CGI Windows & Doors Review: A Legacy Review of the Discontinued Brand and What It Means for Florida Homeowners

CGI Windows & Doors no longer exists.

On October 31, 2025, MITER Brands officially sunset the CGI brand, discontinuing the Sentinel series, the Estate series, and all CGI French door models. The only product that survived was CGI Sparta, rebranded as PGT Sparta and folded into PGT's product portfolio.

If you're reading this, you're likely in one of two situations: you already have CGI windows in your home and want to know what the brand's discontinuation means for you, or you came across the CGI name while researching impact windows and need to understand what happened and what to buy instead.

This article covers both. We installed CGI products for years before the sunset, and we've helped dozens of homeowners navigate the transition since.

The History of CGI Windows & Doors

CGI was founded in 1992, the same year Hurricane Andrew tore through southern Miami-Dade County. Andrew destroyed or severely damaged over 125,000 homes, exposed the catastrophic failure of conventional windows under wind-borne debris impact, and triggered the most significant building code reform in Florida history.

The 1994 South Florida Building Code mandated impact-resistant glazing for all new construction in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). An entirely new product category needed manufacturers. CGI was one of the first to step up.

In 1994, CGI became the first manufacturer of hurricane windows and doors to offer laminated glass that met Miami-Dade County impact standards. That approval, verified through the Miami-Dade County Product Control Search, was a landmark. It meant CGI was among the companies that defined what an impact window actually was before there was an established playbook for manufacturing them.

For three decades, CGI operated out of a manufacturing facility in Medley, Florida (an industrial municipality west of Miami), producing aluminum-framed impact windows and doors with a focus on the South Florida residential and light commercial market.

CGI was eventually acquired by PGT Innovations, the company that created the impact window category with its WinGuard line. PGT itself was then acquired by MITER Brands (backed by Koch Equity Development) in a $3.1 billion deal that closed in March 2024.

That acquisition set the stage for the consolidation that ended CGI.

The CGI Brand Sunset: What Happened

When MITER Brands acquired PGT Innovations, it inherited a portfolio of overlapping brands: PGT, CGI, WinDoor, Western Window Systems, and others. The business logic was straightforward: multiple brands manufacturing similar aluminum impact windows in the same state for the same market created duplicate SKUs, redundant inventory, and fragmented brand equity.

On October 31, 2025, MITER made the decision:

• CGI Sentinel (mid-grade aluminum impact windows): Discontinued
• CGI Estate (premium/architectural aluminum impact windows): Discontinued
• CGI French Doors (all models): Discontinued
• CGI Sparta (value-tier aluminum impact windows): Retained as PGT Sparta

The rationale was to consolidate manufacturing, reduce duplicate SKUs, and concentrate brand equity under the PGT label, the most recognized name in the impact window industry. From a corporate perspective, it made sense. PGT WinGuard already covered the mid-to-premium range that Sentinel and Estate occupied, and WinDoor (also a MITER brand) handled the luxury/architectural tier. CGI's products were redundant.

CGI Is Not the Only Brand That Disappeared

The impact window industry has been in a period of rapid consolidation. CGI is one of several established brands that have been retired in recent years:

• Lawson Industries: Acquired by Pella/CWS, brand retired in September 2024
• Marvin Coastline Collection: Discontinued in November 2025
• CGI Windows & Doors: Sunset October 2025

This consolidation creates challenges for homeowners (brands they trusted are gone) but it also creates opportunity. Installers like Armor Pro who carry multiple manufacturers can guide homeowners to the best current option rather than being locked into a single brand's portfolio.

CGI Product Lines: What They Were

Even though CGI is discontinued, hundreds of thousands of CGI windows are installed in homes across South Florida. Understanding what you have matters for insurance documentation, replacement planning, and resale. Here's what each product line offered.

CGI Sentinel Series

The Sentinel was CGI's mid-grade residential workhorse, the line that most homeowners received when a contractor proposed CGI for a whole-house replacement project.

