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CGI Window Installation: The Palm Beach Owner’s Guide
CGI window installation in Palm Beach typically runs $850 to $1,400 per opening for a standard impact window, parts and labor included, and we can usually complete the swap the same day once the unit is in hand. That price covers removal of the old sash or frame, prep of the rough opening, proper flashing, and a clean interior and exterior trim-out. Most homeowners in Palm Beach discover the need for a new CGI window because a storm raised the stakes on an older unit, a seal failed and fogged the glass, or the frame took enough salt-air punishment that the window no longer closes flush. Sometimes it’s simpler than that: a rental guest forced a window, a screen frame bent, or a crank stripped, and suddenly the opening won’t dry-fit the way it should.

We’re an independent service provider, not a CGI factory store. That matters because we carry parts made for CGI’s Florida lineup on our trucks, and we’re not bound to one supplier’s pricing structure. When you call us about a failed window, the first thing we do is identify the exact series and size stamped on the glass and frame.
Which CGI Models This Applies To
CGI builds most of its Florida impact windows under the Estate, Sentry, and Targa series, with louver, picture, casement, single-hung, and horizontal roller configurations inside those lines. The most common Palm Beach installations we see are Estate Series single-hungs and Targa sliding windows, because builders along the Intracoastal and on the barrier island specced them for their large missile ratings and salt resistance. Here’s the gotcha: a CGI model number doesn’t tell you whether the window was built for a large missile zone (Palm Beach barrier island) or small missile zone (west of the Intracoastal). We verify the sticker before ordering, because the glass package and frame reinforcement differ, and putting the wrong zone window into a barrier island opening violates Palm Beach County code.
Identify your window by the etched logo in the corner of the glass and the two-line model plate inside the frame track. The plate gives you the series, the size code, and the impact rating. When the part fails beyond reason, we generally recommend the OEM CGI sash or frame insert, not an aftermarket match. CGI’s Florida frames are engineered with a specific aluminum grade and weep pattern, and aftermarket parts often fit the rough opening but compromise the drainage and missile anchor points. If the OEM part is discontinued, we’ll tell you that before touching anything and lay out the retrofit options.
Signs Your CGI Window Installation Is Failing
- Fog or condensation between the glass panes. The insulated glass unit’s seal has failed, and in Palm Beach’s humidity, that fog never really dries out. Once the seal goes, the argon or krypton fill is gone, and the window’s thermal value is compromised even if the impact rating technically survives.
- The sash drags or binds when you open it. Salt air corrodes CGI’s aluminum balance channels and roller assemblies faster than anyone expects, especially within a mile of the ocean. A window that worked fine in January will bind by August if the rollers are spent.
- Water marks on the interior sill after a heavy rain. The weep holes are clogged or the frame seal has separated. In Palm Beach, a half-inch of rain in twenty minutes is a regular Thursday, and a window that can’t drain will put water down the wall cavity.
- The lock no longer holds tension. CGI’s multi-point locks are precision machines, and when the keeper or gearbox wears, the sash won’t compress the weatherstripping. You’ll feel air movement around the frame long before you see a problem.
- The glass rattles inside the frame. The glazing tape or structural silicon has let go. That rattle is not a personality quirk; it means the impact lite is no longer fully bonded to the frame, and in a storm, the window isn’t doing the job it was rated for.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
In Palm Beach, a full CGI window replacement runs from $850 for a smaller fixed or single-hung unit up to $1,400 for a large sliding or casement window, installed. The price moves based on size, which CGI series you have, whether the frame itself is reusable, and whether we’re matching an existing finish. If the frame is sound and only the sash or glass is shot, the cost lands on the lower end because we’re not rebuilding the opening.
Every installation includes removal and disposal of the old unit, flashing and sealing to Palm Beach County wind-load standards, interior and exterior trim-out, and our workmanship warranty. We give you a written, line-item price before the job starts, and the number on the estimate is the number on the invoice. No change orders because we ‘found something.’ If we find something, we call you, show you, and you decide before we proceed.
DIY or Call Us?
You can safely inspect a CGI window without touching a fastener: check the weep holes at the bottom of the frame, look for cracks in the glazing seal, and run your hand along the weatherstripping for gaps. Beyond that, I’d stop. These are impact windows, and the frame anchoring is engineered to keep a missile through hurricane force winds. Loosening the mullion anchors or prying out the frame without knowing the anchor schedule risks weakening the one thing your window is supposed to do: keep the structure envelope intact during a storm. If the issue is the glass unit, the sash, the lock, or the frame, the part needs to come out in a specific sequence, and the replacement needs to be sealed with the right materials for aluminum on masonry or wood-framed openings.
When the window’s done wrong, you won’t know until the first driving rain or the next named storm. That’s not a gamble worth taking. Call (561) 782-7525 and we’ll send a background-checked tech who does this work every week in Palm Beach.
FAQs
Plan on 20 to 25 years of service life from a properly installed CGI window in Palm Beach’s salt and sun environment, with glass seals and rollers often needing attention at the 10 to 15 year mark. Homes west of the Intracoastal generally get a few more years out of the aluminum than barrier island homes, where salt fog works around the clock. Call (561) 782-7525 and we’ll tell you whether your window is repairable or ready for replacement.
Yes, often it can; a failed glass unit, worn roller, or stripped lock is usually replaceable without swapping the whole frame, as long as the aluminum itself is sound. If the frame is pitting from salt corrosion or the anchor points have loosened in the wall, replacement is the honest answer. We’ll quote the part-only repair versus the full replacement and let you decide.
Most single CGI window replacements in Palm Beach are done the same day, start to finish, including trim-out and clean-up, assuming we’ve already sourced the correct series and size. We keep the common OEM parts for PGT, CGI, CWS, and ES Windows on the truck, and if your unit is an odd size, we’ll place the order at the estimate and install as soon as it lands.
Yes, we carry the common CGI replacement parts on our trucks: rollers, locks, keepers, balance assemblies, and seal kits, plus the glazing tape and structural silicon specified for CGI’s Florida frames. For larger or less common parts, we order direct and typically have them within a few business days. We also stock parts for PGT, CWS, and ES Windows, so if your home has a mixed lineup, one call handles the whole property.
When you’re ready to get the window right, call (561) 782-7525 for a free estimate. Ed Winslow’s name is on the truck. That’s the only guarantee you actually need. The one down the road.
Written by Ed Winslow, Owner, Winslow Windows & Doors at Winslow Windows & Doors, serving Palm Beach 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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