Performance, appearance, and quality. We know how important protecting your family is. Why leave it up to chance? CGI's performance ratings are unparalleled in the industry. Our internal quality stadards go beyond those of any other manufacturer. Architects, consumers, dealers and manufacturers alike recognize our reputation for quality. What's more, all of our hurricane resistant products offer the strength and longevity of aluminum, but with the look and feel of wood. Also check out CGI's beautiful new wood grain finishes. 

Below are just a few examples.

•CGI’s windows and doors are test-proven to be the strongest products on the market today. See our  comparison charts.

•CGI’s impact resistant windows can be installed on virtually any building, including high-rise buildings, and meet the most stringent impact code requirements.

•CGI offers 10’ tall impact resistant Single-Hung windows.

•CGI’s Designer Fixed Windows actually match the sightlines of our other operable windows. You can put a fixed window next to a casement or project out window and they look identical.

•CGI offers swing doors with high impact glass that are up to 42” wide at 7’ 6” tall, or up to 36” wide and 9’ feet tall. Most other manufacturers are limited to 36” wide and 8 feet tall.

•CGI’s hurricane doors are available and approved in both in-swing and out-swing configurations.

•The hinges for CGI’s hurricane doors are made by Hager and are fabricated from solid brass or stainless steel, while competitors use inexpensive aluminum hinges that can wear out quickly.

•CGI holds three separate patents for components we use in our impact resistant products. Our three point door lock mechanism allows for improved security, operation and product strength. The patented design of the sash carrier on the Single-Hung improves the smoothness of the window operation and its functionality. Our patented quad roller system used on the 375 Estate Horizontal Rolling Window

This is an important investment, so take the time to do your homework before you buy. Some important things to do when making a decision are:

1. Take time to see the actual products for yourself. Visit one or more dealer’s show rooms and ask to see examples of different products. A well made window not only should perform under severe weather conditions, but should enhance the beauty of your home. A manufacturers attention to fit and finish and details like the designs of its muntin and glazing beads are just some of the obvious difference .

2. Evaluate the strength of the impact window or door based on its design load (PSF- Pounds per Square Foot). The design load is the product’s ability to resist forces like that created by hurricane winds. Not all impact windows are created equal: they are approved at different levels of performance. The higher the PSF, the stronger the product. Compare the PSF rating to understand how products differ in strength. CGI’s hurricane windows are approved as high as 210 PSF (equates to 290 MPH winds), while most competitive manufacturers are only approved at around 70PSF. That makes their products only 1/3 as strong as ours.

3. Consider the product’s original intent when it was designed. Are you buying a product like CGI’s that was designed specifically to sustain the heavy impact of hurricane winds? Or, are you buying a product that has been modified to be able to meet only a marginal impact requirement? CGI specializes in impact resistant products unlike some other manufacturers. That means that 100 percent of our research and development is devoted to impact resistance.

Why take a chance? CGI’s impact resistant windows and doors are designed to higher performance thresholds. The benefits far outweigh the cost difference, and in many cases, the cost difference is minimal. Keep in mind; it’s not only the performance in a storm, but also the longevity of the product that makes it worth buying. The product features that make CGI products stronger also allow them to last much longer than the competition. We stand behind our products with an industry leading warranty. CGI hurricane windows and doors installed over 10 years ago are still performing and operating as when they were first installed. If you are considering purchasing impact resistant windows or doors, you owe it to yourself to understand the long term value difference between CGI and the other competitors.

All code approvals are not created equal. Code approvals can be granted for many different product types, product properties and product uses. When evaluating code approvals, make sure the products are specifically approved for impact by a reputable governing agency such as Miami-Dade County and verify the approved performance level (PSF). Some manufacturers misrepresent their products as impact approved, when in fact the product is not. Talk to a CGI dealer for more information. Beware of the following:

•Approved NON IMPACT windows and doors

•Impact windows and doors that are NOT approved for larger sizes, heights or locations in a structure.

•So called “impact products”, which are simply impact glass in a non-impact approved window. Under tropical storm conditions, the glass could fly out of the window framing. Confirm the details with a CGI dealer.

Make sure the products are approved for Large Missile Impact resistance. There is a lesser impact requirement which is called small missile. The tougher standard is the large missile (which also happens to qualify as small missile). However, the opposite is not the case and a small missile product cannot be used where large missile is required.

If you live anywhere that is subject to wind damage, you do. The only way to be certain that the products will perform properly is if they are approved by one of the governing bodies. Many consumers also buy impact resistant products for the other benefits including the burglar deterrent feature and security.

CGI products have deterred many burglaries in the past. Imagine how better you will sleep at night knowing how difficult it would be to break into your home. With a non-impact product, burglars can simply enter the house by breaking a window. CGI’s industry leading warranty provides break in protection. See warranty for details.

Contact your insurance company. They will usually require that you have an approved professional (inspector, contractor, architect or engineer) fill out an insurance form that can be obtained by your insurance company. Once completed and submitted, they should grant you a discount for this protection.

Many other manufacturers offer a low end, marginally compliant product that they market to tract builders. Comparing their products to ours is like comparing a bicycle to a sports car. They’ll both take you from point A to point B, but they will not perform the same over time. If you are considering wood windows, they can be as or more expensive than CGI. Even if aluminum clad, they will eventually require replacement. Wood windows and doors will expand when it’s humid and you will experience problems opening and closing them. Even the most advanced wood product will deteriorate a little every year. At what point has the decay exceeded the products ability to perform in a tropical storm?

