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CGI Windows & Doors: The Miami Owner’s Guide
We stock and install genuine CGI-compatible windows and doors across Miami, with most replacement units available same-day and installed within one to two business days. A typical CGI window replacement in Miami runs $5310-$17700 depending on size, impact rating, and whether the frame needs reframing. Most homeowners discover a problem when a window won’t lock after a storm, they feel salt-air draft around the sash, or they spot corrosion blooming on the hardware after a humid summer.
Which CGI Models This Applies To
CGI operates several product lines in South Florida, and the part you need depends on which series is installed. The Estate Collection uses heavier aluminum extrusions with a distinct 3-inch frame depth, while the Sentinel line carries the HVHZ (High Velocity Hurricane Zone) rating required in Miami-Dade and Broward. The Estate 200 and Estate 400 series share hinge and lock hardware, but the glazing bead profile differs, so a sash replacement from one won’t seat properly in the other. You’ll find the series stamped on the spacer bar between the glass panes or on a label inside the frame header.
We source OEM parts directly from CGI’s Opa-locka distribution center when the timeline allows, and we keep quality aftermarket equivalents in stock for common failures. The aftermarket route saves roughly 15-20% on hardware-only jobs, but we recommend OEM for any unit still under CGI’s original warranty to avoid voiding coverage. One compatibility gotcha we’ve seen in Coral Gables and Pinecrest: older CGI units from 2012-2016 used a proprietary roller assembly that aftermarket suppliers didn’t replicate accurately until 2019. If your sliding door jumps the track, the roller diameter matters to the millimeter.
Styles & brands we work with
Signs Your CGI Windows & Doors Is Failing
- Sash won’t lock or latch properly. The multipoint lock mechanism wears from repeated cycling against Miami’s humidity-swollen frames. What starts as a firm click degrades to a grind, then fails to engage at all, leaving the window secured by friction alone.
- Visible corrosion on hinges, handles, or weep holes. Salt air accelerates galvanic corrosion where dissimilar metals contact. We see this most on east-facing units in Key Biscayne and Miami Beach, where hardware can show pitting within five years.
- Condensation between glass panes. The insulating glass unit (IGU) seal has failed, allowing moist air into the spacer cavity. In Florida’s climate, this typically appears first as a faint haze after cool mornings, then progresses to standing water visible inside the glass.
- Draft or temperature differential near the frame. Compression weatherstripping loses elasticity in sustained heat, creating gaps the width of a credit card. The sash may look closed while bypassing air at 15-20% of the unit’s rated CFM.
- Sliding door requires shoulder force to move. Rollers flatten or their bearings seize from debris intrusion. We find this often after homeowners pressure-wash tracks, forcing grit into sealed bearing races.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
For CGI window replacement in Miami, our installed pricing runs $5310-$17700 per opening, with the spread driven by three factors: unit size, impact rating (non-impact vs. HVHZ), and whether the existing frame is structurally sound. A direct sash-and-frame replacement in a standard 36-by-72 opening with no reframing typically lands in the lower third of that range. Full-frame replacement with stucco repair and interior trim runs higher.
Every quote we write itemizes parts, labor, and disposal separately. Under Clause 1 of the Haven Standard, that written price is fixed; no change proceeds without a signed change order. Our 365-Day Done Right Promise covers the installation, and CGI’s factory warranty covers the unit itself. We pull permits when required by Miami-Dade building code and include the documented photo record of before, during, and after as standard.
DIY or Call Us?
There’s a safe middle ground for homeowners. You can verify the series from the label, check weatherstripping for visible cracks, and clear weep holes with a pipe cleaner. What we don’t recommend: removing a fixed sash to access hardware, adjusting multipoint lock keeps, or attempting to reglaze an IGU. CGI’s impact-rated units are engineered as tested assemblies; a homeowner-modified unit may not perform under design pressure and can void your windstorm insurance discount.
We’ve been called to Brickell and Edgewater jobs where a well-intentioned owner cracked the spacer bar trying to force a sash back into alignment. The $180 service call became a $1,400 unit replacement. If you’re unsure, call (786) 321-4970 and we’ll talk through what you’re seeing. Estimates are free, and we carry common hardware on the truck.
FAQs
Properly maintained CGI units last 20-30 years in South Florida, though hardware typically needs attention at 8-12 years and IGUs may require replacement at 15-20 years due to seal fatigue in thermal cycling. Salt-front properties see faster hardware corrosion. Call (786) 321-4970 for an exact quote on your unit - estimates are free.
Hardware, weatherstripping, and roller assemblies can often be repaired or swapped individually. IGU seal failure and frame corrosion generally require full unit replacement. We assess each opening on site and quote both paths when both are viable. Call (786) 321-4970 to schedule your free estimate.
A standard sash replacement in an existing frame takes 2-3 hours per opening. Full-frame replacement with exterior stucco and interior trim repair typically requires one day per two openings, plus cure time for sealants. We provide a written schedule with the quote. Call (786) 321-4970 for your specific timeline.
We carry rollers, locks, handles, and weatherstripping for the Estate and Sentinel lines on every Miami service vehicle. Full sashes and framed units are pulled from CGI’s local warehouse or our shop inventory, usually available within 24 hours. Call (786) 321-4970 to confirm availability for your model.
Rowan Construction Group Miami is an independent service provider and is not affiliated with CGI Windows & Doors. We also stock parts and install units from KraftMaid, Cambria, and Silestone across our seven trades.
Measure twice, write it down, then build it. That’s how we’ve delivered 4,000-plus projects within a few percent of the agreed price since 2007.
Written by Grant Rowan, Owner, Rowan Construction Group Miami at Rowan Construction Group Miami, serving Miami and nearby areas.