• Frame material: Aluminum only
• Product types: Single-hung, horizontal roller, picture/fixed, casement, awning
• Design pressure: Competitive DP ratings for HVHZ (High Velocity Hurricane Zone) applications
• Certification: Miami-Dade NOA certified, HVHZ approved
• Glass: Standard PVB laminated impact glass
• Target market: Standard residential replacement projects in South Florida

The Sentinel competed directly with PGT WinGuard Aluminum in the mid-tier segment. It was a solid, workmanlike product: not flashy, not the cheapest, but reliable. We installed Sentinel windows on many projects, and they performed well through multiple hurricane seasons.

CGI Estate Series

The Estate was CGI's premium and architectural line, targeting luxury residential and light commercial applications where aesthetics and performance both had to be elevated.

• Frame material: Aluminum only
• Design pressure: Higher DP ratings than Sentinel
• Hardware: Enhanced hardware package with premium finishes
• Design options: More configuration options, larger opening sizes, and more architectural flexibility
• Certification: Miami-Dade NOA certified, HVHZ approved
• Target market: Luxury homes, architecturally demanding projects, light commercial

The Estate competed with PGT's upper-tier WinGuard products and, to some extent, with WinDoor's luxury offerings. It was a good product line for projects where the homeowner wanted more than the standard Sentinel but didn't need (or want to pay for) a full WinDoor specification.

CGI French Doors

CGI offered a range of impact-rated French door models, all of which were discontinued in the October 2025 sunset. These were aluminum-framed, HVHZ-approved products that competed in the impact French door segment.

CGI Sparta

Sparta was CGI's value-tier line, a no-frills aluminum impact window designed to hit a lower price point for budget-conscious projects.

• Frame material: Aluminum only
• Design pressure: Up to +55/-65 PSF
• Target market: Price-sensitive residential, rental properties, budget-conscious whole-house replacements

Sparta is the only CGI product that survived the sunset, rebranded as PGT Sparta. It's now positioned as PGT's entry-level/value offering, sitting below WinGuard in the PGT product hierarchy.

If You Already Have CGI Windows: What You Need to Know

This is the section most relevant to homeowners who currently have CGI windows installed in their homes. The brand's discontinuation raises legitimate concerns, and here are the facts.

Your Windows Are Still Impact-Rated and Code-Compliant

A manufacturer discontinuing a product does not void its certifications. Your CGI windows were tested, approved, and assigned NOA (Notice of Acceptance) numbers by Miami-Dade County's Product Control division. Those approvals are tied to the product's tested performance, not to the manufacturer's ongoing production.

If your CGI windows passed the large missile impact test, the cyclic pressure test, and earned their NOA, they remain fully code-compliant impact windows. They still meet the requirements of the Florida Building Code and the HVHZ standards. Your home's wind mitigation inspection results are not affected.

You can verify your CGI window approvals through the Florida Product Approval database and the Miami-Dade County Product Control Search.

Your Warranty Is Honored by MITER Brands/PGT

Existing CGI warranties are honored by MITER Brands through PGT. If you need to file a warranty claim on a CGI product, contact PGT directly; they have assumed responsibility for all legacy CGI warranty obligations.

This is standard practice when a parent company retires a subsidiary brand. The warranty obligation transfers to the successor entity.

Replacement Parts Are Available (for Now)

PGT maintains parts inventory for legacy CGI products, including hardware, weatherstripping, balances, and other components. However, parts availability will decrease over time as existing inventory is depleted and manufacturing tooling is retired.

If you know your CGI windows need specific hardware or components, it's worth ordering sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to source exact-match replacement parts.

Insurance and Resale Considerations

Your CGI windows should still qualify for wind mitigation insurance credits. The wind mitigation inspection evaluates the physical characteristics of your window protection (impact-rated glazing with a valid product approval), not the current commercial status of the manufacturer. Your inspector can verify the NOA number on your CGI windows using the databases linked above.

For resale, the practical impact is minimal in the near term. Most homebuyers (and their inspectors) care about whether the windows are impact-rated and code-compliant, not whether the manufacturer is still actively producing new units. Over the longer term (10-15 years out), having a discontinued brand's windows may be a minor negotiation point, but by then, you would likely be considering replacement anyway.

