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
AfterCGI Custom Windows & Doors in Fort Lauderdale: What to Know First
As an independent CGI service provider in Fort Lauderdale, we handle custom windows and doors for existing CGI products: custom shape windows, commercial storefront glazing, curtain wall systems, architectural grilles and SDLs, and oversized glass panels. Most custom CGI work in our market runs two to four weeks from measure to install, depending on glass lead time and whether we’re matching an existing frame or building new. Pricing is honest and itemized before we cut anything, never after. If you own CGI windows or doors in Fort Lauderdale and need custom work done right, this page tells you exactly how we approach it. Call (954) 280-4413 to talk it through with a person.
How CGI Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Sentinel Series corner stress cracks. CGI’s Sentinel impact line uses laminated glass that’s stout, but in Fort Lauderdale’s salt air and afternoon sun, we see hairline stress cracks radiating from the corners of custom trapezoid and arch-top units. The cause is usually frame settlement or a slight out-of-square rough opening that loads the glass unevenly. We check the opening with a laser level before we order replacement glass, then shim and re-set the frame so the new pane isn’t fighting the house.
- Custom shape seal failures at apexes. Triangle and radius windows from CGI’s Estate Collection tend to lose their inert gas fill at the sharpest angles first. Florida humidity turns that into interior fogging fast. We don’t patch failed seals. We order a new insulated glass unit cut to the exact template, and we verify the seal spacer matches the original sightline so the replacement doesn’t look like an afterthought.
- Architectural grille and SDL rattling. Simulated divided lites on CGI doors and large fixed units work loose over time, especially on west-facing walls where thermal cycling is brutal. The rattle isn’t just noise; it means the grille clips or internal muntin bars are wearing against the glass. We remove the sash, re-secure the grille system with manufacturer-spec clips, and re-bed it so it sits quiet and true.
- Storefront and curtain wall gasket rot. On commercial storefront glazing and curtain wall systems here in Fort Lauderdale, the rubber gaskets and setting blocks on CGI frames break down in constant UV and salt exposure. Once the gasket fails, water gets behind the glass and starts corroding the aluminum channel. We replace gaskets with marine-grade EPDM, clean and re-coat the channel, and reset the glass with fresh setting blocks. That buys the frame another decade or more.
- Crank-out hardware on Estate casements binding. CGI casement operators are decent hardware, but years of coastal humidity and occasional salt spray seize the gear mechanism. Homeowners force the crank, strip the teeth, and then the sash won’t seal. We replace the operator with an OEM or better-quality aftermarket unit, lubricate the hinge track properly, and adjust the sash so it closes square against the weatherstripping.
Our CGI Custom Windows & Doors Process
- 1
Call and describe the job. A live person answers at (954) 280-4413. You tell us what you’re seeing, what’s broken, or what custom shape you’re after. We ask the questions that matter before we ever roll a truck.
- 2
Measure twice, on site. A background-checked, uniformed tech comes out, lasers the rough opening, and templates any custom glass. As Dale Kessler says, if it is not right on paper, it will not be right on the wall. We don’t order a custom pane until the numbers are verified twice.
- 3
Parts and glass decision, in writing. We quote OEM and quality aftermarket options side by side on paper. OEM keeps the CGI warranty intact. Aftermarket often saves money when the original warranty has already run out or when CGI no longer stocks the line. You decide, we document.
- 4
Repair or replacement. Our techs do the work: remove, re-set, re-seal, re-glaze. For custom shapes, the new glass unit is cut to the exact template from step two. For oversized panels, we bring the crew and equipment to handle the weight safely.
- 5
Test and walk it with you. We operate every moving part, check every seal, and make sure the pane sits true before we clean up. Then we register both warranty layers in writing and leave you with the paperwork.
- 6
The Done Right Promise. If anything isn’t right, we make it right. No arguing, no fine print, no second appointment left hanging.
What CGI Custom Windows & Doors Costs in Fort Lauderdale
Custom CGI work here runs on real numbers. Replacement insulated glass for a custom shape (trapezoid, arch, triangle) generally lands between $450 and $1,200 per unit, depending on size and whether it’s impact-rated laminated glass. Architectural grille and SDL re-securing on a door or transom runs $140 to $350. Crank-out operator replacement on an Estate casement falls around $95 to $220 installed. Full custom window fabrication, where we build a new frame and glass to match an existing CGI opening, starts around $1,400 and goes up with size and glass spec. Curtain wall re-gasketing is quoted by the linear foot after a site visit; there’s no honest flat number for that. What moves the price: glass type, frame condition, access (second-floor work and scaffolding), and whether you need OEM parts to hold a warranty. Call (954) 280-4413 and we’ll give you a written, itemized estimate before any work is ordered.
Why Fort Lauderdale Homeowners Call TruePane Windows & Doors for CGI Work
We’ve been serving Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding coastal communities since 2008. Dale Kessler grew up in Sailboat Bend and learned the trade at McFatter Technical College in Davie, then spent two decades working glass and framing across South Florida’s coastal corridor. This isn’t a franchise playbook; it’s a local company that hires local, trains apprentices into journeymen, and sponsors county fairs because we plan to be here in thirty years. Every job carries the Done Right Promise and The Keystone Standard: both manufacturer warranty layers registered in writing, durations stated, before our truck leaves your driveway. And when a CGI line is discontinued or a warranty has lapsed, we bring the multi-brand backup: Andersen, Pella, and PGT. Side-by-side quotes on paper, so you see exactly what you’re buying. We’ll be there when we say. If the pane is not true, the job is not done.
FAQs
We register both manufacturer warranty layers in writing as part of The Keystone Standard, and we use OEM parts where the warranty requires them. As an independent CGI service provider in Fort Lauderdale, we’re not authorized by CGI, but our paperwork and parts choices keep your coverage enforceable whenever the original warranty still applies. After the manufacturer period ends, our Done Right Promise covers the workmanship. Call (954) 280-4413 if you’re unsure whether your CGI line is still under warranty; we’ll check the serial and the registration records.
Yes. We template the existing opening and the original glass, then source or fabricate a replacement unit to the same shape and sightline. When CGI no longer stocks a discontinued line, we work with trusted aftermarket glass fabricators who cut laminated and insulated units to spec. The new pane will match the old one’s profile and performance; we verify seal spacer width and glass tint side by side before ordering. Call (954) 280-4413 for a measure and template appointment.
Replacement glass for a custom shape usually costs significantly less than an entire new custom window, especially when the frame is still square and the hardware functions. We only recommend full replacement when the frame itself is compromised: rotted, corroded, or so out of square that re-setting it would fail. The honest answer depends on what we find when we open it up. Estimates are free; call (954) 280-4413 and we’ll tell you which way to go after we see the unit.
Most custom insulated glass units for CGI products take two to four weeks from template to install, because the glass is cut and laminated to order. Standard shapes and common hardware we can often complete in under a week. For a genuine emergency, like a broken impact pane that’s left your Fort Lauderdale home open to weather, call (954) 280-4413 and we’ll board and stabilize the opening the same day, then order the replacement.
When a Fort Lauderdale job requires a permit under Broward County or city code, we pull it and schedule the inspection. Impact-rated custom work typically does, especially in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone. We factor the permit cost into the written estimate upfront; there are no surprise line items on the bill. Call (954) 280-4413 and we’ll check permit requirements for your specific address before we quote.
If you own CGI windows or doors in Fort Lauderdale and need custom work from someone who measures twice, registers the warranty in writing, and stands behind the job for 90 days with no fine print, call (954) 280-4413. We’ll walk the job with you, put the numbers on paper, and tell you honestly what it takes to make it right.
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.