions & ADU Is Failing

• Corrosion on frame weep holes or fasteners. Fort Lauderdale’s salt-laden air attacks unanodized aluminum and standard steel fasteners within 3-5 years of installation. We see this most in beachside additions where the weep screed (the slotted drainage channel at the sill) clogs with salt crust, trapping water against the frame.
• Operational binding in windows or doors. The stainless-steel roller assemblies in CGI sliding units collect grit from coastal breezes. When the rollers seize, operators force the sash, bending the aluminum track and converting a $45 roller replacement into a $400 frame repair.
• Condensation between glass panes. CGI’s insulated glass units carry a 10-year seal warranty, but Fort Lauderdale’s thermal cycling, summer humidity above 85%, and UV exposure degrade the PIB primary seal faster than inland climates. Fogging means the low-E coating and argon fill are compromised.
• Impact fabric delamination. CGI’s laminated impact glass uses an SGP (SentryGlas Plus) or PVB interlayer. Prolonged exposure to standing water in failed seals causes the interlayer to separate from the glass plies, visible as a milky haze at the lite perimeter. This voids the impact rating.
• Frame separation at mullion joints. Thermal expansion in south-facing additions creates cyclic stress on multi-unit mullions. The telltale is a visible gap or caulk failure at the vertical joint between window units, often first noticed after a summer storm when water intrusion appears on interior drywall.

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Replacement Cost & What’s Included

What drives the range: unit count, access difficulty (scaffolding vs. ladder work), whether the original NOA is still valid, and whether Fort Lauderdale Building Services requires updated engineering for post-2023 wind-speed recalculations. Under Clause 1 of the Haven Standard, every quote is a flat written price with line-item material brands, labor hours, and permit fees before any work starts. No change proceeds without a signed change order. Our 365-Day Done Right Promise covers installation defects; CGI’s manufacturer warranty covers material failures. We document every opening with pre- and post-installation photos, included as standard.

DIY or Call Us?

What you can safely check: verify the etched model number, clear weep holes with a pipe cleaner, and lubricate rollers with silicone spray. These are maintenance, not repair, and they tell you whether the issue is debris or degradation.

Where DIY goes wrong: removing a CGI impact-rated unit without temporary bracing violates Florida Building Code R612.6 and risks structural collapse in wind events. Reinstallation requires a torque-calibrated screw gun set to 85 in-lbs for frame fasteners, anything looser and the unit fails HVHZ testing; anything tighter and you strip the thermal break. The Fort Lauderdale inspector will red-tag unpermitted work and require engineered drawings for reinspection.

We’re an independent service provider, not affiliated with CGI. If your addition or ADU hardware is failing, call (754) 254-7676 and we’ll schedule a no-charge assessment with a written repair-or-replace quote. Bring a competitor’s estimate and we’ll review it line by line under our Free Second Opinion.

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