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CGI Window Replacement: The Coral Gables Owner’s Guide
If you have a CGI window that’s fogged, cracked, warped, or hard to operate, we replace it with a correct-fit CGI-compatible unit, typically installed for $900 to $2,800 per window in Coral Gables depending on size and glass package. Most single-window swaps are done in one visit, and we stock the common CGI frame hardware and glass specs on our trucks. The way Coral Gables homeowners usually discover the problem is slow: a window gets harder to close, condensation shows up between the panes and won’t go away, or a hairline crack appears after a storm and grows over the next few months.
What you’re dealing with is a failed insulating glass unit (IGU), damaged frame, or worn balance hardware inside a window that was built to take a hurricane hit. The good news: you don’t need to replace every window in the house. You can replace the one that failed, match the existing CGI series, and keep the rest of your wall looking uniform.
Which CGI Models This Applies To
CGI builds windows in several series lines, and the replacement path depends on which one you have. The most common in Coral Gables homes are the Estate Collection, Sentinel, and Targa series. Estate and Sentinel windows use heavier extruded aluminum frames with different glass pocket depths than Targa, which is their more architecturally streamlined line. That difference matters: you can’t drop a Targa IGU into an Estate frame and expect the gasket to seal. We pull the original factory label when we can find it, and when we can’t, we measure the glass thickness, frame pocket depth, and overall sash width to identify the series before we order anything.
For the replacement itself, you have a real decision. OEM CGI glass and hardware carry the full original warranty structure and typically arrive in one to two weeks from CGI’s Miami distribution. Quality aftermarket equivalents, from suppliers we’ve vetted over years of Coral Gables installs, often match the performance spec and cost 15 to 25% less. If the window is in a wind-borne debris zone or a full-exposure elevation, we recommend OEM, period. For a bedroom window that’s leaking air more than water, a properly spec’d aftermarket IGU is a smart, honest way to save money. We walk through both prices before any work starts so you decide with your eyes open.
Signs Your CGI Window Replacement Is Failing
- Fog or condensation between the panes. The IGU seal has failed and the desiccant inside is saturated. South Florida humidity accelerates this, because the sealant is working against moist air year-round. It won’t dry out and clear on its own.
- You can feel heat radiating through the glass in the afternoon. When the low-E coating starts to degrade or the gas fill has escaped, the window loses its thermal barrier. Your AC bill feels it before you do.
- The sash drags, sticks, or drops when you open it. CGI balance systems and pivot bars wear over time, especially on windows facing direct afternoon sun. A window that used to stay open now creeps down. That’s mechanical wear, not user error.
- A visible crack, even a small one, in the laminated glass. Laminated impact glass is designed to hold together when struck, and it often does exactly that. But the crack exposes the interlayer to UV and moisture, and the structural rating is compromised. Small cracks today become bigger cracks after the next close call.
- Water or dirt collecting in the track. The weep system is clogged or the frame has shifted slightly out of square. Either way, water that doesn’t drain will find its way into the wall or the frame channel, and that rust and rot is a slow-moving problem.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
For Coral Gables single-family homes, an installed CGI window replacement runs $900 to $2,800 per window. The spread is driven by three things: glass package (clear impact glass is the entry point, tinted low-E is mid-range, and high-performance laminated with argon fill is the top), frame finish (custom colors and woodgrain cost more than standard white), and size. A 36″ x 60″ Estate Series window with standard glass might land around $1,400 installed. A 72″ x 72″ Sentinel with custom bronze finish and upgraded glass will push toward the top of the range.
Every quote we write is line-itemed: the glass unit or frame component, the labor, the haul-away, and any permit fees if they apply. You see exactly what you’re paying for before we start. The price we quote is the price on the invoice. And the work is covered by the Done Right Promise: if it’s not done right, we come back and make it right. That’s Ed’s name on it, and Ed has been doing this in South Florida for more than two decades.
We also apply the standing discounts that have been part of our business since 2011: $40 off any repair over $200, a free second opinion on any written estimate you’ve gotten elsewhere, and 10% off for seniors and veterans. If you’re inside our home county, there’s no trip charge, either.
DIY or Call Us?
Here’s the honest split. You can safely check the condition of your weatherstripping, clean the track, and see whether a sash is misaligned because a screw backed out. Those are five-minute visual checks. What you should not do is attempt to replace an impact-rated IGU yourself. CGI windows are designed to hold laminated glass under pressure. Removing that glass without the right tools and handling the sealants and structural glazing tape correctly can turn a $1,400 job into a $4,000 frame replacement, and we’ve seen it happen. The glass is heavy. The sealants matter. The tolerances are tight. This is a job for a crew that does it every week.
If you suspect the window has lost its impact rating, don’t wait. In Coral Gables, every month of summer is a test. Call (904) 478-8983 and we’ll schedule a look, quote it honestly, and get it corrected.
FAQs
A properly installed CGI window should last 25 to 35 years in Coral Gables, though the IGU seal commonly fails in the 12-to-20-year range because of our salt air, intense UV, and humidity cycles. The frame typically outlives the glass by a decade, which is why a glass-only replacement often makes more sense than a full window tear-out.
Some hardware issues can be repaired: a worn balance, a broken pivot bar, a failed weatherstrip. Those are component swaps we do in under an hour. A fogged or cracked IGU cannot be repaired. The sealed unit has to be replaced. If the frame is in good shape, we replace the glass unit inside the existing frame and save you the cost and mess of a full window swap. Call (904) 478-8983 and we’ll tell you which path applies to your window.
For a single window with the IGU or component in stock, we’re typically done in 60 to 90 minutes on site. If we have to order OEM glass from CGI, expect one to two weeks for the unit to arrive, and then one visit to install.
We stock the common CGI frame hardware: balances, pivot bars, weatherstripping, and standard-sized low-E laminated IGUs for the most common Estate, Sentinel, and Targa configurations in Coral Gables. We also stock compatible parts for PGT, CWS, and ES Windows systems. If your exact unit isn’t on the truck, we order it direct and keep you posted on the delivery date.
Written by Ed Winslow, Owner, Winslow Windows & Doors at Winslow Windows & Doors, serving Coral Gables and nearby areas.
Six Reasons Homeowners Choose Winslow Windows & Doors
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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