CGI Windows & Doors Nationwide

CGI Windows & Doors: The Fort Lauderdale Owner’s Guide

We stock and install genuine CGI-compatible windows and doors across Fort Lauderdale, with most replacement parts available same-day and typical installed pricing running $4,500-$15,000 for full window replacement or $8,000-$25,000 for impact-rated CGI installations. Most homeowners discover a problem when they feel salt air drafts around the sash, spot corrosion on the hardware, or realize the lock no longer seats flush after a storm season. In Fort Lauderdale’s coastal climate, the failure usually starts with the weep system clogging or the balance mechanism seizing, not the glass itself.

Call (754) 254-7676

Which CGI Models This Applies To

CGI manufactures several distinct product lines, and the part you need depends on which series is installed. The Estate Collection uses a heavier extruded aluminum frame with a specific corner key design that differs from the Sentinel line’s slimmer profile. Impact-rated models in the Targa and WinGuard series carry Florida Product Approval numbers that must match any replacement sash or frame component for code compliance. We see this catch owners in Fort Lauderdale when they order a standard sash for what turns out to be an impact-rated unit, the glazing bead depth and reinforcement are different, and the permit inspection fails.

To identify your model, check the etched mark on the glass spacer or the label on the frame jamb; it will list the series, nominal size, and DP (design pressure) rating. For hardware, the handle sets and locks vary by series year, CGI updated its multi-point locking geometry around 2018, so a pre-2018 Estate handle will not align with post-2018 keepers. We carry both OEM CGI parts and quality aftermarket equivalents where the spec matches; for impact-rated units in Fort Lauderdale, we generally recommend OEM for any component that affects the pressure rating, and aftermarket for hardware and screens where the function is identical.

Signs Your CGI Windows & Doors Is Failing

• Salt air drafts around the sash. The wool pile weatherstrip compresses over time in Fort Lauderdale’s humidity and loses its seal; you feel airflow even when the window is locked. The fix is replacement pile and sometimes realignment of the sash within the frame.
• Lock handle spins or won’t engage. The multi-point lock mechanism has internal gears that corrode from salt exposure; the handle feels loose because the gearbox no longer transfers motion to the shoot bolts.
• Condensation between glass panes. The insulating glass unit (IGU) has lost its seal, the desiccant inside is saturated, and the glass pack needs replacement, not the whole window.
• Window won’t stay open or slams shut. The balance system, either a coil spring or block-and-tackle type depending on series year, has failed; this is a replaceable cartridge, not a frame issue.
• Water stains on the sill after rain. The weep holes are clogged with salt and debris, or the sill track is out of level so water pools instead of draining; both are fixable without full replacement.

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Replacement Cost & What’s Included

For Fort Lauderdale homes, window replacement with CGI units runs $4,500-$15,000 depending on count, size, and whether impact rating is required; full impact window installation ranges $8,000-$25,000. Parts-only repairs, an IGU swap, balance replacement, or hardware rebuild, typically fall between $400-$1,800 installed. What drives the number: impact vs. non-impact glazing, whether the frame is salvageable, and how many units share a common rough opening.

Our quotes list parts and labor separately, with the CGI part number or equivalent spec written in. Under Clause 1 of the Haven Standard, that price is fixed before work starts; if we find rot in the subsill during removal, we document it with photos, write a change order with the exact added cost, and nothing proceeds until you sign. The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers the installation and the parts we supply. Every visit includes a documented photo record, standard, not an upgrade.

DIY or Call Us?

There’s a safe middle ground for most CGI issues. An owner can clear weep holes with a pipe cleaner, lubricate hardware with a silicone-based product, and check that the sash is fully seated in the track. What we don’t recommend: removing an impact-rated sash without understanding the pressure-tape sequence, or attempting to reglaze an IGU, the glass edges are sharp, the seal is heat-set, and the replacement unit needs vacuum filling. The balance systems in larger CGI units are under spring tension; we’ve seen the block-and-tackle snap when released without a brace. If you’re unsure of the series year or whether your unit is impact-rated, call (754) 254-7676 and we’ll confirm the part before you spend money on the wrong one. Estimates are free, and we carry common CGI hardware and balances on the truck.

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