New windows and doors improve comfort, cut energy bills and add long-term value to your home. Sightline Windows & Doors Fort Lauderdale pairs proven product lines with our own installing crews for lasting performance - and a price we put in writing.
1. Choose your installer
The unit is half the job - the install is the other half. Our own background-checked crews measure, set, seal and insulate every opening, and they know the lines we quote inside and out because they install them every week.
2. Select the right products
Compare styles, materials and glass packages side by side until the fit is right for your rooms, your budget and your goals. The product-line comparison below is the place to start.
3. Prepare your home for install
Before install day we walk you through a short checklist - furniture pulled back, treatments down, a clear path to each opening - so install day is watch-it-happen, not scramble.
Compare the Lines We Quote
Every project is priced on the same lines, side by side - the price indicators below are relative, and your consultant shows exact numbers on your actual openings.
PGTThe line Florida homeowners arrive naming - the most Miami-Dade certifications in the industry$$$
- More Miami-Dade NOA certifications than any other line we quote
- WinGuard, EnergyVue and ClassicVue Max systems built for every wind zone
- 99% on-time delivery keeps your install date on the calendar
CGIThe heavyweight impact line$$$$$
- Large-missile impact ratings for the strictest wind zones
- Architectural-grade aluminum with commercial-depth frames
- The line we quote when protection is the whole point
CWSThe Florida value pick$$
- Vinyl systems built in Florida for Florida codes
- Strong energy packages at the friendliest price point
- The smart start for whole-home replacements on a budget
ESWSlim lines, big glass$$$$
- Narrow-sightline aluminum for modern elevations
- Oversized openings and floor-to-ceiling glass
- Impact-rated without the bunker look
ECOThe aluminum impact workhorse$$$
- Miami-built aluminum impact systems
- A strong price-to-protection ratio for coastal homes
- Proven inventory lines with short lead times
CGI Window Installation: The Fort Lauderdale Owner’s Guide
CGI window installation in Fort Lauderdale typically runs $340-$780 per opening for standard replacement, with impact-rated units starting around $520. We stock CGI-compatible hardware and keep common frame sizes measured and ready for the coastal zip codes from Las Olas Isles to Coral Ridge. Most homeowners discover their CGI window is failing when the sash won’t stay open, the lock no longer seats flush, or they feel air movement around the frame during a northeast wind - all signs that the installation, not just the product, has reached its limit.
Which CGI Models This Applies To
CGI’s product lines fall into three series families: the Estate Collection (aluminum impact-rated), the Sentinel Series (vinyl impact-rated), and the commercial-grade Targa line. Each uses distinct frame depths, glazing stops, and anchor patterns. The Estate 200 and 400 series share a 3-1/4″ frame depth with a single-hung sash weight of 28-34 lbs depending on glass make-up; the Sentinel vinyl line runs a 3-5/8″ nail fin and requires a different sill pan profile entirely. We see the most confusion between Estate 200 and 300 series hardware - the 300 uses a concealed jamb liner that looks identical until you remove the sash.
To identify your unit, check the spacer bar between the glass panes for the etched CGI logo and a four-digit date code. The series label is usually on the top of the sash rail, visible only when the window is fully open. We carry both OEM CGI hardware and qualified equivalents from Truth Hardware and AmesburyTruth; for units under active Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance, we specify OEM to preserve the rating certificate. Aftermarket saves roughly 15-20% on hardware cost but voids the NOA compliance if the original installation was permitted under that number.
Before
AfterSigns Your CGI Window Installation Is Failing
- The sash drops or won’t stay open. This points to a failed balance system - in CGI single-hung units, the block-and-tackle balance is riveted to the jamb liner. Salt corrosion at the rivet point is the usual culprit in Fort Lauderdale installations within three miles of the Intracoastal.
- Visible gaps between sash and frame when closed. The weatherstrip has compressed past recovery or the sash cam has worn. In Estate aluminum frames, the thermal break can also shift, throwing off the sightline alignment so the sash never seats square.
- Lock tongue doesn’t engage or requires force. The keeper has settled or the lock mechanism itself has corroded. We find this most often on east-facing windows in Harbor Beach and Rio Vista, where morning salt spray hits before the dew dries.
- Condensation between glass panes. The insulated glass unit seal has failed. CGI uses a dual-seal system with PIB primary and silicone secondary; once the edge seal breaches, the desiccant saturates and the unit is done. This is a full sash or IGU replacement, not a hardware fix.
