Impact Window Warranties Explained: PGT, CGI, ES, and What Coverage Really Means

Impact window warranties look reassuring on a brochure: limited lifetime frames, decades of glass coverage, even a burglary rider. What the actual documents cover is narrower than most homeowners assume, and the differences between brands are bigger than the sales sheets suggest.

We install windows from several Florida manufacturers, which means we read these documents for a living. For this guide we compared the current warranty paperwork line by line: PGT PGT PGT Custom Windows & Doors America's largest impact window and door manufacturer, with 45 years of Florida-specific engineering. Miami-Dade NOA / HVHZ approved 56 models across 7 product lines Explore PGT 's April 2026 revision, CGI's final revision before the brand retired, the ES Windows ES Windows ES Windows Tecnoglass-owned, vertically integrated impact windows and doors with in-house glass and aluminum. Miami-Dade NOA / HVHZ approved 145 models across 9 product lines Explore ES Windows residential certificate, the ECO Window Systems ECO ECO Window Systems Miami-made impact windows and doors with vertical glass integration and Miami-Dade NOA coverage. Miami-Dade NOA / HVHZ approved 41 models across 10 product lines Explore ECO warranty, and the Eastern Architectural Systems EAS Eastern Architectural Systems Fort Myers manufacturer of vinyl and aluminum impact windows and doors, makers of the Bertha line. 18 models across 6 product lines Explore EAS warranty. Here is what each one covers, what voids it, and the fine print that decides whether a claim gets paid.

Terms below come from the documents in force as of this writing. Manufacturers revise warranties, and the version that applies to you is the one in effect when your windows were delivered, so confirm the revision on your own paperwork.

Two Warranties Cover Every Installed Window

When an installer puts impact windows in your home, two separate promises attach to the job, and confusing them is the most common warranty mistake we see.

The manufacturer's product warranty covers the window itself: the frame, the glass, the hardware, the finish. If a sash corner fails or an insulated glass unit fogs from seal failure, that is a product defect, and the manufacturer owes you a repair or a replacement part under its published terms.

The installer's workmanship warranty covers everything about how the window went into the wall: the anchoring, the flashing, the sealing, the water management around the opening. If water shows up at the frame-to-buck joint after a rainstorm, that is almost never a product defect. It is an installation question, and the manufacturer's document explicitly walks away from it.

The line between the two matters because every manufacturer document reviewed here excludes labor. PGT's warranty states it is not responsible for labor or delivery costs incurred in repairing or replacing products. ES Windows says flatly that it will not perform any labor related to repairs or installation work; it ships the part. ECO and EAS use the same structure. A defective sash may cost you nothing as a part while the work of swapping it belongs to whoever stands behind the installation.

So before you sign a contract with any window installation company, ask two questions: what does your workmanship warranty cover, and for how long? Get the answer in writing. A manufacturer's limited lifetime frame means little if nobody answers the phone about the leak at the sill.

What "Limited Lifetime" Actually Means

"Limited lifetime" is the headline term on PGT and CGI paperwork, and both words carry weight.

"Limited" means the warranty covers manufacturing and material defects only, subject to a long exclusions list. Normal weathering, settlement of the building, condensation, vandalism, fire, flood, and accident are all outside it. So is improper installation, which is one more reason the installer's side of the promise matters.

"Lifetime" means the period while the original buyer both owns and occupies the home where the products were installed. It is not the lifetime of the window, and it is not attached to the house. Sell the home and the clock changes: under PGT and CGI terms the warranty can pass to the buyer for 10 years from the original delivery date, and only if the transfer is filed within 30 days.

Two more ceilings hide inside the fine print. On PGT's WinGuard PGT WinGuard Aluminum Series PGT's flagship aluminum impact platform since 1998, with one of the deepest Miami-Dade NOA libraries in the industry. Single hung through sliding doors on one HVHZ-certified frame system. HVHZ-approved across the series 10 models in the series Explore the WinGuard Aluminum Series and EnergyVue lines, insulating glass is covered at 100% through year 25 and at 50% of the glass price from year 26 onward. And stress cracks, the hairline fractures that show up from thermal stress rather than impact, are covered for exactly 1 year at PGT, CGI, and EAS. ES and ECO do not list stress cracks as a covered defect at all in the documents we reviewed.

