Free in-home measure and quote - PGT, CGI and CWS impact lines compared on your actual openings, style by style
Sliding glass doors
Impact garage doorsPGTCGI
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterCWS Roof Repair in Fort Lauderdale: What to Know First
We repair CWS roof windows, skylights, and roof glazing systems throughout Fort Lauderdale as an independent CWS service provider, not as a manufacturer-authorized dealer. Most CWS roof repairs are completed in a single visit, with typical turnaround running two to five business days once the failed component is identified and sourced. Honest pricing posture: you’ll get a written line-item estimate before we touch anything, and the number on that sheet is the number on the final bill.
If you own a CWS roof window or skylight that’s leaking, fogged, binding, or simply not sealing the way it did when it was installed, this page is for you. Call us at (954) 280-4413 and a live person will answer. We don’t run a voicemail tree, and we don’t ask you to fill out a callback form.
How CWS Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
We’ve worked on enough CWS units across Fort Lauderdale to recognize the patterns. Here’s what actually goes wrong, by the failure mode we see most often:
- Hardware corrosion on CWS roof vent operators. CWS roof windows use a gear-and-hinge operator assembly that does not hold up well to salt air. In neighborhoods east of Federal Highway, we regularly see operators that seize within five to seven years of installation. The failure is slow, not sudden: the crank gets stiffer, then binds, then the handle threads strip. We replace the operator with an OEM-grade unit when the window is still under warranty, or a quality aftermarket match when it’s not.
- Flashing and curb seal breakdown on CWS deck-mounted skylights. CWS curb-mounted roof windows rely on an aluminum flashing kit that gets baked by the Fort Lauderdale sun. The sealant between the flashing and the curb joints dries and cracks, and water starts tracking under the flashing rather than over it. A visible leak at the interior corner is almost always a flashing problem, not a glass problem. We pull the flashing, inspect the curb, reseal with a marine-grade polyurethane, and re-flash to original spec.
- Glazing seal failure - fogging between the panes. Like most insulated glass, CWS glazing units eventually lose their seal, but in roof-mounted units the failure accelerates because the glass sits at a steeper angle and bakes harder in direct sun. When you see fog between the panes that won’t wipe off, that’s a dead seal. The fix is glass replacement, and we order the replacement IGU (insulated glass unit) not a patch.
- Warped sashes on larger CWS roof window spans. CWS fixed roof windows and operable sashes over roughly 40 inches wide can warp slightly over time, especially on south-facing exposures in Fort Lauderdale. The warp breaks the compression seal around the sash and creates a leak that no amount of recaulking will fix. We check the sash with a straight edge on every leak diagnosis, because replace-the-seal-isn’t-the-fix is one of the most common wrong answers we see from other contractors.
- Condensation-driven water damage at CWS curb interfaces. In Fort Lauderdale’s humidity, roof windows form interior condensation when the warm, wet interior air hits the cooler glass. If the curb’s interior vapor barrier was installed incorrectly, that condensation gets into the drywall around the opening. Homeowners call this a leak, and it is, just not from the roof. We diagnose it correctly and fix the interface rather than chasing a roof leak that never existed.
Our CWS Roof Repair Process
The work follows a set order because that’s what produces a repair that lasts. Here’s how a typical CWS job goes from first call to final inspection:
- 1
We answer the phone. You describe the symptom. We schedule a diagnostic visit. Live person, every time, 24 hours a day.
- 2
We inspect on-site. We examine the glass, the sash, the operator, the flashing, and the curb. We measure everything, including the opening, not just the visible damage. As Dale Kessler puts it: if it is not right on paper, it will not be right on the wall.
- 3
We give you the decision in writing. That’s the line-item estimate with the part, the labor, and the warranty terms. We tell you whether an OEM part makes sense or whether a quality aftermarket component is the better value for the age of your unit. No hidden line items.
- 4
We source and schedule. Once you approve the work, we get the part. Most CWS components are available within two to five business days. We’ll be there when we say.
