CGI Window Replacement Nationwide

CGI Window Replacement: The Orlando Owner’s Guide

CGI window replacement in Orlando typically runs $450 to $1,200 per window installed, depending on the series, size, and whether you need single-hung, casement, or fixed units. We stock CGI-compatible sashes, insulated glass units (IGUs), and full-frame replacements, and we can usually get a CGI window swapped in a single visit once we confirm the measurements. Most Orlando homeowners discover a problem the hard way: a window that suddenly won’t lock, condensation trapped between the panes, or a crack that appeared after a storm and slowly spread across the glass.

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What surprises many owners is that a “failed window” is rarely the whole window. The frame is often fine. What fails is the glass pack, the balance system, or the weatherstripping, and knowing which one you’re dealing with changes the cost by hundreds of dollars. Sean Mackey and our crew have spent years pulling apart CGI units across Orlando, from College Park bungalows to Lake Nona new builds, and we can usually tell you what you’re looking at from a few photos and the label on the sash.

Which CGI Models This Applies To

CGI manufactures a fairly wide product line, but the units we replace most often in Orlando fall into three buckets: the Estate Collection (heavy-duty impact windows common in coastal and golf-course communities), the Sentinel series (mid-range impact-rated), and their standard non-impact vinyl and aluminum lines. Each series uses different glazing beads, balance hardware, and frame profiles, so the part has to match the series, not just the overall window size.

Here’s the compatibility gotcha we see all the time: CGI’s impact windows use a thicker laminated glass pack than their non-impact units, and the sash channels are cut differently to accommodate it. You cannot drop a non-impact IGU into an impact-rated frame and expect it to seat or seal correctly. The glass might physically fit, but the structural seal and the water management won’t. If you’re not sure which series you have, look for a small CGI label etched on the glass corner or a sticker inside the frame channel near the lock. The label will show the series name, the DP rating, and a date code that tells us exactly when it was built.

On the OEM-versus-aftermarket question: for glass packs, we almost always recommend OEM or a certified equivalent that matches CGI’s lamination spec, because Florida’s wind-borne debris codes don’t leave room for shortcut glass. For hardware like balances, locks, and weatherstripping, quality aftermarket parts often perform just as well and cost less. We’ll walk you through which parts matter and which ones don’t before you spend a dollar.

Signs Your CGI Window Replacement Is Failing

• Condensation or fog between the panes. The IGU seal has failed, which means the argon or krypton gas fill has escaped and humid Orlando air has gotten inside. Once that happens, the glass’s insulating value drops sharply, and no amount of wiping will fix it. The fix is a new IGU, not a new frame.
• The sash won’t stay open or is hard to lift. This is usually a failed balance system, the spring or block-and-tackle mechanism inside the side channels. After years of Orlando humidity and heat, the internal springs fatigue, and the window either slams shut or needs two hands to open.
• Visible cracks or chips in the glass, especially after a storm. With CGI impact glass, small chips can sometimes be repaired, but a crack that runs means the laminate layer is compromised. Even if water isn’t coming in yet, it will, and the structural rating is no longer what it was.
• Drafts or heat you can feel near a closed window. Weatherstripping and glazing beads degrade fast in Central Florida’s sun and rain cycles. If you can feel hot air seeping around the sash on an August afternoon, the seal is gone and your AC bill is paying the price.
• The window locks, but the latch doesn’t engage fully. Frame settling, sash warpage, or worn lock hardware can leave a window that looks closed but isn’t actually secured. Sometimes the fix is a lock replacement; sometimes the sash itself has shifted and needs realignment.

Replacement Cost & What’s Included

Here’s the pricing picture for Orlando, and we’ll be straight about what drives it. A single CGI insulated glass unit replacement, where the frame and sash are in good shape, usually lands between $450 and $800 installed. A full sash replacement, which includes new glass, frame, and hardware in the existing rough opening, runs $700 to $1,200. A complete frame-out replacement, where we pull the entire window down to the studs and set a new unit, starts around $1,200 and goes up based on size and whether we’re matching stucco, siding, or trim work on the exterior.

The range comes down to three things: window size, glass package (impact-rated laminated glass costs more than annealed), and whether your existing frame can be reused. Every quote we write includes the part, the labor, the haul-away of the old unit, and the finishing work, all locked in writing before we start. No change orders, no “we found something else” conversations at the door. Our 365-Day Done Right Promise covers the replacement parts and our labor for a full year, in writing.

DIY or Call Us?

There are a few things an owner can safely check before calling: the label inside the frame channel to identify your series, the date code on the glass, and whether the failure is in the glass, the hardware, or the weatherstripping. Photos of those three things, sent to us, will save you time before anyone sets foot on your property.

What you should not do is attempt to remove or replace an impact-rated window yourself. These units are heavy, often 150 to 200 pounds for a large sash, and the bolts that anchor CGI frames to a concrete block home are under serious tension. If a window drops mid-removal or a frame isn’t re-anchored to spec, you’re looking at property damage or injury. There’s also the code side: Orlando’s building department requires permits for window replacement when you’re touching the structural opening. We pull them, schedule the inspection, and handle the paperwork. If you’d rather not wrestle a 180-pound window on a Saturday afternoon, call (850) 679-8554 and we’ll get you on the schedule with a written price first.

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