- Frame movement or visible caulking separation. The original installation lacked proper anchoring to the structural opening or the sill pan was omitted. In Fort Lauderdale’s limestone substrate, we see this where installers used masonry nails instead of Tapcon anchors set to depth.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
| Service Level | Price Range | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware-only replacement (balance, lock, keeper) | $180-$340 | OEM or qualified equivalent parts, removal and reinstall of sash, sightline adjustment, operation test |
| IGU (glass unit) replacement in existing sash | $280-$520 | New insulated glass unit with Low-E and argon, re-glazing with setting blocks and edge tape, reinstallation |
| Full sash replacement (frame intact) | $420-$680 | Complete sash assembly, transfer of existing hardware where serviceable, new weatherstrip, alignment to frame |
| Full frame replacement - standard single-hung | $620-$980 | Removal of existing unit, sill pan installation, new CGI unit, anchor to structural opening, insulation, interior/exterior trim finish |
| Full frame replacement - impact-rated | $840-$1,340 | Impact-rated CGI unit with NOA documentation, permit pull and inspection coordination, same scope as standard |
What drives the range: unit size, floor level (second-story carries ladder and scaffold time), existing frame condition, and whether the original installation was permitted to current Florida Building Code. Every quote we write in Fort Lauderdale starts with the measured survey you keep; the price on that document is the price on the invoice. Haven Clause 1 - Have it in writing - means no change orders once work begins. The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers labor and installation; manufacturer defects fall to CGI’s limited lifetime warranty on vinyl and 20-year on aluminum finishes.
DIY or Call Us?
An owner can safely check three things: verify the etched date code on the glass, confirm the series label location, and photograph any visible hardware markings. What goes wrong after that is where we get the call. CGI sashes in impact-rated units weigh 40-60 lbs with the glass in place; removing one without proper support risks frame damage and personal injury. The balance systems are under spring tension, and the jamb liner fasteners are aluminum - easy to strip, impossible to re-tighten once the threads are gone. We’ve replaced entire jambs in Victoria Park because a homeowner used a Phillips driver where a square-recess was required.
More critically, any work on a permitted impact-rated installation in Fort Lauderdale requires documentation to maintain the windstorm certificate. We pull the permit, coordinate inspection, and file the completion - your insurer sees a clean record, not a gap. Call (754) 666-7478 and we’ll schedule the measured survey. The written price comes before any tool is lifted.
FAQs
Twelve to eighteen years for the installation itself, with the hardware showing first wear at year eight to ten in salt-air exposure. The IGU seal typically fails at year fifteen if the unit faces direct sun and gets no overhang protection. Call (754) 666-7478 for an exact quote on your series and exposure - estimates are free.
Weatherstrip and keepers can sometimes be cleaned and reseated, but balance systems, IGU seals, and corroded lock mechanisms are replace-only. We don’t charge to inspect and tell you which category yours falls into. Call (754) 666-7478 to schedule.
Hardware swaps run ninety minutes to two hours per opening; full frame replacements take four to six hours including removal, sill pan, and trim finish. We schedule one opening per day for occupied homes to maintain security overnight. Call (754) 666-7478 to book.
We carry balances, locks, keepers, and weatherstrip for Estate 200/300/400 and Sentinel series on every Fort Lauderdale vehicle. IGU replacements and full sashes are ordered to measured size - we don’t guess on glass, and neither should anyone working on your home. Call (754) 666-7478 to confirm availability for your series.
Sightline Windows & Doors Fort Lauderdale is independently owned and operated and is not affiliated with CGI Windows & Doors. We are an authorized installer and service provider for CGI products across Broward County.
Written by Sonia Raman, Owner, Sightline Windows & Doors Fort Lauderdale at Sightline Windows & Doors Fort Lauderdale, serving Fort Lauderdale and nearby areas.
Six Reasons Homeowners Choose Sightline Windows & Doors Fort Lauderdale
Impact systems engineered to design pressures up to +/-100, matched to your wind zone - your openings hold when the storm arrives.
Low-E insulated impact glass from our manufacturer lines commonly cuts monthly cooling bills 20-30%.
Laminated impact glass shuts out up to 40% of outside noise - traffic, neighbors, weather.
Monitoring services run $30-90 a month. Laminated impact glass resists forced entry around the clock, with no subscription.
Florida homeowners average around 25% savings on the windstorm portion of their policy after protecting every opening - some homes qualify for more.
A full impact package upgrades curb appeal, buyer confidence and appraised value in one project.
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