CGI’s products, together with their safety benefits, longevity and style have the highest wind resistance and performance ratings in the industry. Our aluminum frames don’t deteriorate like wood or become brittle like vinyl: they stand the test of time. And unlike some other producers of impact resistant windows and doors, we offer a variety of styles to both compliment and enhance the design of your home.

No. CGI manufactures impact windows and doors. While some manufacturers may offer many different products, CGI is only focused on impact resistant windows and doors. Manufacturing an impact product varies greatly from a non-impact product and CGI has been manufacturing impact products longer than most other companies.

CGI only sells its products through recognized dealers. Please contact your local CGI dealer.

If you are comparing to a low end builder’s grade aluminum or vinyl products, CGI’s products can be more expensive. However, when compared to wood windows and doors CGI’s prices are frequently below the competition, This industry is no different than any other. It takes more money to produce a superior product. Of course weaker aluminum products are going to be less expensive since they cost less to produce. So do products that are manufactured overseas, and the result is a level of inconsistency that can seriously compromise the functionality of your doors and windows when it matters most.

The more you learn about the products you are considering before you buy the better you will appreciate and understand the differences. Don’t rely on somebody’s sales pitch: not even ours. Why can we say that? Because our products speak for themselves. Take the time to compare the products yourself.

NO. An impact window is a combination of a strong frame, impact glass, secure method of attaching the glass to the frame and a strong method of attaching the framing to the structure. While the glass may be able to resist the impact, the window framing will not be able to hold the glass in place. This type of upgrade is not recognized by any building department or insurance companies.

Films that are applied to existing glass are not approved as an impact resistant product. They may be approved and actually hold valid Miami Dade County Notice of Acceptance (Product Approval) as a plastic component. This simply means that the film material is flame retardant.

Window films serve the same level of impact protection as installing impact glass into a non-impact window, except that the film may scratch. While the film may hold the glass shards together, the glass with the film will fall out of the window frame. Sometimes film dealers offer to overlap the film on to the window frame and claim that this resolves this problem. This window treatment is not approved for impact resistance by Miami-Dade County. Refer to the question in this section that reads “Can I replace the existing glass on my windows and doors with impact glass and get the same level of protection?"

Reflective window films may be very good at reflecting the sun and making the home more comfortable. This is the same benefit that can be achieved with a coated glass product.

When you are evaluating hurricane protection options such as impact windows versus shutters, there are several factors you should consider:

1. Do you live in the home year round? If not, who will put up the shutters when you are not there?
2. Are you physically capable of installing the shutters by yourself? Are you likely to put the shutters up if a storm comes?
3. Do you like the look of roll-down or accordion shutters mounted to the exterior of your house?
4. Is energy efficiency important to you? Shutter systems do not provide you with energy savings like impact resistant windows and doors.
5. How important is home security to you? Unlike shutters, impact resistant windows and doors provide 24/7 protection against intrusion.
6. With impact windows and doors you will enjoy a significant reduction in outside noise and 99% of ultraviolet rays will be eliminated.
7. What about safety? Oftentimes shutters remain installed after a hurricane, blocking egress in the event of a fire. Also, during a hurricane closed shutters block outside light and visibility.
8. Consider what happens if a shutter fails. If glass behind the shutter breaks, the house “envelope” is breached possibly resulting in a catastrophic building failure.
9. Leaving the shutters up while gone invites potential burglars.

1. Aluminum window and door frames and sash are among the strongest designs available.
2. Wood and vinyl degrade in the harsh southern climate of high humidity and sun.
3. Aluminum is a recyclable green product.
4. Aluminum windows and doors provide years of protection, proven by years of installations in hurricane prone
     areas.
5. Aluminum windows and doors are factory finished and require minimal maintenance.

In addition to energy efficiency be sure to consider safety, strength, durability, energy efficiency and a company with products having a proven long-lasting track record & reputation for your homes protection. For southern climates SHGC matters because cooling costs drive energy consumption. For these climates it is best to reduce incoming radiant infrared solar energy to keep heat from entering your home. SHGC performance matters most, not U-factor. For northern climates U-factor matters because heating costs drive energy consumption.  For these climates it is best to maintain good insulating properties (IG glass) to keep heat inside your home.  U-factor performance matters most, not SHGC.

Combine the advantages of impact protection and energy savings by selecting from a wide variety of energy
efficient glass choices including tinted glass, Lo-E coatings and insulated glass. Choose your glass type based on where you live and your budget. For example, tinted laminated glass may be the most cost effective impact resistant glazing option. Consider tinted laminated for warm climates such as Florida, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and coastal areas of South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. If you are looking for higher performance glass options, laminated glass with a Lo-E coating, or insulated laminated glass with a Lo-E coating is available. These high performance glass options are perfect for cooler climates such as North Carolina, inland sections of South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, and anywhere required by local building codes. Please contact a Sentinel dealer for more information.
live and your budget. For example, tinted laminated glass may be the most cost effective impact resistant glazing option. Consider tinted laminated for warm climates such as Florida, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and coastal areas of South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. If you are looking for higher performance glass options, laminated glass with a Lo-E coating, or insulated laminated glass with a Lo-E coating is available. These high performance glass options are perfect for cooler climates such as North Carolina, inland sections of South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, and anywhere required by local building codes. Please contact a Sentinel dealer for more information.