The largest exclusion of all: hurricanes. PGT and CGI exclude "multiple hurricanes" and water intrusion from wind-driven rain during high wind events by name. Storm damage to an impact window is a homeowner's insurance claim, not a warranty claim, which is a distinction worth understanding before the season starts. Our guide to Florida hurricane insurance covers how that side works.

PGT Warranty Terms (April 2026 Revision)

PGT's current residential warranty document (revision 04/2026) sets coverage per product line, with the periods starting on the date the product is delivered. The lines Florida buyers ask about most:

A few terms deserve a closer look than the table gives them.

Residential Intruder Protection is a rider on WinGuard aluminum and vinyl products: for 10 years after delivery, PGT reimburses property loss from a burglary that came through a locked pane of its Missile Class D impact glass, up to your insurance deductible and capped at $1,000. Claims need a police report, the loss claim notice, proof of purchase, and photos of the broken pane, all within 30 days of the burglary.

Transferability works like this: the buyer of your home inherits the warranty for 10 years from the original delivery date, provided PGT receives notice with a copy of the warranty and the order number within 30 days of the title transfer. There is no fee. Miss the window and the coverage stays behind.

Watch the exclusions that homeowners trip on. Aftermarket window film voids the warranty entirely, as does painting any part of the product or cleaning it with harmful solvents. Aluminum frames in direct contact with copper-treated (ACQ) wood lose coverage. And homes that are not owner-occupied get a much shorter schedule: frames drop to 5 or 10 years depending on line, hardware to 3 years, and transferability disappears. If you are buying for a rental property, you are not buying the warranty on the brochure.

Claims go through the dealer who sold the product; if the dealer cannot be located, PGT takes claims at warranty@pgtindustries.com or 800-282-6019, with proof of purchase and the order number. Registration lives at pgtwindows.com/register-your-warranty. For the product side of the story, our PGT review covers the WinGuard and EnergyVue lines in depth.

CGI Warranty After the Brand Retirement

CGI built its reputation in Miami on heavy aluminum impact products, and thousands of South Florida homes carry its windows. The brand itself, though, was retired for new sales in December 2025 by MITER Brands, the corporate parent it shares with PGT. Sentinel, the flagship aluminum line, was discontinued. Sparta PGT Sparta Aluminum Value-tier aluminum impact line retained from the CGI brand acquisition, sized for budget HVHZ residential. White and Bronze finishes on a 4000-series frame. 5 models in the series Covers Horizontal Roller Window, Fixed Window, Sliding Glass Door, +2 more Explore the Sparta Aluminum and Scout PGT Scout Aluminum Non-impact aluminum value tier for builder new-construction outside HVHZ jurisdictions. Single hung, horizontal roller, picture, and architectural shapes in White or Bronze. 4 models in the series Covers Single-Hung Window, Horizontal Roller Window, Fixed Window, +1 more Explore the Scout Aluminum live on inside the PGT catalog as Sparta by PGT and SCOUT by PGT.

That history is exactly why "CGI warranty" is worth a section of its own: the most common question is no longer what the warranty says but who honors it.

The answer: the coverage did not vanish with the brand. CGI windows bought before December 15, 2025 keep the terms of the warranty document in force at purchase, and cgiwindows.com now operates as a legacy support portal for those owners, hosting warranty support, product approvals, and care guidance. Claims run through the dealer who sold the product or, failing that, warranty@cgiwindows.com and 800-282-6019, which is the same claims line PGT uses, because the back office is now one organization.

The final CGI residential warranty mirrors PGT's structure almost clause for clause:

Sentinel owners also hold the same Residential Intruder Protection rider as WinGuard: 10 years, up to $1,000 of insurance deductible reimbursed after a break-in through the impact glass, claim filed within 30 days with a police report.

The same exclusions apply as at PGT: no labor, no storm damage, no aftermarket film, reduced schedule for non-owner-occupied homes, transfer within 30 days of a home sale for 10 years of coverage from original delivery. If you own CGI windows, keep your order number somewhere you can find it; it is the piece of paperwork every claim asks for first. Our CGI review has the full history of the lines and what replaced them.