What to Buy Instead of CGI

If you were shopping for CGI windows before the sunset, were quoted CGI by a contractor, or need to replace some or all of your existing windows, here are the current alternatives ranked by relevance.

PGT WinGuard: The Direct Successor

PGT WinGuard is the most direct replacement for CGI Sentinel and Estate products. Same parent company, same manufacturing ecosystem, and in the case of Sentinel, same market segment.

• Why it's the closest match: PGT and CGI were sister brands under PGT Innovations. WinGuard was the reason MITER felt comfortable discontinuing Sentinel and Estate; it already covered their territory.
• Aluminum and vinyl options: Unlike CGI, which was aluminum-only, PGT WinGuard is available in both aluminum and vinyl.
• DP ratings: WinGuard Aluminum achieves DP up to +90/-130 PSF for architectural windows. WinGuard Vinyl reaches DP +65/-70 PSF.
• Certification: Miami-Dade NOA certified, HVHZ approved, broadest product selection of any manufacturer.
• Lead time: Currently 10-12 weeks.
• Trade-off: PGT is approximately 20% more expensive than ES Windows for comparable specifications. Low-E and premium finishes are add-on upcharges.

PGT Sparta: The Literal Continuation

If you had CGI Sparta, the product still exists; it was simply rebranded as PGT Sparta. Same aluminum frame, same DP ratings (up to +55/-65 PSF), same value positioning.

ES Windows Elite: Best Value Alternative

ES Windows (the residential brand of Tecnoglass, NYSE: TGLS) is now the #1 selling impact window manufacturer in Florida by volume. The Elite line is the most relevant CGI alternative for homeowners who want premium features without the PGT price premium.

• Price advantage: Approximately 20% less expensive than PGT for comparable specifications.
• Standard inclusions: Low-E glass with tint, Kynar/Dynar coatings, heat-strengthened glass, and stainless steel hardware, all included at no additional charge. (PGT charges extra for most of these.)
• DP rating: +80/-80 PSF (HVHZ approved).
• Lead time: 5-6 weeks, the fastest among major manufacturers.
• Trade-off: Narrower product range than PGT, vinyl line still maturing.

For many homeowners who were in the CGI mid-tier (Sentinel), ES Windows Elite delivers better specifications at a lower price. It's the option we recommend most frequently as a CGI replacement.

ECO Window Systems

ECO is an independently owned manufacturer (MITER Brands divested the brand) offering budget-friendly aluminum impact windows. ECO is a viable option for homeowners who want to stay in the aluminum-only, value-oriented space that CGI Sparta occupied.

CWS Hurricane Guard

CWS (a Pella brand, formerly connected to the Lawson Industries acquisition) offers the Hurricane Guard line, an HVHZ-approved aluminum impact windows. It's a solid mid-tier option, though availability and dealer coverage vary by market area.

EAS (Eastern Architectural Systems)

EAS offers both vinyl and aluminum impact windows and doors, serving the South Florida HVHZ market. They're a smaller manufacturer with a loyal installer base.

CGI vs PGT: A Historical Comparison

Since many homeowners encountered CGI and PGT as competing options, here's how the two brands compared when both were available.

The fundamental difference was always breadth. PGT offered aluminum and vinyl, a wider range of configurations, more NOA certifications, and a longer track record. CGI was the aluminum specialist with a strong local reputation in South Florida, but its product range was narrower. When MITER evaluated which brands to keep, PGT's broader portfolio and stronger national brand recognition made it the obvious survivor.

The Bigger Picture: Industry Consolidation

CGI's sunset is part of a larger pattern reshaping the impact window industry. Understanding this pattern helps homeowners make better long-term decisions.

The Florida impact window market has consolidated dramatically since 2020. The major moves:

1. MITER Brands acquires PGT Innovations ($3.1 billion, March 2024), bringing PGT, CGI, WinDoor, and Western Window Systems under Koch Equity Development's umbrella.
2. Pella acquires Lawson Industries. Lawson brand retired September 2024, folded into CWS.
3. MITER divests ECO Window Systems. ECO returns to independent ownership.
4. Marvin discontinues Coastline Collection (November 2025).
5. CGI sunset (October 2025).