- 5
We do the repair. Background-checked, uniformed technicians handle the entire job, from removal to replacement to sealant to cleanup. We work in your home the way we’d work in our own mother’s.
- 6
We test and we stand behind it. We run the unit through its full range of motion, check the seal, water-test when appropriate, and confirm the repair against original spec. Every job is covered by our Done Right Promise.
What CWS Roof Repair Costs in Fort Lauderdale
The final number depends on what failed, but here are honest ranges for the CWS scenarios we handle most often in Fort Lauderdale, so you know what to expect before you call:
- Operator or crank mechanism replacement: $180-$340, including parts and labor.
- Flashing reseal and curb repair: $350-$650, depending on curb condition and access.
- Insulated glass unit replacement (single CWS pane): $400-$850, depending on glass size and glazing spec.
- Full sash replacement on a large operable CWS roof window: $750-$1,400, including labor and hardware.
- Complete curb-mounted skylight replacement: $1,600-$3,200, depending on unit size, curb style, and whether we’re replacing the flashing kit as well.
What moves the price: unit age, whether it’s a standard or a custom CWS line, roof access, and whether the damage is isolated to one component or has spread to the curb. We offer a permanent 5% discount for seniors and veterans, plus a free written repair estimate. Call (954) 280-4413 for a free estimate with a written line-item breakdown.
Why Fort Lauderdale Homeowners Call TruePane Windows & Doors for CWS Work
We’re not the cheapest bid, and we don’t pretend to be. We’re the crew you call once and then stop worrying about. We’ve served South Florida homeowners since 2008, and our founder, Dale Kessler, learned the trade at McFatter Technical College in Davie before spending two decades working glass and framing across Broward County’s coastal corridor. He grew up in Sailboat Bend resealing jalousie windows with his father, so when we say Fort Lauderdale heat and salt air break windows in predictable ways, that’s not marketing, that’s memory.
Our technicians are background-checked, uniformed, and trained to work a CWS roof repair the right way, the first time. And because we’re an authorized installer for more than a dozen manufacturer lines, including PGT, CGI, ES Windows, and ECO Window Systems, we can give you straight side-by-side advice if your CWS unit has reached the point where replacement makes more sense than repair. Every job we do is backed by our Done Right Promise and The Keystone Standard: both warranty layers registered in writing before the truck leaves your driveway.
FAQs
A leak that comes from failed flashing or an improper seal will typically void the manufacturer’s coverage on that unit, because the leak is considered an installation issue, not a manufacturing defect. Our repair approach is warranty-safe: we re-flash and reseal to the original installation spec, and we register every part we install in writing. Call (954) 280-4413 if you’re worried about a leak and a warranty status, and we’ll tell you straight what’s covered and what isn’t.
Most CWS repairs are completed within two to five business days once the failed component is identified and sourced, and many jobs are done in a single visit. If the part is in stock locally, we can often cut that timeline shorter. Call (954) 280-4413 for a current lead time, and a live person will give you a straight answer.
We use OEM parts when your warranty requires it or when the component is safety-critical, and quality aftermarket parts when the unit’s age makes OEM cost unreasonable and the aftermarket component meets or exceeds the original spec. You’ll see the difference on paper before you decide, with the price and the warranty terms for each option written out.
Repair is usually the right call when the glass is intact, the sash is square, and the failure is isolated to a component we can replace cleanly. Replacement makes sense when the unit is old enough that the seals and the sash are degrading together, or when the cost of repairs is approaching 70% of a new unit. We install PGT, CGI, ES Windows, and ECO Window Systems as replacement options when the time comes, and we’ll quote them side by side so you can see exactly what you’re buying.
It covers the workmanship of every CWS repair we do for 90 days. If something isn’t right, we make it right. No paperwork fights, no arguing, no fine print that covers neither. That promise sits on top of The Keystone Standard: both manufacturer warranty layers registered in writing, with durations stated, before we leave the driveway.
Written by Dale Kessler, Owner, TruePane Windows & Doors at TruePane Windows & Doors, serving Fort Lauderdale and nearby areas.
Six Reasons Homeowners Choose TruePane 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.