Free in-home measure and quote - PGT, CGI and CWS impact lines compared on your actual openings, style by style
Before
After
Before
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Before
AfterCGI Window Installation: The Kendall Owner’s Guide
CGI window installation in Kendall typically runs $340-$780 per opening for a standard replacement, depending on the series, impact rating, and whether the frame needs re-roughing. We stock CGI-compatible hardware, fasteners, and sealant profiles on every truck, and most residential replacements are measured, written up, and completed within one scheduled visit. Homeowners usually discover a problem when the sash won’t stay open, the lock tongue no longer catches, or they notice daylight between the frame and the wall after a storm season - signs that the installation, not just the window, has failed.
Which CGI Models This Applies To
CGI marks their series on a permanent label inside the frame throat or on the glass spacer: Estate Collection (aluminum impact), Sentinel by CGI (vinyl impact), and Targa (non-impact aluminum) are the three lines we see most in Kendall homes built between 2005 and 2020. The Estate 400/500/700 series use a 2-5/8 inch frame depth with a proprietary interlock; Sentinel vinyl uses a 3-1/4 inch nail fin set back 7/16 inch from the exterior face. Mixing series hardware is where most self-diagnoses go wrong - a Targa lock cams into a different keeper position than an Estate 500, and the screw spacing differs by 3/16 inch.
We carry OEM CGI fasteners and weatherstrip, but also stock quality aftermarket equivalents where the original part has been superseded. For example, the Estate 500 balance shoe (part 320-5C) was redesigned in 2019; the new shoe works in pre-2019 frames, but the old shoe will not work in post-2019 frames. We check the manufacturing date code before ordering. Sightline Windows & Doors Kendall is independently operated and not affiliated with CGI; we source parts through verified distributors and document the origin on every invoice.
Signs Your CGI Window Installation Is Failing
- The sash drifts closed or won’t stay open. This usually means the balance system has lost tension or the pivot bar has pulled out of the shoe. In Kendall’s humidity, the balance housing corrodes faster than inland specs predict, and we’ve replaced more of these in Dadeland-area townhomes than any other single part.
- Lock tongue won’t extend or retract smoothly. The multipoint lock mechanism has packed with grit, or the keeper has shifted because the frame screws have backed out. Once the keeper moves 1/8 inch, the lock starts camming against itself instead of sliding home.
- Visible gap between frame and wall, or water staining on the interior sill. The installation sealant has separated from the substrate, or the sill pan was never integrated with the housewrap. In Kendall’s flat-roof ranches, this shows up first on the south-facing wall where thermal cycling is most aggressive.
- Condensation between the glass panes. The insulated glass unit (IGU) seal has failed. This is a glazing issue, but the installation matters: if the frame was set out of square, the glass edge sits in twist stress and the seal fails years early. We see this on retrofits where the original installer skipped the dry-fit.
- Frame corners opening or caulk cracking at the miter. The window was fastened too tightly to the buck, or the shim pack was removed after setting. Aluminum expands roughly 1/8 inch per 10 feet per 100 degrees; a frame pinned rigid will tear its own caulk joint within two Florida summers.
Before
AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
| Service | Price Range (Kendall) | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Standard CGI window replacement (existing opening, no frame damage) | $340-$520 | Removal, new IGU or sash, OEM or verified-equivalent hardware, sealant, insulation, trim repair |
| Impact-rated CGI replacement (Estate or Sentinel series) | $480-$780 | Impact-rated glazing, reinforced fasteners, Miami-Dade HVHZ documentation, permit coordination if required |
| Frame re-roughing or sill pan replacement | $120-$240 additional | Structural repair, new flashing, housewrap integration, photo documentation |
| Hardware-only replacement (balance, lock, keeper) | $85-$180 | Part, labor, adjustment, written function test |
What drives the range: the series (impact glass adds material cost), the opening size (CGI makes up to a 60-by-96 inch fixed unit), and whether the original installation left the frame in condition to reuse. We measure every opening with a laser and write the price before any work starts; the quote you sign is the document the technician works from. Every installation carries our 365-Day Done Right Promise under the Haven Standard, and we leave a documented photo record of the completed work.
DIY or Call Us?
There is no dangerous spring or electrical hazard in a standard CGI window replacement, but there is a precision hazard. An owner can safely check: whether the lock keeper screws are loose, whether the weep holes are blocked with paint or debris, and whether the sash is fully seated in the track. These three checks solve about 20 percent of the calls we get.
Where DIY goes wrong: setting a replacement sash without checking the frame for twist, using generic silicone instead of a backer-rod-and-sealant system rated for 50 percent joint movement, and stripping the balance shoe by forcing it with a screwdriver. We’ve been called to Kendall homes where the owner spent $200 on parts and three Saturdays, then needed us to remove and reinstall the same unit correctly. Measure once, document it, then cut. If you’re holding a competitor’s written estimate, bring it to us for a free second opinion - we’ll review the scope and the spec, no charge.
Call (786) 321-3319 to schedule your free estimate. We’ll measure, write the price, and let you decide on your own timeline.
FAQs
A properly installed CGI window in Kendall should function without hardware failure for 15 to 20 years, though the balance system and weatherstrip typically need attention at 10 to 12 years due to salt-air corrosion and UV exposure. The installation itself - the sealant joint, the sill pan, the insulation - should last the life of the window unless the structure settles or the original work was out of square. Call (786) 321-3319 for an exact quote on your specific series and installation condition - estimates are free.
Sometimes: if the issue is a failed balance, a shifted keeper, or a separated sealant bead, repair is the right call and costs less than full replacement. If the frame is twisted, the IGU has failed, or the installation was never integrated with the housewrap, repair is temporary and replacement is the honest recommendation. We document both options in writing before any work starts. Call (786) 321-3319 for a free evaluation.
A standard single-hung or fixed replacement in an existing opening takes two to three hours on site, including removal, dry-fit, sealant cure time, and function testing. A full-frame replacement with re-roughing takes four to six hours. We schedule by the job, not by the hour, and the written price does not change if the work runs long. Call (786) 321-3319 to schedule your free estimate.
We stock CGI-compatible balances, locks, keepers, weatherstrip profiles, and sealant on every truck, and we carry common Estate and Sentinel sash sizes for same-day replacement when the frame is sound. Less common sizes and custom geometries are ordered with a 5-to-7-day lead time, and we schedule installation for the day the part arrives. Call (786) 321-3319 to confirm availability for your series and size - estimates are free.
Written by Sonia Raman, Owner, Sightline Windows & Doors Kendall at Sightline Windows & Doors Kendall, serving Kendall and nearby areas.