The practical effect for homeowners: fewer brands, fewer options, and more market power concentrated in fewer hands. The counterbalance is that independent manufacturers like ES Windows (Tecnoglass) and ECO have gained market share precisely because the consolidation created openings.

For an installer like Armor Pro, brand consolidation reinforces why we carry multiple manufacturers. We're not locked into a single brand that might be discontinued next year. When CGI was sunset, we transitioned our CGI customers to PGT WinGuard and ES Windows Elite without missing a beat. Homeowners who worked with a CGI-exclusive installer had a harder time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are my CGI windows still impact-rated now that the brand is discontinued?

Yes. Your CGI windows' impact rating and NOA (Notice of Acceptance) approval are based on the product's tested performance, not on the manufacturer's ongoing commercial operations. A brand being discontinued does not void or change the product's certification. Your windows are still code-compliant and still meet HVHZ standards if they were approved for that zone. You can verify your product approval through the Florida Product Approval database.

Who handles CGI warranty claims now?

MITER Brands, through PGT, has assumed responsibility for all existing CGI warranties. Contact PGT directly for any warranty claims on CGI products. Keep your original purchase documentation, contract, and any NOA numbers associated with your windows.

Can I still get replacement parts for my CGI windows?

PGT maintains parts inventory for legacy CGI products, including hardware, locks, balances, weatherstripping, and operator mechanisms. However, this inventory is finite and will not be replenished once depleted. If you know you need parts, order them sooner rather than later. Your installer or PGT's customer service department can help identify the correct part numbers.

What is the closest current equivalent to CGI Sentinel?

PGT WinGuard Aluminum is the most direct equivalent; it's the same parent company's mid-to-premium aluminum impact window line. For a more cost-effective alternative with premium features included standard, ES Windows Elite is approximately 20% less expensive than PGT and includes Low-E glass, Kynar coatings, and stainless hardware at no extra charge.

I was quoted CGI windows by a contractor before the sunset. What should I do?

Your contractor should be offering PGT equivalents at comparable pricing. If they haven't proactively reached out to discuss the transition, that's a red flag about their communication practices. Ask for a revised quote specifying the replacement product (likely PGT WinGuard or PGT Sparta), and compare it to quotes from installers who carry multiple brands. The transition is a natural opportunity to re-evaluate your options.

Will my CGI windows still qualify for insurance discounts?

Yes. Wind mitigation inspections evaluate the physical characteristics of your window protection: impact-rated laminated glass with a valid product approval. The inspector verifies the NOA number, not whether the manufacturer is still in business. Your CGI windows should continue to qualify for the same wind mitigation credits they always have.

How do I know if my windows are CGI?

CGI windows typically have a manufacturer label or stamp on the frame, often visible when the window is open. The label may include the CGI name, the product series (Sentinel, Estate, Sparta), and the Miami-Dade NOA number or Florida Product Approval number. You can also check the original permit documents from your installation; these should reference the manufacturer and product approval numbers. For help identifying your windows, see our guide on how to tell if your windows are impact.

Should I replace my CGI windows now that the brand is discontinued?

Not necessarily. If your CGI windows are in good condition, properly sealed, and performing well, there's no urgent reason to replace them solely because the brand was discontinued. They remain impact-rated and code-compliant. The time to consider replacement is when you experience performance issues (seal failures, hardware wear, water intrusion), when parts become unavailable, or when you're planning a renovation. When that time comes, we recommend scheduling a free estimate to evaluate your options across current manufacturers.

Next Steps

If you have CGI windows and need guidance, whether it's sourcing replacement parts, filing a warranty claim, or planning a future replacement project, we can help. As installers who carried CGI for years and now work with PGT, ES Windows, ECO, and other manufacturers, we know exactly where the product lines overlap and which current product is the best match for your situation.

If you're a homeowner who found this article while researching impact windows for a new project, the CGI brand is gone, but the options available today are strong. We'd recommend starting with our impact windows overview and cost guide to understand the market, then scheduling a consultation to compare products in person.

Request a Free Estimate: we'll assess your current windows (CGI or otherwise), explain the current product landscape, and provide quotes from multiple manufacturers so you can make an informed decision.