ES Windows Warranty: Register It or You Get One Year

ES Windows, the Tecnoglass residential brand, structures its warranty differently from the MITER companies, and it contains the single sharpest deadline in this comparison.

The residential certificate (covering the Elite ES Windows Elite Series Mid-tier aluminum impact line for residential builders, with current 2023 FBC Miami-Dade NOAs across casement, single hung, fixed, sliding window, French door, and SGD. HVHZ-approved across the series 8 models in the series Explore the Elite Series , Prestige ES Windows Prestige Series Premium architectural aluminum impact and thermally broken line, anchored by the Glass Magazine 2024 award-winning Pivot Door and the industry-leading ES-FX3050 folding door. HVHZ-approved across the series 18 models in the series Explore the Prestige Series , and Multimax ES Windows Multimax Series Value-tier aluminum impact line with dual LMI and SMI certification across the catalog. The MX1500 fixed window reaches 140 psf negative design pressure with SMI. HVHZ-approved across the series 8 models in the series Explore the Multimax Series series) must be activated online within 90 days of delivery at eswindows.com/warranty-certificate. Register in time and the periods below apply. Miss the window and coverage defaults to one year from delivery. That is the whole warranty. If you bought ES windows recently and never registered, this is the paragraph that should send you to your paperwork.

The coastal clauses are unusually specific. Powder-coat finishes on exterior aluminum within 1 mile of the coast or a high-salt environment are not warranted against corrosion, and in corrosive atmospheres anodized and exterior powder finishes drop to 3 years while Durastar carries 10 and Duranar 15. The document recommends Duranar paint outright for coastline projects because sea salt attacks aluminum panels.

The maintenance requirement is the strictest here: products must be washed with tap water every 3 months, and there must be traceable documentation from a professional cleaning company. No maintenance log, no coverage. The certificate is also Florida-only, applies to owner-occupied single-family homes, and excludes rentals, condos, and commercial installations entirely. It does not transfer to a home buyer.

Claims go in writing within 90 days of discovering a defect to service@eswindows.com, with product identification, the order number, the install address, and photos or video. ES ships the replacement unit, part, or piece; it does not perform labor.

One caution when researching this brand: a different "standard limited warranty" circulates for ES project work, with shorter terms (hardware at 1 year, periods set per project). Which certificate applies depends on your order, so ask your dealer for the exact document before you buy. Our ES Windows review covers the Elite and Prestige lines themselves.

ECO Window Systems Warranty

ECO, a Medley aluminum manufacturer in the MITER family since 2023, does not publish its warranty on its website; we compared from a copy of the current document (revised December 2025). It is the leanest coverage in this group.

The structural terms are equally lean. The residential warranty applies only to the original purchaser and is not assignable or transferable. Salt spray and coastal weathering are excluded. Products must be washed every 6 months with a service invoice kept as proof. Claims must be made in writing within 90 days of discovery. The remedy is parts only, liability is capped at what you paid, and repairs do not restart the clock.

None of this makes ECO a bad product; the aluminum lines carry serious Miami-Dade approvals and the brand is a fixture of the South Florida market. But the warranty is a real part of the price comparison, and on paper ECO asks more of the owner and promises less than its MITER siblings.

Eastern Architectural Systems Warranty

EAS, the Fort Myers manufacturer behind a broad aluminum and vinyl impact catalog, publishes a warranty (revision 06/20) with one standout number and some of the strictest coastal language in Florida.

The 20-year insulated glass term is the longest flat IGU coverage in this comparison, ahead of ES's 10 years and in the same territory as PGT's 25-year schedule.

The coastal clause is precise: on homes within 3 miles of salt water, maintenance must be performed every 4 months; beyond 3 miles, twice a year. Salt must not be allowed to accumulate, and the maintenance must be documented or the warranty is void. Between that clause and the ES and ECO cleaning requirements above, a pattern emerges for coastal owners: Florida manufacturers treat salt as your problem, not theirs, and our salt-air corrosion research guide explains why the chemistry backs them up.

Two more EAS terms to note. Stress cracks are covered for 12 months, and EAS ships a replacement panel at no cost but does not cover the installation of it. And claims must be submitted in writing within 30 days of discovering the defect, the tightest claim deadline of any brand here. The warranty names the original purchaser and contains no transfer provision. Coverage on EAS products runs through its Fort Myers service department.

Side-by-Side: The Terms That Differ Most

Two things are true across the whole table: no manufacturer covers labor, and no manufacturer covers storm damage. And one spread worth naming: across the five current documents, hardware coverage runs from 1 year to limited lifetime, and only two of the five (PGT and CGI) transfer to a home buyer at all (document revisions compared, August 2026). Those two gaps are filled by your installer's workmanship warranty and your homeowner's insurance, in that order.

The four live brands in this comparison

Manufacturer · Venice, FL

PGT Custom Windows & Doors

56 models across 7 lines

Explore PGT

Manufacturer · Barranquilla

ES Windows

145 models across 9 lines

Explore ES Windows

Manufacturer · Medley, FL

ECO Window Systems

41 models across 10 lines

Explore ECO

Manufacturer · Fort Myers, FL

Eastern Architectural Systems

18 models across 6 lines

Explore EAS

The Florida Fine Print That Actually Bites

Reading five warranty documents back to back, the claims that fail rarely fail on the coverage table. They fail on the conditions. These are the ones that bite in Florida:

Salt-air maintenance logs. EAS wants documented maintenance every 4 months within 3 miles of salt water. ES wants professionally documented washing every 3 months. ECO wants invoices proving a wash every 6 months. If you live coastal and cannot produce records, you may not have coverage at all. Put the washes on a calendar and keep the receipts; our guide to cleaning impact windows covers what a correct wash involves.

Registration deadlines. The ES 90-day registration rule converts a 10-to-15-year warranty into a 1-year warranty by default. Registration takes minutes and is free.

Claim windows. EAS gives you 30 days from discovering a defect to file in writing. ES and ECO give 90. Waiting a season to report a fogged glass unit can cost you the claim.

Transfer windows. PGT and CGI warranties survive a home sale only when notice is filed within 30 days of the title transfer. If you are buying a home with impact windows, make the warranty transfer a closing-checklist item; it is free coverage that expires in a month.

Aftermarket film. Applying window film to a PGT or CGI product voids the warranty, full stop. If you are tempted by film for heat or privacy, read our breakdown of hurricane window film first, because it can cost far more in voided coverage than it saves.

Storm exclusions. Wind-driven rain intrusion during high-wind events and hurricane damage are excluded by name. After a storm, document damage for your insurer, not the manufacturer.

How Claims Actually Work When You Bought Through an Installer

Every document in this comparison routes claims the same way: start with the dealer or installer who sold you the product. The manufacturer wants the claim to arrive with an order number, proof of purchase, the installation address, a description of the problem, and increasingly photos or video.

From there, the manufacturer's obligation is parts. A replacement sash, a new IGU, hardware components, shipped at no charge if the claim is approved. The labor to install what arrives is outside the warranty, which is where the installer relationship decides how the experience feels. An installer who files the claim, tracks the part, and handles the swap turns a defect into an inconvenience. A disconnected number turns it into a project.

That is worth weighing when you compare quotes. Ask who files warranty claims, what the labor arrangement is when a covered part fails in year 6, and whether the workmanship warranty is written into the contract. The right installer is the difference between the warranty on paper and the warranty in practice.

If your original dealer is gone, go direct with your order number:

Federal law is also on your side: the FTC's consumer guide to warranties explains your rights under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, including the rule that written warranties must be available for you to read before you buy.

Next Steps

1. Find your paperwork. The order number on your purchase documents is the first thing every warranty claim asks for, so store it with your closing documents or home records.
2. If you own ES windows delivered in the last 90 days, register the warranty today; the deadline converts 10-plus years of coverage into one.
3. Coastal home? Set a recurring wash schedule that matches your brand's clause (every 3, 4, or 6 months) and keep the invoices with your warranty papers.
4. Selling or buying a home with PGT or CGI windows? File the warranty transfer within 30 days of closing; it hands the buyer 10 years of coverage for free.
5. Comparing brands for a new project? Read our PGT, CGI, and ES Windows reviews alongside the terms above, since the warranty is part of the price.
6. Ready for numbers? Request a free estimate and ask any installer you talk to, including us, for their workmanship warranty terms in writing.